USAARL Archived News
Updated Feb 2012

USAARL Ends an Experiment-Filled Summer Program
By Ms. Catherine Machen, USAARL Public Affairs

The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) led the Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Sciences (GEMS) program this summer.  The GEMS program is a U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) that emphasizes educating students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and is structured to increase students’ interest in these areas by engaging them in hands-on experiments.  

The AEOP, comprising Army-sponsored STEM education enrichment programs for students and teachers, offers 11 GEMS programs in the United States.  The ultimate goal of all of these GEMS programs is to provide math and science internship opportunities for students of all ages (elementary, middle, high schools, undergraduate, and post graduate) so that these students might one day become Department of Defense researchers.

The inaugural USAARL GEMS program provided fifth-and sixth-grade students who are Fort Rucker military and civilian dependents with a week-long program of math and science experiments.  USAARL hosted two sessions of students:  twenty-five students participated in the laboratory’s first session of GEMS, and twenty-six students participated in the second session. 

The program was led by Mrs. Sarah Thiel of Enterprise and Miss Lakei Brown of Ozark.  Six college-aged mentors taught the students who participated in the program.  The mentors completed GEMS curriculum training before the start of the program and then used their knowledge about the experiments to lead the students through the various math and science experiments.  The 2011 GEMS mentors were Rashad Moore (Morehouse College), Pamela Ann Juback (Samford University), Terrance Weeden (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine), Maria Mullins (University of Alabama at Birmingham), Kevin Duque (University of Alabama), and Jessica Cumbee (Georgia College and State University).  Mrs. Thiel commented, “From the beginning, I knew we’d selected a strong group of mentors.  After getting to know them and watching them interact with the students, I have no doubt that these mentors positively impacted the lives of the students and that the students positively influenced them.” 

Mrs. Thiel put a lot of time and energy into designing the GEMS curriculum to ensure that the GEMS projects did not overlap with those completed by the students during the school year.  She wanted to make sure that the experiments were not only engaging and age-appropriate, but also exciting.  The math portion of the curriculum included investigating discrete math applications, geometry, problem solving, and estimation.  According to Thiel, “People, especially children, may not realize that math relates to real world problems and that it poses challenging situations in which students must think outside of the box.”  The math activities included color-mapping, vertex-edge graphing, creating art masterpieces by studying the movement of shapes, and discovering formulas while building towers.  “The students had the most fun with our estimation lesson,” said Thiel.  “We held a Summer Olympics where the students completed all kinds of math events by estimating with measurement.  I think this lesson showed them that math is not only useful on a day-to-day basis, but also fun!” When asked about why he liked the Summer Olympics, a student commented, “It stimulates my mind!” The student later explained that estimating with measurement is a hard thing to do for him.

The science portion of the GEMS program included experiments with water and its properties, building a race car, a detective lab, and a parachute egg drop.  “Without a doubt, the students enjoyed the science experiments.  It’s really hard to say if they liked the race car derby or the parachute egg drop experiment more,” said Thiel.  She explained, “For the race car derby, the students built a car.  The lesson focused on circuitry, how the car runs off of a battery, and friction.  “The egg drop was pretty cool.  Mr. Matthew Cox, a research fellow at USAARL, spoke to the students about Army parachutes and helmets.  He described how the parachutes and helmets are designed to keep Soldiers from being injured.  The students were able to apply some of the concepts they learned from Mr. Cox when designing a parachute and container to protect their egg(s).  Throughout each week, it was obvious to me that they were having fun! They didn’t even know they were learning!” Mrs. Thiel said with excitement. One student commented, “I’d rather do experiments all day than have a summer vacation.”

Dr. Loraine St. Onge, USAARL GEMS coordinator commented, “The GEMS program not only taught the students about different math and science concepts, it also taught them the scientific method and that keeping a detailed and accurate laboratory notebook is very important.” 

Each session of the USAARL GEMS program concluded with a tour of USAARL.  During the tour, military and civilian researchers demonstrated how they collect data and explained how they conduct experiments to help protect Soldiers from injuries.  After the tour, Miss Juback commented, “The tour of USAARL was exceptional and informative.  It was important for the kids to see that science and math are used on a daily basis.” Following the tour, the students held their very own scientific conference with a showcase of experiments during which they described their experiments to family and friends. 

Because of her experiences with the GEMS program, Miss Cumbee said, “I’d love to work in a government laboratory one day.  Until being a GEMS mentor and learning about Army research, I had no idea I could work in a government laboratory using my college degree in chemistry.”

MG Anthony Crutchfield, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, was the guest of honor at the award ceremony for the first session of GEMS.  He arrived with a smile and praised the participants for their efforts toward becoming true scientists.  Ms. Catherine Webb, USAARL research psychologist, was the keynote speaker.  She told the students about her favorite experiments as a kid and how her early love for math and science led her to become a researcher for the Army.  MG Crutchfield and COL Dana Renta, USAARL commander, had the pleasure of presenting a certificate to each participant.  Dr. Vivianne Wersel, GEMS coordinator for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC), and COL Renta presented awards to students who participated in the second session of GEMS.  All of the 51 students who completed the program also earned a $50 stipend.

Others in attendance at each award ceremony included parents, friends, USAARL staff, GEMS teachers, mentors, and local media.  To show her appreciation for the invitation to the ceremony, Ms. Nancy Rasmussen, Fort Rucker Public Affairs Community Relations Chief, said “Thank you for sharing the GEMS program with us last Friday.  It was the most uplifting experience I’ve had in a long time.”

