Page 1 Tec-Masters, Inc. 2006 Volume 1:1 T The M eye TMI & General Dynamics: Mortar Systems Contract Win ................................2 Raytheon Six Sigma Specialist Training Certificates of Merit Awarded ................................2 AT&SP: Systems Development & Operations Support | ISS Experiments ......................................3 Personnel Security Investigations New Web-based Approach .....................................4 TMI Manufacturing Facility Growth: Mortar Contract Support ........................................4 TMI’s eTeaching & AAMU $3 Million Ethiopian Literacy Project ..................5 Quality Manual Revisions: CMMI, ISO 9000, Six Sigma ..................................5 Multimedia Department & Web-based Training Support & Video Production ...................6 TMI’s eTeaching Institute Forms Collaborative with Academic Institutions .....................................7 TMI eTeaching | eTutoring Pilot Program with Northrop Grumman, AAMU, NCATSU..........7 TMI Mid-Atlantic Operations .................................8 Conditioned-Based Maintenance ...........................8 TMI Human Resources ...........................................9 CRASHPORT Successful in Court ...........................9 TMI|FRC Mentor-Protégé Program at Work ......10 Customer Support Appreciation Awards..............11 “Silver Snoopy” Awarded to TMI Staffer ............11 Dr. Marvin P. Carroll to Chair AAMU Black-Tie Scholarship Ball ...................................12 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA): Entrepreneur of the Year Award ..........................13 Missile Defense Directorate .................................14 TMI Lawton Operations .......................................15 This is a must share reading “From the Bridge” by Wayne Dyer, Ph.D., author of Pulling Your Own Strings. — Dr. Marvin P. Carroll “You Get What You Think You Deserve” “You Get What You Think You Deserve” — by Wayne Dyer, Ph.D. T he esteem in which we hold ourselves is the single most impor- tant factor in determining our success and happiness. If you know that you deserve success, that is precisely how you will think and act. Here are ten methods you can use—beginning today—to help you raise your self-esteem: 1. Affirm each day that you and only you determine your self-worth. Don’t ever judge yourself based upon the opinions of others. 2. Practice living your life based on inner signals. Permitting your life to be taken over by another person is like letting a waiter eat your din- ner, and you’re still stuck with the bill. 3. Learn to welcome failure. High self-esteem comes from the belief that all obstacles are lessons rather than proof of your incompetence as a person. Remember that you are not a failure as a person sim- ply because you failed at something. 4. Remind yourself each day that NOW is the working unit of your life. Leave the past behind. Everything that you have experienced is, purely and simply, OVER! And you can no more enjoy life by hoping for a future result than you can enjoy music by waiting for the final note. This moment is all that you have. 5. Eliminate self-deprecating statements from your vocabulary. Stop telling yourself: “I’ll probably look stupid,” or “I have no talent,” and replace these statements with, with: “I’ll give it a try,” and “I know I can learn this with practice.” Correct yourself in mid-sentence, if necessary, until thinking positively comes naturally. (Continued on page 12) From The Bridge From The Bridge In This Issue: In This Issue:
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Page 1
Tec-Masters, Inc. 2006 Volume 1:1
T The
M eye
TMI & General Dynamics: Mortar Systems Contract Win ................................2
Raytheon Six Sigma Specialist Training Certificates of Merit Awarded ................................2 AT&SP: Systems Development & Operations Support | ISS Experiments ......................................3 Personnel Security Investigations New Web-based Approach .....................................4 TMI Manufacturing Facility Growth: Mortar Contract Support........................................4 TMI’s eTeaching & AAMU $3 Million Ethiopian Literacy Project ..................5 Quality Manual Revisions: CMMI, ISO 9000, Six Sigma ..................................5 Multimedia Department & Web-based Training Support & Video Production...................6 TMI’s eTeaching Institute Forms Collaborative with Academic Institutions .....................................7 TMI eTeaching | eTutoring Pilot Program with Northrop Grumman, AAMU, NCATSU..........7 TMI Mid-Atlantic Operations.................................8 Conditioned-Based Maintenance ...........................8 TMI Human Resources ...........................................9 CRASHPORT Successful in Court ...........................9 TMI|FRC Mentor-Protégé Program at Work ......10 Customer Support Appreciation Awards..............11 “Silver Snoopy” Awarded to TMI Staffer ............11 Dr. Marvin P. Carroll to Chair AAMU Black-Tie Scholarship Ball...................................12 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA): Entrepreneur of the Year Award ..........................13 Missile Defense Directorate .................................14 TMI Lawton Operations .......................................15
This is a must share reading “From the Bridge” by Wayne Dyer, Ph.D., author of Pulling Your Own Strings.
— Dr. Marvin P. Carroll
“You Get What You Think You Deserve”“You Get What You Think You Deserve”
— by Wayne Dyer, Ph.D.
T he esteem in which we hold ourselves is the single most impor-tant factor in determining our success and happiness. If you
know that you deserve success, that is precisely how you will think and act. Here are ten methods you can use—beginning today—to help you raise your self-esteem:
1. Affirm each day that you and only you determine your self-worth. Don’t ever judge yourself based upon the opinions of others.
2. Practice living your life based on inner signals. Permitting your life to be taken over by another person is like letting a waiter eat your din-ner, and you’re still stuck with the bill.
3. Learn to welcome failure. High self-esteem comes from the belief that all obstacles are lessons rather than proof of your incompetence as a person. Remember that you are not a failure as a person sim-ply because you failed at something.
4. Remind yourself each day that NOW is the working unit of your life. Leave the past behind. Everything that you have experienced is, purely and simply, OVER! And you can no more enjoy life by hoping for a future result than you can enjoy music by waiting for the final note. This moment is all that you have.
5. Eliminate self-deprecating statements from your vocabulary. Stop telling yourself: “I’ll probably look stupid,” or “I have no talent,” and replace these statements with, with: “I’ll give it a try,” and “I know I can learn this with practice.” Correct yourself in mid-sentence, if necessary, until thinking positively comes naturally.
(Continued on page 12)
From The BridgeFrom The Bridge In This Issue:In This Issue:
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GGENERALENERAL D DYNAMICSYNAMICS & TMI & TMI “A Winning Combination”
MMORTARORTAR S SYSTEMSYSTEMS C CONTRACTONTRACT W WININ
T he Army Mortar Systems Integration contract, a 4-year effort with ISO requirements,
was awarded on December 29, 2005 to General Dynamics – Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS). Tec-Masters is a teammate on the
effort, and our work share includes the Staging and Fielding of the Army’s three (3) mortar systems: M252 81mm, Medium Extended Range Mortar; M224 60mm, Lightweight Company Mortar System (LWCMS); and M120/M121 120 mm Mortar.
The contract effort will be conducted in Huntsville, AL with the Program Management and Fielding components being exercised from Building 1400 in the Tec-Masters Executive Plaza location.
