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February 2015
DFW NEWSFLASH - February 2015
Purple Hearts Reunited:
Lost by circumstance, reunited with dignity
Joint Light Tactical Vehicles:
Designed lighter, safer, smarter for a new era of warfare
Earthquakes Shake Area:
Scientists seek answers to disturbing phenomena
VivaAerobus:
Launches service between DFW and Mexico in March
The hope, happiness and love that were so integral to Carter Stephens’ life are reflected in the eyes of his granddaughter, Kenzie. This Christmas brought her closer to her granddad, because now in addition to family stories and photos of him, she can look at the medals he earned in the service and have a more complete understanding of him as a person and a soldier. / Photo by John Starkey
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972-870-1992
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DFW NewsFlash is Copyrighted 2015
Lost Purple Hearts return home Reuniting past valor with warriors’ families By Jess Paniszczyn This Christmas will forever hold a special place in the hearts and memories of the Stephens family. Their Santa came in the guise of U.S. Army Captain Zachariah Fike, and their miracle was decades in the making. The hero of their story is CW2 Carter Stephens, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), a Green Beret and a Vietnam veteran. Carter was a family man who loved to dress his young son in a military uniform and take the boy with him to Saturday morning meetings. He combined his love for healing and children through his work in a pediatrics unit. In 1980, Carter’ life ended unexpectedly as the result of a car wreck. Proud of Carter’s military accomplishments, the family sent his medals to be framed. The medals were not returned. Through some Christmas magic, Purple Hearts Reunited, American Airlines, the Airpower Foundation and several other generous donors Carter Stephens’ medals were returned to his family during a Purple Heart Return ceremony held at the Westin Hotel in Irving on Dec. 20. “Something very unique happened in that I ended up taking possession of Carter’s medals that he had earned in Vietnam and during his service, many of which were for heroism,” Kim Jacobs, U.S. Army Capt. (ret.), said via telephone from Pittsburgh, Pa. “I didn’t know I was in possession of them. I left the service, and years later, I discovered them among my be-
After decades of being misplaced, Carter Stephens’ family, including his son, Scott; daughter, Joy (back) and wife, Joyce, gratefully receives his medals encased in a beautiful frame. / Photo by John Starkey longings. “I immediately began trying to locate the family. I was finally successful in doing that through Purple Heart. Zach and I connected. Knowing that Carter had a Purple Heart, I thought that might be the door I could go through to be successful. Within several days, Zach and his organization was able to connect me with Carter’s son.” The return ceremony was a time of happiness, tears and memories for Carter’s family, which includes his wife, Joyce, his son, Scott, and his daughter, Joy, whom he never met, as well as his grandchildren. When Joyce speaks about Carter, she positively glows remembering the true love of her life. “I married Carter and had a wonderful, wonderful life,” Joyce said. “He was a wonderful man. He loved being in the service. He was good to his men, to his troops. He served in Vietnam twice. Then he came back to Fort Bragg; and he ran the pediatrics unit, which was really his heart. He loved children. He
wanted us to have a million. We tried adopting, but the service of that time would not allow it. But he gave me two precious, wonderful children. “He was a good soldier, but we cherish the man part of him that loved us. He treated us wonderfully, and has taken care of us with his retirement since he died, and he has put my kids through school.” The Stephens’ family received their happy ending as well as the recognition and honor CW2 Carter Stephens deserved for his service, but there are literally millions of other families still waiting. It is estimated that 108 million Purple Hearts have been awarded by the United States military. Over time and through various circumstances, many of these prestigious medals have been separated from the warriors and the families of those who earned them. Captain Zachariah Fike with the Purple Hearts Reunited program has made it his mission to return as many of these medals to their rightful owners as possible.
DFW NEWSFLASH - February 2015
www.dfwnewsflash.com “Purple hearts are our nation’s oldest medal,” Fike said. “It signifies so much. It either signifies a soldier who shed his blood or sacrificed his life. As a country we should raise these soldiers onto a pedestal, and we should never forget that sacrifice. They have given so much so we can be a free nation. To me, all of these soldiers are heroes. So to think that their items are discarded or perhaps were just lost or were involved in a robbery, breaks my heart. To be able to reunite a family with that item, brings a lot of closure to people’s lives and in some cases brings families back together again.” During WWII, many mothers, fathers and wives received the devastating telegram that their son or husband had been killed in action not from a military representative, but from the postman. Later without any notice, a Purple Heart would arrive via the mail in a plain box with a certificate. For many, the medal became a spiritual reminder of their loved one. “Wives would carry the medal in their pockets every day of their lives as a constant reminder,” Fike said. “Parents had a special place for it on the mantle. They would break it out for special occasions like Christmas and their birthdays. Kids would play with it and show their friends. “To be lost or disconnected from the medal broke a lot of hearts and left a lot of empty holes. To be able to find these medals and reconnect them with the families means the world to them. These medals are being found all over the country. They are being found an old abandoned homes, old vehicles, metal detector enthusiasts are finding them buried in the ground. A medal was
just discovered off the coast of Florida about 25 miles into the ocean. “These medals have their own journey. Sometimes they pass hands or perhaps they are just sitting around. But they are found, and we are able to connect them to those families. Today we have reconnected about 150 medals to families all over the country. We receive 2 to 3 medals a week. We currently have over 400 Purple Hearts that we are trying to find families for. We also receive other decorations. We had a Medal of Honor at one point. We have Silver Stars, dog tags, canteens; you name it, we get it. We’re the only foundation out there doing this,” he said. Many Purple Hearts are presented with no inscription. Returning these medals to their original recipients may prove impossible, but they may yet find a home of honor. “An unmarked heart is difficult to return, unless there is asso-
“In my personal opinion, the Purple Heart is that one item that should not be sold or traded.