Following the ceremony, Dr. Parrish Balcena, a parent of a GEMS participant said, “I wanted to thank you for the excellent GEMS program you ran.  Madelyn was so excited to come [to GEMS] each day and was exuberant to share her experiences at the end of each day.  It meant a lot to her, especially to highlight how math can be fun.  GEMS made it [math] fun for her and I think she’s developed an appreciation for how math can be applied in cool ways.”

Given the overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s GEMS program, USAARL is planning to host the program next summer in hopes of building onto the already-established program.  The 2012 program will include beginning and intermediate curricula as well as a more participants.

For more information about the program contact the GEMS Coordinator at 334-255-6906 or via e-mail here.

Dying to Impress
By SSG David Lopez, USAARL Motorcycle Mentorship Program Manager
As featured in the "Knowledge" Magazine- Click here ( PDF-180KB) for that article!

Riding down the street, I couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong. That morning, I’d decided to take my young son riding with me, but we’d only gone a couple of miles when I had a foreboding of disaster too intense to ignore. I took my son to the mall where my wife worked, planning to leave him with her while I rode the bike home. I didn’t want him with me if something happened.

Unfortunately, the store where my wife worked wouldn’t allow her to watch him while I rode home and then drove back. So I put him back on my bike and carefully rode home, wondering all the while what I was sensing as we cruised through the streets and intersections. I was relieved when we safely turned into the driveway. Still, I couldn’t I shake this ominous feeling.

We pulled off our riding gear and went into the house. Because this was my son’s first ride, I’d bought him a complete set of personal protective equipment (PPE). After all, wasn’t that what my older brother, Hector, had taught me? He’d been a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) instructor where we’d grown up in Puerto Rico. He’d also taught sport bike riding techniques and participated in National Hot Rod Association drag races. He was an avid rider and was very good at what he did. He’d drilled safety into me from the moment I purchased my first motorcycle, making sure I bought a machine I could handle.

We’d been home about 15 minutes when the phone rang. Picking up the receiver, I heard my wife’s trembling voice. Before I could speak, she told me Hector had been killed in a riding accident. My fears hardened into reality as she told me the facts.

Riding with friends on their sport bikes, he’d been racing on a narrow, winding road. It was 97 F with 100 percent humidity that day in Puerto Rico. Anyone who has ever ridden in such conditions knows that heat and precise riding are fatiguing. Even though my brother was noticeably tired and dehydrated, his friends encouraged him to push his limits. And there was no way Hector would be the last rider in the group or head home before finishing the ride.

Hector had led the pack as they reached a fork in the road. Suddenly, a horse and rider trotted out in front of him. Locking his Yamaha R1’s brakes, he flew off and struck a metal support wire, breaking his neck. His friends stopped, but they couldn’t help him. For 17 minutes, he lay on the side of the road gasping for his breath before he died. He’d made a common mistake made by many of us who ride in groups. He’d succumbed to peer pressure and died while trying to impress his friends. That was three years ago, but I still miss him every day.

So what does this have to do with you? If you’re a rider, maybe a lot.

Riding motorcycles is becoming increasingly popular among Soldiers. We buy motorcycles for practical reasons, such as their lower cost compared to cars and greater fuel economy. Riding also gives us something in common with other Soldiers who ride and bonds us with them. Unfortunately, even after taking the required MSF rider training, some Soldiers still choose to ride irresponsibly (indisciplined). Wanting to look cool, tough or be part of a group, they ignore traffic laws and ride their bikes too fast for conditions or their skills. Giving in to peer pressure and trying to fit into a group, they ride to the edge of their abilities and beyond.

This doesn’t have to happen to Soldiers. Just like we did during deployment, we need to stick together and make sure we and our buddies make smart choices while riding. To do that, we can:

• Identify the risks and control them by using composite risk management.
• Perform preventive maintenance checks and services on our motorcycles so they’re ready for the road.
• Start off riding smaller, less-powerful and less-expensive motorcycles. Only after mastering them should a rider consider something bigger, more powerful and more expensive.
• Learn from others’ experiences. During group rides, pair new riders with experienced riders to transfer riding skills. This is a key element of the Army’s Motorcycle Mentorship Program (MMP). If your organization or installation has an MMP, joining is a great way to build skills and camaraderie with other riders.
• Plan a route within the skills of the group’s least experienced riders.
• Do a riders’ brief before group rides. Brief the route and plan stopping points along the way. 
• Use effective PPE when riding. A simple, long-sleeve cloth shirt will disintegrate almost immediately when it touches the pavement. Skin grafts are painful and costly. 
• Avoid giving in to peer pressure. If the group is engaging in risky riding or breaking the law, choose to ride safely and obey the law. If the group leaves you behind, ride at a safe pace and catch up with them at the next stopping point. 
• Ride to arrive!

In May 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) celebrated Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  Continue practicing safe motorcycle riding year-round so you can enjoy the ride!

Protecting Soldiers’ Vision
By SSG Eduardo A. Alegria, USAARL
As featured in the "Knowledge" Magazine- Click here ( PDF-343KB) for that article!

