Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC)

In recognition of Women's History Month, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) presents a special blog series featuring candid responses from female ECBC employees and leaders on their experiences as females in the science and engineering fields. The second blog in this series features Kathryn "Kato" Killops, a scientist with Edgewood Chemical Biological Center's Chemical Biological Filtration Branch .

It can be daunting to transition from an undergraduate or graduate research program in academia into a government agency with its own long history of research and development. When I started at ECBC after my graduate work at University of California Santa Barbara, I found it difficult to navigate and align my expertise with that of my new research institution. However, there were a few strategies that helped me into ease into my position and have continued to be useful to me as I design and conduct research projects here at ECBC.

Carve out a niche for yourself. Being one of the only polymer chemists at ECBC led me to pursue research funding and collaborative opportunities that aligned both with the Army mission and with my own interests and skills. It may not be immediately obvious to you as to how your skills can benefit an established research project. With that said, I found it to be beneficial to attend workshops, events, and seminars outside my branch in order to meet other researchers and discuss potential collaborative efforts.

Identify potential funding sources. Having the freedom and flexibility to pursue your own research projects is tremendously empowering, and often results from having funding to support those goals. Shortly after starting at ECBC, I began working on several original research proposals to submit to various funding agencies for basic research resources. The ECBC and Army In-house Laboratory Independent Research and the Surface Science Initiative have enabled me to orchestrate my own research projects. I recommend having ideas or summaries of proposed research ready in case there is an announcement for seedlings, proposals, or white papers.

Use your connections. The connections I’ve made with people that I met in graduate school, or at conferences and seminars, have been invaluable to me as resources for initiating my own research projects. For everything from proposal and manuscript reviews, to full collaborative efforts, my network has helped me be more successful than I ever would have been on my own.

If you need something, ask for it. There’s no harm in asking. Likely, you can connect with someone who has access, or knows how to get access, to what you need. Sometimes that’s the simplest, and most effective, solution.

So there you have it – these strategies proved to be vital in helping me transition from my graduate research program at UC Santa Barbara into working for a government agency with different goals. What strategies most helped you transition to the ECBC working environment?

Kato Killops joined the CBR Filtration Branch in March 2011. Kato received her B.A. in Chemistry from Whitman College, and her Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Department of the Army, Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

In recognition of Women's History Month, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) presents a special blog series featuring candid responses from female ECBC employees and leaders on their experiences as females in the science and engineering fields. The third blog in this series features Jody Gostomski, a biologist for the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center's BioSensors Branch.

Being a biologist for the U.S. Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center for the past nine years has been an extremely rewarding and challenging endeavor. Throughout my career at ECBC, it has been apparent to me that our senior leaders and management have built this Organization upon a solid foundation that supports and encourages professional and personal growth opportunities to all. Personally, this environment has proven to be an invaluable reminder that the obstacles and shortcomings that are endured from time-to-time in the workplace are not based upon our gender or ethnicity but rather the limitations that we place upon ourselves.

My genuine advice to young women pursuing a science or engineering career is to remove any limitations that you control. That is the only way to most efficiently develop and surpass your career path. Pursue research avenues that excite you, because your inner enthusiasm drives the most innovative research and leads to the highest level of achievement and satisfaction. Strive to see each and every goal you create come to fruition. Work diligently on developing professional networks across all directorates through participation developmental programs that are offered. Eagerly pursue and accept all opportunities that are presented to you. Most importantly, be active in the recruitment and training of future leaders in order to motivate and mentor those who strive to follow in your footsteps.

Jody Gostomski is a biologist for the BioSensors Branch within the Research and Technology directorate at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. Currently, she is earning a master’s degree in Biotechnology at the Johns Hopkins University.

In recognition of Women's History Month, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) presents a special blog series featuring candid responses from female ECBC employees and leaders on their experiences as females in the science and engineering fields. The final blog in this series features Amanda Dubbs, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center's Public Affairs officer.

Finding an equal balance between work and life is one of the biggest challenges women face today. Pregnancy doesn’t mean you have to choose between mother and employee. Instead, you realize that you can handle both work and life. Working moms are amazing jugglers who fulfill many roles. Balance is a feeling we all hope to achieve, yet none of us feel we have mastered. At the end of the day, however, we have. The fact that you did it today and will do it again tomorrow means to me that you have mastered it as well as anyone else.

When I walk out the door in the evenings I have an hour on my drive home to turn my work brain off and turn my mommy brain on. I discovered that I thought about work more often when I had just one child but after my second, I quickly realized that my time must be devoted to them at home. They grow up too fast. I am fortunate to have a spouse that helps out at home so we can spend our weekends together doing family things. You realize that the laundry can wait a day because your kids are only little once.

I didn’t take advantage of this piece of advice after returning to work with my first child, but this year, when I returned from maternity leave after my second child, I decided to try it and it is wonderful: ME TIME! As part of being a working mommy, you will occasionally need to plan some time to reconnect with your femininity and take care of yourself: exercise classes, a day at the spa and learning how to relax, are all ways that you can take care of yourself. Taking care of this aspect of your life is just as important as spending time with the kids and being a top professional in your industry.

Amanda graduated from Penn State in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She later earned a Master’s of Science in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins in 2007. Amanda started working at ECBC in 2004 as a biologist, then served as the Engineering Directorate's Executive Officer in 2010 and 2011, before serving in her current role as ECBC's Public Affairs Officer in June 2011. Amanda has been married for six and a half years and has two daughters: 2.5-year-old, Allison, and 5-month-old, Abigail.

Innovative. That’s the word Jerry Wagner used to describe his 31-year career at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. The chemical equipment engineering technician has spent the last 27 years with the Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR) Business Unit of the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, fabricating and installing equipment in support of various projects, including the decommissioning and demolition of the Pilot Plant complex.

Wagner also served as the maintenance team lead for the Chemical Transfer Facility (CTF) and Thermal Treatment Facility, but his most notable achievement was his instrumental role in the design of a remote drill for the Chemical Agent Transfer System at the CTF. Wagner also set up equipment to support the deploy-ment of CBARR personnel for a project in England to support the Project Manager for Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel.

“Jerry was a ‘go-to guy’ on the job. If you needed something, he more than likely had it,” said Tim Evans, chief of the Chemical Equipment Maintenance Branch, and Wagner’s supervisor for the past 14 years. “His experience and knowledge within the organization was unique. There have been a lot of changes in the organization over the years, from regulations and the way we work, to environmental and safety awareness. Jerry has worked with the equipment and processes within these changes, which has made his experience invaluable to CBARR.”

Prior to working at APG, Wagner was drafted into the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 and served as a power genera-tor repairman. He attributes his fascination with machinery to his childhood when he would watch his father build things from scratch. Ever since then, Wagner has been creating, molding and problem solving maintenance issues for the CBARR organization, and is recognized as a vital team member in the safe handling and destruction of chemical warfare material around the world. At the end of a distinguished career, he reflected back on his favorite part of the job—the equipment—and is glad to have been part of modernization of new technology.