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ciated paperwork, it would be almost impossible to determine who the heart belong to,” Fike said. “However, believe it or not, the medal looks the same over our history, but it was made with different materials. If I put a World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam medals on a table I could show you the subtle differences within those medals. For example, in World War I, the purple on the front of the medal was made with a resin versus plastic today. “Some of the medals we receive come to us damaged. At times, they are missing the bust of George Washington or “ they are missing the ribbon altogether. We still ask people to send us his unmarked Purple Hearts medals, because we need an original, time period medal to replace these pieces. “We try to make these damaged medals presentable, so
that when we present them to the families, they receive a quality product. We’re using these unmarked medals to repair damaged medals, essentially those medals are in their own way going to a special home of honor.” Protecting and returning Purple Hearts became Fike’s personal mission in 2009. The Purple Hearts Reunited Foundation was established in 2012. For decades, individuals have been collecting war memorabilia including medals and preserving them to various degrees. “I want to highlight that there are people out there who collect these medals,” Fike said. “There are probably two million collectors across the country who think these medals are cool. They trade them like baseball cards. Believe it or not, the average posthumous Purple Heart on the open market will go for $300. If
I was shocked when Purple Hearts Reunited contacted me. It was a bolt of blue,” said Harley Kempter, who was named for his father’s little brother and war hero
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www.dfwnewsflash.com you can tie history to it, i.e. he’s a Green Beret, he’s a Silver Star recipient: [Carter Stephens’] medals would probably go in the thousands. How anyone can put a price on a soldier’s name and on their medals is beyond me. “In my personal opinion, the Purple Heart is that one item that should not be sold or traded. If we’re not going to find a family, that medal should be in a public location, so that everyone can appreciate the medal. If a Purple Heart is in someone’s man cave, I don’t know that’s the right course of preservation. “There have been instances where collectors have worked with us. I have met collectors who worked with families. I have encountered collectors who could care less, and they are deplorable. If a family is willing to pay to get the medal back, I think that should be accomplished. But, for the most part, we don’t deal with collectors.” Not only does Purple Hearts Reunited work to return lost and stolen medals, the foundation does so with dignity. The medals are beautifully framed and formally presented to family members righting any slights of the past or creating lasting memories for surviving family members who would have been too young to have known their family member who bled for our country. “Each return costs us around $1000. We do rescue some of the medals, and each medal goes for around $300,” Fike said. “This December I personally purchased about 17 medals, so when you do the math, that’s quite a bit of money. We have the framing piece of the return ceremony, which is free to the families. Then, obviously, we travel for the return ceremonies, and there are some logistic costs involved. “The returns in person are important. It helps to correct the
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The Stephens family is one of 35 families or individuals who had medals returned by Purple Hearts Reunited in 2014. Among CW2 Stephens’ awards and decorations are the Silver Star for Gallantry in action, the Bronze Star with “V” device for Valor and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster (WIA: 31 JAN 1969), Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal w/ two bronze loops, Humanitarian Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star and Palm, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Silver and Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Parachutist Badge, Scuba Qualification Badge, Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge, Combat Medics Badge, and the coveted Green Beret. / Photo by John Starkey mistake so many years ago, so many of these medals were just sent in the mail. It gives the family the opportunity to have the service that perhaps they never had, and in a way it brings families back together again. It is important that we do these returns in these hometowns around the country. So that said, were looking at $1,200 - $1500 per return.” When Ivan Bolgla saw a Purple Heart at auction in Aiken, S.C., he knew he had to buy it. He paid $75 for the medal which had been issued posthumously, more than 65 years earlier to 2 Lt. Harley C. Kempter, of the U.S. Army Air Forces, who had served in the 333rd Fighter Squadron and 318th Fighter Group. Bolgla, an Augusta Fire Department Shift Commander, never wanted the medal for himself, but felt strongly it needed
to be returned to the family. He was able to connect the medal with Kempter’s relatives Purple Hearts Reunited. “I was shocked when Purple Hearts Reunited contacted me. It was a bolt of blue,” said Harley Kempter, who was named for his father’s little brother and war hero. “I was shocked, amazed and really excited about the whole prospect. “There are lots of families out there who are missing things, because of Zach and the work that he’s doing, I was able to connect with my namesake like I had never had a chance to before. “I visited the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu several times, and the only thing that I have had that I could reach back to my uncle as my namesake is his little marker on the wall. He was lost at sea, and there are no remains. They have
dozens of these walls with just the name, the birth date and the date lost. That has been the only thing that I have had that I could put my hands on. “Now I have something that is tangible, it is here all the time and it is a great reminder,” Kempter said. “If someone finds a Purple Heart, they should reach out to us,” Fike said. “We include the people who turn in the medals through the entire process. In a lot of cases, if we have the funds available or if they live nearby, we have them come to the ceremony and they actually present the medals to the family. This is not all about the foundation, it is about Americans across the country doing the right thing when they find these medals and getting those medals back home where they belong.” To learn more, visit http://purpleheartsreunited.org/ .
