Eng edge april newsletter 2014

THE ENGINEERING EDGE

EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Volume 6, Issue 4

April 2014

MATRIXED EMPLOYEES Providing Valuable Technical Expertise, Direct Linkage to the Customer and Critical Support to the Warfighter

Risk Mitigation Collective Protection Testing of Canada’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle pg.3

Engineering Support Division: A Leader in Ensuring Mission Success and Warfighter Safety pg.6

To access the electronic version of this newsletter, visit: http://www.ecbc.army.mil/news/ENG/ APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

. .

2 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE: pg.3|Risk Mitigation Collective Protection Testing of Canada’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle pg.4-5|Matrixed Employees pg.5|Employee Spotlight: Ryan Kostick pg.6-7|Engineering Support Division: A Leader in Ensuring Mission Success and Warfighter Safety pg.8|Engineers Serve as Scientists in the Classroom to Promote STEM Education

Engineering Directorate Division Chiefs Continue Search for Best Program Management Tool The Engineering Directorate Division Chief Roundtable was held on Mar. 13 in the Berger Auditorium. As part of the continued examination of best practices that can be adapted for use by the Directorate, Dan Davis, ECBC Research and Technology (R&T) Directorate Business Manager, presented an overview of R&T’s Portfolio Management Database. It is an Access-based program that provides a central repository for project information to help manage current and future R&T opportunities. Davis provided Engineering leadership a quick tour of the program and pointed out many of the helpful features, including easy storage of project information, quick access to data to answer takers from all levels, and a variety of search capabilities. The presentation was well-received by the Division Chiefs and was followed by a State of the Directorate briefing from Acting Director Bill Klein.

Updates on the Business Development (BD) Plan by Humberto Galarraga and BD training

by Genna Rowe completed the meeting. The next Division Chief Roundtable is scheduled for Apr. 29 at 12:30 p.m. in the Berger Auditorium.

SharePoint Tip: Managing Your Document Library Need to manage multiple files in a document library? Click the “Open With Explorer” icon in the ribbon at the top of the page to manage your document library in a familiar Windows interface.

Then you can drag files into folders just like you normally do on your desktop or laptop.

Ask a Tech Tip: “Magic” Erasers Mike Kauzlarich, of the Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch, reveals how the techniques and lessons learned in labs can help you solve your household problems. Submit a question to him at usarmy.APG.ecbc.mbx.engineering-directorate@mail.mil.

This newsletter was published through the Balanced Scorecard.

For article suggestions, questions or comments please contact Ed Bowen at edward.c.bowen8.civ@mail.mil.

If you have young children or pets, you may be worried about using chemical cleaners around the house. Try a foam “magic” eraser instead. Ever wonder what the “magic” is? These “erasers” are actually melamine foam that have been used as heat and sound insulation for many years and were discovered to have cleaning properties. They work in two ways. First, when this foam is cured from a resin, its microstructure becomes as hard as glass. So when it’s slightly dampened, it acts like very fine sandpaper.

Secondly, unlike sandpaper, the open-celled nature of melamine foam grabs and holds the “dirt” (or crayon, if you have children). So it appears “magical” as the material is cleaned off the surface without smearing. These eraser-like products work where other chemicals fail – but be careful using it on anything you do not want fine scratches to appear.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |April 2014| 3

Risk Mitigation Collective Protection Testing of Canada’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle

TEAM – “Together Everyone Achieves More” – is the motto for all personnel involved in this effort.

T

he United States military and its workforce pride themselves on protecting our country and our allies. To accomplish this goal, a collaborative effort often proves most effective. Led

by Aberdeen Test Center (ATC), the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) Test Reliability & Evaluation Branch (TREB) recently completed risk mitigation testing for a Canadian armoured patrol vehicle. Warfighter safety is a priority valued by many test personnel in the U.S. Army along with the desire to enhance technology in the developmental, test and research fields. This collective protection test effort not only reinforced the working relationship between two test facilities, but showcased collaboration and a shared common goal of protecting our allies and our Warfighters.

“Collaboration of expertise was what helped fuel this task. Together, everyone achieved more (TEAM) .”

– Do Nguyen, Chief, Test, Reliability Evaluation Branch (TREB) The Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) wanted to verify if the chemical sensor to be integrated in the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) would function properly in the location proposed by the manufacturer, and if installation in this location would provide the interior crew with sufficient warning of a chemical agent attack.

