Bloomfield News Blog

Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Greene County Daily World

WASHINGTON — Officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) along with local elected officials celebrated the beginning of construction in Section 3 of Interstate 69, marking another milestone in the Corridor on Wednesday.

This project in Section 3 is the first road segment and begins just north of U.S. 50 and stretches roughly three miles north in Daviess County.

In October 2009, Governor Daniels announced the acceleration in the completion of the Corridor, with I-69 from Evansville to Crane Naval Base open to traffic by the end of 2012.

Friday, March 26, 2010
Greene County Daily World

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Greene County Daily World

CRANE — It is nicknamed Beny Suggs, short for Beneficial Suggestion Program, and thanks to this program two Crane Army Ammunition Activity employees are enjoying a nice bonus in money for their ingenuity.

Crane Army employees James Gardner of Milltown and William Jackson of rural Springville each received separate cash awards and certificates of achievements for their suggestions to the program that saved the Army a considerable amount of money.

Gardner developed a 30mm case extraction tool that saved Crane Army money by eliminating the need for long-term storage of armor piercing incinerating rounds, as well as the cost involved to demilitarize high explosive incinerating rounds. The cost savings of Gardner’s efforts is $657,230 a year.

Jackson developed two improvements to Crane Army’s White Phosphorus Plant. One improvement is a new design retort ring which allows it to be made in-house and eliminate the need for very large steel components. The other improvement is a modification to the mixing chamber that reduces destruction of the chamber ductwork and downtime. These two efforts resulted in a savings of $64,701.16 each time the operation runs.

During the presentation of certificates to Gardner and Jackson, Crane Army Commander Col. Charles Kibben expressed his pleasure in being able to present the cash awards to the two men. As he explained to the crowd of manufacturing and engineering employees, the savings caused by their ideas represented real money for the Army, just like their award is real money in their pockets.

The cash awards are based upon a predetermined formula, determined by the estimated first-year benefits to the government. Kibben presented checks to Jackson for $3,342 and Gardner for $6,485.19.

Employees are encouraged to submit their ideas for improving work conditions and methods. Crane Army Ideas for Excellence Program Coordinator Sue Engelbrecht said, “Even small ideas can have huge impacts on our day-to-day operations. A simple change to a tool can end up saving hundreds of man hours over the course of a year which, in turn, improves productivity and saves the Army a lot of money. Everybody wins.”

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Greene County Daily World

CRANE — Anticipating a growing federal contract base in the region, CACI International Inc, a leading professional services and information technology solutions provider to the federal government, has recently opened an office and laboratory facility in the WestGate at Crane Technology Park.

CACI employees support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) business through its WestGate and Bloomington facilities. CACI also employs engineers and logistics professionals to serve contract work directly on the 100-square-mile NSA (Naval Support Activity) base in southern Indiana.

“CACI presently has 12 employees in the WestGate and that number goes up and down based on workload,” Michael Snyder of the MEK Group, which handles public relations for WestGate Tech Park, told the Greene County Daily World. “They also have about 60 employees on the base itself. CACI has been in Indiana for 20 years.”

CACI started moving into the WestGate office earlier this summer, and set up a testing lab in June.

CACI, whose 2008 revenues topped $2.4 billion, currently leases about 4,000 square feet in the WestGate tech park and plans to grow into a larger WestGate facility, according to George Marentic, program manager for CACI’s Indiana operations.

“CACI is one of America’s top federal IT solutions providers and has been active with Indiana defense groups and related companies for more than 20 years,” said Gene Shaw, president of the WestGate @ Crane Authority. “We are excited to see them expand into the WestGate park.”

Headquartered in Arlington, Va., CACI employs about 12,500 worldwide.

“The WestGate’s prime location makes it ideal to support our customer at NSWC Crane (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division),” said Marentic. “With the growing diversity of major national defense companies in the WestGate, the park is in a great location for industry teaming that provides NSWC Crane with a superb depth and breadth of professional skills and technical abilities.”

Marentic pointed out that many commercial companies serving DoD contracts partner to better serve major defense and Homeland Security contracts.

“We see the synergy that WestGate provides as a critical element of our commitment to NSWC Crane,” he said.

NSWC Crane’s expanding reliance on the Seaport-e federal procurement model “creates new opportunities for companies in the WestGate.”

CACI Executive Vice President Dan Porter, whose business group oversees CACI’s work at Crane, said, “NSWC Crane plays an integral role in America’s national defense strategy. CACI is committed to supporting the NSWC Crane community and its overall mission as demonstrated by our involvement in the West Gate Technical Park.”

According to the U.S. Department of the Defense, SeaPort-e is the Navy’s electronic platform for acquiring support services in 22 functional areas including engineering, financial management, and program management. The Navy Systems Commands (NAVSEA, NAVAIR, SPAWAR, NAVFAC, and NAVSUP), the Office of Naval Research, the United States Marine Corp, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) compete their service requirements among more than 1,800 SeaPort-e IDIQ multiple award contract holders. The SeaPort-e portal provides a standardized, efficient means of soliciting offers from amongst the diverse population of large and small businesses and their approved team members.

The Seaport-e model also creates an opportunity for Indiana companies to break into the commercial defense market, according to Ron Arnold, executive director of the WestGate. “In 2008, small businesses comprised 68 percent of the awards for SeaPort-e,” he said.

Since the park’s inception, defense and technology companies have created approximately 275 new jobs at the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park, bringing total WestGate employment to about 500.