RRAYTHEONAYTHEON S SIXIX S SIGMAIGMA SSPECIALISTPECIALIST T TRAININGRAINING
CCERTIFICATESERTIFICATES OFOF M MERITERIT A AWARDEDWARDED
D uring the past six months, Tec-Masters has awarded Certificates of Merit to 34 TMI
employees for completion of Raytheon’s Six Sigma Specialist Training program. The Six Sigma pro-gram promotes and solicits employee participation in an improvement process that assures value added to our customers and to TMI. Six Sigma is a knowledge-based process for transforming the manner in which we approach a problem or program, thus, defining how we do business and maximize customer value, improve internal processes, and grow our business. The concept is based on facts, not opinions. TMI’s Six Sigma class was taught by Mr. Martin W. Leek, Certified Raytheon Six Sigma Expert, System & Integration Engineering, Raytheon Company. The process defines a new culture of how TMI will work across all business units to attain added value. It is supported at all corporate levels, including executive management, and should be embraced by all TMI employees to help align business goals. Six Sigma improvements are underway at Tec-Masters. Currently, two Six Sigma initiatives are in review and planning stages, having been approved for action by TMI management. First, a recommendation for adoption of Lean Manufacturing processes and techniques at our TMI Manufacturing Facility is being planned, for primary implementation with the new Mortars Systems contract to be staged there. As a second candidate project, an initiative to develop an automated contract past performance library is under consideration. TMI’s goal is to train all employees, to encourage Six Sigma processes, and to reap the benefits of our corporate knowledge to help make our Company more successful. Additional Six Sigma training opportunities will be announced as scheduled. Employees should begin now to identify those areas where implementation of specific improvements would be beneficial in making this initiative a success.
For more information, please contact: Ron Juergens — 721-6611
Roosevelt Conley — 721-6601.
Armored Personnel Carrier which contains M120mm Mortar
M224 60mm Lightweight Company Mortar System (left) and M252 81mm Extended Range Mortar (right)
A s a member of the Systems Development and Operation Support (SDOS) contract, TMI
personnel are responsible for integration, test, and operation of scientific research in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) aboard the International Space Station.
Most people think of a ‘glovebox’ as a compartment in the dashboard of a car where manuals, road at-lases, and even, occasionally, gloves are stored. The MSG, now celebrating it’s 4th year onboard the International Space Station (ISS), is a far more compli-cated piece of equipment. The device allows astronauts aboard the ISS to perform a wide range of experiments in a fully sealed and controlled environment, completely isolated from the rest of the Station.
The ‘gloves’ are the access points through which astro-nauts can manipulate experiments in the field of ma-terial science, biotechnology, fluid science, combustion science and crystal growth research. In microgravity, a glovebox is needed to contain experiments with fluids, flames, particles and fumes. In an earth-based laboratory, liquids stay in beakers or test tubes. In the near-weightlessness of the Station, they float away and could get into the cabin air and irritate a crew member’s skin or eyes or even make them sick. They could also damage the Station’s sensitive com-puter and electrical systems or contaminate other experiments. Experiments operating inside the MSG are provided with up to one (1) kilowatt of power and cooling, video downlink and recording, data stor-age and downlink, remote commanding from the Tele-Science Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MFSC), vacuum, venting, and gaseous nitrogen. The part of the unit that holds experiment equipment is called the Work Volume, and has a usable volume of about 67 gallons (255 liters).
This work space is approximately waist-high and can slide out to extended or protracted positions, making
Advanced Technology and Space Programs (AT&SP) SSYSTEMSYSTEMS D DEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENT ANDAND O OPERATIONPERATION S SUPPORTUPPORT (SDOS) (SDOS)
IINTERNATIONALNTERNATIONAL S SPACEPACE S STATIONTATION E EXPERIMENTSXPERIMENTS
it easier for crew members to use. An airlock under the Work Volume can be accessed to bring objects safely into the Work Volume, while other activities are going on inside the glovebox.
As part of the initial glovebox science activities, two investigations developed by TMI were conducted during Expedition Five:
♦ Towards Understanding Pore Formation and Mobility During Controlled Directional Solidification in a Microgravity Environment Investigation (PFMI), developed by TMI for the Marshall Space Flight Center and principal investigator, Dr. Richard Grugel.
♦ Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA) was developed by TMI for MSFC and principal investigator Dr. Aleksander Ostrogorsky of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
The pore formation and the solidification experiments (PFMI and SUBSA) were the first materials science investigations conducted on the International Space Station. The SUBSA experiment was used to study the growth of semiconductor crystals in the microgravity environment of space. Results from the experiment will be used to improve the development of semiconductor materials employed in computers and electronic de-vices.
The PFMI experiment is being used to study the ef-fects of porosities and impurities in material castings. The intent of the PFMI experiment is to gain insights that will improve solidification processing in space
and on earth. Using PFMI, scientists will ex-amine ways to control pore formation and improve materials proc-essing for many appli-cations including turbine blades used in aircraft engines.
SUBSA, PFMI, and the MSG were launched to the International Space Station in June 2002 on Space Shuttle flight STS-111. The SUBSA furnace completed its mission and was re-
turned to earth by the Space Shuttle Discovery in August 2005. The PFMI furnace continues to operate on board the International Space Station.
Astronaut Mike Foale shown with the TMI developed PFMI experiment in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG)
Reggie Spivey and Andrew Tylgieski demonstrating access to MSG
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PPERSONNELERSONNEL S SECURITYECURITY I INVESTIGATIONSNVESTIGATIONS —— The New Way: A Web The New Way: A Web--based Approach based Approach ——
E ffective July 8, 2005, DoD changed the procedures for submitting the investigation
requests used in processing eligibility compliance requirements for obtaining security clearances. Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Process-ing (e-QIP) is the law of the land now. It is a web-based system which allows you to access the system
from either your home or office as long as you have a properly configured internet browser.
New procedures allow employees to enter, update,
and release their personal investigative data over a secure internet connection with Government ac-cess. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 is required in order to download and print the required release forms. Employees will be notified by the Facility Security Officers (FSOs) or the Security Office staff if they are required to initiate or update a security investi-gation. At that time directions will be provided to the website that contain instructions for accessing and completing the required information. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is now responsible for processing security investigations. Currently, their case backlog exceeds 100,000. Interim Secret authorization is normally available within several weeks for initial investigations, and final Secret authorization generally requires six months or more for completion. An Interim Secret clearance means that an individual can access Secret and Confidential materials but cannot access any caveated information (i.e. NOFORN, COMSEC, NATO, CNWDI) until a final Secret clearance is authorized and the caveated information is author-ized by the classified contract. Periodic reinvesti-gations, those 10 year updates we all do for Se-cret access, will also take well over 6 months, how-ever, OPM is hopeful that they will eventually be able to reduce these time lags.
TMI’TMI’SS M MANUFACTURINGANUFACTURING FFACILITYACILITY I ISS G GROWINGROWING
W ith the recent award of a subcontract from General Dynamics for warehousing and
kitting mortar components, Tec-Masters’ Manufac-turing Facility will become a busy complex. Plans
are underway to install security fencing and a special contain-ment storage area at the facil-ity located just off Highway 72 East of Huntsvi l le. Approx imate ly half of the 13,000
square feet facility will be dedicated to the new activities, and additional staff will be moved to the offices there to coordinate the new efforts.