Understanding how different factors such as position and airflow affected the performance was critical. The Canadian DND reached out to ATC’s Light Combat Systems, which later teamed with the ECBC Engineering Directorate’s Engineering Test Division for aerosol and simulant vapor challenge tests for the use of the TREB’s Static Challenge Chamber. The TREB has expertise in testing collective protection systems and has the capability to test large vehicles and shelters using methyl salicylate, a simulant for distilled mustard (HD).

Through discussions with TREB engineers, ATC and the Canadian DND, a test plan was developed using modified procedures with an aerosol challenge. This would provide data to determine the best configuration to allow for a single static challenge test. All tests mitigated possible risks for a vehicle in a contaminated environment.

“The modified procedures combined different test methods that TREB engineers had previously performed. Through the attention to detail from Jennifer Mohr and the ingenuity of David King, the test went smoothly throughout execution,” said Daniel O’Neill, project lead.

Test setup inside TREB’s Static Challenge Chamber.

While generating the test plan prior to testing, TREB personnel worked with Andy Cote from the ECBC Safety Office to determine if the modified procedures reduced the possible risks for the test operator. The TREB also worked with ECBC’s International Program Management Office to obtain clearance for the Canadian foreign nationals to witness testing.

ECBC and ATC test personnel provided recommendations that will ultimately enhance the performance capability of the vehicle and overall individual protection. The effective communication between all involved has led to the formation of a new working relationship.

TREB looks forward to partnering with all the teams again to provide quality support for the Warfighter.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

4 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Matrixed Employees

Providing Valuable Technical Expertise, Direct Linkage to the Customer and Critical Support to the Warfighter

M

atrixed employees make up approximately one-third of the Engineering Directorate’s workforce and play a valuable role as subject matter experts and liaisons to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) and Project Managers for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Contamination Avoidance (JPM-NBC CA), Protection (JPM-P), Elimination (JPM-E), Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM-MCS), Guardian (JPM-Guardian), and Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPM-RN). Their skills and experience in the areas of engineering, science, technology, logistics and business are an asset to both the PMs and the Directorate.

“Matrixed employees bring a lot of work back into ECBC,” said Randy Laye, Deputy Director of Engineering. “They are not only demonstrating Engineering’s core competencies, but they also play an invaluable role as a linkage to our customers, their programs and their needs.”

Here, six matrixed employees share their contributions and experiences, including the benefits and challenges of being matrixed.

“I am currently on a developmental assignment with JPEO-CBD Headquarters in the Business Operations shop in support of Army-funded programs and efforts. This opportunity to work in the acquisition field is a benefit of being a matrixed employee. The acquisition field offers participation in an array of programs that provide a diverse experience in both research and development and procurement.

An exciting project I have worked on as a matrixed employee was an effort to field capabilities to the Civil Support Teams (CSTs). This project allowed Luke Fallon, Program me to interact with a range of personnel, from Analyst, JPM-NBC CA the Warfighters assigned to the individual CSTs to members of the National Guard Bureau. This interaction gave me an understanding of the range of requirements and needs we meet through ECBC and the JPMs. My connection with the Engineering Directorate has been in conjunction with the Dismounted Reconnaissance Joint Urgent Operational Need System (DR JUONS).

The chance to interface with the Advance Design and Manufacturing (ADM) Division to facilitate the fielding of an interim solution in parallel with the development of the program of record (Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets Kits and Outfits (DR SKO)), has given me great appreciation for the capabilities of the Engineering Directorate.”

Nicole Goetze, Chemical Engineer, JPEO-CBD

“I serve as a chemical engineer on the Product Support Manager for the Joint Portfolio (PSM-JP) team. Currently, I both lead and participate in initiatives that work towards accomplishing the PSMJP vision of balancing affordability and readiness for the Warfighter from a Chemical Biological Defense Program (CBDP) enterprise perspective. This role involves developing strategies and corresponding plans of action for implementation of those strategies, participating on multiple integrated product teams to provide input and expertise from the PSM-JP perspective, and coordinating with subject matter experts from the JPMs, ECBC and other organizations as needed.

