Nassco Hosts Private Tour

On April 17th, General Dynamics NASSCO provided a private tour for the LAMP and EPSE students. The first hour was spent in a classroom-like setting among NASSCO managers and executives who explained with pride what they do and how they do which opened our eyes about the ship building process. We instantly caught on that safety is number one on everyone’s mind at NASSCO. John Lyle and Art Serpa, the two executives, spoke with passion about the importance of a good work ethic and good management and offered some nuggets. Jeff Bennett and Zach McWaters, both EPSE alums, and Neil Henry, LAMP alum, confessed that EPSE and LAMP did provide them with a broader perspective and ability to fine tune their management skills (which made the gravity recede near Gary Despain and Susie Baranowski).

During the next couple of hours we witnessed one-inch steel plates, tons of them (literally, I guess), where they are shaped, prepped, robotic welded together into units, saw those units being moved by impressive cranes, and saw how a part of the ship is formed when multiple units are stacked in interesting ways and welded together. We saw a completely built ship, Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14), held on numerous wooden posts built with layered blocks and angled tops adjusted to the shape of the hull. We learned that on May 5, 2012, when the ship will be christened, the wooden posts will be gradually lowered by letting the sand out in the posts to initiate the whole ship to be moved – public are welcome to witness that amazing feat. Later we toured the inside of the ship, took the steep stairs up and down to check out the multi-storied engine room with engines made of car-sized multiple cylinders. Visiting the ship’s “cockpit” with impressive navigational electronics where the Captain sits and gives orders, as well as the topmost deck of the ship, was a thrill – the view of the San Diego bay and of Coronado was worth the whole trip.

The tour also took us to a place from where we could see the half-completed first-ever Mobile Landing Platform ship built by NASSCO. This class of ships is built for versatility and customization by the customer. E&L current students and alumni Adrian Heath, Chris Rathbun, Peter Radzicki, Aaron Rockwell, Ronnie Truitt, and Karla Miramontes were our guides – sincere thanks for their enthusiasm and for explaining and showing us “out of ordinary” stuff. Thanks to Sean Prince who rooted for our safety with his safety brief. Parker Larson with his NASSCO 101 brief helped all E&L current students who attended not miss their class after all, and brought back nice memories to E&L alumni who attended – many thanks.

by Madhu Penugonda

LAMP Teambuilding Module 2

The Leadership and Management Program (LAMP) conducted its second session in the field on March 13th. There were four leadership learning objectives: a sense of group identity for the newly formed teams, the importance of trust and communication, the need for rapid and effective decision-making, and the control of emotions under pressure.

After an orientation, review, and warm up, the teams were divided into three groups with 10-12 participants in each group. The groups then went to one of three leadership exercises: Values Carry, The Bridge Is Out, and The Sphinx. After 60 minutes the groups rotated to a new challenge.

The Values Carry exercise challenged the groups to devise a plan to get from a starting point on an elevated platform to a destination point by way of long narrow logs, across gaps between the logs and over a vertical log obstacle. As the groups worked their way along the logs, they were to transport one of their members in a Stokes litter. At no time was anyone or a piece of equipment to touch the ground.

In the Bridge Is Out exercise, the challenge was for the groups to cross a 15-foot gap from an elevated platform to an island of logs. No member or piece of equipment was to touch the ground for longer than three seconds. To cross the gap the group was given a 10-foot board, an 8-foot board, and a number of lengths of rope.

The Sphinx exercise challenged the groups to devise a way of lifting and transporting a member a distance of 10 feet from inside a log enclosure. The groups could only use the lengths of rope they were given and could not place any member inside the log enclosure to assist the member being transported.

The final exercise was the Tower. Each group (equipped with climbing harnesses and helmets) were tied into safety ropes as they climbed up, over, under, and through a three-sided vertical obstacle. The tower consisted of hanging ropes, climbing holds, cargo nets, and small foot ledges. Members climbed totally exposed as they made their way to the final platform 55 feet in the air. The tower exercise was a fine ending for a very exciting and productive day.

by Jim Snell

Click here to view all the photos from the LAMP Teambuilding

EPSE Teambuilding Module 3

On March 5, 2012, the Executive Perspective for Scientists and Engineers (EPSE) class was in the field again. This time they were going after the high ropes course at Camp Stevens in Julian. New teams were formed, and that called for re-establishing a sense of group identity.The challenges in the course also required the teams (when given a situation and task) to organize their thoughts, quickly devise a plan, and execute.New for this last session is that the team members were challenged to identify and regulate their individual emotions under pressure while completing a task 40 to 60 feet in the air.

We started the day with an orientation on the leadership learning objectives and safety. A member of the technical staff gave instructions on the use of the harness and helmet and then, in three groups of two teams each with eight to ten participants, the class moved out to their first challenge. The challenges extended over three areas: two on the lower level and one on the upper level.

All but one of the challenges consisted of ascending poles to a height of 40 to 60 feet. Some challenges included working with another team member which required passing each other while balanced on a horizontal log at a distance of 40 feet. At this point the feeling is the same as being 100 feet in the air! On one particular challenge a team member needed to climb a single pole to a height of 40 feet, stand on the top of the pole with only a 10-inch diameter, and launch into the air to grab a trapeze bar eight feet away. All of the high rope elements are designed to exercise the learning objective of identifying and regulating individual emotions under pressure.