When I deployed to Iraq as a cannon crew member with the 101st Airborne (air assault), each Soldier in my unit was supplied with two pairs of goggles, one to provide protection during air assault missions, and another to provide ballistic protection.  Even though the unit leaders instructed us to use our goggles, the matter was not strictly enforced so Soldiers placed their goggles on their helmet.  As a result, many Soldiers incurred eye injuries; some even lost their eyesight in various combat situations.

During my second deployment, to Afghanistan as a combat medic with an artillery unit, my unit leadership, like that of my air assault unit leadership in Iraq, instructed us to use military combat eye protection (MCEP).  However, this time the MCEP-use standards were enforced.  All Soldiers were ordered to use their protective glasses even during the night.  This meant we had to change the lenses in our glasses twice a day- gray lenses for daytime and clear lenses for nighttime use.  Getting into the habit of wearing MCEPs 24-hours a day and changing the lenses was very difficult.  Honestly, it was a pain.  But as my deployment progressed and I witnessed first-hand what shrapnel did to the eyes of Soldiers who were not wearing MCEPs, wearing eye protection became extremely important to me.  In no time, it became second-nature.  I knew how to protect my eyesight and that of my fellow Soldier: wear approved MCEPs!

Today, I am assigned to the Sensory Research Division of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Laboratory (USAARL).  I have the privilege to work alongside vision scientists and eye care providers who study combat eye injuries and how to better protect Soldiers’ vision.  Now, more than ever, I understand how important eye protection is; how it is designed to protect a Soldier’s vision from from dust, wind, sunlight, and shrapnel/ballistic fragments; and how much work goes into providing Soldiers with the safest eyewear available. 

For many years USAARL has evaluated the ophthalmic characteristics of eye protection and provided recommendations to industry and project managers to ensure that the eye protection worn by Soldiers meets military requirements.  This means when a Soldier puts on a pair of MCEPs included on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL), he/she is wearing eye protection that has been tested by vision experts and approved by users. 

Other ways USAARL is working to ensure the vision of Soldiers is protected include: identifying ways to reduce the incidence and severity of combat eye injuries; identifying ways to increase Soldiers’ use of eye protection in combat; investigating the relationship of eye injury caused by the initial pressure of a blast (as opposed to secondary effects of the blast, e.g., shrapnel) and the use of protective eyewear; and developing methodologies and standards to better assess the effectiveness of protective eyewear.

It is very reassuring knowing that the Army keeps moving forward to better fit Soldiers for battle.  As Soldiers we can feel confident knowing that when we wear MCEPs we are reducing the likelihood of sustaining an eye injury. 

To learn more about authorized eyewear go to https://peosoldier.army.mil/pmseq/eyewear.asp.

USAARL Hosts International Meeting
By Dr. Loraine Parish St. Onge, USAARL

The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) at Fort Rucker, AL, hosted the NATO RTO RTG-184 “Safe Ride Standards for Patient Evacuation using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)” Working Group meeting on 24-28 January 2011.  At the invitation of COL Joe McKeon, USAARL Commander, and Mr. John Ramiccio, Chief of USAARL’s Flight Systems Branch and NATO Working Group member, military officers and dignitaries from organizations representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Air Force Special Operations Command, British Royal Air Force, and Israeli Defense Force participated in the meeting.  UAV industry leaders also attended.

Since the 1920s, aeromedical evacuation has been conducted on-board fixed and rotary wing aircraft.  The gravitational forces (G-forces) experienced by injured patients on-board the aircraft are within human tolerance limits because the forces are controlled by on-board pilots.  UAVs can pull G-forces far greater than traditional medical evacuation aircraft.  In order for UAVs to be used for far-forward medical evacuation, safe ride standards for injured patients are critical to UAV developers who need to ensure their airframes are suitable for medical evacuation.

BG (Ret, German Air Force) Dr. Erich Roedig, MD, CFS, former Surgeon General of the German Air Force and Chairman of the NATO Working Group, opened by thanking USAARL for hosting the meeting.  He commended, “Fort Rucker is a nice place to visit, not only because it’s sweet home Alabama but also because it’s the well-known and respected home of Army aviation.”

“I am privileged and quite proud to chair this panel of aviation, medical transport, and UAV experts.  We have hard work in front of us.  I hope this meeting will bring us a huge step forward in our work so that 1 year from now we will have reached our goal of developing safe ride standards for wounded Warriors being transported on-board UAVs,” said Roedig.

According to the NATO Technical Activity Proposal, the agenda included topics such as 1) the development and flight characteristics of UAVs; 2) the control mechanisms (remotely piloted vs. on-board programming) for UAVs; 3) the use of UAVs for casualty evacuation; 4) the G-tolerance and rate-of-onset tolerance of patients with differing medical conditions; and 5) in-flight medical monitoring.

COL Robert Mitchell, Director of the U.S. Army Medical Evacuation Proponency and Working Group member, pointed out that while UAVs are not part of current U.S. Army medical evacuation doctrine, “we continue to move forward with research and technology demonstrations because what we are doing here is for the user, our Joint Coalition and NATO Forces.  Our work will ultimately benefit the Warfighter.

USAARL Change of Command Ceremony
By Ms. Catherine Machen, USAARL Public Affairs

On Wednesday, 1 June 2011, after three years as the Commander of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), COL Joseph F. McKeon, MD, MPH, MFS, transitional laboratory Command to COL Dana K. Renta, MD, MPS.  COL McKeon is now reassigned as Commander of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Activity (USAAMA).  Major General (MG) James K. Gilman, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC), Fort Detrick, Maryland, hosted the ceremony.  MRMC Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Kevin B. Stuart, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker Commanding General, MG Anthony G. Crutchfield, and other notable leaders were also in attendance.