In addition to the mortars contract, efforts and proposals have been underway for securing other
manufacturing and production projects, to include several machined component lines and manufac-ture of larger weld-ments and parts for field training systems. With a continued coordinated effort in building that business area, TMI’s Manufac-turing should prove itself to be a major resource for our customers.
Tec-Masters modifies expended TOW (Tube Launched Optically Sighted Wire Guided) Tubes for use as MILES training devices under a VECP.
Billy Bryant operates a mill to modify a TOW Tube anti-tank weapon
TMI Manufacturing Facility
SSSECURITYECURITYECURITY
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TMI’TMI’SS eeTTEACHINGEACHING I INSTITUTENSTITUTE TOTO S SUPPORTUPPORT AAMU $3 M AAMU $3 MILLIONILLION EETHIOPIANTHIOPIAN L LITERACYITERACY P PROJECTROJECT
H untsville’s own Alabama A&M University (AAMU) is
the recipient of a $3 million grant funded through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide cost-effective textbooks and learning materials for children in sub-Saharan Africa. AAMU will partner with Tec-Masters, Inc., which will employ its innova-tive eTeaching system to provide an electronic net-work (including cameras and computers) for effec-tive communication with Ethiopia and other partner-ing agencies in Africa and the United States. AAMU will receive $1 million each year over a three year period through 2008. TMI President and CEO, Dr. Marvin Carroll, will accompany Dr. Mary Spor, Project Coordinator, and other project team members to Ethiopia in late February for a first-hand assessment of how TMI’s collaborations in this effort can best support this project. Professor Spore, who is also the coordina-tor of AAMU’s Reading/Literacy Ph.D., School of Education, had this to say: “To a large extent, the development of a nation depends on the education that can be delivered to its children. But in sub-Saharan Africa only 58.5% of the
676 million people are considered to be literate. A significant contrast exists between male and female students, with males comprising the over-whelming majority of those who attend and continue to attend school.”
AAMU will address the critical need for high qual-ity, cost-effective textbooks and learning materials in sub-Saharan Africa. Working with partners in Ethiopia and the United States, including Tec-Masters, this initiative will develop and publish 600,000 textbooks for primary school students in the subjects of math, science and reading. Team members will focus on the academic needs of primary school children while recognizing their cultural heritage. Textbooks and learning materials will be provided equally for both boys and girls. The project will be accomplished through face-to-face collaboration, assessment and analysis, in-depth discussions, consensus, shoulder-to-shoulder writing, and effective management.
TMI QTMI QUALITYUALITY M MANUALANUAL:: TTARGETEDARGETED R REVISIONSEVISIONS FORFOR CMMI, ISO & SCMMI, ISO & SIXIX S SIGMAIGMA
T he Quality Management shop has been in the midst of a hub of activity over the last few
months! Updates and revisions to several of our ISO procedures and other quality improving processes are currently in the works. All TMI qual-ity documents are available on the TMI intranet at:
www.tecmasters.com/qm/ Recent revisions completed or in process include:
a. SPP-05 Purchasing (Vendor Evaluation Correction per Internal Audit)
b. QP-13 Process Improvement Management (Six Sigma)
c. SPP-01 Quality Manual (CMMI added)
d. QP-10 Internal Audits (Mature Program Implementation)
e. QP-09 Control of Quality Records (Corrective action from May external audit)
f. SPP-08 Property Management (Pending to add automated property management instructions)
Items SPP-05 and QP-13 have been finalized and released. QP-13 implements TMI’s Six Sigma program for process improvement and explains how proposed projects may be submitted. Our Quality Manual, SPP-01, is being revised to include TMI’s Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) program. CMMI is very similar to ISO 9001:2000 since implementation requires manage-ment of processes per stringent standards. Initially, only the Radar Digital Signal Insertion System (RDSIS) program will be brought under CMMI in the 2006 timeframe. Additional projects will follow over the next few years. RDSIS is managed by Lou Rosenthal. Glenn Greenlee and Wanda Spikard play key roles in CMMI implementation. Initiation of these management programs serves as recognition that TMI’s customers demand a quality product, and the best way for them to obtain that quality product is to require their suppliers, like TMI, to manage programs and processes with the customer and all stakeholders in mind. This is done while constantly considering ways to make the product better, which results in customer satisfaction and return business to TMI. QP-10’s changes
(Continued on page 10)
Dr. Mary Spor
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T he TMI Multimedia Department continues to meet web-based training requirements from
various customers. The majority of this work is follow-on from existing customers which testifies to the satis-faction previously provided.
♦ US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TMI’s Multimedia department has been contracted to revise and expand the existing Safe-Self, scenario driven, web-based training program. The curriculum design will be modeled after the existing Self-Safe scenarios developed two years ago. The eLearning
course is designed to provide a basic introduction to tacti-cal communications techniques for the US Army Corps of Engineer Natural Resource Manage-m e n t ( N R M ) employees. The target audience
includes: temporary rangers, gate/park attendants, clerks, office assistants, park host, volunteers and maintenance personnel.
The production of these nine additional scenarios will require the use of twenty actors selected from Hunts-ville, Birmingham, and Nashville talent agencies. The recently approved scenarios were prepared by Bill Stackhouse. Rex Free will direct this program with assistance from Tim Pierce, Jerry Schrimsher, and Jim Ogle as lead programmer.
This unique application consists of backgrounds (see photo above left) being video taped and the actual scenarios (personnel play their rolls) will be shot in our studio using the “Green Screen”. The finished scenar-ios will be composited using Ultimatte and Chroma Key applications.
♦ US AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Command Management System (CMS) web-based training program is a decision making tool used to identify resource requirements, determine funding necessary to maintain standard performance levels, allocate available funds to pay and non-pay activities, and assist in preparing POM and Fin Plan funding cycle deliverables. Led by John Bramblett, this production is based on a world-wide survey
which, culminated with a design con-cept that established production baseline. TMI ’ s p ro tégé , Future Research Corporation, has the lead on this pro-gram with Rex Free and Laura Cole.
♦ DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY TMI’s video production crew, directed by Jerry Schrimsher, recently completed a Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) video program that will assist Navy personnel who develop, review, implement or use QAPPs. This production, which required the ser-vices of professional actors, was shot on location at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and in the TMI pro-duction studio.
The video is also being incorporated into a web-based training program that will be hosted on the Navy Knowledge online website. Scott Simpson is using Macromedia Flash to produce the training
course. The tar-get audience for this training includes EPA, DOE, and DoD first and higher level supervisors of personnel w h o a r e responsible for Uniform Federal
Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans. A web-based training was also developed by Scott Simpson.
