ECBC Engineering Edge-January/February 2016

THE ENGINEERING EDGE

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EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER Volume 8, Issue 1 January/February 2016

Employee Spotlight: Lowry Brooks PAGE 12 Read about the ECBC Engineering Directorate online at http://www.ecbc.army.mil/news/ENG APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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INSIDE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE:

TODAY’S ARMY

pg.3|AROUND THE CENTER: ECBC Works to Engage Minority Students in Defense Research

Women to Serve in All Positions and Occupations in Army and Other Services

pg.3|ECBC IN THE NEWS: The Army Invented a Scarf that Keeps Out Tear Gas

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pg.4-10|ECBC ENGINEERING: Moving the Mission Forward pg.11|ENGINEERING EDGE READERSHIP SURVEY: We Want to Hear from You! pg.12|EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Lowry Brooks

s of January 2016, women may serve in all positions and occupations in the U.S. military, including combat roles such as Army Rangers and Green Berets. The announcement was made Dec. 3, 2015, by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

Women will be fully integrated into combat roles deliberately and methodically, using seven guidelines set forth by the secretary that cover implementation and opportunity. Although the secretary acknowledged there will be challenges to the implementation, the Joint Services will now be able to harness the skills and perspectives of the many talented women in uniform today and in the future.

“They’ll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry Soldiers into combat,” Carter said. “They’ll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers and everything else that was previously open only to men.”

A memo cosigned by Daniel A. Daily, Sergeant Major of the Army, GEN Mark A. Milley, Army Chief of Staff, and Acting Army Secretary Eric K. Fanning explained that the Army would begin implementing integration plans as soon as Jan. 2, 2016, but not later than April 1, 2016.

This newsletter was published through the Balanced Scorecard. Hard copies are located in the Engineering Front Office, E3330, E3331, E3510, E3516, E3549 lobby A and C, E4301, E5102, E5165, and in Rock Island near the Deputy’s office.

The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) Engineering Edge is an authorized publication for members of the DoD. Contents of the Engineering Edge are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of Army. Editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the ECBC Engineering Directorate. References to commercial products or entities in this publication, including inserts and hyperlinks, does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army of the products or services offered.

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

To access the electronic version, visit: http://www.ecbc.army.mil/news/ENG/

The memo said, “Our best qualified, regardless of gender, will now be afforded the opportunity to serve in any [Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)]. Our detailed and deliberate implementation plan will maintain the readiness of our force and ensure we remain a standards-based Army. This methodical plan will establish and enforce MOS-specific and gender-neutral standards based on the rigors of ground combat. Done properly, the integration of women into all MOSs will improve combat readiness and make our Army better. Readiness is our top priority.”

More Info "Carter Opens All Military Occupations, Positions to Women", Dec. 3, 2015, http://www.defense. gov/News-Article-View/Article/632536/carter-opens-all-military-occupations-positions-to-women

Ask a Tech Tip: Keeping a Roadtrip with Kids Fun and Educational Mike Kauzlarich, of the Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch, reveals how the techniques and lessons learned in labs can help solve your household problems. Submit a question to him at usarmy.APG.ecbc.mbx.engineering-directorate@mail.mil.

Here’s something fun to do when you are on a long road trip with your family. Similar to the game “I Spy,” it teaches your children about searching and awareness, and will also broaden their knowledge of chemistry.

Many of the tanker trucks and 18-wheelers you see on the highway haul chemicals. They are often required to have a diamond-shaped sign or placard on the sides of the vehicle with a four-digit number. In case there is an accident, the number lets emergency responders know exactly what kind of chemical(s) the truck is carrying. For example, the number 1203 means gasoline. So when you pass a truck on the highway, have your children use a smart phone to look up the numbers―then ask them tell everyone what the chemical is named. Or you could buy a 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook to look up the numbers. Either way, your children will learn a lot about chemicals and what’s being carried on the road―and it will help pass the time on a long trip.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |January/February 2016| 3

AROUND THE CENTER

ECBC Works to Engage Minority Students in Defense Research

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n early 2011, a leading biotechnology researcher at ECBC saw the value of establishing a means by which minority serving institutions could be encouraged to perform research in chemical biological defense technology. He envisioned a two-fold result; adding to national security through advanced chemical and biological defense research and engaging a largely untapped pool of college-level minority students in defense-related science and technology.

