American Readiness: Technological Innovation in Energy and Fuel

The federal government has been on a drive to economize on energy since Middle East oil embargoes of the 1970s. In more recent times, policies to reduce greenho...

 

Federal News Radio convened a panel of people familiar with and expert in military energy issues, to discuss programs yielding measurable results and the technologies enabling them. Panelists were:

  • The Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment
  • Mark Correll, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure
  • Roberto Guerrero, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy
  • Joseph Bryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy
  • Carey A. Smith, president of the Defense and Space strategic business unit of Honeywell Aerospace.

Hammack described the Army’s emphasis on energy security. It, along with every military branch, is using energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) to build generating capacity and micro electrical grids at several large bases. Those, coupled with improvements to buildings, produce freedom from reliance on the existing commercial grid, cost reductions, and cuts in greenhouse gases. Correll described how similar measures are producing savings at a large aircraft maintenance and repair facility.

Guerrero discussed how a combination of new fuels, flight management controls, and retrofitted engines is cutting his $7.5 billion annual fuel tab. The Air Force is flying 7 percent less, but using 12 percent less jet fuel.

Bryan echoed the others in describing how the Navy is using ESPCs and other measures at its base locations. Plus it’s revving up use of alternative fuels and applying hybrid-electric technologies in surface ships.

Smith noted the many supplies and technologies Honeywell produces and is in fact supplying now to the Defense Department. For instance, traditional thermostats have given way to comprehensive indoor energy management systems. It makes highly-efficient aircraft turbine and ground vehicle diesel engines. It also produces avionics that include flight management systems designed to shorten routes and save fuels.

 

Moderator

Federal Drive host Tom Temin

Tom Temin, Federal News Radio

Tom Temin has been the host of the Federal Drive since 2006. Tom has been reporting on and providing insight to technology markets for more than 30 years.  Prior to joining Federal News Radio, Tom was a long-serving editor-in-chief of Government Computer News and Washington Technology magazines. Tom also contributes a regular column on government information technology.

 

Panelists

Hammack, KatherineThe Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment

The Honorable Katherine Hammack was appointed the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment (ASA IE&E) by President Obama 28 June 2010. She is the primary advisor to the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army on all Army matters related to Installation policy, oversight, and coordination of energy security and management.

She is responsible for policy and oversight of sustainability and environmental initiatives; resource management, including design, military construction, operations, and maintenance; base realignment and closure (BRAC); privatization of Army family housing, lodging, real estate, and utilities; and the Army’s installations safety and occupational health programs. Among her many accomplishments are the establishment of the Army’s Net Zero program, and the creation of the Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI), which is working to streamline large-scale renewable energy projects to achieve 1GW of renewable energy by 2025.

 

Mark CorrellMark Correll, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure

Mark A. Correll, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.  He provides executive leadership on all matters pertaining to formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs, and budgets for Air Force built and natural infrastructure, environmental, safety and occupational health programs.  These include facility management, military construction, family housing, as well as acquisition, operation, maintenance, repair and disposal of real property, environmental compliance and restoration, ground safety, and workplace health.

 

Official Air Force Image: Rank 1St Last & Image type

Robert Guerrero, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy

Mr. Roberto I. Guerrero, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, Washington, D.C. Mr. Guerrero is responsible for providing oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, and execution of plans, policies, and programs for the effective and efficient use of the Air Force’s $7.4B operational energy bill in support of its global  mission.

 

Joe BryanJoseph Bryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Navy for Energy

Joseph M. Bryan was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy in November 2014. Mr. Bryan serves as the Secretariat focal point on all matters pertaining to the Department of Navy’s energy initiatives.

Mr. Bryan joined the Department of the Navy from the United States Senate where he served in several professional staff roles. Most recently, Mr. Bryan was the Investigations Team Lead for the Committee on Armed Services. During his tenure, the committee completed investigations into cyber intrusions affecting U.S. Transportation Command contractors, U.S. costs and allied contributions to support the U.S. military presence overseas, the presence of counterfeit electronic parts in the military supply chain, the use of private security contractors in Afghanistan, and the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody.

 

Carey-Smith2Carey A. Smith, President of the Defense and Space strategic business unit, Honeywell Aerospace

Carey A. Smith is President of the Defense & Space strategic business unit of Honeywell Aerospace, which provides a wide range of engineering, products and logistical services to the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, government agencies, international ministries of defense, and defense contractors worldwide.  In this role, she has led the organization in strong international growth, acquisitions and improved performance execution.

With over 30 years in the aerospace & defense industry, Smith has a background in operations, program and engineering management, new business development, strategic planning, systems engineering and advanced technology. From September 2011, Smith was the President of Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc. (HTSI), a business that provides space, security, logistics, and health solutions. During this time, HTSI achieved record profit margins, global expansion and diversification, and industry leading win rates and performance while reducing cost.

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