The Tree Debate Page 3
Command Awards Page 6
Roller Hockey Page 10
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND Celebrating 70 years of community partnership
VOLUME 70, NUMBER 20
May 23, 2013
Campground reopens after chiefs’ cleanup
By Donna Cipolloni Tester staff writer
Seventeen members of the Chief Petty Officers Association volunteered their time and labor, May 10, cleaning up the campground at Paradise Grove, allowing the naval air station to reopen the long-neglected site for use. “The campground at Paradise Grove has been with us for quite some time,” explained Frank Pace, outdoor recreation director, “but over the years, due to budget constraints, storms and hurricanes, it fell into disarray.” Chief Robert “Chris” Tyson coordinated the effort by the chief’s mess and said it took about eight hours to clear out the area and install fire rings at each of the 11 primitive sites that make up the approximate three-acre site. “We picked up some trash but mostly it was a lot of storm debris like twigs, sticks and leaves,” said Tyson, a logistics specialist with the Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA 202). “My youngest son spent the better part of three hours splitting dead trees into firewood, so now there’s ready-made firewood for the first few campers who
New online system takes campground reservations
Courtesy photo
Chief Petty Officers Association volunteers cleared debris and trash from the long-neglected Paradise Grove campground area at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on May 10. Found buried during the cleanup was an old board carved with the letters “CPO” that CPOA members plan to turn into a memento to be displayed in the chief’s mess. use the sites.” One memorable item found in the course of clearing out some matted underbrush was the top from a decrepit wooden picnic table with the letters “CPO” carved into one of the boards. “One of our volunteers recalled that back in the
'80s, the area was a site for some CPO initiations,” Tyson said. “We trimmed down that board, saved it, and I’m going to make a memento of our cleanup for the chief’s mess. It’s a reflection of our tradition and history, but with a base tie-in as well.” Sue St. Onge, administra-
tive assistant and campsite coordinator, was excited for the chief’s assistance, and with new picnic tables and identifying signage now in place, the campground is ready for campers. “It was quite a bit of work and we’re definitely appreciative of the CPOA helping
NAS Patuxent River is now part of the Navy’s new online campground reservation system, Epitome. Epitome allows patrons to make their own reservations online, 24 hours a day at www.dodlodging.net and search under Goose Creek. Since its inception, the system has been getting positive feedback from users, said Sue St. Onge, administrative assistant and campsite coordinator. “People are telling me how simple it is,” St. Onge said. “They can go online, make a reservation and input their credit card information. When they check in on their arrival date their card will be charged. Once someone’s information is in the system, return reservations are easy to book.” The site does not allow individuals to reserve a particular site number; that will be done by St. Onge who will make contact once she sees an online reservation has been made. Additionally, Goose Creek and Paradise Grove each have a camp site host for after hours pass pick-up and support. Campground reservations can also be made by calling 877-628-9233. us with this,” St. Onge said. “Without their volunteer effort, it wouldn’t have happened for a while. Our other campgrounds are booking up already for the summer months and these extra sites from Paradise Grove will definitely make a difference by generating good rev-
enues for MWR and providing additional service to our customers at Pax River.” Pace described Paradise Grove as a “real” camping area with pristine woods and waterways. “It’s just a beautiful location,” he said. “It’s Mother Nature at her best.”
Citadel Gale '13 ends with mock fuel spill
U.S. Navy photo by Connie Hempel
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Zach Lind, left, steers as Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Shane Slater anchors a spill containment boom into place during a drill Monday in the West Basin as part of the Navy’s annual hurricane preparedness exercise, HURREX/Citadel Gale 2013. Using traditional boat anchors attached to the boom allows the Port Operations Sailors to keep the boom in the desired containment area, preventing water and wind currents from moving it away. The annual HURREX, which began May 13, is a two-week joint exercise between U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and Commander, Navy Installations Command. During the first week, installations gear up for an impending storm, and the last week is post-storm recovery efforts. In Monday’s exercise scenario, Port Ops and fire and emergency services responded to a mock fuel spill at the fuel farm off of Millstone Road. Using water dye marker to simulate JP-5, the fuel leak from a damaged 600,000-galloon tank could be traced from an unsecured containment area in the fuel farm, down a creek and into the West Basin.
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Plans to update the nearly 40-year-old Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge have started with the state dedicating $20 million in appropriations for the project. When the two-lane connector between St. Mary’s County and Calvert County was built in 1974, the daily traffic count was at 1,400; today that number tops 30,000.
Relief on horizon for Calvert commuters By Connie Hempel NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs
Plans to improve the bridge linking St. Mary’s and Calvert counties will soon be on the drawing board thanks to the $20 million included in the state’s new transportation bill that funds design of to the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge. When the two-lane bridge was built in 1974, it was designed to carry 1,400 vehicles a day, according to according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Today, nearly 30,000 vehicles traverse
the 1½-mile long bridge daily. The announcement of funds for the design and engineering phase of the project was made May 16 by Gov. Martin O’Malley, two days after local elected officials expressed their concerns via letter regarding the “serious bottleneck” the bridge creates for commuters, many of whom work at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The bottleneck commute is one NAS N8 Management Analyst Michelle Major has driven the last three years. “I live in Lusby and my average commute time is 30 minutes to work and 45 minutes home,” she said about her 15-mile trek. “That
time can range from 25 minutes, with no traffic, to 1½ hours, with accidents or bridge congestion, to get to or from work.” Marc Kennedy, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Information Technology specialist, has dealt with a similar problem for 16 years. “I live in Lusby, too, and when you catch the mass of base traffic at the wrong time, or if there’s an accident, it can take up to two hours,” he said. “And there’s the stop and go traffic you get from people who are absolutely terrified of driving over the bridge. They drive so slow going up to the crest of the bridge it literally makes you come to a stop.”