ECBC’s leadership liked the idea and contracted with a private consulting firm to perform an analysis of the concept’s feasibility. In 2012, ECBC sent out a Request for Information to minority serving institutions around the nation to see if they would be interested in joining a consortium with this goal. Twelve schools responded.

This led to ECBC sending out a formal Request for Proposal to participate in the consortium. By 2013, ECBC Procurement

had established a budget and the consortium was close to being a reality.

In September 2014, ECBC signed a formal agreement with members of the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation establishing the consortium, now known as the MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium, and actively solicited membership from institutions that have traditionally served minority students, including blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives.

ECBC secured $1 million in funding from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. With that funding, the committee selected four papers on chemical biological sensing and four papers on chemical biological protection for follow-on proposals.

ECBC awarded six one-year projects in September 2015. The Defense Threat

Minority STEM Students are an Important Resource for Developing New Chemical Biological Defense Technology. Credit: U.S. Navy Reduction Agency is providing another $1 million in funding for predictive toxicology research projects. ECBC will announce another round of awards for research in this area in early 2016.

More Info “ECBC Works to Engage Minority Students in Defense Research,” Dec. 16, 2015, http://www.ecbc.army.mil/news/2015/ ECBC-engage-minority-students-defenseresearch.html

ECBC IN THE NEWS

The Army Invented a Scarf that Keeps Out Tear Gas Popular Mechanics, Nov. 5, 2015 Popular Mechanics recently ran a story on the Integrated Respiratory and Eye Protective Scarf (IREPS), developed by researchers with the ECBC Research & Technology Directorate.

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hen Soldiers, Special Operations operators, or police know they’re running into a place filled with tear gas or other noxious fumes, they don their traditional full general protective mask made of hard, nonflexible material. It keeps them breathing and safe, but it’s not exactly the easiest thing to put on. Besides: What if you’re taken by surprise?

The Army wanted a lightweight mask that could carry with them and they could get on in moments. Troops in the field also wanted a mask that could protect users who have beards (hello Special Ops), or must operate with other head-borne equipment.

So a trio of researchers at the Army’s

Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) conceived and began development of a flexible mask to protect users against riot control agents like tear gas. The mask shows promise—but the Army needs partners to help complete its development.

However, the mask does not yet integrate crucial eye protection. The team has considered putting gaskets similar to those found on swim goggles on sunglass-style protectors, which would then seal around the eyes to the face. Fabricating eyewear prototypes will require new funding now that the year-long ECBC support has ended.

That's why Paul Gardner, chief of ECBC's Respiratory Protection Branch, is reaching out to industry and potential customers.

"We've taken the project as far as our funding allows, and we're actively seeking customers with a requirement for this technology who are willing to fund the APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Credit: U.S. Army project through the remainder of the R&D phase."

More Info “The Army Invented a Scarf that Keeps Out Tear Gas,” Nov. 5, 2015, http://www. popularmechanics.com/military/research/ a18076/army-scarf-tear-gas/

4 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

ECBC ENGINEERING

MOVING THE MIS “Our Warfighters will not face the same threats in the near future as they do today―their missions are constantly evolving,” said Michael Abaie, ECBC’s Director of Engineering. “To help them stay ahead of these threats, we need to be dynamic in focusing our capabilities and proactive in anticipating the needs of our customers.”

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o that end, in 2016 the Engineering Directorate is concentrating on having a greater understanding of its stakeholders’ needs and future plans―and then making sure the Directorate’s strategy is in direct alignment. This aligned approach is reflective of what Abaie calls “nested strategies,” meaning that the strategic direction of the Engineering Directorate is most effective when it aligns with those of our customers as well as the strategic goals of ECBC as a whole.

Abaie and other senior leaders have already begun to meet with major stakeholders, and the take-aways from those meetings are informing where the Engineering Directorate is heading in both the near and far term.

