Since 1987, DSPO has recognized the significant achievements of standards experts whose contributions have led to greater mission readiness, improved operational capability and reduced costs for the U.S. military and its allies during the previous fiscal year.
The DoD recognizes the crucial role that standards play in facilitating interoperability for the nation's armed forces. Recognition of the importance of interoperability has grown dramatically since the early 1980s and has now become the watchword of virtually all DoD systems development and upgrade. Two of the award-winning teams had projects that focused on multinational interoperability, supporting a NATO Standardization Agreement and tactical unmanned air vehicles.
Another award-winning team developed a contract that gives Army, Navy, and Air Force architects and engineers access via the Internet to private-sector standards referenced in military criteria, standards, and specifications for facilities planning, design, constructions, operation, and maintenance. Under the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA), signed into law in 1996, federal agencies are directed to adopt private-sector standards whenever possible, especially those developed by established bodies using open, formal procedures that rely on consensus among affected parties. (See related story: U.S. Department of Defense Turns to Private Sector for Military Construction Codes)
Following is a complete list of Defense Standardization Program award recipients for 2002:
* Abdonasser Abdouni, Defense Supply Center Columbus, Defense Logistic Agency. Abdouni contributed significantly to improving MIL-DTL-38999, the specification on circular electrical connectors. This also included completing 59 separate DoD standardization projects, upgrading technical requirements, and streamlining qualification and conformance testing.
* Stephen Daniel, Program Manager, PMA-263, Pax River, and George Halak, BAE Systems. Daniel and Halak were instrumental in the success of a NATO Specialist Team formed to produce STANAG 4586, an architectural standard for tactical unmanned air vehicles (UAV). Their work helped to promote joint service, multi-national UAV interoperability and facilitates shared development of components.
* Bob Billmyre, Senior Electrical Engineer, Headquarters, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; R. David Curfman and Richard Paradis, Engineering Innovation and Criteria Office, Norfolk, Va.; Maria Swift, Facilities Support Contract Branch, Norfolk, Va.; and Larry Spangler, Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency, Tyndall AFB. Jointly they developed a contract that gives Army, Navy, and Air Force architects and engineers Internet access to non-government standards referenced in military criteria, standards, and specifications for facilities planning, design, constructions, operation, and maintenance.
* Kenneth Capolongo, Software Engineer and Lisa Russo-German, Systems Support Manager, U. S. Army; Gerard Boyan, Aeronautic Radio Incorporated (ARINC); and John Klubnick Sr., and John Lippert Sr., Aspen Consulting, Inc. Together they developed a tool to test and diagnose data buses built to MIL-STD-1553. Known as the Advanced Multiplex Test System, the tool is faster and more accurate than existing test sets and can be used by all U.S. services and allies on any assets with 1553 data buses. This standardized tool has the potential to significantly reduce the logistics footprint and save several hundred millions of dollars.
* Susan DeGuzman and Robert Hanley, Naval Air Systems Command, Research and Engineering, Airworthiness Office; and Susan Breslin, Fernando Falasca, and Robert FitzHarris, Air Force Materiel Command. Together they developed and published airworthiness certification criteria (MIL-HDBK-516), a concise, consensus-based set of more than 700 assessment criteria that apply to all fixed-wing aircraft systems. Standardizing these criteria eliminates the need for each service to recertify the airworthiness of an aircraft, resulting in up to one million dollars in savings for each unnecessary recertification, as well as increased readiness of aircraft.
* Greg Cannington, Equipment Specialist; Rick Foulk, Program Management; MSgt G. B. Thomas, Langley Air Force Base; Margaret Villagran, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Eglin Air Force Base; and Raymond Holden, Joint Stand Off Weapon Directorate, Point Mugu, Ca. Together they developed equipment that can test and reprogram the latest generation of smart weapons defined by MIL-STD-1760. The Common Munitions Built-In Test Reprogramming Equipment is small, lightweight, computer-controlled, easy to use, and highly reliable. The standard tester reduces the logistics footprint and will save several million dollars through reductions in training and spares.
The DSP mission is to identify, influence, develop, manage, and provide access to standardization processes, products and services for warfighters and the acquisition and logistics communities. In addition, the program promotes interoperability and assists in reducing total ownership cost and in sustaining readiness. Additional information on the Defense Standardization Program may be obtained by visiting the DSP website.