Dean s Weekly Significant Activities Report

Transcription

1 jk Dean s Weekly Significant Activities Report 27 July 2017 The Dean s Weekly Significant Activities Report is an internal report on all activities conducted within the Departments, Centers & Staff. The Report is provided to the Dean for situation awareness, throughout the organization for shared situation awareness, and to select external organizations for outreach and communication. POC for the report is Mr. Besim Hoxha at Picture of the Week A screenshot of the article published by CLS Academy Professor LTC Corey James 1

2 Office of the Dean 1.Three faculty members from Armed Forces Defense Institute (ADI)-Almaty, Kazakhstan, observed USMA summer operations as part of an ARCENT sponsored project coordinated by Office of Military Cooperation at US Army Attaché Office-Astana and USMA Dean. Head of ADI s Officer Development Branch, COL Askar Bakirov, his deputy, LTC Samat Zhangulov, and Senior Military Psychology Lecturer, Elena Kolomiyets, observed Summer Faculty Workshop activities at Departments of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, and Foreign Languages. They also visited PL300 STAP classes, Cadet Summer Training, Department of Physical Education facilities, and were briefed at the Center for Advancement of Leader Development and Organizational Learning (CALDOL). The two-week visit is part of a long-standing joint program between NATO s Defense Education Enhancement Program and the Ministry of Defense that seeks to up-date leadership education at Kazakhstan s top commissioning source. With an aim to adding a strong critical-thinking component to their newly minted leader development course, visitors observed and analyzed BS&L Summer Faculty Workshop practice classes and exchanged views with PL100 and PL300 instructors and course directors on classroom pedagogy, materials development, course methodology, and curriculum transformation. COL Kraig Sheetz speaks with COL Bakirov and ADI team members about leader development. 2

3 2. Dean s Staff Constitution Island Outing: On July 20, 2017 Mr. Robert Goscicki organized a trip to the constitution island. Over 40 members of the Dean s Staff participated in the event that included a picnic and a tour to redoubt 7. The group also participated in an educational briefing by Mr. Roddy McCloud that explained the historical, cultural and ecological treasure of the Constitution Island. Dr. Dalton led the group to the redoubt and explained the physical geography of the island and its role during the revolutionary war. In the picture above: members of the Dean s Staff at the constitution island 3

4 Department of Chemistry and Life Science Publication on Water, the Military, and Leadership LTC Corey James from the Department of Chemistry and Life Science, in cooperation with Scott Vitter from the University of Texas, published a feature article in the August edition of Earth Magazine. The article highlights the military s history of successful water management as well as recent Department of Defense projects that exploit new technologies. Water s vital role in our nation s defense has forced the military to research and apply the latest technology to ensuring water availability on our installations and while deployed. Although challenges remain, the military is in a unique position to lead in this growing area of concern. Municipalities with growing water challenges and other government organizations that often operate in austere environments could benefit from the military s extensive experience and overall success with water. The article is available at the following website: A screenshot of the article published by CLS Academy Professor LTC Corey James 4

5 Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 1. DARPA Program Support: LTC Joshua Keena (D/CME) traveled to Fort Devens, MA from July 2017 in support of final testing of a vehicle system developed by Raytheon BBN Technologies. The testing concludes a two-year Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) program involved with enhancing combat vehicle capabilities. LTC Keena has been involved throughout and is currently concluding his service as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the DARPA Ground Experimental Vehicle-Technology (GXV-T) Program. Raytheon BBN was a performer in combat vehicle crew performance augmentation. Specifically, they developed the Virtual Perspectives Augmenting Natural Experiences (V-PANE) system. Raytheon BBN demonstrated and tested a system that combines Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Global Positioning System (GPS) information, and multiple high-definition video feeds through high power computing, signal processing, and synthetic rendering to provide combat vehicle crewmembers with an enhanced visualization of the physical world they are navigating through. The testing data and successful demonstrations are the culmination of over three years of DARPA support by LTC Keena for the GXV-T Program with scientific and technical evaluations, source selection participation, and ultimately COR duties. The POC is LTC Joshua Keena at joshua.keena@usma.edu or The DARPA GXV-T V-PANE team poses in front of the test bed vehicle. The vehicle supports a robust sensor array as well as houses a substantial computing network developed to demonstrate the benefits to crew performance enabled with an enhanced perspective of the local environment. 5