And while these efforts are providing the “where” the Directorate are going, the framework of how best to harness the Directorate’s capabilities to get there has already been built―via the Directorate’s Strategic Management System initiatives.

“I am incredibly impressed with the amount of time and dedication the workforce has spent developing and implementing the strategic initiatives, and look forward to bringing those efforts together to form a seamless, responsive and timely strategy,” Abaie said.

Armed with the deliverables of the stakeholder discussions, and enabled by the outcomes of the strategic initiatives, the Engineering Directorate has the underlying architecture and direction it needs to channel its strengths and core capabilities Engineering to best support Test the current and forecasted needs of the Directorate’s customers.

for the Next Generation Chemical Detector, to our instrumental role in transitioning spare parts from TACOM to the Defense Logistics Agency,” said Abaie. “We are excited to provide an even stronger level of expertise and service to our customers in 2016―and an even greater level of capability and protection to the Warfighter.”

Sustainment

Engineering ADM Systems Engineering and Acquisition

In addition to formulating Sustainment the long-term strategy, the Support Directorate is embarking on several special projects this year. These include a model-based system-ofsystems engineering tradespace suite Engineering’s Top Goals of tools that will provide transformative and Priorities—Directly from information for the chemical and biological defense enterprise’s Leadership investment strategy; a consortia, being “Being proactive―not just solving developed in close partnership with today’s problems, but tomorrow’s the ECBC Research & Technology problems―and continuing to advocate Directorate, which will support smallECBC ENGINEERING for chemical and biological defense business innovators in transitioning equipment to be fully integrated into technologies to the Warfighter faster; the design of military systems in the and an initiative led by RDECOM and earliest stages of development.”

Army Materiel Command to modernize – Bill Klein, Deputy Director the way product technical data is stored and managed.

“We will lean forward and be recognized as a key enabler for “Engineering accomplished so customer initiatives, develop cuttingmuch in 2015―from our steadfast edge design tradespace and decisionsupport of the Advanced Technology support tools to guide chemical and Demonstration for the Joint United biological defense program investment States Forces Korea Portal and strategies and innovation, and continue Integrated Threat Recognition program, to build on the momentum of our to beginning the testing process APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |January/February 2016| 5

SSION FORWARD existing strategic planning processes.”

– Lowry Brooks, Acting Associate Director, Engineering and JPEO-CBD Client Manager “Integration of our product development capabilities together under one roof, remaining cutting-edge with the activities and services we offer, and standing ready to rapidly develop solutions as part of an integrated ECBC team to help resolve the country’s next CBRNE defense crisis.” – Mark Schlein, Associate Director for CBRNE Product Development

“We will focus on agility in order to respond to organizational shifts and realignments in the chemical and biological defense enterprise, and as always, deliver a quality product on time and within budget.” – Ron Pojunas, Associate Director, Joint Interagency Activities

“To sustain Soldier readiness by making sure the Warfighter receives state-ofthe-art chemical and biological defense equipment while we provide the highest level of sustainment engineering support.” – Kevin Lee, Associate Director and ECBC-Rock Island Site Manager

ADM

Acquisition

Logistics

Product Realization

Strategic

Planning and Business Management Knowledge and Data Management

Protection

Engineering

Support

Engineering

Detection and Decontamination

Engineering

Each of Engineering’s eleven divisions plays a critical and meaningful role in moving the nation's chemical and biological defense mission forward.

Acquisition Logistics “Our Division’s number-one goal is customer satisfaction. Through our alignment with the two Advanced Design and Manufacturing Divisions, we are exploring new customers and opportunities for support. We are also planning roadshows for the Joint Project Managers, where we can explain and promote our services.”

– Mike McKenna, Chief

2015 Major Accomplishments • Planned and executed logistics and maintainability demonstration for the Joint Expeditionary Collective Protection (JECP) program in support of the Joint Project ManagerProtection (JPM-P) • Provided hazardous materials shipping support for the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) Joint United States Forces Korea Portal and Integrated Threat Recognition (JUPITR) program • Assigned as lead standardization activity for the CBRN Contamination Survivability area for the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

• Set up a document repository for the Joint Service Air Mask Joint Strike Fighter (JSAM JSF) variant for JPM-P 2016 Projects and Customers • Continuing logistics support for JECP • Continuing logistics support for Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets, Kits and Outfits (DR-SKO), a program led by the JPEO-CBD • Continuing logistics support for the Joint Biological Tactical Detection System

6 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Advanced Design and Manufacturing Product Realization “My goals as Division Chief are to provide my personnel with an interesting and exciting place to work―to provide challenging projects and a means to advance their careers.”

