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John Longenecker in thecontrol console of theMaster Oscillator Roomin the Livermore NationalLaboratory at the NationalIgnition Facility, a facilityLongenecker & Associateshelped support duringconstruction. Photo credit:Longenecker & Associates.Spring 2018Supporting the Next Generation ofEngineers in the Nuclear IndustryESM alumnus John Longenecker (’71 E MCH, ’73 M.S. E MCH),is putting his time—and money—into the future of thenuclear industry.In This IssuePG: 2 Message from the Chair;Faculty, Graduate, andUndergraduate SpotlightsPG: 3 Alumni in the News:OEA Award WinnerBarbara Faust (’64 E SC),In Memoriam:Jean PytelPG: 4 This Now from ESM:ESM Today ResearchSymposiumPG: 5 ESM Frontiers:Todd Palmer is bringinginnovation to a legacyindustry with therevitalization of CISPPG: 6 Looking Forward:Alumni Society News,Early Career RecognitionAward Winner, ESMCareer FairFor nearly 30 years, John Longenecker andthe company he founded have been helpingto solve some of the toughest problems in theU.S. nuclear weapons complex and commercialnuclear power industry.But as his company, Longenecker & Associates,has grown from a small technical consultingfirm to a company that plays a key role onprojects from coast to coast, Longeneckeris increasingly dedicating his time and moneyto address what is perhaps the nuclearindustry’s most significant problem of all—attracting, training, and retaining the nextgeneration of leaders.“One of the most important things we can dois support students and young professionals inengineering fields, particularly those who areinterested in pursuing careers in the nuclearindustry,” said Longenecker.Today, most of Longenecker & Associates’work is with the U.S. Department of Energy(DOE), supporting efforts to clean up the ColdWar and Manhattan Project environmentallegacy and managing the current nuclearweapons stockpile.“What we’ve always tried to do at the companyis give back. We target the industry segmentswe care about as they support our nation’sfuture, particularly on the national security andnational energy fronts,” said Longenecker.Longenecker pictured with ESM student scholarship recipients.Photo credit: Longenecker & Associates.Longenecker noted that half of all DOE-fundedworkers—federal employees and contractors—will retire by 2020. A very real human capitalcliff is looming for the industry.That’s why Longenecker began supportingESM students with scholarships a decadeago, support he continues annually. Likewise,Longenecker & Associates supports more thana dozen annual scholarships for graduate andundergraduate students through the Roy G.Post Foundation, which encourages students topursue careers focused on the safe managementof nuclear materials.“We can and must do more as an industry ifwe’re going to have impact and attract andretain the next generation of leaders,” saidLongenecker. “It all comes back to the people,and I believe strongly in enabling students tosucceed, just as I was given that chance.”PA G E 1ESM CONNECTIONS

At the Forefront in Research, Education, and Technology TransferMessage fromthe ChairFaculty SpotlightESM’s exciting year culminatedwith graduation on May 4,2018. This year, 52 percent ofour students are going directlyto graduate schools in the U.S.,and to Aachen University inGermany, to study engineeringscience; electrical, materials,and mechanical engineering; medicine; andeducation. Forty-eight percent will start careersin industry, government, and the private sector.On the same day, we learned that AkhleshLakhtakia had been awardedan Evan Pugh Professorship,the highest honor that theUniversity can bestow ona faculty member. Only71 faculty have receivedprofessorships since 1960,29 of whom are still activelyAkhlesh Lakhtakiateaching and pursuing research.Congratulations Akhlesh!ESM is also delighted tocongratulate Jian Hsu on hispromotion to full professor,Associate Professor IbrahimOzbolat for receiving tenure,and four PSEAS awardees:Chuck Bakis – PremierResearch Award; Gary Gray –Outstanding Advising Award;Melissa Fink – OutstandingStaff Award; and AbigailDodson – Young AlumniAchievement Award.Our faculty recruitmentprogram was successful beyondexpectations, with four newhires: Associate ProfessorParisa Shokouhi and AssistantProfessors Andrea Arguelles,Christopher Kube, and JacquesRiviere. Watch out for morenews in fall 2018.Have a wonderful and relaxingsummer!Judith A. ToddJian HsuVaradan/Nanowear Receive Multiple Awardsfor Textile-based Nanosensor TechnologyCofounded by Distinguished Professor Emeritus VijayVaradan, Nanowear Inc. recently received five awardsfor its first-of-a-kind, noninvasive wearable textileundergarment, SimpleSense, that can remotely monitorcongestive heart failure (CHF) in patients, following CHF-relatedhospitalization. SimpleSense captures and transmits CHF data to a cloudbased environment, providing access and updates to medical professionalsfor assessment of patient health and progress.Nanowear won the Health and Wearables category at the 10th annualSXSW Accelerator Pitch Event, was named Innovation Champion of theAccenture HealthTech Innovation Challenge, took the grand prize inthe Philips Wearables Challenge, and received the MedTech InnovatorExecution Award and the Virginia Shimer Rybski Memorial Award at TheMedTech Conference.Graduate SpotlightTruong Receives Two Awards at College ofEngineering Research Symposium (CERS)Ph.D. candidate Christine Truong took first place