“I’ve really enjoyed my job down here and am definitely happy with my experi-ence,” said Wagner. “But now my challenges are really going to get me good—I’ve got three grandchildren to take care of!”

Wagner was born in Maryland and has family all across the country, from the Northeast region to Florida, Texas, Colorado and North Carolina. He said he looks forward to spending more time with his family and grandchildren, and is even contemplating a cross-country trip in his RV.

“There’s a lot of United States I haven’t seen yet,” he said.

Lisa Smagala used to be afraid of heights, until she took a hot air balloon ride to challenge her fear. Guns made her nervous, so she went to a shooting range to test a few out. When Smagala thought she was an awful distance runner, she signed up for her first half marathon.

“I just like throwing myself into things,” said Smagala. “The only way I fully understand something is to touch it and feel it, so figuring out how things work and facing a problem head on is how I always approach things.”

Smagala, currently the Systems Integration team leader within the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Division’s Technology and Systems Integration Branch, has used her no-fear personality and disciplined work ethic to advance her skills as a systems engineer, bring success to her team and add value to her many projects at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center.

As a female team lead in a field historically driven by males, Smagala never lets being the “small girl in the room” deter her from immersing herself in a field that truly piqued her interest. “I really don’t mind getting dirty, or climbing around the vehicles turning wrenches,” Smagala said. “Although these days I don’t get to do it as much as I used to, that type of work is what really excites me. I’m a hands on learner.”

Smagala has been in the systems engineering line of work for more than 10 years, and spent her undergraduate years studying industrial engineering.

“A majority of my studies and the jobs that I’ve held were heavily male dominated,” Smagala said.

While she is used to the environment and feels comfortable in the atmosphere, she has encountered some difficult attitudes from time to time.

“Never at ECBC, but I have been in several situations where male customers would ask another male questions even though I’m the person in charge, or I may get treated differently. The best way I combat that is to just show them what I am made of,” Smagala said. “Work ethic, good results, drive and skill all speak on their own. While they may not ask me questions initially, it doesn’t take long for them to realize that I am capable.”

Although Smagala, is someone who has always pushed herself, hard work is a trait that comes naturally. A strong work ethic and building relationships are the traits that Smagala thinks are essential to any engineer’s career –male or female.

“You have to be committed to your job, be excited and want to see you programs succeed,” Smagala said. “I try to instill that value in our team to encourage members to work hard. Our Warfighters deserve a certain level of service, and we need to be able to deliver on that.”

Smagala’s first foray into engineering was not unlike her approach to conquering her fear of heights or challenging her ability to run long distances - she took a head-first and hands-on approach. At just 18 years old, Smagala worked a summer job at the General Motors (GM) factory assembly line near her Delaware home. In her time with GM, Smagala started as a summer intern and became a full time engineer by the time she graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering.

“I stayed with GM for about seven years and really enjoyed my job. Unfortunately the plant began to show signs of closing down, so I couldn’t stay as long as I wanted,” Smagala said.

“It was because of the real exposure to the working world an manufacturing that I found the field exciting and fast paced.”

After GM, Smagala ventured into a completely different side of engineering and took on a job at WL Gore working with the company’s fabric division as a part of their testing lab/ manufacturing support. The difference between working on vehicles versus working with fabrics was immense to her.“While it very different to transition from cars to fabric, I got a whole new view of manufacturing through the work we did in the lab,” Smagala said.

Although Smagala enhanced her skills in Research and Development, and learned a lot through the process, she wanted to manage more than just a piece of the puzzle, so she started to pursue different opportunities –especially when she met Kevin Wallace through a mutual friend. Wallace,

Smagala said, always talked about the exciting work he did at ECBC. It didn’t take Smagala too long to send Kevin her resume to see if ECBC could be a good fit for her.

“I gave Kevin my resume and about six to eight months later I got a call from the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Division inviting me in for an interview,” Smagala said. During her time with ECBC Smagala said she has truly pushed herself and really grown as an engineer.

High profile projects she worked on included the Buffalo vehicle, the Joint Explosive Ordinance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicle Surrogate (JERRV Surrogate) and the Husky Mounted Detection System Surrogate (HMDSS). In addition to her projects, Smagala earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Wilmington University, and a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University all within three years, while with ECBC.

“I just wanted to throw myself into it and complete all the programs. I felt very encouraged by my coworkers here who work so hard and are so passionate about what they do,” Smagala said. “I wanted to become more well-rounded and do as much as I could to fully understand and appreciate every opportunity.”

Smagala said her favorite project thus far with ECBC was the work with the JERRV Surrogate, a training vehicle for the Joint Improvised Explosives Defeat Organization. This was the first project that Smagala has had the opportunity to work with from cradle to grave. “I have been involved with JERRV from the start and I got to see it from the initial fielding, to sustainment, training and enhancements for a fleet of 80 vehicles, so I feel a personal tie with that one. We spent a lot of time with the Soldiers during training and practical exercises and really got an inside look into their needs.”

Traveling 90 minutes each way to get to ECBC every day, Smagala uses the little free time she has to stay active in volleyball, kickball, dodgeball leagues and participates in obstacle course races. While her schedule can be stressful and exhausting at times, it is all worth it.

While her head first approach gets exhausting, Smagala believes it is hard to get stressed when you’re having fun. “I get the opportunity to not only do something I love, but do it next to some of the most talented, intelligent people who are also enthusiastic about their jobs.”

CBARR resident photographer Dave Kline snapped
photos of bald eagles on Jan. 29 near Building 3942.

Eagle Awareness Training in effect for employees working down range

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Our national bird is making a comeback! Nearly six years since being removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species, the bald eagle is now flourishing across the nation—particularly at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Md. where 72,000 acres of land and water provide an ideal nesting ground for the birds.

According to the Garrison’s Department of Public Works – Environmental Division, 203 bald eagles were counted on post with an additional 25 birds counted along the Susquehanna River during the 2013 Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey, which was conducted on Jan. 6. The 228 total bird count is above average for the last six annual surveys. The population increase was not unexpected, the report stated, given the cold weather in the Northeast and mild weather in Maryland. The survey route included shoreline and tributaries of APG, as well as the shoreline of the Susquehanna River north to Peach Bottom power plant.

“As far as ECBC goes, Maxwell Point has several bald eagle nests,” said Matt Jones, environmental scientist for ECBC’s Environmental Quality Office. “The eagles, as you can tell by their population, have adapted and obviously thrived here, even through 10 years of war and a very busy workload. APG has done a good job of implementing policies to protect the eagles and ECBC has supported those policies.”

APG is home to the highest density of bald eagles in the northern Chesapeake Bay region and comprises 7 percent of Maryland’s breeding population. Though bald eagles are no longer endangered, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits the killing, wounding or trapping of eagles. Attempting to disturb the eagles is also prohibited. The Army, in cooperation with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay Field Office, developed a Bald Eagle Management Plan requiring mandatory workforce awareness training for any activities that can cause significant environment impacts, including testing and training operations that may interfere with the breeding, feeding or roosting of the birds.