– Lester D. Strauch III, Chief

2015 Major Accomplishments

2016 Projects and Customers

• Developed unmanned aerial vehicle-based detection and collection systems that include precision payload delivery

• Continuing to develop sensor, detectors and collectors for two unmanned aerial systems for Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and U.S. Pacific Command

• Supported development of the Colorimetric Reconnaissance Explosives Squad Screening (CRESS) kit into a drug detection kit • Built mobile laboratories for the Czech military • Designed and fabricated functional prototype large-scale applicators for the Criticality Incident Detection and Alarm System (CIDAS) • Developed and produced a robotic CBRN payload for the Extending the Reach of the Warfighter program.

• Working on a major still/video capability kit for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) • Continuing efforts for capability insertion into the USMC Buffalo program • Initiated effort to design and develop a smaller applicator for CIDAS • Continued effort to improve the automated multiple readers for the VOCkit

• Design and fabrication for the Deep Sea Set and Underwater Construction Set for Product Manager Sets, Kits, Outfits and Tools (PM-SKOT) • Developed and prototyped VOCkit readers for ECBC R&T Directorate

Engineering

ECBC ENGINEERING

Test

Engineering

MOVING THE MISSION

FORWARD

Sustainment

ADM Systems Engineering and Acquisition Sustainment

Support

Advanced Design and Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Acquisition “As a new Division Chief, my priorities are to adapt our capabilities to address emerging needs within the CBRNE community while maintaining alignment with key Engineering Directorate and ECBC initiatives.

Additionally, we intend to focus on our strategic relationships with the Rapid Equipping Force, Special Forces, and the intelligence community to expand the mission space of the Division.”

– Kevin Wallace, Chief 2015 Major Accomplishments • Began managing the Rapid Equipping Force's (REF) Expeditionary Laboratory (Ex Lab) project, to include overall project management, lab staffing, reach-back engineering support and logistics; serves as the liaison between REF

the RDECOM Research, Development and Engineering Centers (RDECs) for reach-back support • Nominated for the Major General Harold J. Greene Award for Innovation for staffing strategy for REF Ex Lab project • Continued to provide significant CONUS and OCONUS support to the Joint Project Manager for ECBC Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Contamination Avoidance (JPM-NBC CA), such as integration of capability sets, procurement support, fielding and sustainment support, and training • Continued to provide additive manufacturing (AM) expertise to the U.S. Army Mantech Office, the RDECOM AM Community of Practice, and the Regional Additive Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland • Provided rapid turn-around visual concepts to support Army Research Laboratory's Vehicle Technology Division Micro Autonomous Systems Research (MASR) effort; the MASR effort has been highlighted in several major online media outlets, including Popular Science APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2016 Projects and Customers • Continuing to provide project management, staffing, reach-back, procurement, and shipping and receiving support to the REF Ex Labs stationed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait • Establishing and demonstrating a model-based

systems-of-systems engineering tradespace to ENGINEERING

support the JPEO-CBD’s analytical framework ultimately informing the development of future capability sets and/or non-material solutions to drive down operational risk to the Warfighter

• Developing cohesive strategies and plans to implement an RDECOM-enterprise product data management solution to facilitate seamless collaboration across all RDECs • Establishing an ECBC consortia to facilitate rapid CBRNE product development and technology transition

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |January/February 2016| 7

Detection and Decontamination Engineering “The 2016 goals for the Division are to provide outstanding customer service, grow our work with existing customers, maintain stake in the expanding Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) mission space, and expand our customer base.

Provide opportunities for Division personnel to have different work experiences and grow professionally.”