In a parting message, COL McKeon said “While I wanted to say thanks to you all, this day is not about me, or any individual.  It’s a celebration of this unit, its mission, its accomplishments, and most importantly its people.  I’m so proud to have been a part of it, and I want to encourage you as you all move into the next chapter.”  COL McKeon expressed his gratitude to MG Gilman for this opportunity to command USAARL, and to his wife of 30 years, Jane, and their children, for their love and support throughout his career.

USAARL welcomes its new Commander, COL Renta, a native of Georgia.  COL Renta will join USAARL after serving as the Deputy Commander of Clinical Services at Lyster Army Health Clinic at Fort Rucker since 2007.  COL Renta is a graduate of Georgia State University, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  She has earned many awards over her career to include the Meritorious Service Medal and she is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.

When talking about assuming command of USAARL, COL Renta expressed her gratitude for being considered for the position.  She commented “I’m extremely humbled and honored to be given this opportunity to lead this great organization forward, continuing to define cutting edge technologies to serve and protect our aviators and Soldiers.  And I’m grateful to be standing on the shoulders of those before me, great leaders like COL Joe McKeon.  I’ll continue to move forward with our objectives.”

USAARL Researcher Gives an Out-of-This-World Presentation
By Catherine Machen, USAARL Public Affairs

Dr. Ben Lawson, a research psychologist at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, was the invited guest speaker at the 8th Symposium on the Role of the Vestibular Organs in Space Exploration (ROVOSE) dinner banquet held on 9 April. Dr. Lawson was invited by Dr. Charles Oman, Director of the Man Vehicle Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Chair of the ROVOSE Organizing Committee, to give a presentation entitled “How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Space Exploration and Start Loving the Vestibular Organs.” The banquet included approximately 55 attendees.

The ROVOSE is a small symposium focused on problems of spatial disorientation in space, space sickness, and post-flight after effects. The first ROVOSE symposium was held in 1965 and organized by Dr. Ashton Graybiel.
Dr. Lawson has more than 18 years of spatial orientation research experience with the United States Government. He studied at the Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory at Brandeis University before working at the U.S. Navy Aerospace Medical Laboratory in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Lawson transferred to USAARL in 2009.

Dr. Lawson’s presentation acknowledged past and present conference organizers, key contributions of the conference over the years, changes in the conference from the first meeting, vestibular science in the wider context of space exploration, and inspirational themes related to human exploration of inner and outer mysteries. Dr. Lawson received a standing ovation following his presentation.

Research Laboratory Donates Computers to Dale County Board of Education
By Ms. Catherine Machen, USAARL

The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) at Fort Rucker donated 11 computer systems to the Dale County Board of Education on 6 May. Mr. Juan Cepero, Technology Director, accepted the donated equipment on behalf of Dale County City Schools. Mr. Cepero indicated that the computers would be placed in classrooms to facilitate and nurture the study of science and mathematics by students of Dale County public schools. 

According to COL Joseph McKeon, the USAARL Commander, “In order to encourage the study of science and mathematics at all levels of education, federal laboratory commanders are authorized by the Education Partnership Act, Title 10 United States Code 2194, to transfer to educational nonprofit organizations excess defense laboratory equipment.”

“As a local defense laboratory that employs scientists, engineers, and research technicians, USAARL wants to encourage students enrolled in local schools to learn important mathematics and science concepts,” McKeon said. “We also want students to learn how to perform basic computer technology skills, such as typing, conducting educationally-based internet searches, and using various computer programs.”

“The Laboratory makes these contributions to local students so that the nation will benefit from a better prepared scientific, engineering, and technical workforce,” McKeon said.

This is the eighth computer equipment transfer USAARL has made to schools in the Wiregrass. Other donations from the USAARL include photographic equipment to Enterprise State Community College and science laboratory equipment to Troy University and Opp High School.

School administrators who are interested in being considered for future excess scientific/computer equipment donations should contact Ms. Catherine Machen at (334) 255-6883.

USAARL Researcher Awarded ACEP Best Staff Presentation
Catherine Machen
USAARL Public Affairs

LTC Steve Gaydos, an aerospace medicine specialist and chief of the Aeromedical Factors Branch at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), received the Best Staff Presentation at the Government Symposium for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in March 2011. LTC Gaydos presented a synopsis of the study entitled “Comparison of the Effects of Ketamine and Morphine on the Performance of Representative Military Tasks” that began in August 2010.

The ketamine and morphine study evaluated the effects of 25 mg of intramuscular ketamine versus 10 mg of intramuscular morphine on the performance of representative Warrior Skill Tasks in 48 healthy subjects. LTC Gaydos commented, “Sometimes we have a difficult time controlling pain at the point of injury. Morphine has been used for battlefield analgesia for a long time, and its longevity in this capacity speaks to its strengths. But it is also important that we look at alternative drugs and routes of delivery, too--particularly agents with rapid onset and opioid-sparing effects. This study furthers those efforts.” The study concluded that despite the fact that subjects were more symptomatic on ketamine, the Warrior Skill Tasks were largely resistant to performance decrements suggesting that a trained skill task remains somewhat resilient to the drugged state at this dosage.