CBARR resident photographer Leah Usmari snapped
photos of bald eagles on Jan. 29 near Building 3942.

According to Jones, the designated nesting season on APG is from Dec. 15 to June 15, and the 500-meter buffer zone around nests is fully enforced during this time. The mandatory Eagle Awareness Training must be completed on an annual basis for employees who work down range near the eagle nests, which typically have between one and three eggs in the nest by the end of March. Cameras monitor the nests to know when the last eaglets fledge the nest, usually in late May or early June, Jones said. Aerial surveys in helicopters are also conducted at least once a year. Employees are encouraged to adhere to the signage downrange and avoidoutdoor work during the nesting season, however regular traffic on main roads through the buffer zones is accepted.

“They’re curious creatures,” said Jones, who also gives the training to visitors traveling down range and writes record of environmental considerations twice a year for M-Field activities. “Though the numbers have gone down considerably, it’s not uncommon for the eagles to fly into the power lines.”

According to Jones, a heightened number of these incidents nearly 10 years ago resulted in protective actions by APG. Thousands of reflective flappers have been installed on electrical power lines and insulators now cover the conductors and transformers, which have significantly reduced the number of eagle mortalities on Post. In 2012, there was one mortality and two injuries that resulted in euthanasia for eagles on APG. But there was also a success story when an adult male eagle that had sustained electrocution burns from power lines at the Aberdeen Test Center in Aberdeen, was released on Edgewood’s campus after being rehabilitated at the Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark, Del.

The R&T Connection is reprising its series highlighting the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center’s (ECBC) postdoctoral associates, and we begin with Stephanie Cole, Ph.D., an associate with the National Research Council’s (NRC) Research Associateship Program. Cole is currently working with a stem cell team under Harry Salem, Ph.D., Chief Scientist for Life Science, for which she has already received several accolades.

“Stephanie has been such a great addition to our team,” said Salem. “Working with the postdoctoral associates is as much a rewarding experience for me as I hope it is for them. Having someone like Stephanie on the team brings such energy and talent to the work we do.”

Cole joined this program after receiving her undergraduate degree from McDaniel College and her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. She recently sat down with us to tell us more about her experience as an NRC postdoctoral associate.

How did you get involved in the NRC’s Research Associateship Program?

When I was completing my Ph.D., I went to the NRC’s website and looked at all of the research opportunities they had listed. From those opportunities, I saw that ECBC has lots of interesting research and it seemed like a great place to work. I had an interview and had to complete a lengthy application which includes a ten-page research proposal. It’s an extensive process!

What drew you to ECBC?

I was interested in chem and bio, so the aspect of that here seemed like a really good fit. I was interested in studying chemical toxicology and this provided a unique opportunity to do that because there aren’t many labs that do that. Also, my husband and I live in Bel Air and our families are both nearby, so the local aspect was certainly appealing.

How long will this position last?

The NRC post docs are for a year, and are renewable up to three years. I’ve been here nine months so far, and I’d absolutely love the chance to be here for the full three years.

How did you know you wanted to be a scientist and go into this field?

Before my senior year in high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I knew it wasn’t science! But I ended up getting talked into taking an AP Biology course and I had the most amazing teacher. He made it so fun and I ended up doing pretty well, and it just got me hooked. In college, I just kept learning and taking more classes, and had a few summer internships where I got to do research. I realized I really enjoyed doing research and experiments – it felt like a puzzle that I could figure out. So, I decided to pursue that route. It was amazing—one teacher just made such a difference in my life.

Tell me more about what you do here at ECBC.

As part of Dr. Salem’s team, we’re all working together to develop the “human on a chip.” All of the post docs have been assigned different organs to study independently, with the goal of one day being able to connect them all together. I’ve been assigned the liver, so my focus is to create a model for liver metabolism and to study the effects of human metabolism on toxicity using subcultures. In layman’s terms, a lot of current toxicity studies use animal models, but animals metabolize compounds very differently than humans do. We’re working on developing models in vitro, or outside of the body, to test various chemicals. We take liver cells from human cadavers and culture them; they’re metabolically active and they’ve been shown to metabolize things the same way as they would in vivo, or inside of the body, so we can have effective experiments that will help us understand how humans metabolize toxins differently from animals.

What is the goal of this research?

We can look at therapeutics, or ways to treat certain reactions to compounds. But one of the big fields of study is looking at human estimates; based on animal studies we can actually use this type of research to estimate what the human response would be to those compounds. This is a nice system for conducting that type of research. Right now we’re just working on the concepts and trying to build up this area of study. There are a lot of different avenues we can take with this area of research.

What is a typical day like for you?

I spend about 40-50 percent of my time in the lab, planning out experiments. I have a lot of help from other scientists in the lab as well. The other portion of my time is mostly spent reading, writing, trying to think of new ideas for projects or different ways we can go with this project and writing research papers. The rest of my time is for more administrative things such as attending meetings.

What would you like to do after this?

I’d like to stay at ECBC if possible. I’d like to maybe be a PI in a government lab, and I’m really interested in continuing with Army and government research. This is a nice transition to learn the Army and the environment and then hopefully do that one day.

If you had to pick the most challenging part of your work, what would it be?

Honestly one of the most challenging things right now is the budgetary constraints and how that effects getting funding. As a new post doc, something I really want to get out of this is grant writing experience, but in the current climate it can be hard to seek more funding. The good thing, though, is that this is a field which will always be relevant, so I feel like there will be opportunities down the road for that experience.

What is the most exciting part of your work?

Being at the cutting edge of this technology; with the stem cells and the in vitro toxicity testing, it’s been really fun to be at the cutting edge of science. I really enjoy attending conferences and meeting others in this field, collaborators we could maybe partner with one day. And knowing our ideas are brand new is very fun and provides a lot of opportunities to write papers and continue to learn more.

What are some things you enjoy outside of work?

I really like running, that’s a big hobby of mine. I also like knitting and enjoy reading all kinds of different genres. Right now, I’m really into the Game of Thrones series which is great because now I can watch the series on HBO as well!

What is one interesting fact about yourself that not many people here may know about you?

Hmm…good question. I’m not used to talking about myself so that’s a tough one! I really enjoy making bread, which takes a lot of patience and also kind of applies the same concepts of conducting science experiments. I do that on the weekends a lot—there’s nothing like homemade bread.

What advice would you give to a student today who is interested in being a scientist?

Talk to people; make those connections—the more people you know, the more you can find out about what you’re interested in. See if you can get internships, which provide such great experience, especially in labs. If you can get your foot in the door it can really be the best way to go, and it can also help you figure out if that is the kind of work you really want to pursue.

To learn more about the NRC’s Research Associateship Program, please visit http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/RAP/index.htm.

Dennis Bolt with Arthur Lewis at the Marrangaroo project site.

