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Crossing the Boundaries

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Pioneering QuakeFinder Contributor Bortnik Receives AGU Medal

Dr. Jacob Bortnik, who served as one of QuakeFinder’s committed scientific researchers for many years, recently received a significant recognition from the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Bortnik was selected as a winner of the 2021 Joanne Simpson Medal, AGU’s highest award for mid-career scientists. The humanitarian R&D project QuakeFinder was formed in 2000 by Stellar Solutions with the mission to save lives by forecasting earthquakes.

Bortnik received this honor as part of the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2021.  Bortnik is Professor of Space Physics in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of California at Los Angeles. His research group focuses on space weather in the Earth’s near-space environment.

Image Credit: AGU

According to the AGU, “This medal is named in honor of Joanne Simpson, who was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in meteorology and during her career made fundamental contributions to modern research on tropical clouds and hurricanes. The medal recognizes exceptional mid-career scientists who have made transformative scientific advances or breakthrough in the Earth and space sciences, have demonstrated strong leadership, and provided outstanding service to science and society.”

The award citation reads, in part: “Jacob Bortnik is a recognized leader in nonlinear plasma wave interactions with charged particles in Earth’s radiation belts (the Van Allen belts). Relativistic electrons and energetic protons there can damage satellites, disrupting telecommunications and other services we have come to depend upon, and can endanger astronauts. Radiation belt fluxes are highly variable due to changes in the solar wind, which powers them. Understanding the physics of this variability to build accurate predictive models of ‘space weather’ is a major goal of space science … Bortnik has made some of the most significant advances in our understanding of such interactions, using theory, modeling, observations, laboratory and computer simulations, and machine learning … His collaborative spirit and transformational research on wave-particle interactions have made an indelible mark in space science.”

The Stellar Solutions and QuakeFinder teams extend sincere congratulations to Dr. Jacob Bortnik for this momentous achievement. More information about this award and Bortnik’s research can be found at the following links:

Stellar Solutions Wins NASA 2020 Small Business Industry Award

Global aerospace engineering services leader honored for contribution to NASA Headquarters achievements

Stellar Solutions, the global aerospace engineering company, has won a NASA 2020 Small Business Industry Award in the category of the Center-Level Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year.

The award recognizes Stellar Solutions’ work at NASA Headquarters to support the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate’s Human Landing System (HLS) acquisition and Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative. To accomplish this, Stellar Solutions called upon its technical experts from its areas of specialty – Civil, Defense, Commercial, Intel and International – from across the company and around the world.

In particular, Stellar Solutions drove strategic analysis and acquisition strategies to support NASA’s “Moon to Mars” mission, a sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to send humans farther into space and bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities. One recent high-profile project in this mission was the HLS “Appendix N” awards to Blue Origin, Dynetics, Lockheed Martin, Northup Grumman, and SpaceX for Lunar Lander prototyping and risk reduction.

“Stellar Solutions is proud to bring to bear our expertise across the organization to support NASA’s partnerships among private and public entities. We are honored to support an historic period of space exploration by managing the many vendors who are developing the technology of the future to align with NASA’s architectural standards and continuity,” said Walter Eilers, Vice President, Civil Programs, Stellar Solutions.

Stellar Solutions helped devise the solicitation and acquisition mechanism in NASA’s NextSTEP partnership model to achieve these strategies. NextSTEP is a procurement program enabling NASA to partner with the industry to develop capabilities that meet NASA human space exploration objectives while also supporting industry commercialization plans.

Stellar Solutions’ recognition is the culmination of ten years in support of NASA Headquarters’ mission, including the last three-plus years as a prime contractor.

The company was recognized for providing invaluable solutions in an extremely challenging year complicated by the global pandemic.

As the Stellar Solutions recommendation by NASA read, “Rest assured the first woman and the next man on the moon will owe a piece of their achievement through the hard work and due diligence provided by Stellar Solutions’ involvement and management of the Human Landing System. Through adversity and an advanced schedule, Stellar Solutions assisted in the management of multiple vendors who are developing the technology of the future. Without their steadfast assistance and attention to detail monitoring schedules, delays and other vendor issues, the future may have remained earthbound.”

About the NASA Small Business Awards and Achievement: The NASA Office of Small Business Programs recognizes civil servant and industry achievement in, and in support of, the Agency’s Small Business Program each fiscal year. Annually, OSBP issues a call for nominations for the current Fiscal Year for the Small Business Advocates Awards (SBAA) and Small Business Industry Awards (SBIA) programs from the first Monday in August through mid-October. Individuals and/or teams (SBAA) and companies (SBIA) must be nominated by a NASA civil servant through the NASA Vendor Database in order to be eligible for an award. Self-nominations are not accepted. https://osbp.nasa.gov/award.html

About Stellar Solutions, Inc.: Stellar Solutions is a global aerospace and systems engineering services provider to commercial, defense, intelligence, civil and international sectors. Stellar Solutions provides rapid-response capabilities related to global surveillance and cyber-security, space exploration, risk management, and technology optimization. These solutions to clients’ critical needs involve satellites in space, sensors on Earth, and intricate technology connections across multiple frontiers. With physical operations in California, Colorado, the greater Washington DC area, London and France as well as employees throughout the U.S. and the globe, Stellar Solutions has become a recognized leader in delivering end-to-end critical expertise and problem-solving skills to dozens of significant programs. Stellar Solutions Foundation supports employees’ community engagement. QuakeFinder, Stellar Solutions’ humanitarian R&D division, pursues earthquake prediction models. http://www.stellarsolutions.com