I began my career with the Engineering Directorate, and although I’m matrixed to a new organization now, I like that I still have a connection to ECBC. Additionally, I like the different perspective that being a matrixed employee allows me to have. For instance, rather than being purely customer-focused, I am now exposed to working with system stakeholders and have the opportunity to collaborate with teams at a broader level. It can also be challenging to work as part of an enterprise. The CBDP enterprise encompasses multiple stakeholders. Achieving collaboration between all of them requires a delicate balance in order to meet everyone’s expectations.”

“In 2008, I joined the Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets, Kits and Outfits (DR SKO) Program as the lead systems engineer. The program completely revolutionizes how the Services complete their missions by allowing them to safely conduct reconnaissance in confined and enclosed spaces.

When I joined the team, the contract has just been awarded and there were no approved requirements, yet all Services wanted a system immediately. The program just successfully completed a Full Rate Production Decision in March 2014 and fieldings are set to begin this summer. Currently I am serving Anne Hise, Operations as the Operations Manager for the organization. The Manager, JPM-NBC CA position began as a developmental assignment, and after six months, became permanent. My main duties include coordinating and answering all internal and external taskers, as well as all internal and external documents staffing, review and approvals; coordination of weekly staff meetings; and operational support for facilities, purchasing, business processes, media and information technology.

As a matrixed employee, I enjoy the flexibility to grow and enhance my career by moving in and around ECBC and their partner organizations, while still being an ECBC employee. It has allowed me to explore opportunities without the fears that come with moving from job to job or company to company. But it does take work on my part to stay connected with ECBC. I do that through networking and building relationships with people at ECBC as well as with the JPM.” “As a strategic planner, I am involved in both assessing where the JPEO is today and planning how to get to where it wants to be in the future. I work with organizational representatives from each of the JPMs, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Joint Science and Technology Office (DTRA-JSTO), and the Joint Requirements Office (JRO) to better align the overall CBDP goals and JPEO programs to focus on the Warfighters’ priorities.

Being matrixed to the JPEO-CBD and working with the other organizations within the CBDP allows

Elaine M. Stewart-Craig, me to see the big picture of where the CBDP is Strategic Planner, JPEO-CBD focused, which directly impacts the work at ECBC.

For example, I am currently working on a materiel solution capability assessment that could impact how the entire CBDP plans for future programs. The intent of the assessment is to provide JPEO management insight into where our current equipment and development programs are addressing priorities and where we may need to make future investments.

There are some administrative challenges to being a matrixed employee. ECBC is my home organization and I am responsible to ECBC for meeting training requirements, completing performance objectives and appraisals and addressing additional suspenses as needed. However, the JPEO sometimes has different requirements and timetables which I must also adhere to.”

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |April 2014| 5

Employee Spotlight:

Ryan Kostick

This month’s Engineering Edge Employee Spotlight is on Ryan Kostick, Program Analyst, JPEO Biosurveillance Management Office.

J. Allen Swim, Test & Evaluation Engineer, Joint Expeditionary Collective Protection (JECP), JPM-P

“I came to the Engineering Directorate from industry in 2002 as an experienced engineer. Since then, I have participated in the Leadership Cohort, mentoring programs and also led a Balanced Score Card initiative for leadership development.

In addition, I have worked in three different PM organizations under the JPEO-CBD and PEOGround Combat Systems (GCS). With all of these experiences, I have had the opportunity to learn about ECBC’s core competencies. In my current position, I feel better connected to the Engineering Directorate than in the past and I am able to speak with my Division Chief on a daily basis.

Right now, I support Product Verification Testing (PVT) testing for the Joint Expeditionary Collective Protection (JECP) project by assisting in test site location, test plan preparation, and test execution and oversight. Support includes traveling to the test sites as needed throughout test events to oversee systems during testing. While I was matrixed to the PEO-GCS, I served as the CBRN engineer for the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCB) program as an expert in protection, detection, decontamination, and contamination survivability. This required an understanding of how all of the JPEO-CBD portfolio could be integrated onto a ground combat vehicle, and the ability to provide the necessary technical information to support vehicle development. It is hugely rewarding to contribute to an acquisition program that directly benefits the Warfighter.”