♦ US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS The US Army Corps of Engineer Natural Resource Management Career Development is beginning a multi-year eLearning initiative. Each of the curricu-lum’s nine courses addresses specific requirements
and functions for personnel with careers in Natural Resource Management. The curriculum introduction and first four courses are mandatory for all NRM employees as they provide basic civil service infor-mation through modules on Human Resources, Per-sonal Career Development, District Office Organiza-tion and Natural Resource Management. Depending upon the specialty or experience of the NRM em-ployee, they may choose between subsequent courses on Operations and Maintenance, Recreation and Security, Administrative Responsibilities, Safety, and Security and Law Enforcement. Scripts for this program are being prepared by Jim King and the web-based application is being programmed by Terri Thomason.
MMULTIMEDIAULTIMEDIA D DEPARTMENTEPARTMENT P PROVIDESROVIDES W WEBEB--BBASEDASED T TRAININGRAINING S SUPPORTUPPORT Department of the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Materiel CommandDepartment of the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Materiel Command
Multimedia Video Production Crew
Nashville park lakefront scene used for video background
Wed-based Training Sample Page
Jim King (left) and Terri Thomason developing eLearning Courseware for online course modules
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TMI’TMI’SS e eTTEACHINGEACHING I INSTITUTENSTITUTE Bridging the Gap...Bridging the Gap... From Industry to AcademiaFrom Industry to Academia
“A New Approach to Online Training“A New Approach to Online Training to Unleash the Power of the Mind”to Unleash the Power of the Mind”
Tec-Masters has implemented its new online eTeaching Institute system which targets corporate, academia, and government clients. The eTeaching Institute offers individual, personalized, effective, economical, and secure online instruction and tutoring. Our eTeaching system has three main components: corporate or con-tinuing education learning management system, edu-cational learning management system and our suite of eTools. The term “eTeaching” results from combining eLearning + TMI Suite of Tools.
TMI’s eLearning, or electronic learning systems, man-ages content, instructions and courses using the inter-net. The eTutoring system gives users online access to professors or specific subject experts over the internet. Most of our network web professors (NetProfs) have doctorate degrees and are extremely proficient in their chosen areas. The NetProfs use the TMI elec-tronic whiteboard to assist users in a variety of subject areas including: Basic Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Statistics and Probability.
We have a suite of over 200 web-based professional courses available on our system. This includes the following certification courses: Cisco CCNA, Microsoft MCSE, Oracle9i, Micro.NET, ComTIA Security, and A+. J.F. Drake State Technical College is presently using TMI eTeaching system to provide online instructions to their students in six different courses. Each semester the school will be able to add additional courses and
provide more students with access. TMI is currently the sole provider of J.F. Drake’s distance learning system.
PPILOTILOT P PROGRAMROGRAM I INITIATIVENITIATIVE |Northrop Grumman Corporation||Northrop Grumman Corporation|
AAMU | NCATSUAAMU | NCATSU
O n December 8, 2005, Tec-Masters, Inc. hosted a planning initiative which included representa-
tives from Northrop Grumman Corp (NGC), Alabama A&M University (AAMU), and North Carolina A&T State University (NCATSU). The meeting focused on the unique opportunity to launch a pilot program in eTeaching|eTutoring at AAMU and NCATSU. Follow-ing the general discussion, TMI provided a demonstra-tion of its eTeaching system and it’s various capabili-ties.
AAMU’s Business Industry Cluster played a key role in these initial discussions. B u s i n e s s C l u s t e r c o - c h a i r s , Dr. Rose Yates (AAMU) and Mr. George Reynolds (Northrop Grumman), intro-duced ways and means to enrich the
student knowledge base by introducing the eTeaching concept developed and powered by Tec-Masters, Inc. The objective of the demo was to provide a “visual” launch of the pilot program, showing how eTeaching tools can be used to aid students in their studies. TMI also demonstrated how academic institutions can use eTeaching tools to possibly increase enrollment and advance student progress in difficult academic programs. In addition, the demo included information on the use of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) courses for academic advancement and the utilization of web-based assessment tests as a metric in the learning process. The last demonstration showed how students can interact “live” with network professors, via the Internet, to obtain real-time tutorial assistance in various courses.
(Continued on page 11)
Mirie Westbrook prepares to demonstrate available TMI eTeaching suite of online tools and courseware.
Pilot Program Kickoff Meeting Attendees included (from left): Roosevelt Conley, Director, TMI Business Development; Sandy S. Johnson, President/CEO, Anautic, Inc.; Trent Montgomery (AAMU); Dianna Vass (NCATSU); Leotis Parrish (NCATSU); John C. Kelly, Jr. (NCATSU); Joseph Monroe (NCATSU); Marvin P. Carroll, TMI President & CEO; and George M. Reynolds, Director, Industry & University Initiatives Engineering and Manufacturing (NGC). (Not shown: Mr. Ralph Johnson, TMI Executive Vice President and Mr. Mirie Westbrook, TMI Manager, IT Solutions
Tec-Masters maintains an active role in the develop-ment and application of specialized software tools and analysis methodologies. While the primary purpose of these methods/tools is to facilitate an evaluation of integrated Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS), a supplemental benefit is realized with respect to Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM). TMI has developed a number of tools that are now used to better interpret emerging HUMS data, thus enabling accurate determinations of the functional health of helicopter components and/or subassemblies. One such tool allows analysts to predict and plot the actual displacements of gear teeth, as they are cyclically loaded and unloaded. This tool was previously used to investigate an anomalous condition affecting the main bevel gear aboard aircraft 507. While several indicators suggested potentially serious tooth cracks, results of the displacement analysis were used to dispel the initial diagnosis. The condition was identified as a tooth pitch or alignment anomaly, a diagnosis subsequently confirmed by way of visual inspection. The gear box was left in place and the subject aircraft remains in service in Iraq. A prema-ture and unnecessary replacement of the main transmission was thus averted. Another instance involved an Intermediate Gear Box (IGB) aboard aircraft 534. Preliminary indications suggested a problem associated with one or more rolling elements in an IGB bearing. Again, the initial recommendation was to remove and replace the subject gear box. However, a subsequent analysis conducted at TMI revealed a unique excitation affecting the third harmonic of the gear mesh frequency. This obscure but important fact was instru-mental in formulating a revised diagnosis. Deeming the anomaly to be of lesser severity, the aircraft was placed on a watch list and continued in service. Other tools are used to expedite the analysis of comprehensive data sets compiled from among large numbers of HUMS-equipped aircraft. These tools are used to compute normalized scores, thus comparing aircraft-specific vibrations with fleet nominal values. These values permit analysts to quickly identify faulty components and to perform preliminary assessments of fault severity. All of the aforementioned tools may prove invaluable in the ongoing development of “expert systems” and the implementation of Condition-Based Maintenance.
EEXPANDINGXPANDING THETHE TMI F TMI FOCUSOCUS |TMI Mid|TMI Mid--Atlantic Operations|Atlantic Operations| Tec-Masters (TMI) has established a Washington, D.C. presence with World I.T. Solutions, one of its small business partners, to further its Mid-Atlantic focus and develop additional public and private sector business in the United States. As director of business development efforts in TMI’s Washington office, Perry Carter, has been assigned to establish and maintain key Mid-Atlantic relation-ships with federal, state and local agencies, trade associations, small businesses, and HBCU/MI’s to facilitate discussions between TMI’s operational and business development teams.