• Supported the demonstration of Extending the Reach of the Warfighter through Robotics (ERWR), which uses a large, unmanned aerial vehicle to deliver an unmanned ground vehicle fitted with a CBRN sensor kit • Co-led the Raman Agent Monitor Coalition Warfare Program and provided systems engineering support • Completed three M21 system assessment and training missions for the Jordanian Armed Forces

2016 Projects and Customers • JUPITR evaluation, employment and fielding support for the JPEO-CBD • Joint CBRN Advanced Capability Sets (JCACS) transition and TEMP documentation for the JPEOCBD • Scalable Elimination Sets, Kits and Outfits unfunded ATD, supporting risk reduction phase for DTRA

• Conducted ten new equipment training missions for • Personnel Contamination Mitigation unfunded ATD, the DR SKO supporting risk reduction phase for DTRA • Continued technical discussions with the Japan • Follow-on effort from Rapid-Area Sensitive-Site 2015 Major Accomplishments Ministry of Defense to develop a new program to Reconnaissance (RASR) ATD to further refine cooperatively research, test, evaluate and fabricate • Supported the JUPITR ATD: Developed transition Raman technology for integration on military a colorimetric reader prototype for the M256A2 kit and management plans; developed operational platforms in support of ECBC Research & demonstration (op demo) vignettes; conducted table • 256A2 development of a new training kit to replace Technology Directorate top exercises to prepare for the JUPITR op demo; current kit in collaboration with several branches in • DR SKO fielding and new equipment training trained Warfighters for op demo; and managed JUPITR the ECBC Engineering Directorate support for JPM-NBC CA Test IPT to include coordination with the Army Test and • Joint Biological Point Detection System transition Evaluation Command • Joint Biological Point Detection System transition support and configuration management for the support and configuration management for the • ATD Branch members received a Commander’s JPM-NBC CA JPM-NBC CA Award for Civilian Service for their outstanding support of JUPITR through the op demo – Humberto Galarraga, Chief

ADM

Acquisition

Logistics

Product Realization

Strategic

Planning and Business Management Knowledge and Data Management

Protection

Engineering

Support

Engineering

Detection and Decontamination

Engineering

Engineering Support “In 2016, we will promote our capabilities to include further development of safe obscurant alternatives and new, novel obscurant artillery projectiles and grenades, and extension of the CRESS technology to finished explosives and other threat substances. We will continue to explore advanced visual smokes; increase business in homemade explosive detection; increase work with JPEO-CBD in biodecontamination; and miniaturize thermite devices for Special Operations Command (SOCOM).”

– Bill Lake, Chief

2015 Major Accomplishments

2016 Projects and Customers

• Acted as the program manager, testing lead and configuration manager for existing and new start programs

• Developing obscuration artillery projectiles and grenades using safer payload materials for PEO Ammunition and the Joint Attack Munition Systems Office

• Implemented new start programs included in the development of an obscurant mine for the Gator version of the family of scatterable mines that replace lethal antipersonnel mines banned by the Ottawa Treaty

• Mechanizing smoke generation and the CRESS for the JPEO-CBD to include technical engineering expertise, testing support, configuration and technical data management, and program management as the integrated ECBC lead for supported items

• Determined service life of gas adsorbent modules used to stabilize red phosphorus munitions, alternate ignition methods for legacy grenades, and • Technology development and services for smokes, the drug screening variant of the CRESS known as riot control, explosive detection, thermites, the CRESS-D energetic support, aerosol dissemination testing, • Proposed and accepted the CRESS-D for a SOCOM decontamination and forensic analysis technical experiment where interest in making other variants of the CRESS was expressed • Used low toxicity advanced visual obscurant, bio-decon smoke, miniaturized thermite devices, homemade explosives detection support, and sensitive-site protection grenades APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

8 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Engineering Test “Our goals for 2016 are to serve our clients with honesty, provide the most accurate and reliable data, and be the laboratory the chembio testing community relies on.

My priority is to provide a safe test environment for our workforce while they are conducting agent testing in support of our customers and the Warfighter.”