Dennis Bolt is a mechanical engineer for ECBC’s Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR) Business Unit. Currently serving a one-year secondment to the Australian Department of Defence (ADoD), Bolt recently had the unique opportunity to visit a few former chemical warfare (CW) facilities while abroad. During his tours, he met Arthur Lewis—a former World War II veteran who had actually worked at a number of former defense sites Bolt visited, including Marrangaroo Depot and Glenbrook Depot and Tunnel.

At age 19, Lewis was a chemical armourer in the Australian Army and not only worked at numerous CW storage depots, but was involved in several CW agent trials. “He discussed the operations in great detail and enjoyed the opportunity to share his experience with others,” Bolt said of Lewis.

Drums of the chemical agent mustard line the right side of the entrance to the Glenbrook Tunnel in 1943. In November 2012, the ADoD invited Bolt to visit the site, along with the Marrangaroo Depot and the Kingwood/Orchard Hill Depot.

Bolt was accompanied by Gareth Johnson, from the United Kingdom Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), and Geoff Plunkett of the ADoD. Plunkett recently published a book independent of ADoD, titled “Chemical Warfare in Australia: 1914-1945,” which recounts Australia’s importation and storage of chemical weapons during that time period. Chemical warfare armourers like Lewis were responsible for handling the dangerous chemicals.

Bolt serves as CBARR’s primary program manager with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Precinct. The project involves a chemical warfare investigation and assessment of various buildings, laboratories and the surrounding environment at sites such as Maribyrnong, Columboola and most recently, John Brewer Reef.

Project from APG Senior Leadership Cohort offers community-based tool for organization efficiency

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – There is a wealth of subject matter experts, resources and assets across the Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) installation that spark innovative research efforts and perform sound testing capabilities to accomplish mission critical objectives for the U.S. Army.

Tapping into these areas across APG organizations has become even easier thanks to a new digital bulletin board tool available to government employees. Seeking Help through Available Resource Exchanges (SHARE) is a community-based project developed from this year’s APG Senior Leadership Cohort. In February ECBC’s Steve Norman, Peter Emanuel and Ron Pojunas, graduated from the program, which was created to build a self-sustaining leadership community among high potential GS-14/15 and equivalent level managers at APG. SHARE was one of the capstone projects that resulted from the cohort. It is a web-enabled milBook product that facilitates the exchange of goods and services in a collaborative effort to accomplish our missions.

“There’s a lot of talent on APG that we really aren’t taking advantage of, this board came about as an electronic media where you can advertise resources,” said Norman, chief of the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory branch for the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center’s (ECBC) Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR) Business Unit.

“For example, if you are in need of two chemists to work on a certain project, you would put the duration and specifications of this detail on the web-based bulletin board. Someone who may have two chemists that are available can respond to the request, exchange contact information and begin the process to execute the detail. That requirement then comes off the board,” Norman explained.

Similarly, an organization can advertise resources they may have available in order to attract potential customers across APG and make visible their assets that have traditionally remained hidden on a grassroots level. SHARE’s digital platform turns available resources into highly visible prospects for organizations to capitalize on, whether it is reducing costs, cutting down the time needed to generate contracts or completing a project in a more efficient manner.

“In this time of sequestration, we’re trying to do more with less,” Norman said. “If you have folks that are available who aren’t fully engaged, you now have an opportunity to advertise their core competencies with the hope that they may be needed to support other organizations. This also prevents the organization receiving the support from the laborious process of generating contract vehicles to accomplish a task or procure a resource. ”

As the largest employer in Harford County with more than 21,000 civilian, military and contractor employees, the U.S. Army garrison supports military intelligence, medical research, engineering and computer technology achievements. Home to 11 major commands that support more than 80 tenants, 20 satellite and 17 private activities, utilizing existing capital enables organizations to work more collaboratively, effectively manage the ebbs and flows of a given workload and raises awareness of the “buyer” and “seller” existence.

Using the digital interface, users can create blogs to start discussions and receive notifications of new posts. Information can be tailored and formatted in ways that facilitate advertisements and solicitations. Attachments can also be added to posts, which can be tagged with key words to target specific audiences and make searches more efficient.

The SHARE program has been active for the past three months and encourages collaboration not only within ECBC but installation-wide. Engaging APG’s workforce in the digital space can also lead to creative problem solving in real time. The unique, yet simple, concept of the SHARE project fosters a resource-sharing environment where APG tenants can reach out to the local Army workforce for support. As a result, it equips the installation with better buying power capabilities during a challenging Department of Defense climate of sequestration, war time drawdown, contract reform and reduction in force.

“If we let some other folks know what our skill sets are and what talents we have here at ECBC that are available, that may also help generate funding opportunities. A majority of the work we do is customer-funded so we have to get out there and find new ways to capture the work ourselves. This is almost an avenue to advertise what we can do for folks who need our capabilities,” Norman said.

For more information, visit: https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/apg-share

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Within the Joint Service Physical Protection Engineering (JSPPE) Branch, a unique blend of seasoned engineers work together, apply their collective and individual protection expertise, and counter Chemical Biological (CB) threats.

Within the last year, realignments brought the Collective Protection (ColPro) and the Individual Protection (IP) teams closer under the JSPPE Branch.

“We’re able to draw off the technical resources – there’s a lot of back and forth between ColPro and IP staff because we have common issues,” said Trish Weiss, IP Team Leader. “The combined Branch has been a really good thing for us.”

John Clayton, ColPro Sustainment and Fixed Site Team Leader, agrees with this sentiment: “Our team doesn’t operate in a bubble; we collaborate across other groups within ECBC and our customers harness this efficiency.”

The recent retirement of Jim Church, former JSPPE Branch Chief, extracted more than 40 years of knowledge. Yet his predecessor, Don Kilduff, is confident in the remaining and ever-growing knowledge in the Branch.

“Jim’s retirement may seem like an overwhelming gap for the Branch, but I would consider it a success story,” says Kilduff. “Jim felt passionate enough about what we do here within the branch to be able to amass those years of knowledge and build upon them by staying with us for so long.”

Despite Church’s departure, the Branch remains packed with experts, passionate about protecting the Warfighter. Prior to the Branch Chief position, he served as the team leader for the Apache Joint Service Aircrew Mask (JSAM) project since 1999. Clayton, who started supporting ECBC as a student contractor during college, is approaching a two-decade term of service. Weiss has built a career on loyalty to the Army, with more than 28 years of experience.

“There are several other people in this Branch who have many years of experience in the physical protection commodity area,” Weiss said. “For example, Sam Carter, our Systems Manager for the M45 series mask, has over 25 years experience with the M40 and M45 series masks. He is our ‘go to’ technical resource and ‘corporate memory’ on these systems. Such experience and technical expertise is highly valued here.” Weiss and Clayton also note other long time experts in their Branch, Wayne Gulian, a ColPro engineer, has nearly 30 years direct experience, and Allen Swim, an ECBC representative SME for PM Ground Combat Vehicle, has a diverse skillset extending to most things related to CB.

Weiss, who marked her start with ECBC before a six year assignment with the then-U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency’s Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project, supporting the Explosive Destruction System, eventually found her way back to individual protection.