These are just some of the reasons Kennedy and Major agree the bridge project is “a must for Southern Maryland.” Since 2007, the Maryland State Highway Administration has analyzed means of replacing or widening the bridge with estimates reaching $800 million. While the $20 million only covers initial design costs, the transportation act also raises gas taxes by 4 cents a gallon beginning July 1. The state expects that increase to generate $800 million. “If a slight increase in the gas tax will fund transportation improvement projects across the state, then I am all for it,” Major said. Kennedy said regardless of how
money is generated, he doesn’t expect to see any relief in his daily bridge commute for another 10-20 years. “It’s not just the bridge they need to redesign,” he said. “It’s the neighborhoods and routes leading to the bridge.” He said he hopes the end result will at least give commuters two lanes in each direction. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation website, with the $20 million appropriation, planning for the bridge project is tracking for completion this summer. After that, the design process begins, but there is currently no money for the actual construction.
Pax Public Works busy behind the scenes Nurse Corps celebrates 105 years By Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington Public Affairs “Because of Public Works...” is the theme of National Public Works Week, May 19-25 and recognizes the efforts the Public Works Department at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. In keeping with the theme, PWD Pax River has highlighted a few of its many ongoing efforts to help the naval air station accomplish its mission. “The majority of public works services happens behind the scenes and if executed properly, is transparent to the naval air station and more than 50 tenant organizations,” said Cmdr. Jim Watts, public works officer. “For larger endeavors that require utility outages, road closures or other service interruptions, the Public Works Department works in close coordination with the installation commanding officer, other base leaders, and our Base Operating Support contractor to ensure public works services are properly coordinated with and communicated to installation tenants. A roof replacement project to fix severe leaks is underway at building 8185 in which the existing roofing system will be removed and replaced by July. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at building 405 is set to be replaced with a more efficient unit, and new lighting will
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Civil Engineer Corps Officers Lt. j.g. Julie Martinez, left, and Lt. John Casilio discuss repairs to a structural column at building 416, one of the many projects the Public Works department has under way at Pax River. be added. Since the building will be occupied during the project, the work will be accomplished in three phases with a completion target date of April 2014. After the August 2011 earthquake, a structural assessment of building 416 revealed structural repairs, which are currently underway, needed to make the facility safer for occupancy. “Public works services are planned and synchronized with base and tenant schedules to minimize mission impacts,” Watts said. He and his PW staff communicate the events and their proposed impact to the installation popula-
tion through the Plan of the Week, the base newspaper and base/tenant leadership meetings. PW also works hand in hand with the BOS contractor to safely and efficiently complete the work within the allowed timeframe. “When everything goes right, we don’t hear a thing from our supported commands,” Watts said. “Silence is a compliment for a job well done.” PWD Pax River is part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, which provides public works services to Navy and Marine Corps installations in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
U.S. Navy photo by Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Jheyson Giraldo
Capt. Mike Vernere, Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River commanding officer, and Lt. Lynette Galgano cut the Nurse Corps Birthday cake during a ceremony celebrating its 105th anniversary May 13. Continuing a tradition of enlisting the oldest and the youngest members to celebrate an event, Vernere is the command’s most “seasoned” nurse corps officer while Galgano is the youngest nurse corps officer.
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Keys to military The great debate: Pax’s tree removal spouse success By Connie Hempel NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs
Commentary by Michelle Stubblefield NAS Patuxent River Fleet and Family Service Center A military spouse’s resiliency is born from the countless nights spent apart from his/her service member, relocating every few years, starting their career from scratch due to the move, and countless other hurdles time after time. Ever wonder how to write a résumé that doesn’t highlight why you switched jobs every two to three years, or the gap from time spent as a stay-at-home mom? Does moving overseas scare you because you don’t know the foreign language? What if you just need to talk to someone because it’s lonely being someplace with no friends or family? The Department of Defense and many other agencies recognize the sacrifices military spouses make and create programs and resources that can overcome those tall, never-ending hurdles. While you may be aware of some of the more commonly known programs, you may be missing out on the great services from newer or lesser known programs.