– Eugene Vickers, Chief

2015 Major Accomplishments • Developed new analytical methods and conducted testing on several Next Generation Chemical Detector (NGCD) prototypes for JPMNBC CA • Completed required testing and evaluation in the technology development phase of acquisition for the Joint Service Equipment Wipe (JSEW) for JPM-P • Provided certification testing and test planning in support the Multiple-Cell Redial Filter Collective Protection System at Osan Air Base, South Korea 2016 Projects and Customers • Developing analytical methods and evaluating tests for Contamination Indicator Decontamination Assurance System in support of JPM-P

• Conducting SMARTMAN testing for nerve and blister agents for PEO Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives • Providing certified testing of mask for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) using SMARTMAN testing of nerve and blister agents • Evaluating NGCD for JPM-NBC CA • Conducting large-scale biological testing for ECBC R&T Directorate • Pyrotechnic dissemination and agent testing in support of the Army National Ground Intelligence Center • Large-scale agent testing for DTRA • Agent testing of butyl material in support of JEFES projects

• Conducting agent testing in the Toxic Containment Module

Engineering

ECBC ENGINEERING

Test

Engineering

MOVING THE MISSION

FORWARD

Sustainment

ADM Systems Engineering and Acquisition Sustainment

Support

Knowledge and Data Management “My priorities for 2016 are to continue to improve our processes to position the Division to successfully meet the challenges facing continued operations in the current information assurance and DoD information technology environment.”

– John Wheeler, Chief

2015 Major Accomplishments • Provided information management system services in support of the continued design, development, and hosting of the Joint Acquisition CBRN Knowledge System and associated tools, Ordering System for Critical Reagents Program Assays and Reagents (OSCAR), and other ECBC products • Successfully added order history and reporting capabilities to OSCAR and launched the Army TACOM Emergency Management Portal • Received full authorization to operate the ECBC Data Center through 2018, which provides hosting and infrastructure development

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2016 Projects and Customers • Providing information technologies such as web and mobile applications development, business process analysis and automation, requirements development, and software development and testing for the JPEO-CBD Knowledge Management Directorate, the Critical ENGINEERING Reagents Program, and the TACOM Consequence Management Team • Operating the CBRN Information Resource Center, a 24/7 hotline to field questions on chem-bio defense systems

THE ENGINEERING EDGE |January/February 2016| 9

Protection Engineering “My goals for 2016 are to retain corporate knowledge and expertise in the areas of individual and collective protection; facilitate the growth of our systems engineering and acquisition professionals to meet the future needs of the Division’s customer base; and identify opportunities to expand our customer base.”

– Jorge Christian, Chief 2015 Major Accomplishments

• Received NIOSH approval of the M53E1 mask; it is the first military mask to be NIOSH-certified, providing a unique opportunity for the mask to

be used during military and domestic incidents • Recognized by the JPEO-CBD Operations Strategic Engagement Office and DTRA for invaluable chemical defense equipment sustainment and maintenance support provided for missions at OCONUS sites under the Central Command Area of Responsibility 2016 Projects and Customers • Providing product improvement and sustainment engineering support for fielded individual and collective protection equipment for TACOM Chem-Bio Product Support Integration Directorate

support to the following programs the Joint Service General Purpose Mask (JSGPM), Joint Service Aircrew Mask Rotary Wing, JSAM JSF, JSAM for Strategic Aircraft, and JECP • Served as the Platform Manager for Ground Mobile Platform CBRN Survivability and Acquisition Project Manager • Providing on-site collective protection system installation, servicing and certification for CONUS and OCONUS special sites • Providing on-site product assessment and warfighter training for Army Organizational Command

• Performing lifecycle acquisition, development, design, producibility, quality, test, evaluation, system engineering, fielding and logistics

ADM

Acquisition

Logistics

Product Realization

Strategic

Planning and Business Management Knowledge and Data Management

Protection

Engineering

Support

Engineering

Detection and Decontamination

Engineering

Strategic Planning and Business Management “In 2016, our Division will focus on maintaining and improving our level of customer service with existing limited resources. I also want to maintain the minimum people to complete the responsibilities of our Division and work toward overcoming impacts from additional personnel losses.”