6 2. Follow-on Work for Cadet Capstone Project: LTC Joshua Keena (D/CME) traveled to Picatinny Arsenal on July 20, 2017 to meet with a team of engineers from the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) to finalize details associated with follow-on work for a cadet capstone project. During maneuver and live fire, gun tube obstacles and obstructions can present a risk to both the crew and to those operating in the vicinity of the tank. The Muzzle Obstacle and Obstruction Sensor (MOOSe) device, developed by Second Lieutenants Charlie Christianson, Michael Danko, and Matt Schmitt, combines proximity sensors as well as pressure-activated switches with a crew alert interface that reports local information encompassing the tank muzzle area. The device installs beneath the Muzzle Reference Sensor (MRS), making use of the four existing mounting bolts. Mr. Ralph Tillinghast, Director of the Collaboration and Innovation Lab, has secured funding and formed a team of engineers that will refine the MOOSe concept in support of a Limited User Test (LUT) with an Armor unit. COL Chris Norrie, Commander of 3-4 IN has identified 1-68 AR, Commanded by LTC Jon Kluck, as the armor unit to evaluate the MOOSe concept. POC is LTC Joshua Keena at joshua.keena@usma.edu or (left) Mr. Ralph Tillinghast and Mr. Greg Andulfo hold the MOOSe device near an Abrams tank at ARDEC. (right) The Muzzle Obstacle and Obstruction Sensor (MOOSe) device, mounted beneath the 120 mm gun tube. 6

7 Department of Foreign Languages During the week of July Department of Foreign Languages Summer Faculty Workshop and Center for Languages, Cultures and Regional Studies (CLCRS) hosted Virginia Maurer from the Bok Center for Teaching & Learning at Harvard University for a four-day Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Foreign Language Assessment Workshop. During the first two days of training the eighteen faculty participants - eight of them newly appointed to DFL - worked together intensively to enhance their conversance with American Council on Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) Guidelines, the national standard for language proficiency. They analyzed recorded sample interviews and applied newly developed interview skills to improve their ability to elicit ratable samples of speech by non-native speakers. For the final two days of the workshop, they put new knowledge and skills to use, conducting practice interviews with volunteers from the USMA Mess Hall staff. During the last sessions of the Workshop, faculty examined practical applications of OPI concepts and methods in structuring classroom learning and spoken language assessment. Organizers would like to thank DFL and CLCRS staff, as well as MR Elliott Daemon and his crew from Three Cities Management at the USMA Mess Hall for making the Workshop possible. Workshop facilitator Virginia Maurer and LTC John Gregory listen in as DR Sherri Venere interviews Mess Hall Staffer MR Enoch Sam. 7

8 Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering On 20 July, twenty-one faculty and family members from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering (D/G&EnE) spent the morning and early afternoon with the New York District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The morning session consisted of a briefing and discussion by Mr. Lawrence S. Mazzola, Deputy District Engineer, regarding the mission, vision, history and support to the region by the New York District. Upon completion of the engaging presentation, the group walked to the World Financial Center Ferry Terminal and embarked on a two-hour Harbor-Estuary Inspection aboard the DCV Hayward vessel which included checking the NYC bridges, observing container shipping operations, and viewing Governor s Island and the Statue of Liberty. Participation in this event enables enrichment of West Point s interaction with USACE and New York City. POC is LTC Ben Wallen at benjamin.wallen@usma.edu. Above: Mr. Lawrence Mazzola discusses the mission, vision, history and operations of the USACE New York District with faculty and families of the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. Below: The D/G&EnE faculty and families with members of the USACE New York District aboard the DCV Hayward vessel taking a photo break during the Harbor- Estuary Inspection. 8

