Newsletters: 2003, Issue 1

PSI Forms Marine Systems Enterprise

Led by Mr. James M. Glynn, the Marine Systems Enterprise will foster programs in marine instrumentation and applications.

Marine Systems Enterprise

PSI has recently formed the Marine Systems Enterprise to provide a focal point for ongoing programs in marine instrumentation and systems development, and to establish new initiatives in wideband sonar systems research.

Mr. James M. Glynn has joined PSI in the newly created position of Vice President of Marine Systems Enterprise to lead this activity. Jim comes to us from Materials Systems, Inc. in Littleton, MA, where he led multi-million dollar technology programs in the acoustic transducer business area. He brings over 20 years of experience in the design, development, field-testing and manufacturing of advanced instruments, acoustic transducers, and associated signal processors for a variety of commercial and military applications. He has also worked with PSI previously on several programs.

James M. Glynn

The mission of PSI's Marine Systems Enterprise is to conduct government and corporate sponsored R&D, focusing on the development of advanced marine sensors and systems. PSI has a rich history in the development of innovative technologies for marine applications. For over two decades, PSI's marine activities have ranged from analysis of laser system performance for thermoacoustic sources to developing optical instruments to gain a basic understanding of fluorescence in the marine environment. PSI has also been involved in developing instruments to measure the spectral characteristics of the sea floor. These projects have been sponsored by various agencies of the Department of Defense as well as by industrial funding.

Current programs include measurement of the fluorescent properties of the sea floor and coral reefs, development of sensors and systems to monitor the level of contaminants in marine aviation jet fuel, design and fabrication of fiber optically driven acoustic sources, and the development of innovative sensors for in-line monitoring of contaminant levels in the hydraulic fluid of undersea systems.

Dr. Chris Rollins Named Vice President of Research Support Instruments

Dr. Chris Rollins has recently been appointed Vice President of Research Support Instruments, Inc. (RSI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSI. Dr. Rollins assumes the role previously held by Dr. Michael Corson. Chris has been with RSI for ten years, most recently as Chief Scientist. He specializes in systems science and engineering and in the design and development of unique optical systems.

Chris received his MS in Physics and a Ph.D. in Experimental Solid State Physics from Northeastern University. He joined PSI in 1984 and specialized in the analysis of high power laser interactions with materials. He also initiated a program to produce thin films of high temperature superconductors using laser ablation techniques. In 1992, Chris joined RSI to work on the Clementine Moon-mapping satellite program.

Chris Rollins

While at RSI, Chris has also worked on the Tactical Imaging Constellation Architecture Study (TICAS), the Naval EarthMap Observer (NEMO) hyperspectral mapping satellite, and the Revolutionary Imaging Technology (RIT) program, among others. These programs have been supported by the U.S. Navy and other government and commercial organizations.

In his new role, Chris will take on the management of a broader spectrum of RSI's technical activities, including the satellite and space-instrument projects, support of the NRL Beam Physics group, optical communications research at the Naval Center for Space Technology and the NRL Remote Sensing division, plasma physics, propulsion, and materials science programs at RSI, Princeton, NJ and UV instrument development and calibration at RSI, Boulder, CO.

Technical Achievement Awards

The annual PSI Technical Achievement Awards were recently presented by PSI's President and Chief Executive Officer, George Caledonia, to recognize the company's most notable technical accomplishments for the past year.

Dr. David M. Sonnenfroh, Group Leader of Atmospheric Sciences; Jan A. Polex, Project Specialist; and Phillip A. Mulhall, Instrumentation Specialist, were honored for their successful series of field tests at the Vermont Monitoring Co-operative Forest Canopy Experiment Stations, Mt. Mansfield, Vermont. The team developed a prototype diode laser-based carbon flux monitor, which was shipped to the field test location. Several serious installation challenges were overcome with much "on the fly" retrofitting required in this remote environment. Nonetheless, successful measurements were made in year 2001 and 2002 campaigns, which clearly demonstrated and quantified carbon transport above the forest canopy.

Dr. Christopher M. Gittins, Principal Research Scientist; Michael F. Hinds, Instrumentation Specialist; Teoman Ustun, Senior Research Scientist; and David C. Rossi, Project Specialist, were presented with an Achievement Award in recognition of their successful demonstrations of infrared remote detection using the Adaptive InfraRed Imaging Spectroradiometer (AIRIS). Their dedication and resourcefulness were essential to making these measurement campaigns successful. These observations clearly demonstrated the utility of AIRIS in the remote detection of chemical and biological releases, and in remote observations of rocket exhaust plumes. AIRIS activities are led by Dr. William Marinelli, Vice President, Sensors and Materials Enterprise.

Dr. Peter E. Nebolsine, Manager, Innovative Technology; Dr. Michael A. White, Principal Scientist; and Christopher L. Templeman, Scientist, were recognized for their excellent work in developing a system for continuous in-line monitoring of jet fuel contamination. They have now completed two tests at Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD, which have demonstrated the viability of the instrumentation and robust algorithms for data interpretation. Their work was highlighted by the Navy at the 2002 Worldwide Energy Conference and plans are underway to build additional units to be field-tested on an aircraft carrier.

A publication of
Physical Sciences Inc.
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