NSBE - Fall 2012 - (Page 50)

ON THE EDGE Robert L. Howard Jr., Ph.D., Director, NSBE Space Special Interest Group the Space Sig Lifts Off Members of the nsbe space sig relax during a session at the space leadership retreat, in las vegas. (May 2012) L eaders of the NSBE Space Special Interest Group (SIG) gathered in Las Vegas, Nev., in May for the annual Space Leadership Retreat, a planning and organizational meeting held immediately before the Alumni Summit to focus and organize the SIG’s activity. Several key statements and perspectives emerged in discussion during the event, about members’ views and expectations of the The NSBE Space SIG sees itself as a group that gets Space SIG and how these things will shape the implementation of the SIG’s things done. More important, its members want to see projects this year. interaction between the SIG and NSBE chapters. The consensus of the members was that the SIG should “launch something,” that it should be more than just a • Project Arusha – a conceptual design of a large, pressurized theoretical group. The members want to see NSBE members rover for the Moon receive patents through the work of the SIG. They want pre• Mars Desert Research Station – an all-NSBE, 14-day expecollege students to help the SIG build spacecraft and rockets. dition to a simulated Mars habitat The members want the SIG to develop products that are • Lunar Solar Power – a feasibility study to beam 1 GW tangible. power from the Moon to Earth The NSBE Space SIG sees itself as a group that gets things • Power Beaming Demo Unit – a proof of concept breadboard done. More important, its members want to see interaction unit that beams 1 W power using off-the-shelf computer between the SIG and NSBE chapters. They want to show networking hardware that everyone can be part of space, that the Space SIG is not • Space Policy – policy recommendations and Congressional limited to aerospace engineers. The members view the SIG as advocacy related to the direction of space policy the cool enablers, the innovation factory, the gate that connects everyone to space. And the SIG’s theme is “SIFA: Space Please visit the NSBE Space SIG website at http://nsbe-space. Innovation for All.” org, or e-mail director@nsbe-space.org, for more information Toward the realization of this vision, the NSBE Space SIG about these projects or to start a new one. ■ invites AE members and AE chapters to join in the SIG’s www.nsbe.org technical projects. Individual members can participate, or chapters can organize teams to support project activity. Space SIG technical projects advance the state-of-theart in space-related disciplines, and it is the members’ hope that these projects will help NSBE transform space exploration. However, these projects also benefit the members who work on them, by helping them sharpen their technical skills, stay current on industry developments, increase publications and grow their technical credentials. For those looking to change careers, projects like these offer a way to learn a new technical domain. And for those who have been laid off, they offer a way to continue to demonstrate space-related duties, skills and achievements, even while unemployed. The Space SIG is now engaged in five technical projects: 50 • CAREER ENGINEER • fall 2012 • http://nsbe-space.org http://nsbe-space.org http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Fall 2012

NSBE - Fall 2012
Contents
Lead by Example
Come Correct!
Kola Fagbayi of Shell
The Programs Zone
Veronica Davis Honored as White House ‘Champion’
A Catalyst for Change
NSBE and ExxonMobil Reward Retention ‘Impact’
Dr. Baratunde Cola Earns Presidential Research Award
Regional News
In the Lead
At the Vanguard
Staying Connected in Today’s Business World
Back to Indiana
NSBE Calendar
Seek 2012: An Experience Worth the Ride
The PDC Is Coming Soon, to Dallas!
The Professional’s Perspective
The Space SIG Lifts Off
CE Cover: Status:FALSE
Alumni Officers
Biggest and Best
What’s in a Name?
AE National and Regional Websites
Advertisers Index

NSBE - Fall 2012