9 Cadet Completes Immersive AIAD in Gender Studies at the United States Institute of Peace CDT Amoto meets with USIP Vice-President, Ambassador William Taylor, USMA 69 CDT Sara Amato recently completed an AIAD with United States Institute of Peace in Washington DC sponsored by the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations. She performed research focused on the impact that gender has on peacebuilding. Much of her time was spent working with the Executive Committee of the U.S. Civil Society Working Group. This coalition included members from various organization including the Department of State and Women In International Security (WIIS), the premier organization in the world dedicated to advancing the leadership and professional development of women in the field of international peace and security. She also was able to work on various projects for the coalition and including analyzing a forum they did to determine metrics for success in their programming and reviewing suggestions given by the community of interest to determine how the group s work could be improved. She proclaimed the AIAD very useful stating We spent a lot of time looking at the Civ-Mil relationship, which is helpful to my role as a future Army Officer who must keep the civilian interests in mind as well and understand how to maintain that relationship. I worked with many experts who opened my eyes to how to effectively research and how to problem solve. It exposed me to the professional application of the work I do at West Point and for teaching important lessons about the world around me and how to prevent conflict. On 14 July, 13 faculty from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering (D/G&EnE) and six faculty from the Department of History (D/Hist) walked about 10 miles of the Harriman State Park 1779 Trail and then conducted a staff ride at Stony Point State Historic Site. D/G&EnE led the hike, while D/Hist led the staff ride nearly 238 years after the battle. This 9

10 Revolutionary War battle was a significant victory for the Patriots under the command of BG Anthony Wayne, resulting in the capture of a key fortification on the Hudson River on 15 July This hike and staff ride enabled faculty from two departments learn about the battle at Stony Point and to experience the local geography and environment. POC is CPT Luke Plante at luke.plante@usma.edu. Above: Faculty from D/G&EnE and D/Hist walk along the 1779 trail in Harriman State Park. This trail approximates the path of BG Anthony Wayne s Soldiers en route to their objective: British-held Stony Point. 10

11 NiCE: Networks in Classroom Education Department of Mathematical Sciences Network Science Center From July 10-13, K-12 teachers and administrators from southern and central California, upstate New York, West Point, New York City, North Carolina, and Boston descended upon West Point to take part in a workshop jointly funded by the Army Research Laboratory and West Point Network Science Center. The workshop sprang from the realization there is an incongruity between the essence of the world in which we live and the way we develop and implement primary and secondary curricula designed to prepare students for that world. Today, life is complex and non-linear; however, curricula meant to educate our children is traditionally offered in a linear this before that before the next manner. Thought leaders from the USMA Center for Leadership and Diversity in STEM (CLD-STEM), West Point Network Science Center, New York Hall of Science, Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Collective Dynamics of Complex Systems (SUNY-Binghamton), and the Center for Complex Network Research (Northeastern University) conceived NiCE in part to address this shortfall. Networks and Network Science are tools that enable us to embrace the complexity of contemporary life. We live in a world characterized by connections; Network Science is an appropriate discipline to model those connections and fundamentally alter the way in which we conceive, develop, and implement curricula at all levels, starting with primary and secondary education. During NiCE, we exposed two dozen primary and secondary educators across disciplines from STEM fields to the humanities and including specialty fields from reading to music to English as a second language to Network Science concepts. In small groups, these educators used the Network Science concepts they learned to develop network-inspired modules and lesson plans they will bring back to their schools, public and private, traditional and charter, to enhance interdisciplinary learning that builds upon connections rather than ignoring them thus better aligning education with the world it serves. 11

12 Department of Social Sciences Vietnam AIAD Cadets spent 24 days immersed in Vietnamese culture with other service academy cadets. The West Point delegation to the Tri-Academies 2017 AIAD, explored Vietnam's growing urban centers, river towns, and a variety of indigenous cultures in the mountains. They donated their time and manual labor to a Buddhist orphanage to better understand the country s development. The AIAD's collection of experiences provided opportunities for cadets and midshipmen to find similarities not only across service academies, but also across cultural lines with the Vietnamese. Cadets explore the famous Halong Bay(left). The West Point contingent in front of the Cao Dai Temple (right). MAJ Menn s Conference Presentation Major Menn presented his paper at the Council for European Studies (CES) conference focused on the topics of sustainability and transformation. MAJ Menn s paper, which discussed the benefits of genetically engineered food, was selected as one of four discussed in the panel on food security and agricultural transformation. MAJ Menn was also selected to chair the panel. He attended three other panels which discussed Immigration in the EU, Brexit Implications, and International Norm Dynamics relating to sexuality and the family. MAJ Menn at the Council for European Studies Conference. 12