“I have an incredibly challenging and rewarding job representing the Joint Project Manager-Guardian (JPM-G) and providing acquisition leadership and guidance to three Joint Product Directors that span the mission space of Force Protection, Emergency Management and CBRNE Response. This mission space is so broad and diverse that it offers JPM-G a wide range of opportunities to provide the Warfighter with unique and critically-needed capabilities at an extremely fast pace. The position pushes me to constantly learn and grow throughout the Chemical and Biological Defense and Force Protection Michael Trzeciak, enterprises. I identify, cultivate and lead JPM-G Director, Engineering and efforts to build coalitions and partnerships in order to Acquisition, JPM-G drive government efficiency and build future business opportunities with our Joint services and government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

As a matrixed employee, I represent both the JPEO-CBD and ECBC, and facilitate awareness and understanding of each other’s needs while sharing and keeping the lines of communication open. Being matrixed, I have the advantage to reach out to two different organizations for guidance and mentorship and am able to have a much broader impact throughout the community. Both organizations consider me a key member of their team and allow me opportunities to professionally excel while providing world-class support to the Warfighter.”

What attracted you to working for the Army?

One of the biggest draws to working for the Army and government was the opportunity to explore various career paths. The willingness of the ECBC organization to rotate personnel and allow them to explore alternate teams and positions was an attractive feature because it felt like the organization wanted to keep their personnel satisfied and place people in environments where they may thrive. Working for the Army has afforded me the opportunity to travel the world, to places I’d never visit otherwise.

Working for the Army and traveling to military installations across the world opened my eyes to just how critical the work done by scientists and engineers in the DoD is.

What are the benefits of being a matrixed employee?

Being a matrixed employee introduces the practices and organizational construct of an outside organization. Seeing the organization’s business and management structure has helped provide a comparison to my previous experience with ECBC and has helped formulate my opinion on the different approaches and practices. Networking is also one of the largest benefits of a matrixed employee. My current role has afforded the chance to work with people outside of engineering and more focused on business practices, contracting and program management. Working with and having the reachback to these people will be beneficial later as I progress through my career.

What are the challenges of being a matrixed employee?

While being a matrixed employee, I have found it hard to interact with the Directorate leadership on a frequent basis compared to the previous opportunities to interact on a daily basis. Prior to moving to the matrix position it was fairly easy to discuss current projects, seek advice while struggling and to continue building on mentor/mentee relationships.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on as a matrixed employee?

I’m currently focused on the development of a “Demonstration Model” that is closely related to the traditional Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) Model. This model is an endeavor by the JPEO with the intent to accelerate acquisition and delivery of capability to the warfighter. This effort has the potential to have long-lasting effects on the business model of the JPEO and expediently fill capability gaps where they may exist.

What do you feel has been your biggest success in your career so far?

I consider my biggest success in my career so far to be a completed effort early in my career. While working with the Fixed Site Collective Protection Team, I led an effort to provide support at a military installation OCONUS. The effort required tracking and managing facility information, inspection records, conducting and certifying facilities, and training contractors at the installation on Collective Protection installation and protection to provide the installation an enduring capability. This effort pushed me past my comfort level in project management and provided the confidence and skills to tackle unfamiliar projects and endeavors.

What are your hobbies/activities outside of work?

I still play soccer in a few men’s leagues and I have begun working with electronics and circuitry for home DIY projects that utilize computer programming and physical hardware such as sensors to interact with the environment (light, temperature, motion, etc.).

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

6 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Engineering Support Division

A Leader in Ensuring Mission Success and Warfighter Safety

T

he Obscuration and Nonlethal Engineering (ONE) Branch and the Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch are two branches within the Engineering Directorate’s Engineering Support Division (ESD). They partner frequently to improve existing or develop new technologies and materials in the areas of energetic materials and smoke and obscurant payloads. Led by Bill Lake, the Division provides legacy and subject matter expertise and leverages its unique fabrication and testing capabilities to overcome production challenges, meet customer needs, and provide Warfighters with the safest, most advanced equipment possible.

The branches are currently leading a cutting-edge effort to improve the defensive obscuration capabilities for Warfighters, called the Improved Visual Obscurant Development program. Two other programs supported by the Division–Mass Casualty Decontamination and Colorimetric Reconnaissance Explosives Squad Screening (CRESS) Kit–are in various stages of development.