When Weiss first began working with ECBC in the early 1980s, the M40 mask was what she calls “the new toy,” now as her IP Team manages the sustainment of the M40 as a legacy mask; Weiss values the experience she has of working with a mask from its conception to its sustainment.

“Sustainment in those systems is very important because the M40 and M45 are still in production at Pine Bluff Arsenal,” says Weiss. “Even legacy systems have issues arising in production, such as tooling or availability of materials or components, and these things require technical support.”

In addition to sustaining the legacy M40 mask, the IP team also aids with the current fielding of the Joint Service General Purpose Mask (JSGPM), the M50 and the JSAM. Recently, they began providing support to the Combat Support Team, conducting Personal Protective Equipment training.

Weiss and her team are passionate about protecting the warfighter, and work to inform and educate the military community on issues involving safety of use of individual protection systems through forums like Army Chemical Review and PS Preventative Maintenance Monthly Magazine.

“For example, we recently published an article in the Army Chemical Review about the importance of using the authorized military C2A1 Canister with the M40 series mask versus look-alike commercial canisters. We are advocates for the safety of our soldiers,” Weiss said. Weiss and her team earned a Silver Quill award for an article appearing in Army Chemical Review about this topic. Many within the IP Team also share knowledge with their co-workers in the ColPro Team.

“I have several team members who are part time with the ColPro Team and move between the two,” Weiss said. While IP focuses on individual systems such as protective masks, ColPro focuses on the protection of multiple people. The ColPro Sustainment and Fixed Site Team mission has three major focus areas: sustainment of legacy ColPro equipment, support to active acquisition programs, and support to protected fixed site facilities. Each heavily focuses on fielding and maintenance of various ColPro systems, such as protective filtration systems incorporated into the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system of a protected building.

“If there was an attack, these filters are there to protect the people,” explains Clayton. “The systems filter incoming air and provide overpressure in the protected space; as pressure is increased, air travels from the protected area to the contaminated area through any leaks (instead of vice versa), so we don’t have to worry about absolutely sealing every leak point. This results in a protected space for work and relief from wearing IP equipment.”

To ensure the efficacy of these systems, the team also conducts semi-annual leak tests and periodic surveillance involving removal and tests of filters to analyze degradation and predict when they should be replaced. These tests indicate how well the system is performing; some systems use hundreds of individual filters. If the filters need to be replaced, the team coordinates with TACOM to order replacements and conduct change outs – an area of growth for the team, says Clayton. An Interagency Agreement is in review to provide support to the State Department Bureau of Overseas Buildings.

ColPro also draws from the knowledge base within the Research and Technology Directorate’s Chemical Biological Radiological (CBR) Filtration Branch. Clayton explains the synergy between his group and CBR Filtration: “We’re linked; they’re developing new filtration technologies, such as work on new adsorbents to address the change in threat. Jerry Young, a team member, is also working with them on the Rapid Filter Protection Assessment Tool, a smartphone app that will assist Users by estimating filter life given potential field scenarios. We execute against User requirements, leverage what they develop, and work to field the technology.”

Clayton observes the shifting threat from Chemical Warfare to Toxic Industrial Chemicals, noting that customers within JPM Protection have expressed an interest in the new absorbent technologies, with the hope that they can be transitioned into the newer mask series.

JPM Protection is currently working the Joint Expeditionary Collective Protection (JECP) program, which Clayton considers a new development program for ColPro; Allen Lai, from the JSPPE Branch, represents ECBC on the program. “They are using engineering to make products lighter without sacrificing durability,” explains Clayton. “The program is driven by weight – legacy systems are heavy.” Field expedience and strike-erect times are also important.

Clayton said he thinks JECP is where the future of ColPro is headed, and is glad that ECBC can be a contributor to the future of ColPro.

“There is a lot of good working going on at ECBC and there is a lot of talent here,” says Weiss. “And there are a lot of folks with years of experience in their respective areas; we just like for that to be recognized.”

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part I

ECBC is kicking off a week-long blog series that walks you through the process of how the Center’s Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR) Business Unit safely handles and processes an unknown sample, from onsite recovery to laboratory sample analysis. Unidentified contents can pose great dangers to personnel supporting Department of Defense remediation efforts across the country. With a highly trained and experienced workforce that is certified, vaccinated, cleared and mobile, it is no wonder why ECBC is recognized as a leading entity that can safely determine unknown samples and recommend follow-up protocols to ensure proper handling.

Part I: What happens to an unknown sample once it is recovered from a project site?

Safety protocols are implemented and the item is secured by trained onsite professionals. The appropriate response agencies are notified, including the Army response agency, CARA, and the non-explosive item is securely transported to ECBC’s Chemical Transfer Facility (CTF) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Explosively configured items are safely transported to a storage bunker at Edgewood. The CTF is the single repository for the Army’s research and development stocks toxic chemical agents and is classified as a Single Small Scale Facility under the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is equipped with personnel and technologies to accurately handle, analyze and identify an unknown substance.

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part II

Part II: How does ECBC determine how to handle an unknown sample?

Members of ECBC’s Chemical Operations Branch, Environmental Monitoring Laboratory (EML) and the Safety and Health Office meet and perform a table-top risk assessment for handling the unknown sample. Determining proper methods, the sample container is opened and the solid or liquid contents are assessed and analyzed by the appropriate methods in accordance with customer requirements.

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part III

Part III: What capabilities does ECBC provide customers?

Using state-of-the-art equipment, the EML has the capability to perform analysis of several matrices. This includes: air, water, soil, paint chips, wipes, organic solids and liquids, marine tissue, demolition debris and unknowns. Environmental sample screening includes qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical agents, biological agents, degradation products, industrial compounds and metals in a wide range of media.

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part IV

Introduction (Can be included as a header in all five posts): ECBC is kicking off a week-long blog series that walks you through the process of how the Center’s Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR) Business Unit safely handles and processes an unknown sample, from onsite recovery to laboratory sample analysis. Unidentified contents can pose great dangers to personnel supporting Department of Defense remediation efforts across the country. With a highly trained and experienced workforce that is certified, vaccinated, cleared and mobile, it is no wonder why ECBC is recognized as a leading entity that can safely determine unknown samples and recommend follow-up protocols to ensure proper handling.

Part IV: How long does it take to determine the contents of an unknown sample?

The EML is a full-service laboratory for processing a high volume of samples. With more than 50 civilian and contractor staff members, the EML is capable of analyzing samples in a short period of time and with a sense of urgency that ensures safety for personnel and the community.

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part V

Part V: What happens after a sample is accurately analyzed and indentified?

ECBC issues a final report to the customer regarding the unknown sample. This report includes an analytical narrative, sample summary, photographs, charts and analytical results for all of the tests conducted on the sample. From the data, the customer can accurately assess the situation on the project site and decide the best path forward.

For more information on CBARR capabilities, check out the latest issue of the CBARR News monthly newsletter: https://www.ecbc.army.mil/cbarr/newsletter/index.html

On a Thursday morning in June, former Engineering Directorate Executive Officer (XO) Todd Nay, and current Engineering Directorate XO Amy Maxwell discussed the rotational position over breakfast. The Engineering Edge was present to capture their perspectives on ECBC’s prestigious rotational program.