Work and Family Life Resources
What: Fleet and Family Support Center What they do: Offers military counseling services, life skills enrichment workshops, financial planning, parenting resources, spouse orientation and more. One of the most used resources by spouses is the Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP). Through the Military Family Act of 1985, the FERP program provides assistance to military spouses in developing, improving or continuing their professional careers while sharing in the military member’s mobile lifestyle. The Navy recognizes that moving every few years creates career challenges for military spouses. The program addresses those challenges in workshops and through individualized assistance in areas such as: launching a job search, career planning, résumé writing, interview techniques, Federal employment information, conducting selfassessments, goal setting and more. As the FERP manager, I enjoy teaching spouses different
See Spouse, Page 4
Some base residents employees have expressed concern over the past couple months as logging crews take down thousands of trees. While these freshly cut areas may currently appear as barren deserts, the Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Environmental Division said the end result will leave behind greener pastures. “Most of the clear cut areas will turn into grassy areas and others will re-grow their natural vegetation,” said Kyle Rambo, the conservation director in the Public Works Environmental Division. “Unless it’s cut for construction or because of its proximity to the airfield, we do replant what we cut.” The logging started in March with 13 sites totaling nearly 28 acres of trees on the chopping block. Many people drive by these areas every day. Some troubled by the change voiced their concerns during a recent town hall meeting with NAS leaders. One participant said while he understood the safety reasons behind the tree removal, the scenery set by the once luscious greenery is what made Pax beautiful and not so much now that many of the trees are gone. Recognizing there are many who may share the same feelings, Lance McDaniel, the Environmental Division director, said, “Not only is there an operational and a mission reason to do this, which we’ve addressed, there’s also an emotional side, an emotional connection, to it that needs to be addressed. “While timber is aesthetically pleasing, there is no tree out there that is worth a human life,” he continued. “Mission and mission safety always come first.” And the challenge that McDaniel and his team of environmentalists face is continuing to be responsible stewards of the property while ensuring the mission can safely continue. “We’re doing this high-tech military mission right on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, a very sensitive environment, and we have to balance those things,” Rambo said. Planted nearly 40 years ago, the pine trees were intended to be trimmed once they were ready to be cut for lumber. Environmentalists said of the 27.85 acres of trees taken down, 20 acres were plantation pines. “We recognize these trees are aesthetic, but because the Navy puts so much value in trees, they also have a monetary value, just as most Navy assets. Because it’s Navy property with a value, it must be treated in a certain, fiscally responsible way,” McDaniel said. Seventy-five percent of the timber sales money is then used for equipment and supplies needed to maintain other
U.S. Navy photo by Annalise Kenney
Loggers are clearing 13 sites, nearly 28 acres, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River as part of a safety and environmental effort, said base officials. forests, and 25 percent is given to St. Mary’s County. “We will not allow them to burn, bury or dispose of merchantable timber on this base,” Rambo said. If the timber is not big enough for mills, Public Works sells it for firewood. The limbs, leaves and stumps are shredded into mulch and used in the community. “Nothing is put in a landfill and nothing is wasted,” Rambo said. All of these trees, including the 7.85 acres of trees not part of the 40-year-old plantation pines, are being cut for safety reasons as airfield maintenance standards have changed with the different military aircraft flown today. “Some of these trees were planted over 40 years ago in locations that now, because of more stringent airfield safety standards, cannot be there,” Rambo said. McDaniel said he takes pride in his staff’s efforts at balancing mission capability, mission output and stewardship; allowing for a vast change from what Cedar Point looked like when the Navy arrived 70 years ago. “Back in 1943 there was nothing higher than Mattapany,” he said looking at an old aerial photo of Cedar Point. “We have more forests now than before the Navy came. Look at how we’ve been able to maintain the ecosystem since then.” Rambo said that’s because Public Works is able to encourage nature in the right places — around the perimeter of the base — and discourage it in the wrong places — around the airfield, through selective planting of trees and other vegetation. Questions regarding the tree removal or other environmental concerns at Pax River can be directed to McDaniel at 301-757-2903 or lance.mcdaniel@navy.mil.
News briefs On base:
Naval Health Clinic closes at noon Friday
The clinic and pharmacy will operate on the following schedule for the Memorial weekend holiday: Friday, open from 7:30 to noon, and closed Saturday-Monday. For afterhours medical assistance, call 301-342-1506. Normal clinic and pharmacy hours resume Tuesday. For more information, contact Nicole Quinn at 301-995-4980. \
NAS Patuxent River College Fair
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon Building 2189, room 120 This year’s College Fair includes: College of Southern Maryland, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Naval Postgraduate School, Navy College Office, NAVAIR Career Development Office, Notre Dame of MD University, Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Stevenson University, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland University College and Webster University. Stop by the fair to obtain degree and specific course information. For more information, call the Navy College Office at 301-757-4111.
Honor Flight Free Screening
June 6, 9:30 a.m. Center Stage Theater Free admission to see Honor Flight, a documentary about four living World War II veterans and a Midwest community coming together to fly thousands of World War II veterans to
Washington, D.C., to see the memorial constructed for them in 2004. Seating is limited.
Kids’ Fishing Derby
June 8, 9 a.m. to noon LOX Farm Pond at the corner of Tate and Buse roads The NAS Pax River Kids’ Fishing derby is a free catch and release event for youths ages 15 and younger whose parent/guardian has base access. Youths must be accompanied by an adult. Limited to 45 children. Forms are at the front porch of the Mattapany Rod and Gun Club Lodge across the street from the Skeet range. This is a Maryland “Free Fishing” day, no fishing license or base permit is required. Prizes for largest fish in age groups 13-15, 9-11 and 8 and younger, and for youngest child to catch a fish. Food and drinks for participants. Contact Van Marks at 240-925-2188 or Chris Tyson at 301-247-5044.