Improved Visual Obscurant Development The Improved Visual Obscuration program is aimed at improving the state of the art in obscuration (screening smoke) technology for the Warfighter. The program is also an excellent example of synergy and cooperation within the obscuration community, including specialized groups within ECBC, as well as between the Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) and its other research, development and engineering centers (RDECs).

The legacy obscurants of choice for production of defensive smoke screens have been those that are hygroscopic (moisture-retaining) and based on white or red phosphorus or hexachloroethane (HC).

These materials gather atmospheric moisture to increase “yield” and, therefore, screening power. However, the zinc chloride produced by the AN-M8 HC Screening Smoke Grenade has serious health consequences for the Warfighter, including edema of the lungs and possibly death when used in confined spaces. A few years ago, there was great concern based on exposures that occurred during training in a military operation urban terrain (MOUT) environment. It was ultimately decided that the hygroscopic AN-M8 hand grenade would no longer be procured, and that the former M83 Practice Grenade would be reclassified as a tactical grenade. The M83 contains smoke formulations based on common sugar and terephthalic acid, which does not present the same level of toxicity as the HC smoke composition; however, the trade-off is that the M83 provides significantly less screening power than the AN-M8 since it does not react with atmospheric moisture. Additionally, using phosphorus-based obscurants creates its own challenges: they can act as an incendiary agent, causing fires in dry vegetation or other similar materials in the field, and they also produce phosphoric acids, which are corrosive and irritating to the Warfighter.

The obscuration community took this challenge as an opportunity to develop a safer, less toxic, and less incendiary alternative to these legacy obscurants that could also perform better and produce more defensive coverage for the Warfighter than the legacy HC Screening Smoke Composition. To tackle the challenge, the ONE Branch and the Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch have partnered with the R&T Directorate’s Smoke and Target Defeat Branch to develop and test formulations that could be used in both close combat (grenade) ammunition systems, as well as combat ammunition (projectile and mortar) systems. Formulations developed by the RDECOM Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), as well as other government agencies and contractors, will also be included in the evaluation. The Smoke and Target Defeat Branch is funding the majority of the effort and is managing the overall project to ensure that all candidate smokes are evaluated equally. Field testing and evaluation of the alternatives is now underway at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground. The major sponsor is the PM-Close Combat Systems at PEO Ammunition, and there are other PMs who have a vested interest in the outcome of the testing.

The Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch is contributing several custom formulations for testing. The formulations vary in chemical composition and type and amount of smoke produced. “ECBC has separate facilities to model smoke behavior before it is ever blended, to actually blend candidate compositions to support the models, to test those compositions in an enclosed chamber and to make full scale devices for testing in an outdoor environment. These pieces come together to form a picture of the true behavior of a smoke candidate,” explained Joseph Domanico, Senior Engineer for Pyrotechnics and Explosives for ECBC and ECBC’s Ammunition Control Officer.

Colorimetric Reconnaissance Explosives Squad Screening (CRESS) Kit The Engineering Support Division (ESD) provides programmatic and acquisition support for the Colorimetric Reconnaissance Explosives Squad Screening (CRESS) Kit and follow-on variants.

Credit: U.S. Army RDECOM Developed in response to the Army Technology Objective (ATO) for the Detection of Unknown Bulk Explosives, the ECBC Directorates collaborated to develop a screening kit for common fuels and oxidizers used in the manufacture of homemade explosives (HME). The ESD worked closely with the R&T Directorate for chemistry development and the ADM Division of the Engineering Directorate to develop and document hardware prototypes. The CRESS kit features an innovative form factor combined with proven colorimetric chemistry that enables soldiers to easily and safely sample bulk solids and simultaneously test them for the presence of four HME precursor materials often used in current combat zones.

The CRESS Kit can distinguish between urea (safe fertilizer) and urea nitrate (powerful HME). When paired with acid screening ability, the kit reveals production of urea nitrate from urea. The kit also allows for screening of dangerous oxidizer chemicals used in HME production (i.e., perchlorate, nitrate) and for screening of ammonium nitrate with dual reactions.

The ESD also managed the efforts to gain an interim health hazard assessment, safety releases and a safety confirmation through formal programmatic channels.

