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07.05.2023 • Story by: Lira Frye, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Sofia Sadowski traveled nearly 7,000 miles to spend a week at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Space Camp. The 9-year-old, whose parents reside at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, is one of 20 9- to 11-year-old students who trained like an astronaut, July 2-7, thanks to Space Camp scholarships.
Sofia had a hard time naming her favorite part of the camp.
“I liked building rockets and doing cool simulators,” she said. “I also got to do some experiments like making slime.”
But the best part she said, was the 1/6th gravity chair where campers got to feel what it is like to walk on the moon.
The scholarships, awarded by the Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association and the Air Defense Artillery Association, gave the awardees an opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership skills while applying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
During a lunch on July 5, the students had a chance to hear from Redstone Arsenal and community leaders as well as ASMDA and ADAA members.
“Each one of you has the potential to be tomorrow’s heroes,” said Dr. Steve Pierce, chief technology officer, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “Each one of you here has the potential to make an impact on this world, and an impact outside of this world, possibly in space. Look at those things where you can make a positive impact.
“Maybe you don’t want to go into space or missile defense; maybe you don’t want to be an engineer; but start thinking about your dream and what you want to be,” he said. “And don’t ever let anyone tell you that your dream can’t be a reality.”
Since 1996, ASMDA has awarded scholarships to children of a parent or guardian, either military or government civilian, assigned to the USASMDC; Program Executive Office Missiles and Space; Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; Aviation and Missile Command; Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center; Missile and Space Intelligence Center; NASA Marshall Space Flight Center; Missile Defense Agency; Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or the Cross Functional Teams for Assured Position, Navigation and Timing and Air and Missile Defense.
This year’s campers, who are from Alabama, Alaska, Colorado and Kwajalein Atoll, are Kyrsten Adams, Noah Allan, Zayden Azarraga, William Bryant, Ezekiel Cardillo, Calia Cummings, Abigail Flanary, Jonah Johnson, London Johnson, Autumn Lee, Asher Leman, Rylan Miller, Braden Morris, Brailynn Muntean, Sofia Sadowski, Abby Smallwood, Amelia Tucker, Jason Wilson, Adrion Winkler, and Colson Young.
USASMDC and community leaders congratulated the students on receiving the scholarships and encouraged them to reach for their dreams.
“Think about what you could do,” said Richard De Fatta, USASMDC deputy to the commander. “You could go into a military service to become an astronaut, a mission specialist. There are a lot of paths you could take to get into a space-related field.”
During the week, campers stayed busy with a rocket construction and launch, water activities, a simulated lunar mission, riding the 1/6th gravity chair and the Multi-Axis Trainer, and visiting the USSRC Planetarium.
“I enjoyed the simulators, especially the g-force simulator,” said Noah Allen, 9, who hails from Huntsville.
“It’s a little scary at first,” he said. “But you’ve got to make friends so you can feel like you’re not alone. It’s been fun, and I’d want to come back again.”
Sofia agreed. “It’s fun and you have to pay attention a lot,” she said. “You have to be positive and just have fun.”
The students were selected for the scholarship based on an essay, school grades, interest in science and space, and financial need. The scholarship covers one week at Space Camp, travel, a flight suit, clothing package, a calling card and spending money.
The Air, Space and Missile Defense Association is offering 16 scholarships for selected children to attend a weeklong Space Camp from July 2-7 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
These scholarships are open to any military or civilian children, ages 9-11, of a parent or guardian assigned to Space and Missile Defense Command; Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space; Aviation and Missile Command; Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center; Missile and Space Intelligence Center; NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; Missile Defense Agency; Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, and the Combined Functional Teams for Assured Position, Navigation and Timing and Air and Missile Defense as well as contractors working for one of these organizations and also to corporate members of ASMDA.
“We are very excited about the opportunity we are offering our military and employees of the ASMDA community,” Marcia Holmes, ASMDA president, said. “The ability to provide this wonderful experience to young children who probably would not otherwise have an opportunity to attend is very rewarding.”
The ASMDA scholarship includes one week at Space Camp, roundtrip airfare (if required), and a Space Camp flight suit.
As the timeline for receiving applications and awarding the scholarships is tight, ASMDA will not accept applications after the May 1 deadline.
Immediately following selection and acceptance, ASMDA will turn over the selected names to Space Camp who will send an information packet and begin making flight reservations, if applicable. Once selected by ASMDA, winners will be required to provide an attendance application, including a camp physical, to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Scholarship application forms are available at asmda.org.
Redstone Rocket - By JASON CUTSHAW Space and Missile Defense Command Public Affairs •
Space and Missile Defense Command and other Redstone members were recognized and honored for their commitment to national defense.
The Air, Space and Missile Defense Association presented achievement and service excellence awards to local government and contractor employees in recognition of their achievements in the development, test, and deployment of air, space, and missile defense systems during the ASMDA annual membership luncheon Thursday.
“I want to thank the ASMDA board for everything you do for our community,” Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, SMDC commander, said. “When you look at the awards that were presented, it’s just a microcosm of the integration and coordination between ASMDA, SMDC and all the other players in the Huntsville community that have space or missile defense in mission areas and today was an opportunity to recognize that.”
ASMDA was formed in 1995 in Huntsville as a nonprofit, nonpolitical educational and scientific organization.
Kathleen Smallwood, ASMDA committee chair, said that for the past 28 years, ASMDA has supported community events for veterans, presenting space and missile defense technical achievement and service excellence awards, providing scholarships for science, technology, engineering and math students, as well as, Space Camp scholarships, and exposing students to opportunities on Redstone Arsenal through Adventures in Engineering, all to enhance the workforce and help foster education for the next generation of youth.
“Our board and organization is formed by members of the community we serve, so we have a unique understanding of the hard work and amazing accomplishments happening around us daily,” Smallwood said. “ASMDA strives to foster communications and relationships between local government and industry activities responsible for air, space and missile defense and provide an organization that both benefit the industry professional and promote community civic interests and goals.
“An integral part of what we do is taking the time to help our community recognize the outstanding achievements of their members that share the same passion.”
During the luncheon, ASMDA presented 14 awards to Redstone members.
Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Individual Category were presented to NASA’s Gregory Jerman; Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office’s Ben Schmid; U.S. Army Futures Command’s Chief Warrant Officer 5 John Fallin; SMDC’s Mark Rader; and Missile Defense Agency’s Delphine Dal Cengio.
“Most of the work I have done is really a reflection of a team effort. I just point the pack in the direction we need to travel,” Rader said. “Being recognized by ASMDA means other people and organizations, not just in my professional area of expertise, find a value in the work I and my multi-organization team do to help the warfighter both in the areas of missile defense and in the protection of the warfighter from improvised threats.
“While I am getting the award, the work I have led reflects more on a multi-organization, multi-service team effort building on skills from industrial partners and labs. It takes a multi-disciplinary team with very little ego to build a truly capable weapons technology. We can’t afford white knights in this game. I’m a reasonably bright person, but I miss things. By bringing together a team of other bright people they fill in the holes the others miss.”
Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Team Category were presented to MDA’s Project Convergence 22 Team; and Nanosat Testbed Initiative Technology Maturation Team.
A Technical Achievement Award in the Contractor Individual Category was presented to RCCTO’s Les Daniel.
Service Excellence Awards in the Government Individual Category were presented to MDA’s Michelle Stallings, David Denhard and Shane Rose.
A Service Excellence Award in the Contractor Individual Category was presented to RCCTO’s Tom Nguyen.
Service Excellence Awards in the Team Category were presented to MDA’s Flight Test THAAD Weapon System-21 Team; and SMDC Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence’s Missile Defense Training Division Sensor Management and Ground-based Midcourse Defense Training Team.
“This prestigious Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association award recognizes the outstanding work being accomplished by the Space and Missile Defense School each and every day,” Timothy Bishop, SMDCoE director, said. “The fine people comprising the missile defense training team are exceptional at their jobs. Nothing of consequence will occur if you do not have great people leading the way. I greatly appreciate both our superb team, as well as ASMDA taking the opportunity to recognize this team’s great work.”
Awarded sixteen scholarships for 9-11 years old to attend Space Camp in July at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This year’s class received the “Outstanding Team” award and made a patch with all the awardees’ names.
Co-sponsored (with NDIA and ADA) the 21st Space and Missile Defense Symposium, Huntsville, Alabama, 9-11 August 2022.
Provided over $2,500 during 2022 to support community veteran efforts to include Gold Star Shadow Boxes, Huntsville’s Veterans Day Parade band participation, and Wreaths for Veterans.
Awarded $25,000 in College Scholarships:
Awarded four $6,250 academic scholarships from the ASMDA “Loretta Spencer” College and University Scholarship program on 9 August 2022 as part of the Space and Missile Defense Symposium.
Presented Space and Missile Defense Technical Achievement and Service Excellence Awards for both Government and contractor employees in recognition of exceptional achievement in the development, test, and deployment of air, space, and missile defense systems during the 2022 ASMDA Annual Membership Luncheon.
Named individuals to the Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilians Wall of Honor located in the Davidson Center at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Co-sponsored (with NDIA and ADA) the 21st Space and Missile Defense Symposium, Huntsville, Alabama, 9-11 August 2022.
Provided over $2,500 during 2022 to support community veteran efforts to include Gold Star Shadow Boxes, Huntsville’s Veterans Day Parade band participation, and Wreaths for Veterans.
By AYUMI DAVIS Space and Missile Defense Command Public Affairs -
Members of the Space and Missile Defense Command received awards recognizing their work during the Air, Space and Missile Defense Association 27th annual membership luncheon May 13.
ASMDA presented achievement and service excellence awards in the air, space and missile defense fields to not only SMDC members, but other local government and contractor employees as well.
Jimmy Jenkins, the new ASMDA president, thanked those who attended.
Awarded twelve scholarships for 9-11 years old to attend Space Camp in July at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Due to COVID restrictions last year, children for Alaska or Kwajalein were not eligible so winners from those locations were presented with Space Camp backpacks and other gear. We expect a full class of 16 for this year to include children from Alaska and Kwajalein.
Every year ASMDA sponsors SMDC’s participation in the Best Warrior Competition, honoring the winners in the Soldier and NCO categories. To do this, ASMDA provides each winner with a gift certificate for a set of Army Blues.
“I am reaching out to sincerely thank you for the generous gift. I am appreciative of the opportunity I had to travel to Colorado to compete in the SMDC competition.
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