The one challenge that did not include high altitude was the “fulcrum balance bridge.” The exercise concept is simple but very difficult to execute as a team. Each team was challenged to balance over a single balance point (the fulcrum) on an 8- by 10-foot platform by placing the team members on the platform one at a time. Once balance was mastered, the whole team had not only balanced the platform but had performed a task that challenged the stability of the platform. This very simple exercise put into practice the team’s ability to communicate, trust, organize, and execute a plan.

The teams completed a very successful day where the high rope elements provided a tangible and challenging setting to exercise and gain a better understanding and appreciation of the leadership learning objectives.

by Jim Snell

Click here to view all the photos from the EPSE Teambuilding

EPSE/LAMP Alumni listening to Liz and Patty on EQ

The Edge Trends Committee sponsored a free seminar entitled “Emotional Intelligence” on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 7:30 a.m. in the UCSD Extension Classroom. The guest speakers were Liz Young and Patty Hill who are Trainers at Goodrich.

Scott Hazel (LAMP ’11, Goodrich), an Alumni Board Member, was instrumental in convincing the instructors to teach the seminar and coordinating with them on the material and the logistics. The turn-out was fantastic, with 40+ people in attendance.

The attendees learned about the definition of emotional intelligence (EQ), why it is important, how it differs from IQ and personality, and how it is connected in daily life to important outcomes like job performance and personal relationships. One of the most useful parts of the seminar was being able to share our own experiences and learn from others’ experiences in the four quadrants of EQ skills (based on the Goleman model)—self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management.

Overall, it was a captivating seminar and provided us (generally nerdy) scientists and engineers with the tools to enhance our EQ skills regardless of their initial level. One memorable quote is “If you get mad at more than three people in one day, then you’re the problem!”

Kelly Ronk 3/9/12
Photos Courtesy of Gary DeSpain

Images From the Seminar

Event Details

• Thursday, March 8, 2012
• 7:00am Breakfast & Networking
• 7:30am Seminar (lasting until 9:00am or 9:30am)
• Room 115 at the UCSD Extension University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Dr., 92122
• Presented by: Liz Young and Patty Hill from Goodrich
• RSVP by Email to: sbaranowski@ucsd.edu

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

In today’s fast paced world of competitive workplaces and turbulent economic conditions each of us is searching for effective tools that can help us manage, adapt, and strike out ahead of the pack.

Emotional Intelligence is critical to your success, but knowing what Emotional Intelligence isand knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things.

In the book Emotional Intelligence 2.0, authors Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves unveil TalentSmart’s revolutionary program to help people identify and build Emotional Skills into strengths. The book contains proven strategies which are based on a decade long effort to accurately measure and increase one’s Emotional Intelligence.

Building these Emotional Skills into strengths can enable consistent performance in the pursuit of important life objectives both personally and professionally.

Using the Talentsmart’s program, Goodrich Trainers Liz Young and Patty Hill, will:

• Describe what Emotional Intelligence is and why it matters
• Using the Goleman model, introduce the 4 core Emotional Intelligence skills
• Explain the differences between EQ, IQ and personality
• Illustrate the connection between Emotional Intelligence and important outcomes, including job and organizational performance.
• Provide a method for increasing your Emotional Intelligence

UCSD Extension, University City Center

The UCC Location is a NEW location for UCSD Extension!
UC San Diego Extension, University City Center
6256 Greenwich Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 534-9999

Dowload a Printable Map
Google Maps Link

RSVP is Required

Please RSVP at your earliest convenience, RSVP by Email to: sbaranowski@ucsd.edu

We’d love to see you there!

The EdgeTrends Committee of
The Alumni Board of EPSE-LAMP

Firefly Grill & Wine Bar

By: Larry Cook.

On Sunday, January 29, a group of alumni and instructors from EPSE and LAMP met for dinner at Firefly Grill & Wine Bar, in Encinitas.  It provided a great social setting for the group to meet, network, and discuss a wide range of interesting topics.

The food from the restaurant week prix fixe menu, and wine, were excellent.  Those in attendance were Fiona and Stu Black, Joe and Kim Camaratta, Gary and Jan De Spain, Jonathan and Suzanne Hughes, Mary Ann Mariani, Kelly Ronk, Mitch Simon, Diane West, and Larry and Cindy Cook.

Join fellow alumni for the annual Winter Restaurant Week outing for some drinks, outstanding food and great networking.

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Time: Networking 5:30pm, Dinner Seating: 6:00pm
Location: Firefly Grill & Wine Bar in Encinitas
Address: 251 North El Camino Real, Suite B, Encinitas CA 92024
Cost: Fixed $30 menu (per Restaurant Week) (not including drinks, tax & tip)
RSVP: outreach@epselamp.org

Please make sure to RSVP (outreach@epselamp.org) in time so we can reserve a seat for you! Also, if you’d prefer, please inquire in the RSVP about vegetarian options.

