Technical Services - Spring 2008 - (Page 17)

systems suppOrt SS NSROC Helps Students Reach Their Full Potential n 1999, a decade-long decline in mechanical, electrical and aeronautical engineering college registrations sounded an alarm across NASA and the nation’s major aerospace corporations; all were concerned about diminishing future workforce talent. Technical Services’ NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC) team, in partnership with NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, set out to help resolve the problem. NSROC worked with area universities to incorporate rocket launches into university programs and implemented intern and co-op programs to give students meaningful, hands-on experience. “It’s been a win/win situation,” said Jan Jackson, who’s managed the program since its inception in 2000. “Our students work side by side with some of the best engineers in the business. The program leads to a better understanding of engineering, better grades and solid experience in a corporate environment.” Jackson added that 90 percent of undergraduate students who intern or participate in the co-op program return to NSROC for additional employment prior to graduation. Of the 80-plus students who’ve participated in the NSROC program, three have doctorate degrees, 18 have or are pursuing master’s degrees, and 11 have become full-time TS team members who continue to make major contributions. Past interns who are now full-time employees include: Scott Hesh, who performs successful telemetry designs and has done so on 13 payloads over the past five years; Cathy Hesh, a propulsion engineer who inspects rocket motors and hardware to ensure they are flightworthy; Nick Wroblewski, who designs and analyzes hardware used on payloads for hypersonic vehicles; and Josh Yacobucci and Andy Owens, who design payloads (including the recent Dart mission) and booster hardware for the new Mesquito rocket. Eastern Shore Community College graduates are also major contributors to the NSROC team. They include prior interns Terri Snyder, a member of the Attitude Control Systems team that recently won NASA’s Krieger Award; Kyle Watkinson, an outstanding information technology support provider; and Jeremy Click, who inspects incoming electronics parts for quality assurance. TS I 1 2 3 1 Cathy Hesh installs temperature sensors on the BB Mk1 Static Fire Motor; Scott Hudson, vehicle technician, is pictured in the background. Nick Wroblewski justifies his buoyancy measurements with NSROC’s first “payload float test.” Josh Yacobucci (left) inspects the aft end of his Mesquito Dart with technician Rob Marshall standing by. (Photo by Berit Bland) Andy Owens (second from left) coordinates the Mesquito booster fin load test with technicians Ed White (far left), Mark Maguire and Rob Marshall. (Photo by Berit Bland) 2 3 4 4 17 Northrop Grumman Technical Services

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technical Services - Spring 2008

Technical Services - Spring 2008 Contents President's Column New Business Wins Sierra Vista, Arizona Military Weapon Systems Support Operation Achieves ISO 9001:2000 FSS Supports Navy in Hot Spots Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center Tanker Win a "Game Changer" Warner Robins Regional Service Center NY Labs Keep Aircraft Mission Ready TS Team Helps People Reach the 'American Dream' NSTec Brings NNSA Green Construction Project on Time, Under Budget SGS Team Member Takes on New Challenges at Cape Canaveral; Fort Leavenworth Team Members Help Local Youth NSROC Helps Students Shoulder to Shoulder BCTB Program Wins Prestigious DoD Award TS Instructors Prepare Warfighters for Combat I'm In! TS Team Members Sharpen Skills Through Advanced Training and Career-Broadening Opportunities OpenLine; Fort Leavenworth Team Members Honored

Technical Services - Spring 2008

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