LTC Gaydos commended the research team stating, “This study would not have been possible without the hard work of these researchers, doctors, technicians, and Soldiers. They not only implemented the study without a hitch, ensured the wellbeing of the subjects, and achieved the goals and objectives of the study; they also mentored and taught me along the way. Without a doubt, this team conducted quality research for the Soldier and certainly earned this award.”

The research team included, from left to right, SGT Pedro Cruz, Mr. Jim Chiaramonte, SPC Adam Thompson, Ms. Edna Rath, Dr. Amanda Kelley, Mr. Jeremy Athy, SSG David Lopez, LTC Steve Gaydos, Ms. Catherine Webb, Lt Col Patricia Walters, and Ms. Elizabeth Stokes.  SGT Arlene Breaux, Mr. Bradley Erickson, Dr. Heber Jones, Ms. Melody King, Ms. Lana Milam, Ms. Stephanie Moon, PFC Shannon Pippinger, SPC Navdeep Saini, Ms. Mindy Vasbinder, CPL Joe White, and Dr. Robert Wildzunas are not pictured.  Photo by Scott Childress, USAARL.

Collaboration with Auburn MRI and Andrews Institute.
By Dr. Loraine P. St. Onge, USAARL

Representatives from the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), including COL Joseph McKeon and LTC Shean Phelps (pictured with Alabama Governor, Bob Riley), attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Auburn University’s $21M Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Research Center located in Auburn’s Research and Technology Park on 4 February 2010.

The USAARL is collaborating with Auburn and Andrews Institute to develop a Warfighter Resilience, Rehabilitation, and Restoration Initiative.  Auburn University partners include the MRI Research Center, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, and the Departments of Kinesiology, Psychology, and Communication Disorders.

COL McKeon, USAARL’s commander, stated “We very much look forward to working with an academic institution of Auburn’s caliber, especially given their geographic proximity to USAARL at Fort Rucker and Soldier concentrations at Fort Benning, GA.”

The Warfighter Resilience, Rehabilitation, and Restoration Initiative will focus on applying systems-based approaches currently used for professional athletes to improve Warfighter training, operational performance, injury rehabilitation, and return-to-duty following injury.  The initiative will utilize Auburn University’s 3 Tesla (T) and 7T MRI scanners to develop MRI technologies and protocols that investigate traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, sensory impairments (i.e., visual, auditory, vestibular), and neck and lower back injuries.  The actively shielded, whole-body 7T MRI scanner, the only one of its kind in the United States, will provide unprecedented imaging of the human brain and musculoskeletal system. 

The initiative will not only significantly enhance the research capabilities of all partners involved in the collaboration, but it will also result in benefits for the Warfighter.  Anticipated benefits include improved Warfighter resilience to both physical and mental injuries, improved operational performance, efficient rehabilitation, and rapid return-to-duty.

According to McKeon, “In addition to the pay-offs for the Warfighter, this collaboration will also open doors for expanding USAARL’s educational outreach program.  USAARL scientists and engineers will be positioned to serve as adjunct faculty members at Auburn, and we will be able to foster professional relationships with college students and professors by involving them in research at USAARL.”

LTC Kristen Casto Receives Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Aerospace Human Factors for 2010
By Catherine Machen, USAARL

The dissertation of LTC Kristen Casto, Au.D., Ph.D., of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) was selected as the Outstanding Dissertation in Aerospace Human Factors for 2010.  LTC Casto’s dissertation is entitled “Workload and Communication Signal Quality on Black Hawk Helicopter Simulator Pilot Performance.” The honor, given by the Aerospace Human Factors Association (AsHFA), is named the Stanley N. Roscoe Award after one of the major pioneers in aviation human factors. The award will be presented to LTC Casto at the AsHFA annual conference on May 10, 2010.  In the field of human factors engineering and ergonomics, the Stanley N. Roscoe award is one of the most prestigious honors given to one person annually.

The AsHFA is the largest, most representative professional organization in the fields of aviation, space, and environmental medicine. Its mission is to apply and advance scientific knowledge to promote and enhance the health, safety and performance of those involved in aerospace and related activities. The AsHFA’s goals are to encourage human factors considerations in the development of aerospace systems, to apply knowledge of human performance to system development, to promote research on factors affecting human performance, and to exchange information with other groups having similar interests.

After learning she earned the award, LTC Casto commented, “This award is quite an honor for me, but hardly an individual effort. My academic advisor at Virginia Tech, Dr. John Casali, and my dissertation committee were extremely supportive of a project that directly related to Army Aviation. I also appreciate the entire team of professionals at USAARL who assisted me in completing the project. So it really is a team award.”

LTC Casto is a research audiologist and Chief of the Acoustics Research Branch at USAARL.  Her research focuses on acoustics, and human factors and ergonomics. Specifically, LTC Casto’s research concentrates on the evaluation of hearing protection and communication devices, and the investigation of the auditory and vestibular effects of blast injuries. The Acoustics Branch is currently involved in a study aimed at developing functional hearing assessments for a variety of military occupational specialties. Aviation-specific functional assessments are a natural follow-on to this dissertation work, which investigated the performance effects of normal hearing and hearing impaired aviators with several communication devices in the operational flight environment. Additionally, the branch is working on establishing auditory return-to-duty standards, which can be correlated with functional hearing assessments in operational environments.