Dr. Marvin Carroll, Tec-Masters’ CEO, commented on this strategic initiative:
“Launching of a TMI presence in the Washington, DC metro area supports our corporate objective of expanding our business base by focusing on agencies and corporations that need solutions that TMI currently provides. It is our fundamental belief that TMI’s positive relationships with our present customer base can be further leveraged at the Pentagon and with Federal Defense, Civilian, State, or Local agencies in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and neighboring facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region.” As an integral part of the TMI strategy, our business development teams are establishing realistic plans to grow our share of the modeling and simulation market while expanding deeper into IT and C4ISR markets. TMI continues to identify key long-term
(Continued on page 15)
Attendees at the recent business strategy planning session held in Huntsville, AL and hosted by Tec-Masters, Inc., included: (standing left) Perry Carter, TMI-D.C.; Terry Craft, COO, Solvern Innovations; Andre Gudger, CEO, Solvern Innovations; Marvin Carroll, President & CEO, TMI; Rodney Hawkins, CEO, Washington Technology Group; Ron Juergens, TMI; Crystal Shell, President, WILL Technology, Inc. (WTI); Mark Carroll, TMI; Charles Sulcer, VP/FSO, WTI; (seated left) Karola Porter, WTI; Roosevelt Conley, TMI; and Sheryl McFerrin, VP Operations, WTI. (Not shown): Greg Seward, CFO, World IT Solutions (WITS)
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TMI is pleased to announce that several new employees that have joined our organization. We hope each new member of the Tec-Masters Team will find their employment a challenging and rewarding experience. Employees who have joined the Tec-Masters family since September 2005 include:
Staffing additions to the Human Resources (HR) Department include Betty Battles who joins us as a Human Resource Assistant. Betty, a TMI team mem-ber since October 2005, has become very involved in the day-to-day requirements for a smooth work flow in the HR Department. Betty serves as the primary point of contact for employees needing assistance with all standard Human Resources forms, tuition reimbursement, W-4’s, or Blue Cross insurance applications. If you have questions or need assistance in any of these areas, Betty can be contacted at:
SUCCESSFUL IN COURT CASE “Crash simulation made simple”
Tec-Masters’ military and defense technology has recently been successfully deployed in the develop-ment of an automated analysis system for simulating and measuring the likelihood and severity of bodily injuries and damage for use in commercial insurance applications. The use of this innovative technology know as CRASHPORT can provide objective, unbiased, scientific analyses of injury potential associated with low-impact vehicle collisions. Industry needs dictate that the product must be readily understandable, incorporate variables and unknowns, and comply with quality standards. It must also meet the evidentiary criteria for admissibility suggested by the Supreme Court: (1) the evidence is based on a testable theory or technique; (2) the theory or technique has been peer reviewed; (3) it should have a known error rate and standards controlling the technique’s operation; and (4) the underlying science is generally accepted. TMI’s CRASHPORT is a bio-mechanical analysis service, and it does all of that and more. Easy, right? TMI’s Automotive Team, led by Bob Thibodeau, and including: John Grzybowski, Paul Janssen, Scooter Johnson, Aaron Rodriguez, and Lynne Woods, met the challenge. Despite having reasonably met all the above criteria, there was still one “sticking point.” In any presentation to a prospective customer, the fact remained that CRASHPORT had never been used in court. Never mind that one customer currently settles 70% of his cases in 30% of the time it use to take, or that CRASHPORT results have led to out-of-court settlements, sometimes with one phone call! Even though a CRASHPORT paper was presented at the Premier World Automotive Conference and was subsequently published in Traffic Injury Prevention, a peer-reviewed journal, CRASHPORT still had never been used in court. That is, not until one month ago. A patrol car rear-ended another vehicle in a left-turn lane, and the occupants filed a claim against a south-western city. The city attorney’s office submitted a CRASHPORT case and used the results to decide the claim. The occupants took the case to trial, and the city requested CRASHPORT’S assistance in the court setting. We engaged Dr. Polat Sendur to conduct extensive pre-trial comparisons of an older case’s simulation outputs with those from the latest and most sensitive models, and they compared favorably. We also engaged the testimony of Dr. Allan Tencer, a well-accepted researcher, author, and expert witness regarding spinal injury in automobile crashes, and a member of CRASHPORT’S Board of Advisors.
(Continued on page 12)
HUMAN RESOURCES
William Bell Elline Binner
James R. Blacklock Billy J. Bryant
Charles Chesser Egan F. Conway Ruth Ann Davis Sherri Etheridge Richard Hicks Valorie Hilbun
Amanda Hoot Linda Hornsby Neal Lawrence Jennifer Lucas
Layne A. Maples Anthony Marowski Fred C. McMullen David Minaschek
Jessie Potts Glenn Queen
Zackary Reeves
Jennifer Russell Kenneth Scarle Johnny Siefert
Kenneth L. Sloan Kimberly E. Sloan Aris Dean Stone
Lawrence Streeter Nathan Warner Ron Washington Stacia Williams.
Tec-Masters, Inc., in partnership with Northrop Grum-man Corporation and North Carolina A&T State
University have undertaken a collaborative effort to fund an eTeaching and eTutoring pilot program at Alabama A&M University. The program is specifically designed to assist a select group of students utilizing the TMI eTutoring tools. TMI is putting a number of other initiatives in place to market this product and service, including providing support to the HUMS Black Hawk and Multimedia Navy Distance Learning programs.
TMI ETEACHING INSTITUTE (Continued from page 7)
Mirie Westbrook is shown with TMI servers used to power eTeaching. The online system is hosted at Tec-Masters’ corporate headquarters.
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Lined Technology Acquisition Resources for Services (STARS) government-wide acquisition contract in 2004. This 10 year contract has a ceiling of $15 billion and allows government organizations quick access to an array of Information Technology solutions. Each task may have a total dollar value of $3 million on a noncompetitive basis. Services available under this contract include:
♦ Custom Computer Programming Services ♦ Computer Systems Design Services ♦ Computer Facilitates Management Services ♦ Data Processing, Hosting, & Related Services ♦ All Other Information Services including:
- Training Development - Web Design and Hosting - Computer/Web-Based Training Development - Video Production
In October 2005, FRC was awarded a three year $2.9 million IDIQ STARS contract to continue devel-opment of computer-based and web-based train-ing development support for the Civil Engineering Corps Officers Corps School, Port Hueneme, California. The first task totaled $335,000, and TMI is a subcontractor on this contract.
Moore (Contracts) and Pam Player (Accounting) attended and completed the classes and qualified as TMI’s latest Internal Auditors. Anyone who is interested in becoming an Internal Auditor or in reviewing ISO 9001, please contact Miles Martin in the Quality Management Office at 721-6719. One additional in-house improvement has been the implementation of the new automated Individual Work Authorization (IWA) system. This is a process improvement project implemented through our perations Division and coded by Paul Janssen. This improvement was one of TMI’s quality objectives for process improvement for implementation in 2005/2006. The decrease in man-hours required to complete an IWA has been an immediate bene-
fit, end users have reported a recognizable improvement in the process through the use of the new system.