Cedar Point Ladies Golf Association Invitational
June 18, 9 a.m. shotgun start Cedar Point Golf Course Four-lady Captain’s Choice scramble. Entry fee is $65 which includes cart and greens fees for 18 holes of golf. Mulligans are four for $20, and a 6-foot putting string is $10. Proceeds benefit the Fisher House Foundation. Continental breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch and prizes for first, second and third place teams, longest putt and the drive closest to the line in the Fairway and door prizes. Contact the CPLGA Chairman at 301-481-9655, cplgagolf@yahoo.com, or visit the CPLGA Facebook page to request an entry form.
Where’s Gnorman?
Somewhere in this issue we’ve hidden Gnorman the
gnome. Be the first to call in his location and receive one free Center Stage Theater movie ticket; good for any Center Stage movie. The same person cannot win more than once a month. Last week’s winner was Jeff Kemper. Calls are only accepted between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Fridays. Call the Tester staff at 301-342-4163.
Off base:
Wounded Warrior Workshop
Wednesday, 8 a.m. Maryland Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation 175 Post Office Road, Waldorf A joint effort between NAVAIR and the State of Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, where veterans learn about employment opportunities at Naval Air Systems Command and other employers, fine-tune their résumés and receive one-on-one guidance on their career goals. For more information, contact Alan Crawley at 301374-1144 or acrawley@dllr.state.md.us or navairwoundedwarrior@navy.mil.
DAV Services in Lusby
June 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arick L. Lore American Legion Post 274, Lusby Veterans, get answers about the rights and benefits earned by service to your country and free, professional assistance with claims from a highly trained expert, a DAV National Service Officer. For more information, contact Phillip Surace at 410-230-4440.
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niques for writing the best résumé possible. Don’t get passed over because your résumé lacks keywords or isn’t in the preferred format. Seating is limited.
Pax Pros of the Week
Pax Pro of the Week nominees are submitted to and selected by the naval air station Command Master Chief William Lloyd-Owen.
Marriage is a Work of Heart
June 4, 2-4:30 p.m. The goal of this class is to provide couples with new ideas and tools to help them continue to build together the marriage they envisioned. Join us and practice Speaker Listener Technique to enhance communication even on the toughest issues.
To register and for more information, call the Fleet and Family Support Center at 301-342-4911. All classes are held at the FFSC building unless otherwise noted. Open to activeduty and retired military, Reservists and family members.
Résumé Writing
May 28, 1-4 p.m. This program offers many different trends and tech-
SPOUSE
Continued from 3
NAS Patuxent River Sailor
Courtesy photos
Pax Pro of the Week Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW) Quadir Miller, middle.
résumé formats that highlight skills and not the dates or the number of jobs they’ve had. I also show them how to format a federal résumé as they are completely different from the private sector. Do not make the mistake of not having the proper format and end up getting rated for a lower federal position than you’re capable of performing. It’s a wonderful process to see a spouse enter my office full of doubt and leave feeling rejuvenated. The best news yet — it’s a free service. For more information: www.cnic.navy.mil/Patuxent, click on Fleet and Family Readiness and then Support Services. What: Military OneSource What they do: Provides information on military life topics, 24/7 counseling services and important information such as a relocation tool. It’s a one-stop shop to get you connected to the right place. For more information: www.militaryonesource.mil or 1-800-342-9647
Navy Library Resources for Kids and Families
What: Navy Knowledge Online What they do: It’s not just for service members anymore. The new Navy Knowledge Online, called KNO, offers a family community of practice where family members can get information on everything from education, to child care, to housing. They can start and follow discussion threads, and even use an instant messenger program to chat directly with members of their community, deployed family members or anyone with a NKO account. This program also offers free online foreign language training, audio e-books and electronic magazines. Sign up for an account and navigate to the “Reference” tab. The menu for the materials is on the left side of the page. For more information: https://www.nko.navy.mil
Employment Assistance and Information
NAS Patuxent River Civilian
Pax Pro of the Week Chef Doug Mackey, right.
What: Military Spouse Residency Relief Act What it is: The MSRRA provides clarification and protections for military spouses with regard to residency, voting and taxation. The Act allows spouses to claim a tax exemption from the state in which they have earned income due to claiming residency from the service member’s home of record, the state where the spouse currently resides, or where the
Amazing Newborns
June 4, 4-6 p.m. Learn infant care from hospital to home. Practice bathing, changing, and dressing your baby, and discuss feeding, health care, and safety issues. Participants will receive a complimentary Book, ‘‘Your Baby’s First Year” and CD, ‘‘Heartbeat Lullabies.” spouse has previously resided. Forms must be filed with your employer to claim MSRRA. For example, I work in Maryland, but I’m considered a Tennessee resident. I file my state tax return in Tennessee and I’m registered to vote in Tennessee. What: The Military Spouse Employment Partnership What it is: This is a targeted recruitment and employment solution for military spouses that connect them with employers seeking the essential 21st century workforce skills and attributes they possess. For more information: https://msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/ What: Military Spouse Preference Program What it is: This program lessens the career interruption of spouses who relocate to accompany their military sponsor. By registering in the MSP Program, eligible spouses receive priority consideration for vacancies at Defense Department activities within the commuting area of the sponsor’s new duty location. For more information: Visit the Fleet and Family support Center or MilitaryOneSource. What: Career Resources for Military Spouses What it is: Commissary, Exchange and government jobs. For more information: www.military.com/spouse/
Educational Funding Opportunities
What: Post 9/11 GI Bill What it is: While the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers a very generous post-service education benefit, a special provision of the program is that it allows career service members the opportunity to share their education benefits with immediate family members.