Licina receives Lifetime SAFE Award
By Ms. Catherine Machen, USAARL

Mr. Joe Licina, who recently retired from the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), received an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award at the 2009 SAFE Symposium in San Diego, California. This award is presented to a person who, throughout his or her career, has made significant contributions in the field of safety. Mr. Licina has contributed 42 years of continued direct involvement with Aviation Life Support Equipment.

The SAFE Association was established in 1956 under their original name, Space and Flight Equipment Association. SAFE is a world-wide, non-profit professional association dedicated to the preservation of human life. SAFE members represent the fields of education, engineering, equipment design, fire and rescue, human factors, industrial safety, management, medicine, psychology, physiology, survival training, and the many sub-fields associated with the design and operation of aircraft, automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, spacecraft, and watercraft. The SAFE Symposium is an annual meeting that provides a forum for the sharing of problems and solutions in the field of safety.

Mr. Licina worked with or managed the U.S. Army Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE) Retrieval Program at the USAARL for 28 years, and contributed to every manned airframe development effort for the U.S. Army since 1983. He taught the U.S. Army Aviation Flight Surgeon’s Course and the U.S. Army Aviation Safety Officer’s Course at Fort Rucker. Mr. Licina also developed the Aeromedical Certification and Evaluation program for the testing of medical equipment used in rotary wing aircraft. He is a major contributor in the study of helmet technology in areas such as fitting, performance, and accommodation. Over the course of his career, Mr. Licina presented all over the world, including past SAFE conferences, and authored over 80 publications.

Research Laboratory Donates Computers to Local Schools
By Ms. Catherine Machen, USAARL

The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) at Fort Rucker donated over 66 computer systems to the Opp Board of Education on December 9.  Mr. Ryan Sasser, Information Technology Specialist, and Mr. Donnie Carnley, Maintenance Supervisor, accepted the donated equipment on behalf of Opp City Schools.  According to Mr. Sasser, the computers will be placed in laboratories and classrooms in Opp City Schools to facilitate the study of science and mathematics. 

According to COL Joseph McKeon, the USAARL Commander, “In order to encourage the study of science and mathematics at all levels of education, federal laboratory commanders are authorized by the Education Partnership Act, Title 10 United States Code 2194, to transfer to educational nonprofit organizations excess defense laboratory equipment.”

“As a local defense laboratory that employs scientists, engineers, and research technicians, USAARL wants to encourage students enrolled in Wiregrass schools to learn important mathematics and science concepts,” McKeon said.  “We also want students to learn how to perform basic computer technology skills, such as typing, conducting educationally-based internet searches, communicating via e-mail, and using various computer programs.”

“The Laboratory makes these contributions to local students so that the nation will benefit from a better prepared scientific, engineering, and technical workforce,” McKeon said. “In the spirit of the Education Partnership Act, we recognize the importance of education to the future and economic well-being of our community and nation.”

This is the sixth computer equipment transfer USAARL has made to schools in the Wiregrass.  Other donations from the USAARL include photographic equipment to Enterprise-Ozark Community College and science laboratory equipment to Troy University and Opp High School.

School administrators who are interested in being considered for future excess scientific/computer equipment donations should contact Ms. Sharon Fales at 255-6936.

LTC Ian Curry Receives USAAvMA Award
By Ms. Catherine Machen, USAARL

LTC Ian Curry received the U.S. Army Aviation Medical Association’s (USAAvMA) Joseph L. Haley Award for best aeromedical publication relevant to rotary wing medicine published in 2008, for USAARL Report No. 2008-12, “Efficacy of Tactile Cues from a Limited Belt-Area System in Orienting Well-Rested and Fatigued Pilots in a Complex Flight Environment.”  Other authors on this report are Dr. Arthur Estrada, Ms. Catherine Webb, and Mr. Bradley Erickson.

This effort tested a system that provides drift information through the tactile sense via a belt around the waist.  The belt was worn by pilots flying the USAARL UH-60 helicopter with vision restricted to the instrument panel.  The same pilots flew a repeated series of maneuvers close to the ground with and without the system before and after 37 hours of fatigue.  The pilots’ performance was significantly better using the belt than without in both rested and fatigued conditions.  The TSAS-Lite system used in this study demonstrated that a limited tactile display can provide increased mission effectiveness and safety in the critical areas of low speed maneuver near the ground in degraded visual conditions.  The system also has the potential to increase a pilot’s situational awareness and reduce both the perception of drift and the overall mental stress of flight in this challenging environment.

The Haley Award was presented to LTC Curry by Dr. John Crowley.

Cliff Simon of Stargate SG-1 poses with USAARL Soldiers and civilians. Photo by Steve Martin.

Stargate SG-1 Actor Visits USAARL
On 23 January 2009, actor Cliff Simon visited the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory.  He is most well-known for his portrayal of Ba’al in the television series, Stargate SG-1 and the movie, Stargate: Continuum.  Mr. Simon’s tour included flight time in USAARL’s NUH-60 Black Hawk simulator, demonstrations of the Tactile Situation Awareness System (TSAS) and Multi-Axis Ride Simulator (MARS), and a visit to the Aviation Life Support Equipment Retrieval Museum.  Following the tour, Mr. Simon signed autographs for USAARL Soldiers, DA civilians, and contractors. 

The USAARL Commander, COL Joseph McKeon (center), recognizes Blood Drive organizers from USAARL, Fort Rucker, and Fort Benning.