About the XO:

Todd Nay

Duration of XO Tenure:November 2012-May 2013

Previous position:ECBC Safety Office, Safety Engineer

Little known fact:Todd and his wife were featured on HGTV’s “Bang for Your Buck” television show. While he and his wife won the television competition by creating the best renovations at a cheap price, the show did not award prizes for winning at that time, so they still went home empty handed.

Amy Maxwell (AM): How do you think the XO position benefitted your career?

Todd Nay (TN): Since I came from Safety, I was already used to interacting with a lot of people so I think the XO position helped me in two ways. First off, it helped me develop better relationships with people within the Engineering Directorate. While I’ve worked with engineers before, I feel like I have a better relationship with the Engineering supervisors. Being back in the Safety office, I feel like now I know who to reach out to if I have a problem. In my current position, I’ve been able to reach out to supervisors who I’ve met through the XO program for help. Building that awareness and those relationships definitely made my job easier.

The second benefit is that it has enhanced my presentation skills. As a safety engineer, I brief and send emails to senior leadership about safety issues. Having the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership for six months and attend their meetings, I have gotten a better sense of the type of information they want and types of questions I should anticipate. This allows me to tailor the presentation material to make sure it covers exactly what they need.

AM: Would you say the XO position has expanded your network and visibility with ECBC and non-ECBC personnel?

TN: It did expand my network, though primarily with supervisors. I also met several non-supervisors and had the opportunity to meet other people who directly support the leadership. I expanded my network outside of ECBC as well. I attended multiple Joint Project Executive Office (JPEO) and Joint Program Manager (JPM) meetings, so I had the opportunity to meet people at that level. The XO position helped me get my foot in the door with both the PMs and the Engineering Directorate employees matrixed to them. As a result of my interactions with the JPEO and JPMs, I’m hoping to work closely with them to help them establish some safety programs.

AM: How did the XO Program expand your knowledge of the Center and its capabilities?

TN: Coming from the Safety Office, I had a good command of what the Center does. The biggest benefit from the XO position for me, was gaining an understanding of ECBC’s external relationships and competition, as well as understanding the kinds of things that management deals with every day.

AM: If you could go back, is there anything that you would have changed about your time as XO?

TN: One project I tried to accomplish was to schedule one-on-ones with the Division Chiefs. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet with all of them but made it to some. If I could go back, I would start the process of scheduling the one-on-ones with them sooner than I had, so that I could get to everybody. I also wish I had gotten the chance to schedule the same one-on-ones with branch chiefs. I met and talked to a few of them, but I wish I had gotten a little more personal interaction with them as well.

AM: What advice would you give to me as a new XO?

TN: Be deliberate with the Directorate leadership about goals that you want to achieve. In the Engineering Directorate, the leadership is intentional about helping you achieve the goals you set for yourself as an XO. They are very conscious about placing you in the right position to achieve whatever goals you may have. For me, I wanted to expand my network, so they helped me be able to attend the right meetings with them and interact with the best people. I really appreciate the opportunity they gave me to make the position something that I could greatly benefit from.

ABOUT THE XO

AMY MAXWELL

Duration of XO Tenure: May 2013-present

Previous position: Project Management CBR Filtration Branch, Research and Technology Directorate

Little known fact: Amy was a ballet dancer for 20 years, but then stopped when she had kids. Amy had been dancing since she was five years old doing ballet, dance, tap and many other forms of dance. While Amy has not danced in a while she would like to get back into it.

Todd Nay (TN): What position did you hold previous to the XO rotation?

Amy Maxwell (AM): I was a member of the CBR Filtration Branch within the Research and Technology (R&T) Directorate. I was mainly in a project manager role over there. I ran a project that came in from research with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. I also do a lot of test and evaluation (T&E) work. Since I have a T&E background that is something I continue to do in my role.

When I was initially brought onto the team, I worked on a test methodology standardization project that lasted five to six years. I occasionally worked in the lab, but that was not my primary function. I needed to get Dugway, Eglin, Air Force Research Lab, Natick and ECBC to work together to develop standard test methods. The six years this project took, accounted for most of my time with the Branch. I’ve done smaller projects in-between as well.

Prior to working on the CBR Filtration Branch, I was an employee in the Engineering Directorate for three years. The transition between the two directorates was a bit of a learning curve but was not a total shock to me. While the management styles between the two directorates are pretty different, the expectation to deliver quality work is the same. Coming back to Engineering in the XO role is pretty different as well. I think the Directorate has changed a lot since the eight years I have been working in R&T. When I was in Engineering, there was no formalized strategic management process, there was different management, the projects were different and the budget situation was not what it was today. The changes keep things interesting though.

TN: What are your personal goals as an XO?

AM: I would like to build my network back up again in the Joint Project Manager areas. I had that when I worked in Engineering, but it’s been so long I have not been able to maintain those relationships. I also wanted to gain insights into the functions of the Center: the budgeting, the people perspective and the Goal Teams. Through learning more about that, I can see where I might be able to support at a Center level. I would like to find ways to make an impact at the Center level. I think it might be rewarding for me and hopefully the Center. I also want to see if I can get more Center exposure to T&E. I found that many people don’t understand the critical methodology programs that we create at the Center-level. I’m hoping to have the opportunity to educate people on that.

TN: Did you know any of the other XOs prior to your rotation?

AM: I knew Kari Wiesner from when she worked at the Protective Factor chamber. I didn’t know Rich Wallace or Mike Mays at all. So, it was nice to meet new people, and see new faces.

TN: Prior to ECBC where have worked?

AM: I worked at Corning Incorporated for about two years, and I really liked the company, but the plant shut down. When I started there as a process engineer in 1999, the company was involved in the telecommunications industry working with optical fiber and producing amplifiers. In early 2001, investors in the telecommunications industry backed away, and the entire industry plummeted. Over several rounds, everybody in the plant was laid off. While the company asked several of us to return to other jobs, I decided to look for a job elsewhere. I liked the company, but with no ties to the area, I was ready for a change and ECBC has been a great fit.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Curtis Hollister is not the kind of person who would use “fabulous” or “blessed” to describe a given experience. He is not the kind of guy who talks openly about the numerous countries--Guam, England, Belgium, Australia, Sweden and Jordan—that working at the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) on international missions has afforded him. And he definitely is not the kind of guy who goes by his first name: Worthy.

But he is the kind of person who embodies what the CBARR is known for at the Center: working hard until the mission is complete. As branch chief of Process Technology, Hollister supervises seven employees and prefers to lead by example, a style that is personified by the mantra, “If you’re doing it, I’m doing it.” It’s what he says to CBARR Director of Operations Tim Blades when asked if he’s willing to deploy overseas, work with chemicals or manage a new task. It’s also what the employees under Hollister say when he asks them the same.

