U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal's May 2015 newsletter: Salvo

U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal May 2015

THE SALVO

Forging metal, family bonds, and

community tiesStory on Page 3

Forge Operator Leonard Mallery and daughter, Emerson,

at the Watervliet Memorial Day Parade

Page 2 Salvo May 31, 2015

The Arsenal Salvo is an authorized monthly publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Salvo are not necessarily the official views of, or an endorse-ment by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or the Watervliet Arsenal. News may be submitted for publication by sending articles to Public Affairs Officer, 1 Buffington Street, Bldg. 10, Watervliet, NY 12189, or stop by office #102, Bldg. 10, Watervliet Arsenal. The editor may also be reached at (518) 266-5055 or by e-mail: [email protected]. The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted for publication.

Commander, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.Public Affairs Officer, John B. SnyderEditor, John B. SnyderPhotographer: John B. Snyder Arsenal Facebook Page @http://on.fb.me/sq3LEm

ColonelLee H. Schiller Jr.

CommandingManufacturer 6

Commander’sCorner

Although every month may seem to some of you as extremely busy, what I have seen over the last two years in command is that the month of May is becoming the busiest month of the year for us. Some of this enhanced vigor is due to the fact that we are finally out of the winter doldrums. Some of it has to do with the fact that we are more than halfway into this fiscal year and the tyranny of time is pushing us hard to meet projected revenue targets. Some of our intensity this month was also due to our meeting and or supporting numerous community events, which totaled nine engagements this month. And this doesn’t include hosting several visitors for tours. Despite this hectic schedule, you got the job done, on time, and to standard. Nevertheless, I ask you to not lose focus by taking shortcuts through the ebbs and flows of requirements. Your safety and that of your fellow workers must always be placed first, quality must always be inherent in everything we do, and helping each other to accomplish the mission will help define the character of our workplace. Our production and direct support elements will shutdown 27-31 July, to allow for vacations, as well as for much needed maintenance on our equipment. You can expect an increase in workload prior to and immediately after that shutdown. For those of you who will continue to work during the shutdown, I

want you to know that I highly value your effort, as we truly cannot shutdown all of our operations. Coming off our annual shutdown will be the Tri-City ValleyCats Arsenal Appreciation Game on Saturday, August 1, at 7 p.m. I understand the ValleyCats’ pitching staff will be available beginning in June to get me ready for throwing out the first pitch. I guarantee that I will throw a strike. But you have got to be there to see it. Finally, I know that many of you are already camping, boating, fishing, and barbecuing. So, let me remind you that your safety awareness and actions don’t stop at the Arsenal gate. I need you back, your family needs you back, and the Army needs you back.

mailto:[email protected]


By John B. Snyder

Story continues on page 4, see “Parade”

The Arsenal participates in more than 60 community events every year to help tell the Arsenal and Army stories, as well as to help the community to remain connected to its military. In the left photo, wherever the Arsenal goes it is always well received and celebrated. The center photo shows Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr. providing remarks at the conclusion of the Watervliet parade. On the right is Industrial Engineer Bruce Pienkoski marching in his 13th parade since 2009.

Photos by John Snyder

Arsenal’s very visible display of community support

For more than 200 years, the communities around the Watervliet Arsenal have supported this historic Army manufacturing center through countless ebbs and flows of conflict. It seemed only right, given this great history of support, that the Arsenal help repay its debt this month by helping small-town America honor its service men and women. Although the arsenal participates in more than 60 community events each year, May is typically its busi-est month for engagement. This month was no differ-ent. The Arsenal participated in three Memorial Day Ceremonies, three Veterans-related ceremonies, one middle school career day, hosted a military-related chamber meeting, and a speech before an F.B.I. officer association. Although one event is not more important than the other, something magical happens when the Arsenal participates in local parades. These engagements al-low the Arsenal to help reconnect thousands within the

community to its military. The Arsenal supported two parades this month: the Village of Green Island Memorial Day parade on May 21; and the City of Watervliet Memorial Day parade on May 25. “As I am nearing two years in command, in which I have attended more than 75 community events, I remain awestruck by the tremendous outpouring of lo-cal support to our nation’s service men and women,” Arsenal Commander Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr. said at a ceremony following a parade. Schiller also acknowledged the great support in the parades by the Arsenal workforce and their family members. “It is truly great to see representation from through-out the Arsenal workforce, as well as by the family and friends of the workforce, to do what is right this