– Jim Duhala, Chief

2015 Major Accomplishments

2016 Projects and Customers

• Facilitated progress of the Directorate’s strategic initiatives

• Management of the Directorate’s strategic planning process and its business operations

• Coordinated multiple events, such as the Strategic Management Meetings, Division Chief Roundtables and Division/Branch Chief OffSites, to generate ideas and share information across the Directorate

• Managing manpower, reporting and liaison, and training

• Arranged four Section 852 courses for Engineering’s Army acquisition workforce

• Managing the Directorate’s Seal of Excellence program

• Delivered the Engineering Edge newsletter in support of the Directorate's communications strategy

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

• Providing local information technology support, VTC coordination, and other essential facilities functions for the Directorate

10 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

Sustainment Engineering “As a Division Chief whose retirement is on the horizon, emphasis in 2016 will be even more focused on knowledge transition, mentoring and all the other people skills that will aid in the growth and development of our workforce.

Maintaining high customer satisfaction, as well as developing means of better applying the ECBC strategic pillars to work within the Division are also high priorities.”

exceeding established time and performance guideline metrics • Maintained very high satisfaction rating with PMSKOT by performing the following actions: -- Completed the Technical Data Package associated with the Underwater Construction Sets -- Complete Market Research and finalized the Description for Purchases associated with the Vertical Skills Engineering Construction Kits

2015 Major Accomplishments

• Provided Army Materiel Developer and engineering support to JPM-P for the Joint Service Equipment Wipe, Joint General Purpose Decontaminant, and the Contamination Indicator Decontamination Assurance Spray

• Achieved outstanding engineering sustainment support to TACOM, Army Contracting Command (ACC) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) by

• Provided sustainment and surveillance support through shelf life and product quality assessments on chemical and biological defense items

– John Kerch, Chief

Engineering

ECBC ENGINEERING

Test

• Provide engineering support in production and sustainment acquisition support to TACOM, DLA, and Army Contracting Command within the established performance metrics • Design and develop efforts for PdM SKOT programs such as Next Generation Shop Equipment Welding, Refrigeration Tool Kit, Kits Evidence Collection and Detaining Process, and Load Banks Testing • Continue leading efforts on 12 TACOM-funded obsolescence, re-engineering and cost reduction sustainment support projects

Sustainment

Engineering

MOVING THE MISSION

FORWARD

2016 Projects and Customers

ADM Systems Engineering and Acquisition Sustainment

Support

Sustainment Support “In 2016, I look forward to enhancing the resources, skills and capabilities of the Division so that we can continue to provide exceptional support to our customers. I also will focus on developing career-enhancement opportunities for our employees.”

– Hung Pham, Chief 2015 Major Accomplishments • Provided quality assurance support to Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) for new production programs, including the Chemical-Biological Protective System and Type IV liquid consumables. Assisted PBA to gain certification for testing of chemical protective clothing and textiles • Audited and certified 35 laboratories for testing of chemical and biological defense equipment and DoD shelf-life materiel in support of TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC), JPEOCBD, and the DoD Shelf-Life Program

• Developed a process for providing quality assurance input to DLA procurement of chemical biological defense items using a Special Quality Assurance Provisions document • Coordinated Army input to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages and Obsolescence programs; chaired the Obsolescence Tool Working Group identifying an ECBC optimal suite of tools for Army use • Completed a Radiac Industrial Sector Assessment for the Office of Assistant Secretary for the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology • Developed a standardized assessment process for the Army Materiel Command (AMC) Organic Industrial Base Workforce Fragility and Criticality Assessment • Designed, built, tested and fielded the Materiel Enterprise Capabilities Database, a software market research tool used by AMC

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

• Designed, built, tested and fielded a PublicPrivate Partnerships program management portal for AMC 2016 Projects and Customers • Providing quality assurance support to a wide range of chemical biological defense commodities for TACOM LCMC and DLA

ENGINEERING

• Conducting industrial capabilities assessments, production base assessments and sector studies of organic and commercial producers for AMC • Serving as AMC principal for the Joint Technology Exchange Group to identify and utilize technology innovations that have potential to improve AMC organic operations • Serving as Executive Administrative Agent for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program

THE ENGINEERING THE ENGINEERING EDGE |January/February EDGE |January 2016| 11

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ADM Which Product format Realization works best for you?