What: The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts What it is: This program provides up to $4,000 of Financial Assistance for spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields and whose service member is an E1-E5, W1-W2 or O1-O2. For more information: https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/ These are just a few examples of programs and educational opportunities that exist. If you’d like more information, call FFSC. Use these services. If there is a lack of participation in any of these services, then the service may cease to exist. Be sure to contact the programs to ensure they are still being offered.
Naval Air Station Patuxent River • tester@dcmilitary.com • www.facebook.com/NASPaxRiver The name Tester is a registered mark in the state of Maryland. This paper is published by Comprint, Inc., 9030 Comprint Ct., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, 301-948-1520, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract with Naval District Washington. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services. Contents of the Tester are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Navy. The appearance of advertising in this publication,
Capt. Ben Shevchuk
Commanding Officer
Capt. Heidi Fleming Executive Officer
Cmd. Master Chief William Lloyd-Owen
Command Master Chief
including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or Southern Maryland Newspapers and Printing of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected.
Connie Hempel
Public Affairs Officer
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Copy/layout editors
Editorial content is edited, prepared, and provided by the Public Affairs Office. News copy should be submitted by Friday to be considered for the following week’s edition. All material is edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity, and conformity to regulations. To inquire about news copy, call 301-342-4163 or fax the Tester at 301-8639296.
Commercial advertising may be placed with the publisher by calling 301-862-2111.
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Forum highlights small business advantages When is it ‘good enough?’ Courtesy of the NAVAIR Small Business Innovation Research Programs Office and the NAVAIR Office of Small Business Programs Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) acquisition personnel learned about their role in the Small Business Program and how to successfully leverage Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) technologies May 8. Vice Adm. David Dunaway, NAVAIR commander, presented the opening remarks in which he addressed his plans to establish an Integrated Warfighting Capability (IWC) Enterprise Team to address the challenges of connecting individual systems within a “system of systems” to create warfighting effects. “Innovative, responsive and agile, small businesses are a valuable part of the defense industrial base, and it is our job to figure out how to get to them,” Dunaway said. “We’ve met a glass ceiling in terms of how many small businesses we can [have at NAVAIR] and I’d like to break that ceiling.” He encouraged attendees to share their ideas on how to accomplish this goal. Seán Crean, director of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), emphasized that while using small business is mandated by Congress, it also makes good business sense. As part of the defense industrial base, small businesses help increase competition. A healthy, robust defense industrial base will result in better prices for the products and services we deliver to the warfighter. John Williams, director of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs addressed the challenge of technology transition and how transition should be considered to begin at topic conception and contin-
ue all the way through the SBIR/STTR phases. Richard McNamara, former executive director of PEO Submarines, discussed how he successfully leveraged SBIR/STTR technology during his time in the PEO to solve four key problems for “quick wins,” such as risk reduction, obsolete equipment replacement, technology insertion and increased competition. He addressed specific, proven techniques NAVAIR acquisition professionals can employ to do the same, such as generating topics for the SBIR/STTR Program and including SBIR/STTR in the acquisition strategy. Nickolas Guertin, director for Transformation for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, said open systems architecture can invoke competition across a program’s lifecycle to break vendor lock and provide opportunity for small businesses to participate in defense programs. The last presenter, Oliver Allen, NAVAIR’s Radar and Antenna Systems Division chief engineer, is the technical point of contact on numerous SBIR and STTR past and current projects. He presented case studies of several successful approaches to maximize SBIR/ STTR Program return on investment. Lori Raley, the ADPEO Advanced Technology PEO(U&W), said “I enjoyed Richard McNamera’s discussion on using SBIR to support alternative risk reduction and obsolescence, as well as a tool to restart competition where there is none. Dr. Oliver Allen’s overview of successful SBIRs was a good example of best business practices that should be captured across NAVAIR. Overall, the forum was a good investment of time for me, and I appreciated the half-day venue.” For more information on the NAVAIR OSBP, Navy SBIR/STTR Program, visit: www.navair.navy.mil/osbp, www.navysbir.com.
Commentary by Al Kaniss Guest contributor
Oliver Allen, Radar and Antenna Systems Division Chief Engineer, presented case studies during the May 8 symposium. To learn more about the Navy’s SBIR/STTR Programs, attend the Navy Opportunity Forum, which is a unique technology marketplace where DoN acquisition professional and SBIR/ STTR Phase II companies of merit can come together to forge partnerships. Visit the Virtual Acquisition Showcase, www.virtualacquisitionshowcase.com to find those companies and projects that will be in attendance at this year’s forum. The 2013 Navy Opportunity Forum® is June 3-5 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Va. For more information, go to www.navyopportunityforum.com.