Assembly, Veteran Service Organizations, Veterans and their family members and friends. The importance of this engagement was well acknowl-edged by Lee Bennett, the director of Benét Laboratories. “Benét Labs, as part of the Army family, welcomes any opportunity to support our Veterans, especially when hearing their stories of courage and sacrifice reminds our workforce of the importance of our mission,” Bennett said. “Participating in this event truly went beyond tell-

ing the Arsenal and Benét Lab’s stories, because the event gave us a chance to per-sonally thank the Veterans and their family members for their service and sacrifice.” According to Jake Peart, the Arsenal’s Busi-ness Develop-ment Officer who spearheaded the Arsenal’s display at the event, “The team was honored

to witness the recognition of a wide vari-ety of New York state Veterans, as well as to engage them and their family members at the Arsenal and Benét Labs displays.” Stephen Luther, an Arsenal appren-tice who has now supported the Senate ceremony for the last two years, said, “It was truly an honor to listen to the Veter-ans as they told their stories about their experiences with many of the products the Arsenal manufactures.” Hearing those stories, Luther said, gave him a better sense of purpose for what he does, as well as a greater sense of pride to be a part of the Arsenal’s his-tory that Veterans shared with him that day. So, while many Americans headed off to beaches and amusement parks this month, the Arsenal continued to forge ̶ forge on its ties and relationships with the local communities.


Parade Cont.

Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr., right, with his team at the NY state Senate’s Veteran Hall of Fame Cer-emony. From right, Business Development Officer Jake Peart, Production Control & Program Management Officer Terry Van Vranken, Apprentice Stephen Luther, Apprentice Program Su-pervisor John Zayhowski, Benét Labs Mechanical Engineer Alan Ng, and Benét Labs Mechani-cal Engineer Zachary Jablonka

Photo by John B. Snyder

Memorial Day season by fielding a parade contingent to commemorate our fallen troops,” Schiller said. “Given our history, there is no better place for us to be than to be with the community this Memorial Day.” For those who participated the ‘why’ was simple … “I’m almost embarrassed to say that before the Arsenal start-ed doing parades in 2009, I had forgotten what the true mean-ing of what the holidays were for,” said Bruce Pienkoski. “But after I supported that first parade, I saw how im-portant the pa-rades were to the community in its remembrance of those who have fought and died for our country.” Pienkoski has now participated in 13 parades since 2009. In addition to activities tied to Me-morial Day, the Arsenal also had the great honor to participate in the New York state Senate’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame Ceremony at the Capitol. In recent years, each senator has nominated one Veteran from their dis-trict to receive a prestigious award dur-ing its annual Veterans’ Hall of Fame Ceremony. This was the Arsenal’s fourth year supporting this event. Not only was the Arsenal commander the keynote speaker this year, the Ar-senal also set up, with the support of the Army’s Benét Laboratories, several booths and table displays outside of the ceremony to tell the Arsenal and Army story to the senators, members of the

Arsenal Commander Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr. taking a moment prior to the Senate ceremony to talk to Army Veteran Anthony J. Gabriel Jr., who served in the Army for 36 years, rising from private to colonel.



Story continues on page 6, “Commo”

Just when you think you know all about the Watervliet Arsenal another door opens and another story must be told. Seeking stories around the Arsenal has its risks, risks that I freely take for the team. Take for example an effort of mine from a few years ago when I tried to get a story idea for the TV show ‘Dirty Jobs.’ I went to John Hockenbury, the former director of operations, for a few ideas. Hockenbury told me about a blue lagoon that was lo-cated on the Arsenal that few knew anything about. He told me to bring my fishing pole. To guide me to the blue lagoon, Hockenbury told me to hook up with Paul Gwozdz. At the time, Gwozdz was a 37-year Arsenal employee who when seeing me decked out in my fishing vest, waders, and pole, he chuckled. So, I chuckled too, not knowing why I found this engagement humorous. I was trying to be nice. Gwozdz led me to an elevator that had an information plate stamped War Department. By the aged-look of the plate, I think the war was the Civil War. I asked Gwozdz if the elevator was safe. He chuckled, again. Being a little nervous, I started sweating profusely in my waders, or at least I think it was sweat, as I went down

to level two, three, four, five, six, and bottomed out at level seven. I was now about 70 feet below the surface of the manufacturing bay. When we hit bottom, the door slowly opened into an area that looked like a solitary confinement cell at Attica Prison. Some of you may be thinking how I would know about what a prison cell looks like … I watch a lot of Dis-covery Channel and so, I have a pretty good reason to make that comparison. Yep, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Nevertheless, Gwozdz motioned to me to move out, which was a non-starter because I kept thinking that Gwoz-dz was going to leave me behind in the darkness. Gwozdz’ smile became a frown as I tried to out wait him. Knowing that I was pushing my luck given the fact that I was 70-feet below the shop floor and Gwozdz out-weighed me by about 50 pounds, I ventured out and was met by the sounds of rushing water. Could it be that Hockenbury was right? Giving him the benefit of doubt, I quickly hooked a rubber worm to my line and readied to fish in untapped waters.