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FAA issues UAS guidance for law enforcement
As drones become less expensive and more popular, the FAA is reaching out to local law enforcement to aid in keeping airspace safe. / Photo by John Starkey
The proliferation of small, relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft (UAS) presents the Federal Aviation Administration with a challenge in identifying people who do not follow the rules of the air or who endanger the nation’s airspace. So, the agency is asking the law enforcement community for help.
The FAA released guidance to the law enforcement community explaining the legal framework for the agency’s oversight of aviation safety in the U.S., including UAS operations. The guidance describes how UAS and model aircraft can be operated legally, and the options for legal enforcement actions
TSA in Review
December 29 - January 16 Firearms Discovered – Of the 125 firearms discovered, 102 were loaded and 43 had rounds chambered. Inert Ordnance and Grenades etc. – Three inert grenades and 115 inert rounds contained in a WWII style military helmet were discovered in checked baggage at Denver (DEN) the week of Jan. 9. An inert grenade was detected in checked baggage at Grand Junction (GJT). Grenade shaped cologne bottles were discovered in carry-on bags at Minneapolis (MSP) and Sacramento (SMF). Four replica/inert/novelty grenades were discovered this the week of Jan. 16. Two were discovered in carry-on bags at Westchester County (HPN) and Providence (PVD). Two more were discovered in checked bags at Binghamton (BGM) and Buffalo (BUF). Artfully Concealed Prohibited Items – A comb knife was discovered
Sickle found in carryon (EWR).
Knives and grenade-shaped cologne discovered in passenger’s bag at SMF. in a carry-on bag at Orlando (MCO) the week of Jan. 2. A belt buckle knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at Sarasota (SRQ) [Jan. 2]. A lipstick knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at Buffalo (BUF) the week of Jan. 9. Sickle - A sickle was discovered in a carry-on bag at Newark (EWR) [Jan. 9]. A lipstick knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at Milwaukee (MKE) the week of Jan. 16. Stun Guns – 18 stun guns were discovered in carry-on bags the week of Jan. 2. Two were discovered at Phoenix (PHX), two more at Portland (PDX), and the remainder were found at Anchorage (ANC), Baltimore (BWI), Birmingham (BHM), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Dallas Love (DAL), Fayetteville (FAY), Jacksonville (JAX), Nashville (BNA), New York (JFK), Orange County (SNA), Sacramento (SMF), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Francisco (SFO), and San Jose (SJC).
20 stun guns were discovered in carry-on bags the week of Jan. 9. Three were discovered at Sacramento (SMF), two at Dallas Love (DAL), two at Orange County (SNA), two at Phoenix (PHX), two at San Juan (SJU), and the remainder were discovered at Bozeman (BZN), Kansas City (MCI), Minneapolis (MSP), Mobile (MOB), Portland (PDX), Providence (PVD), Rochester (ROC), San Francisco (SFO), and Tulsa (TUL). 15 stun guns were discovered in carry-on bags the week of Jan. 16. Three were discovered at Las Vegas (LAS), two at San Francisco (SFO), and the remainder were discovered at Atlanta (ATL), Burlington (BTV), Dallas Love (DAL), Honolulu (HNL), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Kansas City (MCI), Memphis (MEM), Monroe (MLU), Newark (EWR), and Tri Cities (TRI). SOURCE Transportation Security Administration
against unauthorized or unsafe UAS operators. The document also discusses the law enforcement community’s vital role in deterring, detecting and investigating unsafe operations. State and local police are often in the best position to immediately investigate unauthorized UAS operations, and as appropriate, to stop them. The document explains how first responders and others can provide invaluable assistance to the FAA by: Identifying potential witnesses and conducting initial interviews Contacting the suspected operators of the UAS or model aircraft Viewing and recording the location of the event Collecting evidence Identifying if the UAS operation was in a sensitive location, event or activity Notifying one of the FAA’s Regional Operation Centers about the operation as soon as possible. The FAA’s goal is to promote voluntary compliance by educating individual UAS operators about how they can operate safely under current regulations and laws, but the guidance makes clear the agency’s authority to pursue legal enforcement action against persons who endanger the safety of the National Airspace System. The guidance stresses that while the FAA exercises caution not to mix criminal law enforcement with agency administrative safety enforcements, the public is best served by coordinating and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between governmental entities with law enforcement responsibilities. SOURCE Federal Aviation Administration
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Solar Impulse unveils route of first round-the-world solar flight attempt Abu Dhabi – Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the Swiss co-founders and pilots of Solar Impulse, along with their partners, recently revealed the detailed global flight route of Solar Impulse 2 (Si2). The first solar-powered plane able to fly day and night will land in 12 locations across the world and travel 35,000 kilometers in the first attempt to fly around the globe without using a drop of fuel. For pilots Piccard and Borschberg, the drive behind their mission is to demonstrate how clean technologies and a pioneering spirit can change the world. Si2 will take-off from Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, in late February or early March and return by late July or early August 2015. The route includes stops in Muscat, Oman; Ahmedabad and Varanasi, India; Mandalay, Myanmar; and Chongqing and Nanjing, China. After crossing the Pacific Ocean via Hawaii, Si2 will fly across the Continental U.S.A. stopping in three locations – Phoenix, and New York City at JFK. A location in the Midwest will be decided dependent on weather conditions. After crossing the Atlantic, the final legs include a stop-over in Southern Europe or North Africa before arriving back in Abu Dhabi. Solar Impulse unveiled the flight path in Abu Dhabi alongside partner representatives. These included main partners Solvay, Omega, Schindler and ABB. They were also joined by official partners Altran, Bayer, Google, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, Swisscom and Moët Hennessy alongside Solar Impulse’s host partner Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company. Solar Impulse
