NEWS!

CLASS OF 2009 VISITS DAYTON IN AUGUST

Leadership Ohio Class of 2009, August 2009 – Education, Innovation and the Military

This month the Leadership class of 2009 met in Dayton.  Friday started with a visit to Wright Brothers Institute -Tec Edge.  One of two unique facilities minutes from Wright-Patterson AFB (WPAFB) which seek to continue the heritage of stimulating unique and innovative technical solutions to national security and public safety needs. The group visited the Innovation and Collaboration Center and met with Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) representative Colleen Ryan about this economic development organization and how they are battling the E2Dying Cities” nomination and working to invigorate the Dayton area.

Next the group heard from Lester McFawn, Executive Director WBI ICC/Tec Edge. Les explained how the institute is energizing technology, innovation and collaboration with Wright Patterson, the State of Ohio and regional organizations. The class heard next from Mike Ziegler, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) which is the Air Force's only organization wholly dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of war fighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces.

The class then loaded onto a bus and headed to WPAFB. The first stop was the Air Vehicles Directorate where members of the class learned more about Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) and the technology and challenges from Mike Ziegler.  Dan Caudill and Jim Zeh gave the group a tour and class members were given the opportunity to fly a jet simulator called Large Amplitude Motion Simulator (LAMARS)

Next on the tour was the 711th Human Performance Wing lab whose primary mission areas are aerospace medicine, science and technology and human systems integration.  In conjunction with the Navy Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, which is also moving to Wright-Patt, and surrounding universities and medical institutions, the 711th HPW will create a Center of Excellence for Aerospace Medicine. The group saw a 3D television and other technology used to assist with medical diagnosis and treatment.

Now the group moved to the Applied Biotechnology Branch - Dr. John Schlager and visited three labs; Biological Interaction of Nanomaterials - Dr. Laura Stolle/Dr. Saber Hussain, Genomic Based Biomarker Discovery - Dr. Camilla Mauzy, and LC/MS Based Biomarker Discovery - Dr Pavel Shiyanov/Dr Mitchelle Meade.

The group then moved to the Materials & Manufacturing Directorate which develops materials, processes, and advanced manufacturing technologies for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and ground-based systems and their structural, electronic and optical components.  The group witnessed a CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser burn a piece of plastic and the group toured a space simulation chamber thanks to Rob Hull and Dan Siebert.

Next on the stop was Area A where we met Jacque Fisher with Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process had its origins in the 1960s.  The Department of Defense (DOD) recognized it had to reduce its base structure that had been created during World War II and the Korean War. This current round is BRAC 2005 and is critical to the Air Force’s ability to successfully meet future mission needs.

The day ended with a trip to the Institute for Development Commercialization of Advanced Sensor Technology (IDCAST). Led by the University of Dayton, IDCAST, is a world-class center of excellence in remote sensing and CBRNE sensing technology.  Established by a $28 million State of Ohio Third Frontier Grant, IDCAST brings remote sensor and CBRNE sensor technology to market. Through innovative collaborations of Academia, AFRL, and Industry, IDCAST conducts game-changing sensor research. 

Saturday started at the University of Dayton and learning about the Center for Leadership and Executive Development which partners with leading organizations and top thought leaders in executive development to provide customized educational programs.  Next was a tour of campus which has undergone recent renovations to student housing and a state of the art recreation center. 

The class then headed to The Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.  The 2300-seat Mead Theatre which opened in 2003 serves as the focal point of this marvelous structure and offers state of the art facilities to accommodate any production from concerts to Broadway plays.  The class also visited the Victoria Theatre which originally opened in 1866 as the Turner Opera House.  The Schuster Center, as well as the adjacent Victoria Theatre and Metropolitan Arts Center (home of The Loft Theatre), is owned by the Arts Center Foundation and managed by Victoria Theatre Association.

Submitted by Michelle VanWormer