For more information about WestGate, visit www.westgatecrane.com .

Source: Greene County Daily World
Monday, July 29, 2009

The Hubble Space Telescope

Battery testing and calibration work done by technical specialists at nearby Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) is helping to keep NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in orbit more than 380 miles above the earth.

During the Servicing Mission 4 in May, NASA astronauts completed the implementation of NSWC Crane verified batteries as well as other key parts for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to increase its operational lifespan.

The servicing mission marked the final stage of testing and calibration for the Hubble Space Telescope.

The latest servicing should allow the telescope to function until at least 2014 when its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is due to be launched

NSWC Crane’s Strategic Missions Center performed critical lifecycle testing and engineering evaluations to validate batteries for the servicing mission for Hubble before Strategic Missions Center experts conducted lifecycle testing and Low Earth Orbit testing to determine the batteries could meet mission requirements. By utilizing NSWC Crane’s testing capabilities, NASA avoided significant costs in procurement funds and eliminated a lengthy replacement and development schedule for additional batteries.

NSWC spokesperson Pam Ingram said the batteries were tested and calibrated at the Crane-based facility at the request of NASA.

“We don’t manufacture. We like to say we don’t make the batteries. We make them better,” she told the Greene County Daily World.

NSWC Crane’s reputation as an industry leader prompted NASA officials to look to the southern Indiana facility for assistance.

“NASA came to NSWC Crane because of our expertise, value and unique on-site capabilities and facilities. We offer unbiased engineering analysis and independent tests and evaluations that give the customer the needed answers to their technical problems,” said Kyle Denu, NSWC Crane’s Missile and Aerospace branch manager.

NSWC officials report the improved batteries provide more charging capacity than the batteries they replaced.

During the course of five spacewalks, Atlantis’ astronauts repaired and upgraded key parts of the Hubble Space Telescope to extend the life of the orbiting observatory another five years, according to the recent NASA report.

Atlantis’ astronauts successfully installed the NSWC Crane validated batteries, installed two new instruments, repaired two others, replaced gyroscopes and added new thermal insulation panels to protect Hubble from its hostile environment.

The improved batteries were reported to be in “excellent shape.” according to a July 20 update from NASA.

Launched in 1990 and greatly extended in its scientific powers through new instrumentation installed during four servicing missions with the Space Shuttle, the Hubble, in its 19th year of operation.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has made more than 880,000 observations and snapped over 570,000 images of 29,000 celestial objects.

Hubble does not travel to stars, planets, and galaxies. It takes pictures of them as it whirls around Earth at 17,500 miles an hour.

Indiana and the U.S. Navy’s third-largest physical military base, NSWC Crane, contributes more than $1.7 million a day into the Indiana economy.

Additionally, NSWC Crane annually contracts out an additional $700 million in services beyond the borders of the state.

As the third largest employer in southern Indiana, NSWC Crane employs about 2,600 civilian and 1,500 contractor scientists, engineers and technical professionals from three states and 40 Indiana counties.

NSWC Crane is the largest tenant mission command located at Naval Support Activity Crane.

Source: Greene County Daily World
Monday, July 27, 2009

CRANE — Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) was honored with the Federal Department/Agency Award at a national gathering for Federally Employed Women (FEW) July 20, 2009.

NSWC Crane was chosen for its significant contribution of resources and services critical to the success of FEW program activities. The prestigious award recognizes the Warfare Center as an employer committed to FEW’s mission to enhance opportunities for career advancement of federally employed women, while striving for equality in the workplace.

Capt. Charles LaSota, NSWC Crane Commanding Officer, traveled to Orlando, Fla. to accept the award presented during FEW’s 2009 National Training Program: Keys to Success.

“I applaud our team at NSWC Crane for providing outstanding support that enables diversity and the role of women in federal employment,” Capt. LaSota said. “Fostering the best practices associated with personnel development and leadership gives us the ability to create the robust, diverse and professional work force needed to sustain our Navy.”

NSWC Crane works closely with its local FEW members, who represent the largest FEW chapter in the U.S., by promoting the organization through NSWC Crane bulletins and newsletters, providing meeting space and sharing resources.

Leadership at NSWC Crane also incorporates FEW members and their information in new employee orientation and allows flexibility in work schedules so employees can participate in FEW activities. In fact, several NSWC Crane employees hold national leadership positions with FEW.

“Having an enthusiastic and active FEW chapter provides a diverse pool of thought and accomplishment to draw from; enabling us to successfully execute our main mission, supporting our Warfighters,” Capt. LaSota said.

FEW chapters operate nationwide, representing thousands of women working in hundreds of federal organizations and agencies. The local chapter, Hoosier Hills, is 270 members strong and attributes its success to NSWC Crane’s incredible support throughout the years.

“I’m so proud and excited that Capt. LaSota could join us to accept this award,” Sue Webster, national president for FEW said. “NSWC Crane contributes to FEW’s success daily, and this award is our way of sending a ‘big thank’ you from all of the federally employed women who appreciate the efforts of Capt. LaSota and the Warfare Center.”

NSWC Crane, a field activity of NAVSEA, specializes in total life cycle support in three focus areas: Special Missions, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare/Information Operations.

Hoosier Hills Chapter also received a host a chapter achievement awards at the 2009 National Training Program including first place for Best Program and Special Project, second place for Fundraising and third place for Membership and Special Emphasis. Training tracks attended by Hoosier Hills members included Executive Leadership, Project Management, Administrative Professional, Science and Technology and the Federal Women’s Program.