try representatives, youth and aspiring engineering students. “Masdar and the emirate of Abu Dhabi are proud to host the departure, and hopefully safe arrival, of Solar Impulse and its pilots, as they dare to fly round the world using only the power of the sun,” said H.E Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and chairman of Masdar. “Solar Impulse is a demonstration to prove the impossible can be possible, and that innovation knows no boundaries. As a leader delivering sophisticated renewable energy projects around the world, Masdar is a natural partner for such an innovative endeavor, which underscores the viability of solar technology.” After 12 years of feasibility studies, design and construction, the Solar Impulse team is ready to launch its round-the-world solar mission. With the help of 80 technology partners, the Solar Impulse engineers and technicians have found highly innovative solutions to make this vision, deemed impossible, a reality. The single-seater Preparing for their next adventure André Borschberg (left) and Bertrand Piccard, Co-founders plane’s energy efficiency is and pilots of the Solar Impulse 2, will travel across the world and travel 35,000 kilometers in the greater than any aircraft to date. first attempt to fly around the globe without using a drop of fuel. The drive behind their mission “Solar Impulse is not the first is to demonstrate how clean technologies and a pioneering spirit can change the world. / © Solar solar airplane, however it is the Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch first able to cross oceans and is an idea born in Switzerland. man of Solar Impulse. “We want continents – remaining in the air The first round-the-world so- youth, leaders, organizations for several days and nights in a lar adventure will span ap- and policymakers to under- row without landing,” said André proximately 25 flight days, stand that what Solar Impulse Borschberg, Solar Impulse cospread over 5 months and can achieve in the air, everyone founder and CEO. “But now we covering approximately can accomplish here on the have to ensure the sustainability 35,000 kilometers at speeds ground in their everyday lives. of the pilot in order to complete of between 50 and 100 km/h. Renewable energy can become the route; Solar Impulse 2 must “With our attempt to complete an integral part of our lives, and accomplish what no other plane the first solar powered round- together, we can help save our in the history of aviation has the-world flight, we want to planet’s natural resources.” achieved - flying without fuel for demonstrate that clean tech- Ahead of the 5 month adven- 5 consecutive days and nights nology and renewable energy ture, the Si2 team and pilots will with only one pilot in the unprescan achieve the impossible,” spread their message in Abu surized cockpit.” said Piccard, initiator and chair- Dhabi, engaging with indusSOURCE Solar Impulse
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VivaAerobus to start service from Mexico to Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport in March
By Jess Paniszczyn VivaAerobus will launch new international service to DFW International Airport from two of Mexico’s largest cities, Guadalajara and to Monterrey, starting March 28. The Monterreybased low cost carrier will use Airbus A320 aircraft and will operate out of DFW’s International Terminal D three times per week. VivaAerobus also plans to launch service from DFW to Cancun in July of 2015. “VivaAerobus represents a new option for DFW customers to travel to Mexico, and we’re happy to have them here at DFW Airport,” said Sean Donohue, CEO of DFW Airport. “VivaAerobus has been gaining in popularity and market share in Mexico, and we believe it will make a great partner for us and a great option for our Dallas/Fort Worth customers.” VivaAerobus currently serves 21 destinations in Mexico with
hubs in Monterrey and Cancun, and also serves three U.S. destinations in addition to DFW Airport. “We looked at Dallas and realized that consumers in Dallas just don’t have the same options and choices that consumers in other cities do,” said Vincent Hodder, Chief Commercial Officer for VivaAerobus. “This is an opportunity to get really cheap flights into Mexico and to give people a much greater ability to travel on a much more frequent basis. “There is definitely demand in this area for the service. The links between Texas and Mexico are very, very strong. Mexico is the single largest destination for travelers coming out of DFW airport in terms of countries. We looked at the pricing that is currently being charged: $500, $600 for flights to Mexico, and they are very short flights. We look at our pricing, for example Monterey to Houston, is less
than hundred dollars each way. This provides a great opportunity to be able to take advantage of all the wonders of Mexico. “The services begin March 28 just in time for the Semana Santa vacations, the Easter vacations in Mexico. It’s a great time to be able to experience Mexico. The weather in Mexico that time of year is perfect for travel. “These routes have a strong leisure component, but there are also a lot of visiting friends and relatives. We appeal to people who have families and connections across both sides of the border as well as a small component of business. We’re not a business carrier,” he said. “We are much more focused on friends and relatives. “Introductory pricing fares are $99 one-way. There is no necessity to join a fair club. We will be introducing a fair club next year, but at the moment, this is just our basic, standard low-cost fares. “We offer an unbundled product, which means you choose the options you like and you ignore the options that you don’t. You don’t have to pay for the things you are not going to use,” Hodder said. “We are thrilled to announce
the addition of these two new services that represent a significant milestone in the development of our network across the United States,” said Juan Carlos Zuazua, VivaAerobus CEO. “In addition to providing low cost access for visitors from the U.S. to Monterrey and Guadalajara, Viva also offers flights from these cities to a range of outstanding destinations within Mexico. Also, the Dallas/Fort Worth market is critical for business and these new services are a direct conduit to open new opportunities for trade and tourism which represent a huge opportunity for significant economic impact.” Headquartered in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Viva Aerobus is co-owned by IAMSA, Mexico’s largest bus company conglomerate, and the founders of Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier. When service begins in March, VivaAerobus will become the eighth international carrier to start service at DFW since 2011, extending the Airport’s recent run of international expansion. Since 2011, DFW has added 25 new international routes, 18 of those to new international destinations.
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Department of Transportation fines Southwest for violating tarmac delay rule WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Jan. 15 that Southwest Airlines violated federal rules involving lengthy tarmac delays last January. Southwest failed to offer passengers on 16 aircraft delayed at Chicago Midway International Airport (Midway) the opportunity to deplane within three hours of arrival and failed to have sufficient staff available to implement its Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan. DOT fined Southwest $1.6 million and ordered the airline to cease and desist from further violations. This is the largest civil penalty that the Department has assessed a carrier for violating the DOT’s tarmac delay rules. “Airline passengers have rights, and the Department’s tarmac delay rules are meant to prevent passengers from being stuck on an aircraft on the ground for hours on end,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “We have aggressively enforced, and will contin-
ue to aggressively enforce, our tarmac delay rule to ensure carriers have adequate resources to minimize passengers’ exposure to lengthy tarmac delays.” Under the Department’s aviation consumer protection rule finalized in 2009, airlines may not allow tarmac delays longer than three hours on domestic flights at U.S. airports without giving passengers an opportunity to leave the plane. Exceptions are allowed only for safety, security, and air traffic controlrelated reasons. An investigation by DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that on Jan. 2 into Jan. 3, 2014, 16 Southwest flights experienced lengthy tarmac delays at Midway in excess of three hours. Southwest experienced a malfunctioning of its crew scheduling system and an unexpected shortage of staff, particularly the carrier’s ramp-crew, which inhibited the carrier’s ability to clear aircraft from Southwest’s gates in a timely manner
The DOT fined Southwest $1.6 million, the largest civil penalty that the Department has assessed a carrier for violating the DOT’s tarmac delay rules. / Photo by John Starkey to accommodate arriving flights. A severe winter weather event at Midway contributed to the tarmac delays. Prior to this order, the largest civil penalties that the Department assessed carriers for violating its tarmac delay rules were $1.1 million in 2012 and $900,000 in 2011. The Department assessed a larger civil penalty against Southwest because the lengthy tarmac de-
lays involved more flights and impacted more passengers than the tarmac delay events in 2011 or 2012 (neither of which involved Southwest). To date, including this order, the Department has issued 17 orders assessing a total of $5.24 million dollars in civil penalties for violations of its tarmac delay rules. SOURCE U.S. Department of Transportation
Academic sweatshirt scholar program honors students
The Fort Worth ISD and Lockheed Martin award 655 academic sweatshirts to deserving students at the Fort Worth Convention Center Ballroom in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday, Dec. 15. Since 1989, the Fort Worth ISD has recognized more than 5,500 students for academic excellence through the Academic Sweatshirt Scholar program. The program, now in its 25th year, was created to
acknowledge students who complete their sophomore year with a GPA of 3.8 or higher. Students who earn the Academic Sweatshirt Scholar distinction receive a special sweatshirt that features the initials of the student’s school, an academic banner and the student’s monogram on the sleeve. SOURCE Lockheed Martin
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People are all shook up over earthquakes By Nick Kammerer Hundreds concerned citizens, television crews and public officials packed the Irving City Hall during the city council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15, to discuss the recent rash of earthquakes near the former Texas Stadium site. Scientists, emergency management experts and state officials prepared a comprehensive presentation. In April of 2014, the sequence of seismic activity in the city began with a small, 2.4 magnitude earthquake. Since then, 37 additional earthquakes have occurred in Northeast Irving, including 3.5 and 3.6 magnitude earthquakes. Recently, the city has teamed up with seismologists from SMU to research the rise in quake activity, including SMU Seismology Professor, Dr. Brian Stump. “Prior to 2008 there were no historic seismic events in the area and only one possible felt event reported in 1950,” Stump said. “Of course the ability to de-
tect and locate seismic events in the region has increased as a function of time, but with the substantial population in the region for well over 100 years, any felt reports associated with small events would have been made, and those events would have been identified.” Stump discussed the placement of additional seismographs within city limits and their process for data collection. “Before Tuesday, Jan. 6, there were only three seismic stations within about 10 miles of the events, one of which was deployed on Monday afternoon, Jan. 5,” Stump said. “In order to improve our mapping of the fault causing these earthquakes, over the last week we have worked with the City of Irving and others to deploy additional seismometers designed to provide high precision locations. Today we have a total of 22 instruments fielded, although 14 of them are designed to record for only 10 days and will
SMU Geophysics graduate student, Mason MacPhail, and SMU Seimo-Acoustic Technician, Chris Cain, install a seismograph within the city limits of Irving. The city has teamed up with SMU seismologists to pursue a better understanding of the recent earthquake activity. / Courtesy Photo be recovered by the end of the week. “We anticipate that within the next month as additional small events occur these data will pro-
vide the basis for a refinement of our understanding of the responsible fault. The timing of this work is dependent on how much longer subsequent earthquakes occur in the coming weeks. Once the fault location is refined, the data provides a basis for improving the location estimates of the earthquakes that occurred before the local stations were deployed,” he said. Unfortunately, there is not yet an answer for the cause of the earthquakes. “We will consider a wide-range of possibilities, including whether the earthquakes are strictly natural or possibly associated with human activities. In either case, the waves released from the earthquake are associated with pre-existing stored energy along natural faults,” Stump said. “All of the events since 2008 have been small and, although startling to all of us when we feel them - they have not been large enough to cause sig-
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“We will consider a wide-range of possibilities, including whether the earthquakes are strictly natural or possibly associated with human activities.” nificant damage. The fact that the events appear to be shallow, 2-5 miles deep, means they are close to the surface where we live and thus well felt. “I do not know whether this specific swarm will die out or whether it will continue. Experience shows that the majority of earthquake swarms do not result in damaging earthquakes. But at this time we cannot rule out the possibility of larger earthquakes, some possibly damaging,” he said. Perhaps the most controversial subjects of the council meeting were questions surrounding hydraulic fracking within city limits. Jason Carrier, Emergency Management Coordinator for the city of Irving, presented a time line for gas wells in the city, beginning with the Gas Drilling and Production Ordinance passed by council in 2006 which mandated that no wastewater wells are allowed within the confines of Irving. “In 2008, the Trinity East site drilled well number one, which was north of the Irving city limits at the time,” Carrier said. “No council approval was needed, because the land was in Dallas County. Later on in 2008, the land was annexed from County land to within the city limits of Ir-
DFW NEWSFLASH - February 2015 ving. In 2009, council approved the Trinity East gas drilling site at 3400 Tom Braniff Drive. The permit allowed Trinity East to drill a second well on the same pad site as well number one. “One of the two wells was capped off and never produced gas. In 2012, the producing well stopped production. This is not city owned property, it is owned by Trinity East Drilling,” he said. Dr. David Craig Pearson, seismologist with the Railroad Commission of Texas, rendered his conclusion concerning gas wells as a cause for the earthquakes. “We began reviewing these earthquakes back in September when we noticed some activity in the Dallas County area. In the course of that review, I have found that there are two gas wells just north of the old Texas Stadium area that are inactive,” Pearson said. “The last hydraulic fracture that occurred on one of those wells was back in 2009. Hydraulic fracturing in the vicinity of the epicenter as the USGS is placing them is not, in my opinion, a plausible reason for the earthquakes. The closest disposal well is over 10 miles away from the seismic activity. At this point, the evidence points to no injection well being the likely cause of these earthquakes. “As the seismologist at the Railroad Commission of Texas, I do not conduct research like our colleagues at SMU. I am an expert in the field of seismology. I help the Railroad Commission craft new rules for injection wells in the state of Texas to better protect ourselves against the possibility of induced earthquakes. We regulate the oil and gas activities in the State of Texas. We do not work for the oil and gas companies. We work to regulate them to protect the safety of citizens of this state while allowing the oil and gas corporations to reap the benefits of the natural
resources that are available in our great state,” he said. Situated fewer than 10 miles away from the epicenter of the recent swarm of earthquakes, DFW International Airport has not experienced any significant impacts from the natural phenomena. “We have some procedures when we are aware of an earthquake happening near the airport, DFW Airport spokesman David Magaña said in a phone interview. “It’s very simple. We look around, and we make sure that everything is okay. “In detail, we consult immediately with the FAA’s Air Traffic Control Center, the towers, and make sure that they are okay, because they are first priority. The next thing we do is go out and conduct visual/physical in-
Page 11 spections of the taxiways and runways of the airfields to make sure there isn’t any issue there. While that is going on, we also take the pulse of our internal facilities and systems for any kind of potential impacts. Finally, we reach out to our partners on the airfield. We let them know if there is anything unusual, or [we ask] if there are any issues or damage to let us know. “Most of the earthquakes have been felt by someone or another here at the airport whether in the terminals or in some of the buildings or even in the towers, but we’ve not had any interruptions service. We have not had any damage sighted or identified. We haven’t had any power outages or anything like that associated with the earthquakes. We have just experienced mainly small jolts,” he said.
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Competition designed to replace Humvees with mean new military machines By Jess Paniszczyn The race is on and the competition is fierce as truck-maker Oshkosh Corp., Humvee-maker AM General LLC and the manufacturer behind the F-16 and F-35, Lockheed Martin Corp., roll into the final months of competition to win the contract for the Army and Marine Corps’
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. The two military services own more than 18,000 aging Humvees, which they intend to replace with more strategically armored, fuel efficient and technically sophisticated vehicles. Built for the modern battlefield, JLTVs will be highly maneuver-
able, high performance vehicles that can operate in any terrain or environmental conditions. Each of the companies involved in the competition have survived the Engineering and Development phase, which required them to deliver 22 prototype vehicles to the government. Those vehicles were evaluated
Diehard football fans learn a little bit about Lockheed Martin’s new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle while enjoying tailgating activities before the University of Houston and the University of Pittsburgh took to the field for the Armed Forces Bowl. / Photo by John Starkey
through an intensive 14 month test program. On Dec. 12, the government issued a request for proposals, and the companies have until Feb. 10 to develop and submit their bids. The government plans to award a low rate initial production contract sometime in July/August of 2015. “The plan is for the JLTV to fill the gap between the Humvee and the MRAP (mine resistant ambush protected vehicle),” Michael Clow, a government spokesperson for the JLTV program, said. “The Humvee was designed for a different era when we had a little clearer understanding of the frontlines and rear areas. Today many of our soldiers participate in full-spectrum threat environments. The intent of the JLTV is to better balance payload, performance and protection in a different range of environments. “When we had the Humvee and we realized there were additional threats, we added armor to the vehicle, which improved the protection but then decreased the payload of the vehicle. It was not able to carry as much because of the additional weight of the armor. The intent for the JLTV is to rebalance that in a way that allows us to better provide for all the needs the soldiers may have. “The idea is to have the first Army unit equipped in fiscal 2018,” Clow said. “We will be receiving vehicles before that, but that will be the first unit fully equipped. “The program is an Army and Marine Corps program. The Marines would expect to reach initial operating capability also in fiscal 2018. Their vehicle pur-
www.dfwnewsflash.com chases are sort of frontloaded into the program. So the Marine Corps would complete their purchases of 5,500 vehicles by fiscal year to 2022. Army purchases will run considerably longer into the future, until approximately 2040 with the Army’s attempt to procure for 49,099 vehicles. “We’re very pleased that the program is on schedule, on budget and in a good position to provide soldiers and Marines a substantial increase in capability in a way that has consistently remained affordable for the taxpayer,” he said. Before the University of Houston and the University of Pittsburgh took to the field for the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Jan. 2, the public had a rare opportunity to see and take photos of Lockheed Martin’s JLTV. “The Humvee vehicles in the inventory for the US military are
DFW NEWSFLASH - February 2015 now over 40 years old, and they are starting to get to the end of their service life,” said Craig Banbebber, senior manager of communications for Lockheed Martin. “The JLTV provides a much higher level of protection to the soldier. It has extremely good gas mileage, which saves the military and taxpayer money, because it doesn’t cost nearly as much to operate and maintain these vehicles. They are going to be out in the inventory for the next 40 years. “We’re returning protected mobility to the soldiers, and we are able to provide them a higher level of protection on par with some of the larger point MRAP vehicles, in case there is an IED explosion or a grenade goes off. These vehicles provide a much higher level protection to the soldiers themselves. “It also is a fully net enabled vehicle, which means they’re communicating with everybody
on the battlefield. It is highly mobile, highly transportable. “It offers fantastic gas mileage. We are getting gas mileage on par with large SUVs on a vehicle that weighs significantly more,” he said. “That is important because the cost of getting gasoline to a theater of operation say Afghanistan could be as high as $300 or $400 per gallon. So if you are saving them 70 percent of their fuel costs, that is a significant amount of money that we will save the taxpayers. “The competition is really going full bore right now. We expect that the decision is going to be made in the summer of 2015, sometime in the July timeframe. At that point, they will decide which vehicle they will select, and then we will begin building the vehicles immediately after. The production for this vehicle will be in Camden, Ark. We have a manufacturing facility dedicated specifically to this vehicle,
Page 13 but the program management and engineering will remain right here in Grand Prairie. “The U.S. government has put a cap on the price of these vehicles at $250,000 per vehicle; so all of vehicles cost $250,000 per vehicle for the base model. “Lockheed Martin has two different variants of the JLTV. There is a four soldier variant and a two soldier variant, which is essentially like a pickup. It is a single front cab and the back seats are more cargo. The JLTV weighs about 12,000 pounds. They are big, larger vehicles meant to withstand the blasts of an IED and to protect the soldiers. “The coolest thing about this vehicle is just the way it looks. The vehicle is one mean looking machine. It is an awesome vehicle. It is fantastic to see this vehicle drive over incredibly difficult terrain; it takes it on and just blows right through it. It’s just a cool vehicle,” Banbebber said.
