As households begin to recover from the recent record-breaking low temperatures, compounded by heavy snow, freezing rain, and increases in utility costs, Oklahomans are navigating their way back to some daily routines. Aeronautical Center employees have been hard at work, developing virtual workarounds for common business tasks. The time period we are living in represents a huge growth opportunity for us and many other industries. In-person events may no longer dominate our business environment, as employees have shown that important content can be consumed through a variety of methods.
In February we were so pleased to have nearly 1,000 employees attend our second virtual Aeronautical Center-wide Town Hall Meeting. We are grateful for FAA Administrator Steve Dickson having taken time from his schedule to share a video message with us; as well as messages from Lana Hurdle, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget & Programs at the Department of Transportation, Dr. Susan Northrup, FAA Flight Surgeon and other special guests and stakeholders. Using the Mentimeter application, we received a lot of good feedback that we can use in developing our future Town Halls. We plan to host another Town Hall meeting this fall.
We recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Choctaw Nation that will enable the Center and Choctaw Nation to collaborate on various issues related to Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) such as human factors, supply chain management, air traffic control, and more. The idea is to connect resources to promote innovative thinking around the mission tasks being performed today, and how these will need to change going forward. The Choctaw Nation is the only tribal government selected by the U. S. Department of Transportation to participate in the Unmanned Aerial System Integration Pilot Program. It is one of 9 active pilot sites in the United States that were selected to work in collaboration with the FAA and industry to conduct advanced UAS operations.
We intend to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue a career in aerospace, while simultaneously creating a consistent pipeline of professionals to further develop a robust aerospace workforce. Just recently, we were proud to recognize the son of an Aeronautical Center employee who earned First Place in an international competition with the FAA’s Airport Design Challenge. It is exciting to see what he developed and his execution of such complex components.
In 2021, the Aeronautical Center has reached a major milestone in achieving our 75th Anniversary. Be sure to read about some of the Center’s intriguing stories each month, as we dust off some information from our archives. If health conditions permit, we’re hoping to plan some type of official in-person ceremony this fall. In the meantime, be on the lookout for some fun periodic activities that commemorate our Anniversary.
In February, we were also proud to recognize Black History Month and hope that you were able to attend the virtual program hosted by the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees, as well as read the weekly tributes we paid to some of our employees. Our goal is to recognize our Black Americans and the prolific contributions and influence that they have provided toward our country’s advancement.
In addition, we recognized Engineering Week, a time dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by drawing our attention to the field of engineering and other technological careers. With a large population of the Center’s workforce being engineers, we pause to marvel at the way engineering has shaped our lives while anticipating the next big innovations.
Thank you again for being one of the most engaged and generous groups of federal employees in the country! Exceeding our 2020 Combined Federal Campaign goal of $230,000 was no easy feat, but you managed to do it. We continue to set the example among other federal agencies when it comes to giving. Thank you for your willingness to make a difference.
As a reminder, all Aeronautical Center employees must wear face masks in any common areas or shared workspaces, this also includes outdoor shared spaces when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Please visit the CDC website for more information.
Stay safe,
Michelle Coppedge
Director, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