This was instrumental in allowing the deployment of the CRESS Kit to R-FAST forces in Afghanistan in summer 2013. The kit was well received and users commented that it allowed them to detain suspects that would have otherwise been released based on insufficient evidence. Current efforts and future plans based on the CRESS concept include the development of additional colorimetric chemistries to detect additional HME precursors and commonly abused drugs; conducting Soldier ensemble compatibility analysis; development of hardware design improvements; conducting system-level performance testing; development of an Android app to digitize data analysis and reporting; and supporting the transition to a program of record next year.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |April 2014| 7

Mass Casualty Decontamination For more than a decade, the Engineering Support Division has been a key stakeholder in the development of civilian first responder protocols for decontamination during hazardous materials (HAZMAT)/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) mass casualty incidents. Sponsored by the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School (Directorate of Training and Leader Development) and supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Dr. Stephen Divarco (ECBC Chief Systems Engineer) led an effort in 2013 to re-publicize an updated “Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination During a HAZMAT/Weapon of Mass Destruction Incident, Volumes I and II (ECBC-SP-036), which has also been web-sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) at http://www.nfpa.org/research/resource-links/ first-responders/mass-casualty-decontamination.

The continuing effort in 2014 has been focused on addressing concepts, principles, and fundamentals for providing military support through the National Guard Civil Support Teams (CSTs), CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), and Homeland Response Force (HRF) to domestic agencies during HAZMAT/WMD incidents using common language and lexicon. Lake and Divarco

Domanico pointed out that there are several candidate formulations that stress low toxicity but produce less than satisfactory smoke; and there are candidates that produce voluminous quantities of smoke and have lower toxicity than the HC smoke composition, but are not completely non-toxic. “The real challenge is to find a suitable smoke grenade to improve what is available for today’s complex battlefield,” said Domanico. “The Rules of Engagement determine if and how a Soldier can use smoke and under what circumstances.

Our ultimate goal with this program is to equip our Warfighters with a modern smoke device that will be usable under a maximum number of scenarios, that will be relatively safe for the Soldiers as well as civilians in the area, and will also be cost effective for the Army to field and sustain.”

The ONE Branch is contributing subject matter expertise, technical data management and test planning and execution to the program.

Since several formulations will be tested, a weighted scoring matrix has been devised to compare the performance measurements and human and environmental toxicity levels of each formulation, in order to provide a clear assessment of the possibilities. “While increased safety is the primary goal, our efforts are also aimed at producing performance that is much better than terephthalic acid

have been using the most current policy, guidance, TTPs, appropriate doctrine and accepted best practices to illustrate MCD operations that involve a combination of variables; for example, a large number of casualties or incident conditions that challenge or exceed a local jurisdiction’s ability to provide basic life-saving services. Their latest effort addresses how the military plays a vital role in securing the homeland through the execution of homeland defense and civil support missions. In addition, the current effort highlights the DoD readiness to provide defense support of civil authorities via a network of command and response elements under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). Last, but not least, their effort illustrates the importance of the coordinated National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Framework (NRF) in providing a unity of effort between the military and the civilian sector.

Key to their effort is the development of a proof of principle for a computerbased model that can be used to improve the effectiveness of mass human decontamination. The desired end state of this model is to provide planners with a computer-based tool to optimize mass human decontamination processes, enhance the medical mitigation of morbidity and mortality, manage the spread of contamination, and validate material solutions. The Advanced Design and Manufacturing (ADM) Division will provide the software application to simulate the flow of people through the Military Mass Casualty Decontamination’s integrated systems and processes.

(TA), while being as close to the performance of HC and phosphorusbased smokes as possible,” explained Kevin Fritz, Chief of the ONE Branch. “The goal is to develop a new type-classified item that is the best possible product for the Warfighter to use in a MOUT environment.”

Following the testing, the next step will be to use the weighted test scoring matrix to completely evaluate the merits of the candidate smoke compositions on several levels, including quantity of smoke produced, human and environmental toxicity, cost and method of manufacture, and safety and training for use by the Warfighter. Then the best possible candidate will move forward in the development cycle.

“ECBC’s leadership in this test program is made possible by the collaboration between the ONE Branch and the Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch and with the R&T Directorate, as well as with the various RDECs, in both the development of the candidate obscurants and in actual testing phase,” said Nino Bonavito, Chief of the Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch. “The broader benefits for the Army include a much faster and more economical assessment and acquisition cycle that leverages resources across the Directorate, the Center, and RDECOM.”