“I wouldn’t ask anybody to do something that I wouldn’t do. I’ve been very lucky to have a good group of people in my branch and within CBARR who share this belief,” said Hollister, who has been a supervisor for 11 years and with ECBC since 1999. At any given time on a project site, he works with leadership across several CBARR branches including, Chemical Equipment Maintenance, Field Maintenance and Field Technology, sharing responsibility with supervisors to ensure onsite safety and to manage as many as 15 highly trained specialized personnel onsite at any given time.

“There’s more to the mission than just doing your job. Being in the middle between employees I supervise and CBARR leadership, I want to take care of the folks I have responsibility for,” Hollister said. “When you have customers to satisfy, you get a clearer picture of what you need to take care of. At the same time, understanding the details is incredibly important to the foundation of your work. It’s a balanced perspective.”

Hollister has a unique one, at that. A Maryland native, in 1990 he graduated from Washington College in Chestertown with a degree in business management before taking a marketing and sales position and was “bored to death after a year-and-a-half.” Hollister needed something a little more dynamic that could also pay off his student loans, he recalled. Shortly after, he enlisted in the United States Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, with hopes of seeing the world. Instead, he was stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, just a drive down I-95 from where he grew up in Cecil County. The EOD experience included first responder work whenever buried munitions were found on post, and then safely destroying the rounds through proper technological channels.

“Explosives and chemicals add a little bit of excitement to the job. There’s a bit of danger, but once you’re trained you understand the chemicals you’re working with, and trust the safety policies and personnel protective equipment,” said Hollister, who recalled the two weeks of chemical training in EOD School as his least favorite. “I never thought I’d end up doing this stuff and get to a place where I really enjoy it.”

It wasn’t until after his service that Hollister got to travel for 6-8 weeks at a time with the Technical Escort Unit of the CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity (CARA), touching nearly every state in the country and even traveled to Kuwait. As part of the Army’s 20^th Support Command, Tech Escort is responsible for the safe transport of surety materials to secure federal locations. When he took the job with ECBC in 1999, he started out in the Center’s Chemical Transfer Facility (CTF). He also spent time working as a DAAMS (Depot Area Air Monitoring Systems) technician and MINICAMS (Miniature Continuous Air Monitors) operator for the monitoring branch of CBARR.

“When I first started at the CTF, I had no idea destruction systems would be evolving. The Explosive Destruction System (EDS), the Donovan Chamber and the Munitions Assessment and Processing System (MAPS) facility weren’t even around yet,” Hollister said. “So I think my role has evolved from a more chemical monitoring side to an explosive and destruction side. Overall, the variety of work CBARR does has expanded to reflect this, and resulted in some of the projects we’ve done to provide sample analysis for the eventual demolition of former agent laboratories and facilities.”

As the elimination technologies advanced, so too, has Hollister’s career. Utilizing his EOD background, Hollister traveled to numerous countries where the latest advancements of these destruction systems were being tested and monitored, including England, where he got to visit the town his grandfather was from. Albeit, the name of the small village escapes his memory. From discovering family history in England to enjoying the tropical climate of Guam, Hollister said the most surprising experience was a two-week site visit to Jordan in the Middle East where he participated as a team member to conduct an assessment of the country’s chemical analysis capabilities, including PPE and detection equipment.

“I was a little apprehensive just being in that part of the world. I had never been there and you hear every day about the turmoil that exists. But once I was there, the people were incredibly nice and I felt comfortable. I’ve seen a lot of neat things being a part of ECBC, but I kick myself because I’ve hardly taken any photos of anywhere I’ve traveled to,” Hollister said.

That hasn’t stopped him from writing, however. On Feb. 8, 2013, the Cecil Whig newspaper (www.cecildaily.com) published an op-ed piece written by Hollister. No, it wasn’t about his experience as an EOD serviceman in the Army or his world-traveling missions for ECBC. Curtis Hollister isn’t the kind of guy who would do that. Instead, he wrote “One More Week,” an article that spoke to the heart of many Marylanders: crabs and football, and spending time with friends and family.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- The single-serving college degree is a thing of the past. No longer does a degree concentration have to pigeonhole your career path; it can serve as the cornerstone that helps you jump tracks in multi-disciplinary fashion. Just ask Lindsey Lyman, a biologist for the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), who has spanned the scientific infrastructure of work at the Center while exploring the depths of her knowledge with a curiosity for real-world applicability.

“I was never one of those kids who was super focused on what they wanted to be when they grew up or anything like that,” said Lyman, who currently works with the Center’s CBARR Business Unit. “I liked biology in high school and it was kind of a default selection for my major in college. I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up, but I’ve always enjoyed the bio classes and think it’s really fascinating subject matter.”

Lyman began working at ECBC in 2004 after graduating from the University of Delaware with a general biological sciences degree. But her position on the Decision Analysis Team (DAT) curbed the need to directly apply her scientific background and instead promoted a secondary capability: risk and impact studies. For seven years, Lyman analyzed everything from simulation modeling and cost/benefit analysis to equipment selections and business case analysis. The customer-funded team examined a variety of projects, including selecting equipment for a mobile laboratory based on customer needs as well as the size, weight and power of the equipment. Still, Lyman was curious to learn more. After three years of part-time study at Johns Hopkins University, she received her Master’s degree in Biotechnology with a concentration in Biodefense.

“The more education you have the better. I don’t think it’s a requirement, but I do think it helps to have a better understanding, especially from a biodefense perspective, of the organisms that we’re looking at and the technologies that we’re using on a daily basis to execute the mission,” she said.

Lyman returned to her hard science roots two years ago when she took a detail working for the Environmental BioMonitoring Laboratory (EBML) using the same equipment she once evaluated and recommended to customers as part of DAT. This time, as a CBARR biologist working in the laboratory, she’s testing samples for different clients. “I can see first-hand how we’re directing their processes and how we’re impacting what they’re doing,” she said.

Lyman currently works onsite at a client’s laboratory and operational facility, which utilizes both chemical and biological technologies for sample analysis. As part of the deployed EBML team, she tests client samples for specific targets of interest and provides a daily report of her findings. How does this compare to work done in the ECBC labs? According to Lyman, the Center has more flexibility to investigate new test methodologies and technological equipment, but overall the capability remains constant. In a way, this mirrors her ability to effectively maneuver within the ECBC framework, driven to learn more and discover new avenues worth pursuing.

"I think her career has been a nice story so far. Lindsey has a biology degree working for ECBC, but started off her career mainly doing deskwork for DAT. Now, she’s getting the chance to work both in the laboratory at ECBC as well as in the field and on client sites,” said Isaac Fruchey, branch chief for the EBML.

Lyman’s full-circle career also has a neat twist. She has completed cross-training in both chemical and biological laboratory analysis techniques, a capability that enables her to conduct a variety of work for clients. According to Lyman, there is a distinct difference between chemical and biological procedures, none of which translate directly to corresponding technologies. Without the technical background to initially complete this kind of work, she proactively sought a cross-training solution that resulted in GC/MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) and LC/MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) Trip Quadruple certifications.