Knowledge and Data Management

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12 | EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Lowry Brooks

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his month’s Employee Spotlight is on Lowry Brooks, Acting Associate Director for Engineering and JPEO-CBD Client Manager.

What interested you about working for ECBC in the Associate Director/JPEO Client Manager role?

Tell us about your career experience in chemical-biological defense, specifically with the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEOCBD).

My career has been entirely within chemical and biological defense beginning in 1993. I have been directly supporting JPEO-CBD Headquarters (HQ) since January 2010. I was the Chief of the Future Analysis and Concepts Team (FACT), charged with leading the analysis and staff support to actualize JPEO-CBD strategic initiatives.

With the organization’s relocation to Edgewood, I assumed additional duties as the Chief, Strategic Plans, serving senior leadership as a strategic analyst and advisor on a broad spectrum of issues related to the JPEO-CBD mission and operations. It is within this time period that I really began to appreciate the breadth of the DoD Chemical-Biological Defense Program (CBDP) and the national Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction arena and organizations. These efforts culminated in the first fully-staffed, signed and implemented JPEO-CBD strategic plan.

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Prior to supporting HQ, I was the Program Manager for the M48 Apache Aviator Mask and the M46 Joint Service Mask Leakage Tester and began supporting the Joint Project Manager (JPM) Individual Protection as Deputy for Aviation Ensembles and Deputy Director, Future Acquisition.

The job was a perfect fit for me. I wanted to continue my professional development and try my hand at organizational management.

Having spent a lot of time at JPEO HQ in the strategic planning role, I helped shape the discourse and efforts of the command.

I have spent the majority of my career in a matrix role and always wanted to give back to ECBC. I can now apply what I know about the Engineering Directorate’s biggest customer from what I learned on the inside.

What are your current responsibilities?

I am the primary liaison between the Directorate and the JPEO-CBD HQ and JPMs concerning areas that transcend our day-to-say support executed within the Divisions. I provide support to the JPMs, matrix personnel and internal Divisions, JPEO-CBD HQ, and Engineering Directorate leadership. I also collaborate with other Associate Directors and the Deputy Director to coordinate actions on behalf of the Directorate for the JPMs. I continue to maintain mutually beneficial relationships with JPEO-CBD HQ by supporting strategic planning and strategic initiatives. And, of course, I support Mr. Abaie and leadership to implement strategic initiatives within the command.

Have you learned anything (so far) that has surprised you?

I am pleasantly surprised at the depth and breadth of the Directorate’s support.

While I certainly was aware of our full lifecycle acquisition support prior to assuming this new position, I did not appreciate the extent of our support to ongoing operations around the globe, special projects, test and evaluation, rapid prototyping and efforts supporting unique customers. No other entity in the CBDP can claim such a repertoire of capability.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

What are your top goals in this role as they relate to Engineering’s mission and vision?

I hope to increase our value proposition to our current customers and build and grow our customer base. I am working with Mr. Abaie and others on an ECBC effort we are calling “strategic campaigns,” which nests within the larger ECBC strategy. The campaigns are aimed at harnessing the breadth of capability resident with ECBC to focus on developing prototype systems within an agile methodology. In addition, I am particularly interested in building on the momentum the Engineering Directorate has already achieved within the robust strategic planning process followed here. It is a testament to the character of the workforce and their passion for the Engineering Directorate, to sustain the concerted efforts of the strategic planning process.

I would like thank everyone who has welcomed me in this new position. This is a “coming home” of sorts for me, and I could not be happier to be back here directly supporting the organization that has provided me a truly rewarding and satisfying career.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Outside of work, I focus on my family and friends. I have two teenagers at home, and my wife and I are acutely aware of the little time we have left with them before they are off to college and begin lives on their own. We especially like going on numerous camping trips throughout the year. I enjoy working with my hands, so doing home improvement projects satisfies me―at least that’s what my wife tells me. I am an avid model railroader and thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the hobby, from designing and envisioning the layout to creating the scenery and operating the trains.