Tec-Masters, Inc. (TMI) and Future Research Corporation (FRC) are in the final year of a DoD approved Mentor-Protégé Program, with TMI serving as the mentor corporation. This successful program has helped establish multimedia capability at FRC and is in the final stages of ISO 9001-2000 certification. With the aid of TMI’s Multimedia past performance, FRC was awarded the 8(a) Stream
Marvin P. Carroll (left) & Jesse Nunn: Teaming For Success
TTECEC--MMASTERSASTERS & F & FUTUREUTURE R RESEARCHESEARCH C CORPORATIONORPORATION
DDOOD MD MENTORENTOR--PPROTÉGÉROTÉGÉ P PROGRAMROGRAM ATAT W WORKORK
recognize that TMI’s ISO program of internal audits and the TMI programs under ISO have matured. This will lessen the internal audit frequency on these programs after they have proven their excellence in management by ISO 9001. The TMI Manage-ment Meeting held November 4, 2005 approved two programs for the Mature program status: Automotive and Multimedia. Because of their demonstrated success in meeting ISO standards, they will be subject to internal audits only once per year compared to three times per year as in the past. The Quality Management Office developed a three day class for training internal auditors to meet and implement internal auditor requirements. Participants in the training included several TMI employees along with representatives from Future Research Corporation (FRC), a TMI protégé under the US Army OSADBU Mentor-Protégé Program. The first day of the class s lasted one full day and reviewed ISO 9001:2000 in some detail, and the remaining two days centered on specific audit techniques and requirements. TMI staffers, Tonya
QUALITY MANAGEMENT: (Continued from page 5)
dd UALITYUALITY ISIS THETHE K KEYEY TOTO CCUSTOMERUSTOMER S SATISFACTIONATISFACTION
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“Silver Snoopy” AAWARDEDWARDED TOTO TMI S TMI STAFFERTAFFER
O n August 5, 2005, Reggie Spivey, was
presented with a NASA Silver Snoopy Award for the superb work he accomplished on SUBSA and PFMI. Of all the SFA Awards, the Silver Snoopy best symbolizes the intent and spirit of Space Flight Awareness. An astro-
naut always presents the Silver Snoopy, because it is the astronauts' own award for outstanding performance, contributing to flight safety and mission success. It is always a special honor to receive this award. Fewer than one percent of the space program workforce receive it annually.
The award is a sterling silver Snoopy lapel pin that has flown on a Space Shuttle mission, plus a certificate of appreciation and commendation letter for the employee, both signed by the astronaut. Leroy Chiao was the astronaut who presented the award to Mr. Spivey. Dr. Chiao was selected by NASA in January 1990, and he became an astronaut in July 1991. He is qualified for flight assignment as a Space Station Commander, Space Station Science Officer and as a Space Shuttle Mission Specialist. A veteran of four space flights, Dr. Chaio flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-65 (July 8-23, 1994), STS-72 (January 11-20, 1996) and STS-92 (October 11-24, 2000). He was also the Commander and NASA Science Officer on Expedition-10 (October 13 to April 24, 2005). Dr. Chiao has logged a total of 229 days, seven hours, 38 minutes and five seconds in space, including 36 hours and seven minutes of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) time in six space walks.
Astronaut Leroy Chiao shown presenting Certificate of Appreciation and Commendation to TMI’s Reggie Spivey
The educational learning management system was actually developed to support engineering assessment test, EE 101, Introduction to Electrical Engineering. This course concept in electrical engineering includes practical pre-calculus concepts and how they are utilized. At AAMU, students are required to develop an electrical project and subsequently, develop additional skills through project presentations and topical research in the electrical engineering curriculum.
This pilot program will demonstrate the effectiveness of eTeaching|eTutoring in advancing educational opportunities at both universities. TMI has targeted Spring 2006 as our “stand up” date. Educators will become “stockholders” in the future growth for the advancement of the student’s educational progress. Tec-Master’s and Northrop Grumman’s commitment toward continuing education will be a beacon for other companies to invest in the product. The pilot program will offer strategic advantages for other colleges and universities who are struggling to advance the knowledge base of their gifted students.
ETEACHING PILOT PROGRAM: (Continued from page 7)
CCUSTOMERSUSTOMERS A APPRECIATEPPRECIATE TMI PTMI PROJECTROJECT S SUPPORTUPPORT
In response to acknowledgments received from our various TMI customer project offices, on December 19, 2005, Dr. Marvin Carroll presented certificates of appreciation and letters of recognition to 14 TMI employees in honor of their “outstanding support” and “performance beyond the call.” Awardees from Preci-sion Fires Rocket and Missile Systems Project Office (PFRMS) included: Mark J. Meyers (HIMARS), John White (HIMARS and M270A1 Life Cycle Contractor Support), Don Dowdy (PFRMS/Foreign Military Sales, IPT, CECOM QAT), Lawrence Phillips (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Program (GMLRS), Tammy Hill (GMLRS), Kayla Bentley (GMLRS), Natasha Schors (GMLRS), and Joe Douglas (GMLRS). Non-Line of Sight Launch System certificates of award were presented to: Bob Kirkhuff, Dennis Hoefle, and Hallie Neal. Jason Cuneo and Emily Weber received award certificates from Utility Helicopter/BlackHawk Program. John Shanholtzer received an award certificate from PEO STRI (Joint Readiness Training Center).
Receiving awards and congratulations from Dr. Carroll: Emily Weber (left) and Don Dowdy (right)
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6. Stop expecting other people to understand you. You must decide if you like your behavior. If not, then change it without expecting anyone else to agree with you or understand you. Your life will only make sense when you don’t need other people to confirm that it does. The greatest understanding you can have about yourself and others is that no one will ever understand you completely.
7. Take small risks each day and praise yourself for doing so, re-gardless of the outcome. Simply remind yourself how terrific you are for taking a risk and growing as a human being.
8. Cease asking permission. Substitute declarative sen-tences for supplication. Instead of saying, “Is it all right if I order shrimp?” say, “I am having shrimp; what are you having?” As an adult, asking permis-sion means abdicating responsibility and giving some-one else control over you. It’s difficult to hold yourself in high esteem when there is no self to esteem.
9. Reduce your emphasis on externals as measurements of success. If your self-esteem is based upon acquisi-tions, then you will always suffer from the disease called “more.” Your esteem as a person is a matter of attitudes, not accumulations, and until you really understand this, you will always lack self-esteem.
10. Keep in mind each and every day: “There are no ordinary moments.” Every experience of your life is a miracle to savor and enjoy. When you learn to think in this way, you will never doubt your own worth, because you will see fully that you yourself are a miracle.