One of the things we all seem to struggle with is, how good is good enough? There is never enough time, money or effort to do things perfectly — even if perfection was possible — so we make compromises. Software is often deployed with known bugs, residual risk is accepted, and schedules and delivery to the customer can take priority over quality. Sometimes it’s obvious when it comes to “good enough.” Deploying a system with a known safety problem is never good enough, but being a few cents off when balancing your checking account isn’t a big deal. When judging what’s “good enough,” consider the Pareto principle, also known as the “80-20 rule.” According to this principle, 80 percent of the effect comes from 20 percent of the causes. There are many applications of this rule: 80 percent of a company’s revenues come from 20 percent of their customers; 80 percent of an organization’s problems come from 20 percent of the customers. Another application is that the last 20 percent of a job requires 80 percent of the effort. I find this particularly true when doing repair work on my house. You may have heard of
Al Kaniss the “80 percent solution” which results from doing a moderate amount of effort rather than a huge amount. Many people consider the 80 percent solution “good enough,” because trying for a better solution may take four times as much effort as already expended. You may be familiar with a book by Jim Collins called “Good to Great.” In this book, Collins claims that “good is the enemy of great.” In other words, too few organizations become great because they are satisfied with good enough. This was one of Apple’s reasons for greatness: its CEO, Steve Jobs, never settled for “good enough.” He was such a perfectionist, he even worried about — and spent exorbitant amounts of money on — how beautiful the circuit boards, the inside of the product case and even the shipping box looked. Another theory about quality is that “better is the enemy of good enough.” This exemplifies the old
See Good, Page 11
Outdoor Pool Opens
Saturday-Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The outdoor pool officially opens for the summer June 15 and the indoor pool at the Drill Hall will close until September.
Concert at Light House Park Solomons
For all MWR News Visit us on-line at http://cnic.navy. mil/patuxent/FleetandFamilyReadiness.
Midway Bar Season Opening
Tonight, 4-9 p.m. The Midway Bar at the West Basin Marina, is opening for the season tonight. Come join some after work relaxation. There are beverages and sandwiches for sale. Midway summer hours are: 4-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Call 301342-3656 for more information.
Memorial Day Happenings Campfire and Hayride
Friday, 8-10 p.m. NRC Solomons Join this tradition at NRC Solomons! Stop by the campfire, located between the log cabins and the group campsites, to roast a few marshmallows, catch the wagon for a hayride and meet new friends. Marshmallows are provided. This program is subject to restriction. Call 410-286-8047 for more information.
Saturday, 7-10 p.m. The tradition continues, bringing live music performed by Wildgood to help kickoff the beginning of summer. Call 410-286-8047 for more information.
Customized Creations is located in building 652 off of Millstone Road. There must be a minimum of 5 participants for classes to be held. To register for classes and for more information, call 301-342-6293 or stop by.
Cardboard Boat Race at NRC Solomons
Customized Creations June and July Sale
May 26, 6 p.m., Riverside Beach Bring your imagination to build and set sail on your very own cardboard boat. Basic supplies are provided, cardboard, plastic and duck tape only. Supplies are available for pick up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 26 at the Adventure Zone. Come to the beach with your vessel ready to set sail! Flotation devices are provided for participants in the boat. Participants must be age 10 or older to set sail without an adult. Youths ages 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $7 per team. Eligible patrons: active-duty and retired military, Reservists, DOD civilians and family members. Call the Adventure Zone for more information at 410-286-8046/8047.
Memorial Day Stroke Play Tournament
May 27, Cedar Point Golf Course Join the annual 18-hole Stroke Play Tournament. Get a tee time between 7 and 11 a.m. Register before playing at the Pro Shop. Tournament fee is $10. Open to all authorized patrons with a valid U.S.G.A Handicap and their guests. Gross and net prizes are awarded using full handicap. For more information, call the Cedar Point Golf Course at 301342-3597.
Need to get a gift and can’t think of what to give? Customized Creations is running a special throughout June and July on personalized Mighty Mugs and Travel Mugs. The mugs are $15 and include second side personalization.
Experienced Decorative Painting Class
June 3 and 10, 5-8 p.m. Learn to paint an early morning sunrise and learning how to turn tissue paper into a rice paper effect. Cost is $35 plus a $10 materials fee which includes pattern and surface.
Beginner Decorative Painting Class
June 4, 11 and 18, 5-8 p.m. Learn to create a work of art! Cost is $55 plus a $15 materials fee which includes paints, pattern and painting surface. This is a three-week, three-hour class. Students need to bring these brushes: Loes-Cornell or Papillion ¾-inch wash, ½-inch angle, #12 flat, 18/0 script liner — be sure it is a script brush longer bristles — ¼-inch filbert rake and a Bobby Campbell Blender which is available at Customized Creations for $10, one water container and one roll of paper towels.