“Since she came over on detail, she has become one of my primary field analysts, as well as a project lead for on-boarding some of the new assays. She’s also taken the time to become cross-trained in chemical testing capabilities, including certification in GC/MS and LC/MS Triple Quadruple methodologies,” Fruchey said.

The opportunities ECBC has provided her, coupled with the foresight and fearlessness to pursue them, have been strong factors in advancing her career across spectrums and further down the scientific path of the unknown. Not to mention, the people she works with at ECBC have embodied a spirit of collaboration that she says, inspires.

"I came in with no lab experience and not really sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do,” Lyman said. “It’s been great to be able to learn so many different things and be a part of so many different projects. It’s empowering to feel like I’m being useful with my abilities by helping people and serving clients. And to have the opportunity to continue to learn so many different technologies and methods is exciting as much as it is invaluable.”

Jerome Vauthrin is a program and management analyst intern at the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA). As part of his internship with ACWA's Chief of Staff Office,Vauthrin learned the basics of management at the New Leader Program at Graduate School USA. One of the assignments was to perform a 30-day detail with Tom Rosso, program manager at ECBC's Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR) Business Unit.

Greetings--

I was not familiar with ECBC beyond what I read on the website, and all I knew of CBARR was that a number of government vehicles had their logo stickered on them. Thankfully, Tom Rosso, program manager, had been most receptive and willing to help me learn more about the Center and CBARR operations. Tom and his team have been very welcoming, and CBARR is a colorful place where everyone has their own contributions to the CBARR culture.

Vauthrin works on the fabrication of the new Field
Deployable Hydrolysis System, an elimination
technology with a 99.9 percent efficiency rate.

During my 30-day detail, Tom had set me up with some neat things. I was able to see ECBC senior leadership in action discussing a range of topics from employee concerns and safety topics to the impact of furloughs on day-to-day business and upcoming visits. I was also able to attend meetings and demonstrations of the Field Deployable Hydrolysis System, where Department of Defense personnel from different agencies and military commands were in attendance. This gave me an idea of what a site visit is like, including the diversity of people who attend, the types of questions asked and the amount of preparation that needs to be coordinated to ensure a smooth presentation.

Additionally, Tom provided a tour (in CBARR’s very own economically-friendly Chevy Volt) of a variety of ECBC facilities and laboratories, including the Mask Issue facility, the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory and the testing site of the Rapid Detect-Identify-Decontaminate Kit, which uses the C-130 military aircrafts. Needless to say, my days at CBARR have been a mix of interesting things.

Tom Ross, middle, talks to Department of Defense stakeholders
during an FDHS demonstration in June. Vauthrin shadowed
Rosso during a 30-day detail this summer.

It has been great entertainment and a great experience learning from the CBARR crew. I have had the opportunity to see what the chemical demilitarization world is all about as well as learn about some of the other projects occurring onsite at ECBC. So, what’s been the best part? To be able to see that much in the short time I have been here has really opened my eyes to the type of support the Center provides. If you were to ask me how to describe ECBC as a whole, I would have to say it is a very dynamic environment. And it has to be, given the number of missions it supports and the variety of facilities and personnel required to support those missions.

Do I sound like an ECBC fan? I must admit that my time here has turned me from an indifferent recipient who was vaguely aware of ECBC’s role in supporting ACWA, to someone who has gained a great appreciation for the CBARR work that supports a variety of missions across the world. I can say I have enjoyed my experience at CBARR and appreciate the novelty of a fresh perspective.

Uday Mehta, mechanical engineer for CBARR, is retiring after 30+ years of federal service. We had a chance to sit down with Uday as he reflects back on his years of service and looks forward to a new chapter.

Q. Where are you from and how did you end up working at ECBC?

A. I was born in Mumbai (Bombay), India and studied metallurgical engineering before moving to the U.S. in 1973 as a student. In 1974, I worked for the City of Baltimore for Veterans Affairs at Loch Raven VA Hospital before the Baltimore District office of the FDA hired me.

Q. How long have you been working at CBARR?

A. Since February 1990, I worked as chemist for the Monitoring Branch, which was looking for a chemist who could operate the brand new gas chromatographs in its laboratory. I developed analytical procedures for the detection of HD, GB, GD and Lewisite. By then, ECBC’s role had significantly increased beyond Edgewood and our expertise was called upon at various military installations and home and abroad. As program manager, I wrote specifications for mobile laboratories and explosive containment structures called Interim Holding Facilities (IHF). I was also a “traveling salesman” for CBARR, attending various trade shows and workshops where I talked with representatives from industry and government. Additionally, I managed an Inter Agency Agreement (IAA) with the Environmental Protection Agency, under which ECBC provided analytical and technical support during various decontamination incidents.

Q. How has the CBARR organization evolved throughout the years?

A. In 1990, we were supporting only the local tenants on Aberdeen Proving Ground. Since then, our boundaries have expanded exponentially by looking for opportunities beyond Edgewood and Formerly Used Defense sites. Now we are supporting an international community.

Q. What has been your favorite part about working for CBARR?

A. The Chemical Biological Defense COM Commanding General MG John Doesburg invited my family for a group photo as he presented me with a 20 year service certificate and pin, and gave a commendation letter for my father who had served on the Supreme War Council in Burma during World War II.

Q. What will you miss most about working at ECBC? What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

A. I will miss the group of highly talented scientists and engineers from various backgrounds, and I’ve learned that team effort has brought us to the forefront of CB science.

Q. Use one word to describe your 30+ year career in the federal service.

A. Collaborative.

Q. What are your retirement plans?

A. I want to be near my granddaughters. The second one is arriving in the middle of September, my retirement gift. I am traveling to South America in October with my college friends, and Florida in November. This winter, I am going to Turkey and India to be with my mother.

Women in Science and Engineering Blog Series Part Two: Kato Killops

Women in Science and Engineering Blog Series Part Three: Jody Gostomski

Women in Science and Engineering Blog Series Part Four: Amanda Dubbs

Jerry Wagner, CBARR chemical equipment engineering technician, retires after 31-year career at APG

Hands on Success: ADM’s Lisa Smagala’s Hands-On Approach to Life and Career Shaped Strong Work Ethic and Advanced Skills

Mid-winter survey shows above average bald eagle population on APG

Stephanie Cole: Interview with an ECBC Postdoctoral Associate

An Unlikely Encounter: CBARR’s Dennis Bolt spends time with former chemical armourer in the Australian Army

SHARE program shines light on available resources across APG

Joint Service Physical Protection Branch Expertise Defends Nation from Chem-Bio Threats

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part I

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part II

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part III

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part IV

Too Hot to Handle: How ECBC Keeps its Cool when Investigating an Unknown Sample - Part V

Inside the Executive Officer Position: Current and former Engineering XOs interview each other on their experiences

Employee Spotlight: CURTIS HOLLISTER

What's in a degree? Lindsey Lyman talks biology, decision analysis and cross-training certifications

A Fresh Perspective: a Guest Column by Jerome Vauthrin, ACWA intern

Q&A with Uday Mehta