USAARL Hosts Blood Drive
On 12 February 2009, the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) hosted an African-American/Black History Month Blood Drive and Health Fair.  The Blood Drive was sponsored by the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) of Fort Benning, GA.  According to Ms Elmaree Gordon of USAARL, approximately 15 Soldiers and civilians from the ASBP Blood Donor Center conducted a very successful blood drive.  Fifty (50) pints of useable lifesaving blood (54 registered) were collected to support injured Warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan, active duty Soldiers and their family members.  That is 10 pints more than collected in the blood drive held at USAARL in February 2008.  As part of the event, Mrs.Victoria Knighton, a nurse at Fort Rucker’s Lyster Army Health Clinic, Wellness Center, conducted health screenings. 

USAARL Celebrates Women’s History Month
On 11 March 2009, MAJ (Ret) Jane McKeon, U.S. Military Academy Class of 1980, and Cadet Kelly McKeon, U.S. Military Academy Class of 2010, spoke at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory's (USAARL) Women's History Month program.  Their presentation entitled “Generations of Women Moving History Forward” focused on the acceptance of women in the U.S. Military Academy.  MAJ (Ret) McKeon, wife of USAARL Commander COL Joseph McKeon, spoke about her experiences as one of the first women accepted to the U.S. Military Academy in 1976.  Cadet Kelly McKeon, daughter of COL Joseph and MAJ (Ret.) Jane McKeon, discussed the challenges she faces as a woman currently enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy.  Upon graduating with a degree in engineering, MAJ (Ret) McKeon was commissioned as a 2LT in the Transportation Corps.  She served overseas and in the United States in a variety of leadership assignments until retirement in 1996.  She was also the first female West Point graduate to receive her Master’s degree and return to teach at the U.S. Military Academy.  Cadet McKeon is a junior studying sociology at the U.S. Military Academy.  She is an active member of the Women’s Army Crew Team and the Cadet Honor Committee.  She will graduate exactly 30 years after her mother.  The Women’s History Month program was coordinated by the USAARL Equal Opportunity (EO) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) representatives, SSG Victoria Reeves and Ms. Elmaree Gordon

Mentoring Future Leaders

This summer, twelve cadets from universities across the country participated in a three-week research internship at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL).  The internship is a part of an Army career survey program.  CPT David Turner of USAARL provided guidance to the cadets and assigned them to various research projects.  While the cadets assisted with various research-related tasks throughout the laboratory, the USAARL military and civilian investigators mentored these future military leaders and researchers.

Two cadets, an Army cadet assigned to the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center and an Air Force cadet interning at USAARL, were an integral part of a sustained operations protocol led by Dr. Arthur Estrada and Mr. Bradley Erickson of the USAARL Warfighter Performance and Health Division (WPHD).  Cadet Charity Masaitis and Cadet Juback participated in a “dry run” of the study in order for the staff of research technicians to be fully prepared for data collection and analysis with aviators.  “Go Army” and “Air Force One,” as the cadets were nicknamed, participated in a two-day sleep deprivation period during which they engaged in a series of cognitive processing and reaction time assessments.  As Cadet Masaitis reported in the October 2008 (Vol. 2) issue of Knowledge: The Official Safety Magazine of the U.S. Army, “Seeing the effects of fatigue on my own body helped me realize it can play a major role in decision-making and lead to errors, and possibly, a preventable accident.” 

Internship programs, such as the Army career survey program, not only provide valuable, hands-on research experience in the field of aviation medicine but also give cadets an opportunity to learn about different research career opportunities in the military.  The USAARL military and civilian personnel greatly appreciate the efforts and contributions of the cadets who participated in the Army career survey program this summer and look forward to mentoring more cadets in the future.

Safety Collaboration

On 04 Jul 2008, CW5 Herman Morgan, Aviation Safety Officer and Chief of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory’s (USAARL) Aviation Life Support Equipment Retrieval Program (ALSERP) deployed to Afghanistan, as part of a U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center/Safety Center (USACRC) team investigating the RG-31 MRAP vehicle rollover that resulted in a canal drowning of three Special Forces Soldiers.  Chief Morgan and the USACRC team of investigators spent nine days in Afghanistan.  CW5 Morgan retrieved several vehicle components, such as seat and occupant restraint systems, which were returned to USAARL for analysis.  Through this collaborative effort ALSERP was able to contribute valuable life support equipment expertise and testing capabilities to the USACRC’s ground vehicle accident investigation report.  The results of this investigation also support the USAARL element of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Joint Trauma and Prevention of Injury in Combat Program (JTAPIC) research program which seeks to reduce combat-related injuries to deployed Army Soldiers.

USAARL Retirement and Change of Command Ceremony

On Friday, 30 May 2008, the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory’s (USAARL) Commander, COL James S. McGhee, MD, MPH, MFS, retired following 27 years of service to the Army. COL Jonathan H. Jaffin hosted the ceremony on behalf of MG George Weightman, Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC), Fort Detrick, Maryland. Commanding General of Fort Rucker, MAJ GEN Virgil Packett, was also in attendance.

In a parting message, COL McGhee said “William Plomer defined creativity as the power to connect the seemingly unconnected. What I have found most rewarding during my time at USAARL has been my association with people who are able to see beyond the boundaries of convention and into the realm of the improbable; because that is where the revolutionary solutions are to be found.”

