Bob Goldblum
Associate Editor
It was heartening and reassuring to meet so many of EMCS members at the recent Symposium in Denver who expressed their appreciation of the DoD activities article which appears in the EMCS Newsletter. There is certainly a great deal of focus on the commercial aspects of EMC dealing with computer products, EU and FCC requirements, including accreditation. However, there is still a significant percentage of our membership who deal with military procurements and equipment which must operate in military environments. I wish to express my thanks to all those who expressed their appreciation for this column.
The major activities occurring within DoD E3 circles at the present time deal with personnel rather than standards activities. Mr. Stephen Caine, Director, Plans & Programs for the Joint Spectrum Center, has retired. Mr. Caine has been the driver and creator of many major EMC programs including the current activities to revise MIL-STD- 461/462, the development of the Defense/Industry EMC Committee, and the sponsorship of many other programs both within the Department of Defense and NATO. He has sponsored the JSC E3 Bulletin for many years and initiated the annual DoD E3 Program Review and Conference. It is surely hoped that the retirement of Mr. Caine will not signify the end of these progressive programs, as well as others which are still on the drawing board. Mr. William Lenzi will assume the responsibilities as the head of the JSC E3 Division. The position for Director, Plans & Programs will be filled later this year. We all wish Mr. Caine success in his retirement and hope that somehow his legacy will be continued.
At the same time, Mr. Anthony Iacono has resigned as the Branch Head for NAVAIR’s EMC organization. Mr. Iacono has spent nearly his entire career in avionics EMC matters. He has been an avid supporter of both the NVLAP accreditation and the NARTE certification programs for EMC personnel. He has also sponsored many other avionics-related programs both in conjunction with the Air Force and with NATO. As anticipated, Mr. Iacono will be replaced by Mr. Matthew Grenis.
Mr. David Cofield has retired recently from the Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Mr. Cofield was a member of the MIL-STD-461 Committee and a significant resource in the Army’s EMC community. Additionally, Mr. Dennis Baseley, who formerly headed the EMC organization for the Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, has transferred to another organization. Mr. Baseley also was very active in the MIL-STD-461/462 revision process, as well as many EMC activities conducted by the Air Force. Approximately two months ago, Mr. Jerry Hodges, Technical Director of the Joint Spectrum Center, retired from Government service.
These and other personnel changes within the DoD E3 community could have a major impact, depending upon the effectiveness of their replacements. Although we often blame the lack of programs due to funding, it is the personnel in charge who aggressively seek the funding appropriations for EMC programs. Thus, the replacement personnel have major challenges ahead while the DoD EMC community stands by and watches.
In spite of these personnel changes, ongoing activities continue. The MIL-STD-461E draft is being electronically circulated to review organizations within the DoD and industry for comment and review. Formal publication of the document, at which point it will be applicable on all new procurements, is expected to occur early in 1999.
To keep updated on Government activities, interested parties may subscribe to the JSC E3 Bulletin. Applications can be found on www.RBitem.com.