Janet Grondin, Stellar Solutions VP of Intelligence Programs on “Crossing Boundaries” (SMC-IT 2021)

Janet Grondin, Stellar Solutions VP of Intelligence Programs, delivered a keynote presentation at the 8th IEEE International Conference on Space Mission Challenges for Information Technology (SMC-IT 2021) on July 27. Her talk on “Crossing Boundaries” related an element of Stellar Solutions’ culture to envisioning future space IT solutions.  She described 4 strategies to cross program, sector, and customer boundaries to accelerate problem solving, innovate, and deliver systems.

Stellar Solutions’ Laura Pope to receive AFCEA Leadership Award

Air Force veteran and systems engineering expert to receive lifetime achievement award for professional performance and philanthropic contributions

Palo Alto, CA, August 5 – Laura Pope, Senior Systems Engineer at Stellar Solutions, the global aerospace engineering services company, has been selected to receive the AFCEA Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions to the education and career opportunities for its members and the broader community. This is the culmination and pinnacle of Association honors for Pope who previously earned the AFCEA Meritorious Service Award in 2011, the AFCEA Medal of Merit in 2015, and the AFCEA Women’s Appreciation Award for 2020.

The Awards Reception and Dinner is scheduled for October at the Baltimore Convention Center.

“Laura Pope is an exceptional leader inspiring fellow veterans and the next generation to pursue career opportunities in space, science and engineering.  She is a model of professional accomplishment and service for our industry and our nation,” said Stellar Solutions CEO Michael Lencioni. 

In congratulating Pope, Lieutenant General Robert M. Shea, USMC Retired, President and CEO of AFCEA International, said, “You are part of an elite field of nominees and epitomize the qualities of a true leader. You have set an enviable example of leadership for others in AFCEA, and throughout the IT community, to emulate.”

Pope is a strategic executive serving three of Stellar Solutions’ five sectors – defense, intelligence and civil – with a current focus on supporting the U.S. Space Force and NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.  Before joining Stellar Solutions, Pope, a highly decorated military officer, retired from the US Air Force (USAF) after a distinguished 21-year career. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University and a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.

Throughout the 13 years she has been a member of AFCEA, including 12 as a member of the Board of Directors, Pope has been a passionate advocate of philanthropic and educational initiatives to advance STEM training and benefit military and civil service members and their families.  As Vice President of STEM, Pope regularly supports fundraising events and initiatives such as “Cycle for STEM,” the GPS Partnership Council, and Space Industry Days.  She has led initiatives to fund STEM teacher grants and STEM-related scholarships as well as scholarships for local Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets at seven universities.  She helped establish, and annually reviews candidates for, an AFCEA-LA-named, endowed perpetual El Camino Community College STEM scholarship as well.  During her tenure on the AFCEA-LA Board, she has increased STEM Philanthropy activity by 373%, enabling the AFCEA-LA Chapter to donate over $50,000 per year to the community for STEM education, support and outreach. 

While on active duty in the USAF, Pope served in a variety of roles, including Assistant Chief Scientist for a Space Shuttle laser experiment and program manager for the Global Positioning System (GPS) ground system, where she was nominated for Aviation Week’s 2008 national Laureate award.   She is currently the President of Pope Technical Pursuits, LLC, a woman/veteran-owned small business which provides technology and operational consulting for the semiconductor and electro-optic industry. Pope also serves as advisor to the Honorable Ted Lieu, Congressional Representative for California, to evaluate US military academy candidates, is the Executive Vice President for the Air Force Association (AFA) Chapter #147 Board of Directors, and a member of Women in AFCEA, Women of NASA (WON), American institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  

“This is a great honor, that I will accept on behalf of our community of military and civil service members, industry members and their families,” Pope said. “I am grateful for the support and sponsorship that Stellar Solutions has always provided to further AFCEA goals, because Stellar shares many of the same goals, with a key tenet of serving its customers’ critical needs while its employees pursue their dream jobs.”

AFCEA provides a forum for military, government and industry communities to collaborate so that technology and strategy align with the needs of those who serve. A professional association for those engaged in defense, security and all related technology disciplines, its membership comprises military, government, industry and academic organizations and individuals worldwide.

About Stellar Solutions, Inc.  Stellar Solutions is a global aerospace and systems engineering services provider to commercial, defense, intelligence, civil and international sectors.  Stellar Solutions provides rapid-response capabilities related to global surveillance and cyber-security, space exploration, risk management, and technology optimization. These solutions to clients’ critical needs involve satellites in space, sensors on Earth, and intricate technology connections across multiple frontiers. With physical operations in California, Colorado, the greater Washington DC area, London and France as well as employees throughout the U.S. and the globe, Stellar Solutions has become a recognized leader in delivering end-to-end critical expertise and problem-solving skills to dozens of significant programs. Stellar Solutions Foundation supports employees’ community engagement. QuakeFinder, Stellar Solutions’ humanitarian R&D division, pursues earthquake prediction models. www.stellarsolutions.com