Initial testing of the HC replacement smoke formulation known as HX. Credit: Joseph Domanico/Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

8 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Engineers Serve as Scientists in the Classroom to Promote STEM Education

E

CBC and its personnel play an active role in the local community by participating in activities such as blood drives, environmental clean-ups, and food and clothing donations.

The Center also supports local schools by being a strong advocate for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. By volunteering as mentors, guest speakers and project judges, ECBC scientists and engineers play a hands-on role in shaping young minds to become the future STEM workforce.

Engineering Directorate staff are often tapped to be scientists in the classroom, providing a science- or engineering-related lesson and demonstration for students. On Feb. 3, members of the Detection and Decontamination Division and Protection Engineering Division participated in a STEM presentation and engineering design activity for the third grade classes at Abingdon Elementary School in Abingdon, Md. The engineers and scientists presented information about their work at ECBC and how their work supports Warfighters and first responders. The presentation not only teaches students about the engineering design process, but also about professional skills such as teamwork, communication, critical thinking and collaboration.

The students at Abingdon Elementary School had read Leif Catches the Wind: A Mechanical Engineering Story (Museum of Science, 2005), part of the Engineering is Elementary educational series. The story is about using renewable energy sources (wind and water) to help save fish in a pond. The book provides a direct tie-in to a lesson taught by ECBC engineers in which students design a water wheel. Working in teams, the students design and construct a water wheel using an empty two-liter bottle, a dowel, fishing line, index cards and tape, with the goal of being able to lift a 50-gram weight. The index cards are attached to the bottle and water is poured over, causing the water wheel to turn and lift the weight. Additional weights can also be added. Each team discusses what might be the best shape and placement of the index cards for the most effective water wheel. After testing their water wheel once, students consider potential changes and improvements to their design before testing a second time. The teams present their designs to each other and hold a competition to see which water wheel can lift the most weight.

“Through reading the book, the students have already become somewhat familiar with engineering design concepts and the design cycle of ‘Ask-Imagine-Plan-Design-Build-Improve,’” said Nichole Mortin, chemical engineer with the Detection Engineering Branch.

“This water wheel experiment is similar to the problem the characters encounter in the story. We present the problem, monitor the

students during the design process, and offer tips. We also reinforce teamwork, brainstorming and sharing ideas, and communication skills, which are also an important part of the lesson.”

“Within the schools, there are different skill levels, so every class is different,” explained Kerrin Dame, physical scientist with the Detection Engineering Branch. “There is no noticeable difference between the boys and girls in the class – Everyone is capable and enthusiastic. We go around to each team to help coach them and make sure every child is engaged in the activity.”

The engineers also explain to the students what it is like being a scientist working at ECBC. “We usually open with questions such as, ‘Who knows where Aberdeen Proving Ground is? What does it sound like we do at ECBC?’” said Mortin. “We usually hear answers like, ‘chemistry, biology, physics.’ Then we explain more specifically what we do, such as working with detectors and masks.

We show photos of tanks, masks, mask testing, detectors, and detector testing, and we ask questions like, ‘What do you think is happening in these photos?’ and try to introduce the science and engineering concepts that way.”

Abingdon Elementary is just one of the partner schools where ECBC provides STEM outreach. Engineers and scientists have also volunteered lessons at Chesapeake City Elementary, Ring Factory Elementary, and Forest Lakes Elementary, among others. Lessons and demonstrations range from biology to chemistry, physics, material science, environmental science, and renewable energy.

As part of the Engineering is Elementary educational series, ECBC engineers and scientists have provided a variety of activities that apply the engineering design process to solving real world problems like those encountered by the young characters in the series. For example, to address the environmental issues in Saving Salila’s Turtle: An Environmental Engineering Story (Museum of Science, 2005), students have designed prototypes for oil spill cleanup and water filtration. Students have also experimented with polymer science and chemical engineering to make a polymer (GAK), and they have also used materials science and engineering to design, build and test earthen wall structures.

“It is very rewarding to see the students get excited about science and engineering when their design or experiment works,” said Dame. “They are competitive, but also cheer each other on.

The teachers have been wonderful to work with, and are very appreciative of our time spent in their classrooms.”

If you are interested in volunteering for ECBC’s STEM outreach program, contact Nicole McKew at nicole.g.mckew.civ@mail.mil.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE