Courtesy Photo The White Sands Common Control Node team received an award for their modeling and simulation work supporting the testing of the war fighter machine interface system. From left; front row: Jonathan Lindsey, Pat Zavala, Brian Simonin, Mike Kelley, Liz Ramos, Deborah McCoy, Cherrie Rivas, Ignacio Hernandez. Middle row: Lester Butzke, Rob Butzke, Shelly Jones, Kevin Goodall, Rodney Pierce, Cindy Chapman, Dave Pasion, Alonzo Cervantes. Back row: Michael Baxter, Francisco Romero, Ruben Dominguez, Kris Nietubyc, Matt Moomaw, John Belcher, Darren Gross, Mark Graczyk.

White Sands Missile Range Common Control Node employees were recently recognized for their work in the testing and development of command and control software.

The staff of the White Sands Common Control Node, a large simulation complex built to test command and control software for use in the Army combat vehicles, was awarded the 2009 Army Modeling and Simulation Award for their work in the testing and development of the war fighter Machine Interface System.

Originally developed to support the Future Combat Systems program, the software tested at the WCCN is still in development under the Program Executive Office for Integration. An Integrated network and software will be used as a way of providing Soldiers with better tools to use in communicating with each other and controlling of battlefield equipment such as Unmanned Air and Ground Vehicles. “We don’t just test the software, but also the network and communications,” said Liz Ramos, a project engineer at the WCCN.

Navy employee named Engineer of the Year

Photo by Miriam U. Rodriguez U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Heller, right, presents Salvador L. Rodriguez, manager of the Systems Test Section at the WSMR Navy Detachment, with the award for Engineer of the Year Feb. 18 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Salvador L. Rodriguez, manager of the Systems Test Section with the Navy detachment at WSMR, was named Engineer of the Year at an awards ceremony Feb. 18 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Rodriguez, an engineer with the WSMR Detachment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, was named Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Naval Engineers, Channel Islands Section. Rodriguez has been a part of over 2,000 live fire events and has conducted test and evaluation operations on multiple test ranges and facilities on behalf of the U.S. Navy.

“This acknowledgement is a reflection of the support group I have access to and speaks volumes of the talented individuals I work with,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the test events he has been involved in often takes the work of a lot of good people who are crazy enough to believe they can accomplish things that other folks would not even try.
Mar 4, 2010, 12:31 pm

2010 Census coming to WSMR
White Sands Missile Range residents are being asked to complete and return their 2010 Census forms by May 1.

Manny Amaro, installation census project officer, said residents should check their mail for the 2010 Census forms scheduled to arrive at family homes on post by April 1.
“We encourage everyone to fill out (the 2010 Census forms) and send them in,” Amaro said.

The Acting Under Secretary of Defense directed all military services to assist the Census Bureau with counting military personnel for the 2010 Census.

Residents who don’t respond on time will receive a personal visit from a Census worker to get the information in person starting in May.
Mar 4, 2010, 12:45 pm