in theCERS 2018 morning presentation session for her papertitled “Stereoscopic Particle Shadow Velocimetry,” andwon second prize in the Art in Science competition.Truong’s research at Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory developsparticle shadow velocimetry for flow-field imaging, including stereoscopic,multiplanar, and volumetric imaging. Such diagnostic tools advance ourunderstanding of complex and turbulent flow fields and of fluid mechanics.Truong also received a 2017-2018 Longenecker & Associates Scholarship,is president of the ESM Graduate Student council, and co-organized ESMToday 2018, where she took first place in the Art in Science Exhibition.Undergraduate SpotlightIbrahim OzbolatStutzman Serves as Spring Student MarshalChristopher Stutzman (’18 E SC, minor in engineeringmechanics, and 3.98 GPA), was selected as the engineeringscience student marshal for the College of Engineering’s springcommencement ceremony on May 4.Melissa FinkA Schreyer Scholar, Stutzman completed a thesis titled“Multi-Sensor Investigations of Optical Emissions and TheirRelations to Directed Energy Deposition Processes and Quality.” He wasalso secretary of the Society of Engineering Science (2017-2018), a memberof Tau Beta Pi, the recipient of numerous scholarships, and tutored studentsin chemistry, math, and physics. Stutzman will pursue a doctoral degree inengineering science and mechanics at Penn State beginning in fall 2018.PA G E 2ESM CONNECTIONS

Alumni in the NewsFaust Named Outstanding Engineering AlumnaBarbara CovolusFaust (’64 E SC),retired programmanager fromLockheed Martin,was honored as oneof 12 Penn Statealumni who receiveda 2018 Outstanding EngineeringAlumni Award.Faust was a pathfinder as the firstwoman to graduate from Penn Statewith a degree in engineering science(E SC). Since then, she has served asa role model for future generations ofengineers through her commitmentand service to industry, outreach, andcommunity.“From the time I was a child,engineering was the only field I everseriously considered,” said Faust.“Because I liked so many differentthings, the multidisciplinary nature ofthe engineering science curriculumreally appealed to me.”Following graduation, Faust joinedGeneral Electric (GE) as an engineer inthe highly selective Space TechnologyEngineering Program in the company’sMissile and Space Division.She became the first woman tocomplete the program.After a 33-year career working inthe aerospace industry, primarilyon defense-related programs atGE, which evolved into MartinMarietta, then Lockheed Martin,Faust retired in 1998 as manager,technology assessment programs.Early in her career, Faust also began herlife-long activities to encourage youngwomen to pursue STEM careers throughactive participation in the Society ofWomen Engineers (SWE) programsin its Philadelphia Section. She servedmultiple terms on the section’s ExecutiveCouncil and held positions at theregional and national levels. She is aSWE Fellow and Life Member.In 1984, Faust joined the EngineeringScience and Mechanics (ESM) Industrialand Professional Advisory Counciland later served on the Penn StateEngineering Society (now known as thePenn State Engineering Alumni Society)Board of Directors from 1987 to 1996,as well as on the Penn State Womenin Engineering Program AdvisoryBoard from 1989 to 1992. In 2007, shejoined the newly formed ESM AlumniAdvisory Board and currently serves aschair of its Recruitment and RetentionCommittee, working to attract honorsquality high school and undergraduatestudents to the E SC program.Today, Faust spends approximatelyhalf her time as a volunteer andboard member of the Pennridge FISHOrganization that provides food,clothing, and financial assistance tolow-income households within thePennridge School District.Faust lives in Perkasie, PA, with herhusband, Jerry. She has three stepchildren, six grandchildren, and onegreat-grandchild.In MemoriamJean Landa Pytel,former assistant deanfor student servicesand global programsand ESM associateprofessor, passed awayon March 15, 2018.“The College of Engineering familyis deeply saddened by the passing ofour colleague and dear friend,” saidAnthony Atchley, senior associate deanof engineering. “Jean had a profoundand lasting impact on the undergraduatestudent experience.”Pytel joined ESM in 1979 as an assistantprofessor. Prior to her retirement in 2013,she served as assistant dean for studentservices and global programs since 1994,as well as an ESM associate professor.Pytel was a member of the Faculty Senatefor 24 years; an administrative fellowto the provost; faculty adviser for thePenn State Society of Women Engineers;adviser to the Engineering UndergraduateCouncil and Engineering House; andboard member of the Faculty Staff Club,where she served as president from 2001to 2002.She was a member of the Commissionfor Women (1986-1989) and heldmemberships in numerous Universitywide and College-wide committees,task forces, and boards. In 2000, Pytelwas one of the inaugural recipients ofPA G E 3ESM CONNECTIONSthe Achieving Woman award from thePenn State Commission for Women.In addition, Pytel was a member ofthe American Society of EngineeringEducation and served as chair of itsInternational Division (2011-2013).She will be missed by us all.ESM Alumni,Spread the News!We always love hearing aboutthe successes of our alumni.If you have a great story toshare, let us know so we canhelp spread the goodnews! Submit your news toalumnirelations@esm.psu.edu!