FROM THE BRIDGE (Continued from page 1)
AALABAMALABAMA A&M U A&M UNIVERSITYNIVERSITY BBLACKLACK--TTIEIE S SCHOLARSHIPCHOLARSHIP B BALLALL
“Building Upon the Legacy: Bridging the Digital Divide”
DDRR. M. MARVINARVIN P. C P. CARROLLARROLL, , President and CEO of Tec-Masters, Inc, was recently selected as event chairperson for the 6th Annual AAMU Black-Tie Scholarship Ball. The annual scholarship fund raiser will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 7:00 PM, in the Von Braun Center North Hall. Event pro-ceeds will provide direct scholarships to students based upon Student Business/Industry Scholarship
criteria. Those o rgan i za t i o n s that are prohib-ited from con-tributing to an endowed fund may offer schol-arship support through this fund-ing mechanism. Proceeds will also be used to enhance AAMU continuing educa-tion scholarships. Dr. Carroll shares much in common
with Alabama A&M University’s new president—both are native Atlantians and each has a strong commitment to strengthening the economic and aca-demic base of our community. Together with co-chairs, Dr. Rose Yates (AAMU) and Mr. George W. Reynolds (Northrop Grumman) they will bring a level of energy to the event which will bring about the desired results in the scholarship campaign. The event will bring together representatives from a broad spectrum of business, both large and small, along with local, state and government business entities to enjoy an evening of dining and dancing for a great cause—to raise no less than $200,000 in scholarship monies.
For more information: Roosevelt Conley, Event Planning Coordinator 256.830.4000 — [email protected]
Dr. Marvin Carroll & Dr. Robert Jennings confer following the Black-Tie Scholarship Ball Kickoff Breakfast.
At the successful conclusion of the trial, the city attorney wrote, “We got a verdict yesterday - a win for us! Thank you and the CRASHPORT staff for your support. The report of the CRASHPORT analysis of this accident was admitted into evidence. Additionally, Dr. Allan Tencer was a great witness! His credentials were impeccable. His testimony was understandable and compelling and his demeanor on the stand was impres-sive, yet modest. At the end of the day, I think, through an effective team effort we convinced the jury of the truth… Again, thanks for your efforts.”
This one’s for you, Bob!
Bob Thibadeau
CRASHPORT (Continued from page 9)
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M ore than two-dozen engineers and scientists received National awards and recognition
during the 20th anniversary Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) celebration on Saturday, Feb-ruary 18, 2006 at the Baltimore Convention Cen-ter. Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) Member, Dr. Marvin P. Carroll, a Howard University graduate and President & CEO of Tec-Masters, Inc., was honored as BEYA’s 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Dr. Carroll and other honorees each were pre-sented their awards by Chief Executives of Battelle, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Daimler-Chrysler, General Motors, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. Commanding Generals of major US Army Commands and Navy Admirals, Directors of major US Navy Programs, also presented awards to engineers who hold patents or have otherwise recently distinguished themselves in private or public sectors and academia. Engineering Deans and distinguished graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were honored during an earlier ceremony.
BEYA 2006 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEARBEYA 2006 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Awarded to TecAwarded to Tec--Masters President | CEOMasters President | CEO
Defense Industry Titans Gather to Honor America’s Top EngineersDefense Industry Titans Gather to Honor America’s Top Engineers
Dr. Marvin P. Carroll, founder and President of Tec-Masters, Inc., stands with General Benjamin S. Griffin, Commanding General, US Army Materiel Command, shortly after receiving 20th Anniversary National BEYA Award at Baltimore’s Convention Center.
Dr. Marvin P. Carroll (left) President &CEO of Tec-Masters, Inc., stands with the 2006 Black Engineer of the Year, Ms. Linda Gooden, President, Lockheed Martin Information Technology (LMIT).
Dr. Marvin P. Carroll (above right) TMI President | CEO, stands with Captain Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., US Navy and NASA astronaut during 20th Anniversary 2006 BEYA Awards. TMI performed electronomagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing on composite materials for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
Inset photo (CAPT Curbeam) courtesy of NASA
Pictured left: Ms. Pat Williams,
CEO, Omega Technologies,
Dr. Marvin Carroll, Brigadier General Velma Richardson,
US Army Retired, VP, Lockheed Martin IT
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T he increasing cost of live fire testing of missile defense radar systems continues to drive system
test organizations to explore alternative test ap-proaches employing digital simulation. The challenges of digital simulation include providing realistic, high fidelity target and environment characteristics in real-time to fully exercise the radar system in an effort to accurately predict system performance.
To address these challenges, Tec-Masters personnel are working several missile defense efforts that include Sim-Over-Live Driver (SOLD), Missile Defense System Exerciser (MDSE), Missile Defense Integration Exercise (MDIE), and Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Radar Digital Signal Injection System (RDSIS). A brief description of these efforts is provided below:
Sim-Over-Live Driver (SOLD) Tec-Masters, Inc. is developing the SOLD for testing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Tactical Element. The SOLD is a mobile, Government-owned HWIL driver for end-to-end testing at National Test Ranges by injecting threats and environments into the Radar and simulating additional launchers and missiles. The SOLD will be used to support THAAD Flight Test and Operational Assessments conducted by Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) at na-tional missile ranges such as the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) or White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). During pre and post flight activities it pro-vides a testing/training capability. During the actual Flight Test the Simulation-Over-Live capability will inject live and simulated threats to exercise the Radar and THAAD Fire Control and Communications (TFCC) components at large threat raid density and environ-ments. The figure below illustrates the SOLD intgra-tion with the THAAD TFCC and Radar components.
Missile Defense System Exerciser (MDSE) Tec-Masters, Inc. is the developer of the THAAD Test Controller (TTC) for the THAAD Node of the MDSE architecture shown below. The TTC is the system driver for the THAAD initial Block 06 capability equipment. The TTC provides the mechanism by which THAAD HWIL components and simulations are syn-chronized, integrated, and controlled. A mobile version of the TTC has been used for Air and Missile Defense field exercises such as Roving Sands.
MDSE is a distributed real-time HWIL test tool being developed to per-form Ballistic Missile
Defense System (BMDS) characterization assessment, interoperability assessment, and element integration assessment. MDSE is composed of an integrated set of BMDS elements/components and test infrastructure widely dispersed among BMDS element HWIL facili-ties. It is designed to present a common test control and element/component stimulation environment to the BMDS elements and components. It operates over a wide range of simulated conditions to permit boundary and stress testing of the integrated ele-ments/components, and to characterize the ability of the BMDS elements to interoperate as a single system. MDSE is designed to maximize the use of embedded tactical HWIL and minimize the use of models and simulations.
Missile Defense Integration Exercises (MDIE) The MDIE test program at the Joint National Integra-tion Center (JNIC) provides for the planning and con-duct of MDIE tests using the Missile Defense System Exerciser. It includes BMDS level integrated labora-tory HWIL testing that involves a broad spectrum of test objectives. Tec-Masters, Inc. is involved in the planning and conduct (operates/maintains) of the THAAD Node during the MDIE event, and provides post event analysis.