COL McGhee’s assignments led him to command several medical treatment facilities in the US and internationally, serve two tours in the Pentagon, and serve as task force surgeon to the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, Egypt. Prior to his assignment at the USAARL, he was the Dean of the U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine (USASAM) during which time he was appointed as the Consultant for Aerospace Medicine for Army Surgeon General. COL McGhee is well-versed in the human factors aspects of unmanned aerial systems and serves as a consultant for the aerial robotics program of the Technology and Telemedicine Research Center of the MRMC. Over the course of his noteworthy career, COL McGhee earned numerous accolades and awards for meritorious military service and excellence in the field of aerospace medicine. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster upon his retirement.

USAARL welcomes its new Commander, COL Joseph F. McKeon, MD, MPH, MFS, a native of Lorton, Virginia. COL McKeon will join USAARL after serving as the Director of Aeromedical Proponency at Fort Rucker since 2005. His most recent assignments also include serving as the Surgeon General’s Consultant in Aerospace Medicine since 2004, Command Surgeon at the U.S. Army Safety Center, and Chief of the Education Branch at the USASAM. COL McKeon is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, the Medical College of Virginia, and the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Medicine Residency. He is board certified in both aerospace and preventive medicine.

When asked about assuming command of USAARL, COL McKeon expressed his gratitude for being considered for the command, stating that he has long admired the contributions USAARL has made to the aviation and warfighting communities. He also commented on his respect for the considerable impact made by his mentor, and outgoing commander, COL Jim McGhee. “COL McGhee has been the specialty leader for aerospace medicine for the past decade, and no one in recent memory has done more to advance the field. He also had the vision not to limit scientific effort to aviation, but to expand USAARL’s mission to protect all mounted warfighters. I am thrilled to be following in Jim’s footsteps, and look forward to continuing the excellent tradition of responding to changing warfighter needs, especially in this time of persistent conflict.” COL McKeon expressed his gratitude to MG George W. Weightman, MRMC Commanding General, for this opportunity to command USAARL, and to his wife of 28 years, Jane, for her love and support throughout his career.

Estrada and Rupert to Represent USAARL on NSBRI Project

Dr. Arthur Estrada and Dr. Angus Rupert of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) at Fort Rucker, AL were recently asked to serve as team members on the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), Sensorimotor Adaptation Research Team’s project entitled “Sensorimotor displays and controls to enhance the safety of human/machine cooperation during lunar landing.” The multi-institutional team includes experts in aerospace human factors, manual and supervisory control, display design, human spatial disorientation, simulation, statistical data analysis, and design of human experiments. The proposed research will focus on designing and testing display and control systems for the space environment to optimize performance and spaceflight human system standards. The project will also address questions related to sensorimotor capability to perform operational tasks and pairing the cognitive ability of crewmembers to task demands.

The project’s kick off meeting was held at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on May 13, 2008. “I am honored to be invited to participate in this NSBRI project by the principal investigator, Dr. Larry Young, MIT Professor of Astronautics,” said Dr. Estrada. “Over the years we have spoken about the similarities of landing a helicopter in degraded visual environments and landing on the lunar surface. Dr. Young thought it would be useful to have an experienced research helicopter pilot on the NSBRI team, especially one with spatial disorientation and brownout mitigation research experience. In addition, USAARL’s research flight simulator will play an important part in validating lunar landing displays and control parameters.”

As Dr. Estrada mentioned, one of the projects four major aims is to evaluate the displays designed during the project using the USAARL six-degree of freedom NUH-60 flight simulator. The simulator will be set-up to replicate a lunar landing, including lunar lighting and dust brownout/blowback conditions.

The Houston, Texas-based NSBRI is a non-profit scientific partnership with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) committed to solving the biomedical problems associated with human presence in space. The Institute collaborates with numerous institutions to provide NASA a product-oriented research and development program that “strongly impacts both the safety of human space travel and the quality of life on Earth.”

USAARL Researchers Receive Award for Rotary Wing Aviation Medicine Publication

LtCol Ian P. Curry and MAJ (P) Richard A. Roller, both of the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), were awarded the U.S. Army Aviation Medical Association’s (USAAvMA) Joseph L. Haley Award for their September 2007 technical report entitled “A Physiological and Human Factors Evaluation of a Novel Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS), USAARL Technical Report 2007-14.” The award was founded in recognition of Joseph L. Haley’s contributions to the aeromedical safety literature and is given each year to the best publication in the area of rotary wing aviation medicine.

Upon learning he received the award MAJ Roller commented, “Receiving this award is such an honor. It gives me great satisfaction that our research has helped to field essential physiological equipment to our aviation community in direct support of OIF/OEF.”

Following a rigorous two-ballot voting process, the USAARL report was judged superior to the other nominees. The paper’s detailed physiological and human factors evaluation of the PHODS for potential use by U.S. Army helicopter aircrew exposed to moderately high altitudes was identified as excelling in information, science, methods, and appearance.

“I am honored to receive this award from such an eminent organization,” said LtCol Curry, the primary author on the paper. “I only hope that our efforts will make the operational role of aircrew safer.” LtCol Curry is a British Army physician and helicopter pilot currently serving at USAARL as an Exchange Officer.

The award was presented to LTC Curry by the USAAvMA President and Acting Chair of the Awards Committee, COL John Campbell, at USAAvMA’s annual luncheon on 12 May 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The USAAvMA is a constituent member of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA).