What's New at NBC?

National Business Center Aviation Management Directorate and U.S. Forest Service Sign First-Ever Joint Authorization Letter for Use of Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT)

Pat Norbury, National Aviation Operations Officer, USFS Aviation Management and Mark Bathrick, Associate Director NBC Aviation Management sign VLAT authorization

WASHINGTON - Since 1958, the interagency aerial firefighting community has experienced a pattern of mishaps, resulting in 136 Large Air Tanker fatalities and periodic in-flight structural failures. This has resulted in significant human, financial, equipment, and credibility cost to the interagency fire aviation community over many decades.

As part of a concerted interagency effort to break this chain and improve the safety of aerial firefighting, in the summer of 2008 the National Business Center (NBC) Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) embarked on a groundbreaking tri-agency partnership with NASA to bring a new science-based approach to the suitability assessment of aerial firefighting aircraft. The subject of this effort was a new class of air tanker, the Very Large Air Tanker. Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT) are defined as air tankers over 255,000 lbs certificated gross take off weight and able to carry in excess of 11,000 gallons of fire retardant. Former passenger/cargo aircraft like B-747’s and DC-10’s are included in this category.

To read full Trade Release, visit our Press Page at: http://www.nbc.gov/press
(June 2009)

DOI University Presents the SES Forum Series Featuring Mark Shields

From l to r: Mark Shields; Lynn McPheeters; Dr. Jason Fichtner, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration

DOI University hosted a witty, enlightening, and highly entertaining Senior Executive Service Forum Series event featuring political columnist and commentator Mark Shields.  This final event in the series was held in the Amphitheater of the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center on June 16, 2009.  Doug Bourgeois, the NBC Director, introduced Mr. Shields to an audience of over 300 senior executives from a cross section of federal Departments and agencies.  DOIU was honored to have Dr. Jason Fichtner, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and James Van Laak, Deputy Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration in the audience.  Mr. Shields shared his impressions of past and current leaders against the backdrop of American politics and stressed the crucial role that optimism and confidence plays in a leader’s effectiveness and success.  

The SES Forum Series features award winning authors, renowned speakers, and recognized business leaders who present on a variety of leadership topics that relate to OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications.  Executives have an opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with the speakers and to network with other federal executives during the event. In addition, each attendee receives a copy of the featured book.  The 2010 SES Forum Series will be announced in early fall and agencies can purchase subscriptions through DOI University.
(June 2009)

NBC Pursues Convergence of Cloud Computing
and Shared Services

The National Business Center (NBC) is a Federal leader in the delivery of business management services such as payroll, financial management, contract management, and information technology for other Federal agencies.  Doug Bourgeois, NBC Director, recently participated in an interview with the NY Times on cloud computing.  Mr. Bourgeois is leading the NBC to bring the benefits of cloud computing to both NBC's business services clients and data center hosting clients alike through advancements to the highly efficient NBC shared infrastructure.  To read Mr. Bourgeois' comments and the full article, visit the NY Times website at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/technology/business-computing/15blue.html
(June 2009)

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