BMDS Radar Digital Signal Injection System (RDSIS) Tec-Masters, Inc. is also developing the real-time digi-tal signal injection capability for the BMDS Radar. The RDSIS is a radar signal processor injection driver that receives waveform and beam position commands from the radar system, and, using these commands and a simulated threat scenario, computes and injects simulated radar returns in the form of In-Phase and Quadrature (I&Q) data directly into the BMDS Radar signal and data processor. This unique approach will provide a test capability to exercise the complete
(Continued on page 15)
RADAR RadarDigital Signal
InjectionSystem(RDSIS)
LauncherModel
MissileModel
EnhancedTHAAD
TestController
(ETTC)
Launch Messages
Sim-Over-Live I&Q Data
Sim I&Q Data
ThreatDriver
Launcher Messages
Scenario Monitor
Live I&Q Data
TFCC
Waveforms,Status
State DataUplinks
Downlinks
ObjectData
Object ReportsDiscrimination ReportsHit Assessment ReportsInterceptor Support PlansSearch PlansRadar Tasking
SOLDInterface
Unit(SIU)
Launch MessagesShelter
Scenario Monitor
LauncherMissile
THAAD Tactical Element Sim-Over-Live Driver (SOLD)
RADAR RadarDigital Signal
InjectionSystem(RDSIS)
LauncherModel
MissileModel
EnhancedTHAAD
TestController
(ETTC)
Launch Messages
Sim-Over-Live I&Q Data
Sim I&Q Data
ThreatDriver
Launcher Messages
Scenario Monitor
Live I&Q Data
TFCC
Waveforms,Status
State DataUplinks
Downlinks
ObjectData
Object ReportsDiscrimination ReportsHit Assessment ReportsInterceptor Support PlansSearch PlansRadar Tasking
SOLDInterface
Unit(SIU)
Launch MessagesShelter
Scenario Monitor
LauncherMissile
THAAD Tactical Element Sim-Over-Live Driver (SOLD)
MMISSILEISSILE D DEFENSEEFENSE D DIRECTORATEIRECTORATE A ACTIVITIESCTIVITIES
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signal and data processing functionality from begin-ning to end in a real-time, tactical configuration. This approach, among other capabilities, provides the capability to assess radar system performance under extreme object loading conditions and assesses radar system reaction to conventional and unconventional threats.
The RDSIS currently under development supports the primary radar operational functions such as single beam search, multiple beam searches, multiple fre-quency search, verification, track initiation, track, and discrimination. It will accommodate all narrowband, mediumband and wideband waveforms available in the BMDS Radar. Receiver hardware effects including automatic gain control, noise injection, and channel-to-channel amplitude and phase errors. Real-time an-tenna pattern models are provided for the transmit sum beam, the receive sum and difference beams, and for the simultaneous receive sum beams. The RDSIS antenna models reflect the impact of the wide-band array architecture transmit/receive (T/R) mod-ule outages, and array error effects for both the mainbeam and sidelobes. Environmental effects mod-els for atmospheric absorption, atmospheric refrac-tion, lens loss, and cloud and precipitation attenuation are also included.
The RDSIS will utilize scattering center based radar cross section (RCS) models to generate radar return signals for threatening objects and debris, and will also have the capability to use statistical characteri-zation models to generate radar return signals for debris. The RDSIS will model object dynamics in terms of position, velocity, acceleration, yaw, pitch, roll, body axis rates, and ballistic coefficient.
MISSILE DEFENSE (Continued from page 14)
trans-formational programs where TMI’s multimedia services, interactive learning and communications products, and light manufacturing capabilities are seamlessly integrated with large and small business partner offerings to enhance both DoD and DHS global capabilities for TMI. Successful TMI discussions and agreements recently have been completed for opportunities or programs that include, but are not limited to: US Army’s ITES-2S, Homeland Security’s EAGLE, State Department’s HITSS, US Marine Corps’ CBIRF, and DISA’s ENCORE-II vehicles. TMI continues to leverage corporate relationships with its small business partners and protégés for corporate growth. A meeting was held in Huntsville, during the first week of February for TMI, local and Mid-Atlantic small business partners with strategic relationships, past performances, and complimentary competencies in the US Air Force, US Army, US Navy/Marine Corps, Intelligence communities, and Civilian Agencies. Our footprint in Washington is an extension of our existing sales and branding resources at TMI – Huntsville, Lawton, Orlando, and Atlanta.
TMI MID-ATLANTIC OPERARTIONS (Continued from page 8)
TMI TMI Lawton OperationsLawton Operations JJOINTOINT L LANDAND C COMPONENTOMPONENT C CONSTRUCTIVEONSTRUCTIVE
TTRAININGRAINING C CAPABILITYAPABILITY S SUPPORTUPPORT
TMI-Lawton Simulation and Analysis continues to pro-vide worldwide support to the Army's Battle Com-mand Training Centers (BCTCs) as part of a support team for the Joint Land Component Constructive Train-ing Capability (JLCCTC) Entity Resolution Federation (ERF). The BCTCs are the focal points for Army battle staff digital training and development. JLCCTC ERF is a PEO-STRI program that supports staff training in the BCTCs on digital information systems at division, bri-gade, and battalion levels to optimize tactical combat readiness and decision-making. Additionally, JLCCTC ERF simulates emerging tactical warfighting strategies, techniques, and equipment to determine the com-mander's and his/her staff's battlefield effectiveness. The JLCCTC ERF concept allows commanders and their staffs in training to experience the warfighting tempo they could expect to encounter on the battlefield with the objective of improving tactical decision-making
Under contract with the Depth and Simultaneous Attack Battle Lab, TMI employees Dave Minaschek and Mike Perdieu provide JLCCTC ERF training and fielding support to BCTCs and other Army facilities with FireSim XXI. Recently, they participated in the JLCCTC ERF Version 3 Test Event at PEO-STRI where FireSim XXI and its live tactical command and control interface, Extensible C4I Interface Suite (ExCIS) received PEO-STRI certification. FireSim XXI is an event sequenced simulation of friendly and enemy artillery forces. It simulates the target acquisition, command, control, communications and intelligence (C3I), weapon/target allocation, logistics, firing platforms and munitions to a high level of detail. It is large scale (up to corps level for many applications) and yet highly resolute (individual sensors, weapons, fire direction centers, munitions, and messages). The interface with the live command and control systems is accomplished with the aid of ExCIS. ExCIS provides native Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) and legacy messaging for training and exercise support. FireSim XXI communicates with ExCIS using psuedo Command and Control Simulation Interface Language (CCSIL) messages.
Battalion Operations Center
Tec-Masters, Inc. “Quality is the Key to Customer Satisfaction”
Published by:
TTECEC--MMASTERSASTERS, I, INCORPORATEDNCORPORATED Corporate Headquarters: 1500 Perimeter Parkway Suite 215 Huntsville, AL 35806-3520 President/CEO: Dr. Marvin Carroll 1.800.849.9472 256.830.4000 256.830.4093 (fax) POC: Larry Reed Vice President, Operations 256.721.6638 TMEye