Frontiers of Flight Museum launches Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative DALLAS – The Frontiers of Flight Museum recently announced how grants have enabled the Museum to launch a new education program titled the “Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative,” which is currently underway this school year. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Dallas ISD’s Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and Grand Prairie ISD’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy. Both are public all-girl’s schools in the D/ FW area which emphasize leadership, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. The Museum’s program encourages underserved female students in their pursuit of STEM related disciplines. The initiative helps increase the
students’ knowledge of STEMrelated principles in aerospace; and awareness of and interest in aerospace and STEM careers. It also enhances analytical and problem solving skills and provides leadership skill building opportunities. “In partnering with these two schools, the Museum aims to increase the girls’ understanding of aerospace while instilling confidence in STEM education,” said Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Frontiers of Flight Museum. “This is particularly exciting because it may encourage many young women to consider careers in aviation and aerospace. The community as a whole and the aerospace industry in particular will benefit from more young women pursuing STEM careers
and aerospace jobs.” Through the Museum’s Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative, local students are being exposed to a variety of STEM related educational opportunities throughout the school year. More than 600 students are participating in guided museum tours as well as onsite and outreach educational programming. Additional education opportunities include special programs during Engineers Week and a one-week immersive camp during Spring Break, which offers an in-depth STEM based experience to increase analytical and problem solving skills through experimentation and hands-on learning. Other benefits include paid internships for 10 upper-class
young women students to assist teachers with spring break camp, and 16 internships and 10 scholarships for the Museum’s Flight School Summer Camp classes. The Frontiers of Flight Museum is using the Young Women’s STEM Leadership Initiative to enhance the effectiveness of its current education programs while extending its reach to serve more girls. “This initiative gave us a roadmap with a clear course to enhance our quality STEM programming with new resources and activities that will help us inspire and empower young women across North Texas,” Sutterfield-Jones said. By the year 2016, there will be a talent gap of 7 million skilled workers in the United States
Page 14 -- jobs requiring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills that are not being developed according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, 20.4 percent of the workforce is currently in STEM positions; over the next 5 years the region is expected to experience the 4th largest STEM growth in the country. Women make up less
February 2015 - DFW NEWSFLASH than 25 percent of participants in STEM programs nationally and are at particularly low levels in aviation. “Statistics suggest that there is tremendous growth opportunity for young women in STEM education and related careers,” Sutterfield-Jones said. “Thanks to the support for our Young Women’s STEM Leadership Institute, the Frontiers of Flight
Museum is better able to meet the accelerated demand for its outstanding STEM education programs. These efforts help contribute to increased technical literacy in the short-term, resulting in better-skilled employees in the long-term with a lasting impact on our community.” The program is supported by grants from
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SOURCE Frontiers of Flight Museum
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New helicopter strengthens Texas Game Wardens AUSTIN — The Texas Game Warden’s recently unveiled its new Airbus AS350B3e helicopter that will enhance the department’s statewide law enforcement apparatus and assist with its search and rescue and disaster response efforts. The aircraft is outfitted with a rescue hoist, thermal imager, searchlight, public address system, satellite communication and night vision. Funding for the aircraft, approximately $5 million, was approved during the
83rd Texas Legislative session. “This helicopter is going to be a tremendous asset and force multiplier for the Texas Game Wardens,” said Col. Craig Hunter, TPWD Law Enforcement Director. “We will not only be able to more efficiently move personnel and equipment across the state, but with the addition of the new hoist system, we will be able to better leverage our marine and ground assets to enhance our search and rescue capabilities during times of disaster.” The department also has a fixed wing 2009 Turbo Cessna Model 206 aircraft. SOURCE Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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