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Thursday, May 23 6:30 p.m., Evil Dead In the much anticipated remake of the 1981 cult-hit horror film, 25-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival. Rated: R (1 hr, 31 min) Friday, May 24 6:30 p.m., Oblivion Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Rated: PG-13 (2 hr, 4 min) 9:30 p.m., Scary Movie 5 The latest installment of the SCARY MOVIE franchise includes send ups of PARANOR-
MAL ACTIVITY, MAMA, SINISTER, THE EVIL DEAD, INCEPTION, BLACK SWAN and pop culture. Rated: PG-13 (1 hr, 25 min) Saturday, May 25 4 p.m., G.I. Joe: Retaliation (Not in 3D) Framed for a crime they did not commit, the G.I. Joes must not only fight Cobra but also vindicate themselves to a government that condemned them. Rated: PG-13 (1 hr, 50 min) 6:30 p.m., Scary Movie 5 9 p.m., Oblivion Sunday, May 26 2 p.m., Oblivion Monday and Tuesday No Movies Wednesday, May 29 6:30 p.m., Oblivion
Command awards, re-enlistments
Courtesy photos
Acheivement Medal for Stremmel
Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Stremmel is presented with a Navy Achievement Medal on May 16.
Commendation for Young
Chief Aviation Maintenance Chad Young is presented with a Navy Commendation Medal on May 16.
Dimmit re-enlists for six more Four more for Kanakis
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Yeoman 3rd Class Devon A. Dimmitt commits to six more years during a re-enlistment ceremony with Capt. Ben Shevchuk, NAS Patuxent River commanding officer, Monday. Dimmitt currently has three years of Navy service.
Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Christine A. Kanakis re-enlists for four more years during a ceremony May 16 with re-enlisting officer, Lt. Mike Peck. Kanakis currently has six years of Navy service.
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Bike to Work Day wheels in riders
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A work in progress
U.S. Navy photo by Annalise Kenney
U.S. Navy photo by Adam Skoczylas
More than 40 cyclists around Naval Air Station Patuxent River participated in this year’s Bike to Work Day on May 16. This was the fifth year an organized Bike to Work event occurred on base, organized by the Pax Velo Cycling Club.
An exterior photo taken Monday of the new Child Development Center on Cuddihy Road shows it 95 percent complete. The work in progress includes interior finishes such as flooring, painting, ceiling tiles, millwork, casework and furniture installation. On the outside, installing the playground fencing, sod and seeding are wrapping up. The CDC is tracking for a late June opening.
Chapel schedule St. Nicolas Chapel
Catholic Services Mass: Sundays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekdays at 11:35 a.m. Continuing Catholic Development (CCD): Sundays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Protestant Services Worship: Sundays at 11 a.m. Bible studies: Men’s study, Sundays at 6 p.m. Ladies’ study, Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. 1038923
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Roller hockey, anyone?
Energy Saving Tip: Lighting
By Donna Cipolloni Tester staff writer
Take a good look at how you and your family are using lights and turn off any that are not being used.
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
It’s not the NHL; it’s not even played on ice, but there’s no less dedication or competitive spirit exhibited by the 48 members of the Roller Hockey League at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. “I started the league back in 2003 by working with [Fitness and Sports Director] Hal Willard,” said Dave Volpe, branch head in Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Cost Department. “A number of other bases had a roller hockey rink but we didn’t; eventually, the area behind right field of the softball diamond was cleared and we had a rink by 2004.” Although the league has been in existence for nearly 10 years, it still comes as a surprise to many people that a roller hockey rink exists on the installation, and Volpe, along with the league’s current commissioner, Mike Granger, is determined to rectify that situation. “We have four teams now with 12 people on each team,” explained Granger, computer programmer with Atlantic Test Range. “We want to increase awareness and we want to grow our
league by recruiting more players.” Comprised of a mixture of military and civilian, older and younger, experienced and novice, the league welcomes anyone who’d like to mix it up at the red line. “People think we play like they play in the pros,” Volpe said. “Sure, we play hard, that’s why we have equipment, but this is the nicest bunch of guys. It’s more of a camaraderie thing.” Lending to the easygoing attitude is the fact that, each season, all players are mixed up and randomly drafted onto different teams to keep competition equitable and fun. And they do their own refereeing. “You get to know everyone,” Granger said. “I’ve played with 90 percent of the guys out there and no one team dominates season after season.” While MWR supplies jerseys and a time clock, a certain amount of personal equipment is necessary to play the game. Both men recommend a helmet with a face shield; a stick; shin, elbow and knee pads; and, of course, a pair of inline skates. “Some guys are more skilled on skates than others,” Granger said. “But
Courtesy photo by Mike Granger
Teams from the Roller Hockey League at NAS Patuxent River face off against each other every Tuesday starting at 5:30 p.m. The black strip down the center of the rink is asphalt sealer and indicates the large crack recently repaired by players who donated their time and labor. even if you’re not, you’ll get it. The goalies don’t wear skates because it’s hard to move. Some of their equipment is provided by MWR.” In lieu of a puck, roller hockey is played with a plastic ball filled with fluid to reduce bouncing. There are warm, hot and cold weather balls and each performs a little differently. “One hot summer we kept the balls in a cooler on ice because they tended to get squishy and stick, Granger said. “We all have our favorite way of wanting
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the ball to react.” Current financial restraints have thinly stretched the sports and fitness budget and when a huge crack running down the center of the rink could no longer be ignored, about 20 players stepped up to make the necessary repairs themselves. “MWR supplied the materials and we did the rest,” Volpe said. “We’ll do anything to be able to play.” It took two days for the
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Navy honors meritorious service Ron Tucker, right, receives a Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award from Tactical Airlift, Adversary and Support Aircraft (PMA207) Principal Deputy Program Manager Doug Dawson, during Tucker’s retirement ceremony April 23. Tucker served at NAVAIR for more than 14 years supporting the Tactical Airlift/Operational Support Aircraft and C/KC130 programs. Tucker’s performance during his tenure earned him the Navy’s third highest civilian award.