Menu

The guest speaker was Dr. Michael Norman who is the Director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC), a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics, and the Director for the Laboratory for Computational Astrophysics at UCSD.

His presentation highlighted how the digital age we’ve entered generates an avalanche of data and how supercomputers can handle all the data. He then went on to describe the capabilities of the new supercomputer named Gordon that SDSC built from scratch using large amounts of flash memory (the first of its kind), the types of scientific breakthroughs that Gordon will enable, and how businesses can access it.

Overall, it was an engaging lecture and exposed thoughts and ideas not normally encountered in our day jobs!

Kelly Ronk
Photos Courtesy of Gary DeSpain

Presented by Dr. Michael Norman, Director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics, and Director for the Laboratory for Computational Astrophysics at UCSD

Lately it seems all we hear about is data – research data, primary data, mashed-up data, raw data, cooked data and more. To address this deluge, the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) is on the verge of deploying a new kind of supercomputer designed specifically to handle the largest data sets science and engineering can muster. The system, aptly named Gordon, will incorporate a vast amount of flash memory for the first time in history.

Backed by a $20M grant by the National Science Foundation, Gordon is dedicated to solving critical science and societal problems now overwhelmed by the avalanche of data generated by the digital devices of our era. In this lecture, Dr. Michael Norman, Director of SDSC, will describe the characteristics of Gordon, what motivates its design, and the potential scientific breakthroughs it will enable. His presentation will also illustrate how businesses can access Gordon and the know-how behind it related to the community’s needs.

Event Details

• Thursday, November 10, 2011
• 7:30-8am Networking and Continental Breakfast
• 8:00-9am Presentation
• Room 115 at the UCSD Extension; University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Dr., 92122 (Directions/Map below)
• RSVP by Email to: sbaranowski@ucsd.edu

About the Speaker

Dr. Norman is currently the Principal Investigator of the $20M Gordon data-intensive supercomputer project. Dr. Norman received his B.S. from Caltech in 1975, and his Ph. D. from UC Davis in 1980. He joined the faculty at UC San Diego in 2000. This was after holding appointments at the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories, the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at University of Illinois where he was also Professor of Astronomy. His research focus is the computer simulation of astronomical phenomena using supercomputers.

Dr. Norman is the author of over 250 papers on diverse topics including star formation, cosmic jets and cosmological evolution. His lab pioneered the concept of community application software for astrophysical and cosmological simulations through the widely used ZEUS and ENZO codes. His computer visualizations have appeared in numerous educational TV shows and films, including PBS Nova and The Discovery Channel. He is the recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Research Prize and the IEEE Sidney Fernbach Award. He was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2001, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005.

UCSD Extension, University City Center

The UCC Location is a NEW location for UCSD Extension!
UC San Diego Extension, University City Center
6256 Greenwich Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 534-9999

Dowload a Printable Map
Google Maps Link

RSVP is Required

Please RSVP at your earliest convenience, RSVP by Email to: sbaranowski@ucsd.edu

We’d love to see you there!

The EdgeTrends Committee of
The Alumni Board of EPSE-LAMP

Record Turnout

There were many highlights of the evening, but one in particular was the fact that this was the largest graduation ceremony to date with over 230 RSVPs, including over 30+ alumni in attendance to not only congratulate the graduating classes, but to take part in the networking that being an alum has to offer.

The evening began with a Cocktail and Social Hour on the outdoor patio before moving into the  Pavilion Ballroom.  Guests were treated to a selection of 3 different main entrees (also a first for the ceremonies) and a chocolate mousse cake dessert to die for. A custom video slide show was  shown during dessert to highlight the year in pictures.

Gary De Spain then kicked off the formal program of the evening by recognizing that Susie Baranowski is celebrating her 10 year anniversary with EPSE & LAMP.  A few more awards and recognitions were presented and were followed by the keynote speaker:

• Keynote Speaker: Joe Giesemann, GM, Teledyne Receiver & Filter Products
• LAMP (TUE) Class Speaker: Hongwei Xu
• LAMP (WED) Class Speaker: Yuan Qi
• EPSE Class Speaker: Beki Johnston

The formal graduation ceremonies commenced with each graduating member receiving his/her certificate/diploma.  The event was concluded with each class taking their group pictures.  Each member received a DVD copy of the video slide show, class material and a departing gift!

An extra thanks to Susie Baranowski for her extensive work in making the Graduation Ceremony happen.  Event Planning, Music, Emcee, Lighting and A/V services were also provided by Blake Miller of Pro Motion Entertainment who is also a 2003 EPSE graduate.

Pictures

Sample pictures in slideshow below, to see all pictures visit the EPSE-LAMP Flickr page.
Photography services by Innovative Video & Photo (IVP) Studios.

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See the entire set of pictures here!

See The Video Slide Show

Of over 1,000 pictures taken during the year, a few hundred were narrowed down to make Video Slide Show that was shown during the ceremony.  A copy was also given to each graduate.

The slide show was created and produced by Blake, EPSE’03 Graduate and of Pro Motion Entertainment

Best By Far!

Overall, the 2011 Graduation Ceremony was the biggest and best to date, by far.