Government/Industry Workshops

68^th Annual International Conference on Mass Properties Engineering
Wichita, Kansas
May 16-21, 2009
Hyatt Regency Wichita

David Tellet David L. Tellet
Government / Industry Committee Chairman
Naval Sea Systems Command

The Government/Industry workshops held during each SAWE International conference provide unique opportunities for engineers in all disciplines and on both sides of the table to express their views, gripe a bit, and work together to develop and improve the mass properties guidance documents and processes that are so important to our industries. This year’s workshops will emphasize “work” in that we need to build on the momentum gathered in the last couple of years and move forward with the development of the top and second level Functional Recommended Practices and start to examine revisions to long-standing recommended practices to better fit them into the systems engineering framework set out in FRP 1. To do this, we will need to use the short time we have wisely, with less time spent on rehashing last year’s issues and arguments and more time on constructive discussions. In other words, less PowerPoint, more action.

To help people prepare for the workshops, pertinent documents and presentations will be posted in the G/I section of the SAWE website for download. Comments can be posted there as well if you want to get a head start on the discussions. In addition to participation in individual breakout sessions, we hope people will stick around in the afternoon to join the discussion of FRP 1 and the development of its sub-tier documents.

Planned Government/Industry Day Summary of Events:

Morning Joint Session:

The morning session on G/I day (Tuesday) will be a short joint session for all transportation sectors to get a status of the preceding year’s accomplishments, ongoing efforts, and goals for the next year.

Transportation Sector Breakout Sessions:

In the morning (after the joint session) and in the afternoon, we will break out into our traditional transportation sector-based groups:

Marine Systems
Airline Affairs
Military Aircraft
Missile and Space Systems
Ground Systems

In addition, we are working toward inviting the ISO Offshore Weight Control Working group to have their Spring meeting during our conference and, if time permits, participate in discussions with the Marine Systems and other groups.

Afternoon Joint Session:

The afternoon joint session will start with discussions on FRP 1 and the continued development of its second tier documents. We also need to discuss how the current RPs are affected by the FRP 1 structure and how best to revise/restructure those RPs to best fit into the new system. Finally, summaries from each breakout session will be presented and goals for the next year discussed.

Government/Industry Luncheon:

The Government and Industry luncheon is open to, and should be of interest to, all conference participants. This year’s distinguished speaker is Charles D. “Sam” Gemar (Lieutenant Colonel, USA), test pilot and former Space Shuttle astronaut.

Col. Gemar graduated from Scotland Public High School, Scotland, South Dakota, in 1973; and he received a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the U. S. Military Academy in 1979.

Col. Gemar enlisted in the Army in January 1973. In November 1973, he was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where he received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and later a Department of the Army appointment to join the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1979. After graduation, he attended the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia, the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Aviation Course and the Fixed Wing Multi-Engine Aviators Course, both at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. In October 1980, he transferred to the 24th Infantry Division, Ft. Stewart, Georgia, where he remained until January 1, 1985. While at Ft. Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, he served as an Assistant Flight Operations Officer and Flight Platoon Leader for the 24th Combat Aviation Battalion, Wright Army Airfield Commander, and Chief, Operations Branch, Hunter Army Airfield. Other military schools completed include the Army Parachutist Course, Ranger School, and the Aviation Officers Advanced Course.

Selected by NASA in June 1985, Sam completed a one-year training and evaluation program and became an astronaut in July 1986. He held a variety of technical assignments in support of the Space Shuttle Program including: flight software testing in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), launch support activities at the Kennedy Space Center, spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in mission control during Space Shuttle missions, Chief of Astronaut Appearances. Col. Gemar has flown three times and has logged over 580 hours in space. He flew on STS-38 (November 15-20, 1990), STS-48 (September 12-18, 1991), and STS-62 (March 4-18, 1994).

Sam was Distinguished Graduate of his class in undergraduate pilot training and Distinguished Graduate of his class in graduate fixed-wing and multi-engine pilot training. He was also recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, NASA Achievement Medal, and three NASA Space Flight Medals. He received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He is Honorary Chair for Membership of the South Dakota Congress of Parents and Teachers. He is a member of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame. He was recipient of the South Dakota Newspaper Association 1993 Distinguished Service Award.

Col. Gemar and his wife, Charlene, have two children. He enjoys water sports, jogging, woodworking, and travel.