Courtesy photo by Tara N. Strickland
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saying “polishing the cannonball,” which refers to wasting time on a task that does not add value, or making irrelevant improvements. One of the things I struggle with is whether it’s worthwhile to point out spelling and grammar errors in the many documents we get for review, when they don’t materially change the document, and will not affect the quality of the resulting product. While it’s always tempting to get documentation “just right,” there’s a cost in time and effort to write up the comment, discuss it
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with the author, and have the corrections made. For example, it’s very common to confuse the words “it’s” and “its,” but I’ve never seen it make a difference in the meaning, so should we really bother to correct errors like this? Adjudicating such comments can also overshadow the more important comments about such things as requirements and design. In naval aviation, we do a lot of trade studies. One of the things we should always keep in mind is the tradeoff between cost, schedule and performance or quality. We certainly don’t want to de-
ploy “junk” to the fleet, but there is always a cost and schedule impact when we go beyond “good enough.” We should always ensure that “better” and “great” are always worth that extra time and cost, especially now that we have an increasing number of rapid deployments, where quickly getting a capability out to the warfighter is of utmost importance. Yes, as an organization we should always aspire to greatness, and get quality products out to our customers. But we always need to be asking ourselves and each other when something is “good enough.”
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Around town
St. Mary’s County events: Potomac River Waterfowl Show
Friday and Saturday, 6-9 p.m. St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds Mingle with acclaimed artists from the region as they show off their fine art photography, wildfowl carvings, hand carved decoys, oil paintings, beach glass jewelry, reclaimed birdhouses, miscellaneous wood carvings, sculptures, antique and collectible decoys, driftwood sculptures and more. For more information, visit www.cfsomd.org/waterfowlshow.html, or contact Burkey Boggs at 301-934-1366 or burkeyboggs@verizon.net
HomeSpun Coffee House Concert
Friday, Doors open: 7 p.m.; Music:7:30 p.m. Christ Church Parish Hall 37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico According to the info at http://harpguitar.com, Stephen Bennett is an extraordinary musician, an acknowledged master of the harp guitar, a challenging teacher, a gifted composer, and a performer of astounding sensitivity. The Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association calls him “the Jedi Master of Fingerstyle Guitar”… Stephen has traveled the world and performed with the best. Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Refreshments are available (donation requested). For more information and directions, go to www.smtmd.org.
Calvert County events:
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Résumé and Cover Letter Workshop
Today, 1-3 p.m. Calvert library, Prince Frederick Join job counselor Sandra Holler in a small group to learn what makes a strong résumé and cover letter. If you have one started, bring it with you so editing can happen on the spot. Register by calling 410-535-0291 or 301-855-1862.
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Continued from 10 players to dig out the old loose debris and then they mixed cement, patched the crack and smoothed it out. “About six guys brought their own garden hoses to string together so we could reach the water over by the baseball field,” Granger said. “That helped with the pressure washers doing cleanup on the rink. We also fixed the nets with zip ties and widened the player’s benches. I think we invested
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Don’t Be a Bully
Today, 7-8:30 p.m. Calvert library, Prince Frederick Join young people from Calvert County who will share their performance skills to combat bullying. The Change Club will present their short play and Unique Divine Keemer will sing her song, “Don’t Be a Bully.” Come be entertained and learn what our youth are doing to stop bullying. All ages are welcome.
Family Event
Today, 7-8:30 p.m. Calvert library, Southern branch Family night events include tours of the new location, stories, make ‘n take stations and games. Try our new “Imagination Station” for interactive and imaginative play which is an essential part of a child’s early learning. Open to all ages.
Movie: ‘Lincoln’
Friday, 1-3:30 p.m. Calvert library, Southern branch Lincoln is a 2012 American historical drama film based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography, “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” and covers the final four months of Lincoln’s life. Adults only.
Chesapeake Beach Stars and Stripes Festival
Saturday, 10 a.m. through Monday Kellams Field, behind Town Hall off Bayside Road, Chesapeake Beach This community festival gives us time to reflect on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we may continue to experience the freedom and independence we have today. Our goal is to ensure our fallen heroes will never be forgotten! There are many events and learning experiences for the children. about 10 or 12 hours total.” Roller hockey has two seasons — winter/spring, played from early March to June; and fall, played from September to early December. Teams play nine regular games plus a single playoff round and the championship game, for a total of 11 games per season. They’ll play a full 60 minute game with 20 minute periods, but they don’t stop the clock. “It’s a little much to ask our scorekeeper to keep track of that,” Granger said, chuckling. “He’s probably
sitting close to the bench talking with the guys and having a beer. Half the time, if he stops the clock, he’ll forget to restart it.” Games are played every Tuesday night out at the rink with the first game beginning at 5:30 and the second at 7:00. Often, they’ll also play pick-up games on Saturday mornings. Anyone interested in channeling their inner Wayne Gretzky, can contact Mike Granger at michael.c.granger@navy. mil for more information.
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