An upgrade that nobody is talking about, but should be

Darel Dacus, the Arsenal network administrator, help managed the upgrade that reduced communication space requirements from 550 square-feet to less than 30 square-feet. The former phone system required multiple banks of wiring as seen in the left photo, whereas, the new system to the right only requires one rack of internet-based network technology.

Photos by John B. Snyder

By John B. Snyder


Commo Cont.

Gwozdz led me to a rail and pointed. Beyond the rail was a pit with rushing water and everything else that has seeped through the walls and floors of the building over the past 100 years. Who would have thought that such moisture was below our buildings? But it is and it certainly was not blue. Considering that I had met Gwozdz for the first time just 10-minutes earlier, I began wondering if someone would post my picture onto milk cartons because I had not told anyone that I was going to the blue lagoon that day. Would I even be missed, I thought? I never knew how fast someone could move in waders, but when your life starts flashing in front of you it is amaz-ing how fast one can move. I was back in the elevator in seconds and I didn’t care if Gwozdz was with me or not. In fact, I have not seen him again since that morning. So, here we are in 2015, and I am no smarter now than I was that day at the blue lagoon. Since I arrived here in 2008, I have made a habit of open-ing doors that often lead to nowhere. Such was the case this month when I was in one of our former gun shops. I have been in that building hundreds of times, but I never knew about a couple of offices that can only be found by passing through a few darken hallways. No, it isn’t what you might be thinking … I was only curious and not looking for a place to hide out. As I slowly opened the door, it was as if I became Alice in Wonderland and walked through the looking glass. Please, no jokes. Behind the door were up-to-date offices and what seemed like hundreds of miles of wires. I also found Dave Peck, who is the leader of the Arsenal’s communications section. Peck looked as surprise at seeing me, or anyone, as I was to finding someone in this back alley. I gave Peck credit for finding a better location for his of-fice than I did, as his office is certainly off the beaten path.Peck assured me that there is a lot going on in his section and asked me in. Thoughts of another Gwozdz experience crossed my mind as Peck broke a sly smile, similar to Gwoz-dz’ chuckle. Given that I am a slow learner, I ventured in. Peck led me into a couple of rooms that occupied about 550 square-feet of space. I thought that I had fallen into an AT&T communication center as there were multiple banks of wiring, switches, and cabling. Peck explained to me the Arsenal had just completed a complete transformation of its telephone system. I told him that I never noticed. He replied that is the beauty of the transformation in that his team completed the

upgrade without any degradation to the Arsenal’s phone ser-vice. I asked Peck why he didn’t have a “moment in history” as did his predecessor in 1987? For those who may not have been here in May of 1987, the Arsenal announced in the Salvo newsletter what was then called then “a complete changeover from an antique elec-tromechanical system to a state of the art digital electronic system.” In this revolutionary system of its time, the Arsenal in-vested $4 million to increased the available number of phone lines from 1,200 to 1,500; established conference calling, brought on line call forwarding, and did away with switch-boards. Despite all this, hundreds of miles of wiring and large banks of batteries, which today looks like something out of a Frankenstein movie, remained. Peck explained that to transform the system today, which is called Voice over IP or VoIP, his team had to run two systems concurrently so that no service would be lost. The Arsenal’s phone system migrated from a series of phone net-works to an internet-based network. The Arsenal went live last month. So, what did the Arsenal get for this $500,000 investment, which is about five percent of the 1987 cost in 1987 dollars? Required space has been reduced from 550 square-feet to less than 30 square-feet. The phone system and the com-puter network now share a single-wired connection, which means that only one infrastructure needs to be maintained. And, workers who move from building to building due to a job reassignment may now keep the phone number that they had at the last location. Unlike my experience at the blue lagoon, this was a good find, even though Peck would prefer that I not highlight his off-the-path location. He said it had to do with security. I believe it is for other reasons…

Just like a scene out of an old Frankenstein movie, Darel Dacus stands by a bank of batteries that was required for the former phone system.



Arsenal makes an “educated”

investment that may take years to

pay offBy John B. Snyder


Story continues on page 8, “Cohoes”

The fact that the Watervliet Arsenal made an investment this month is not news to many here as workers often see the arrival of new machinery, ongoing work to improve water systems, and repairs to buildings.

But some may be scratching their heads with this investment as no new work or technology will result from this effort and the Arsenal’s endeavor may take years to pay off.

With more than 200 years in continuous operation, the Arsenal leadership believes it has time on its side given that this investment deals with students who are still in middle school.

Arsenal Machinist Robert Day and Machinist Apprentice Stephen Luther talked to seven classes of 7th grade students on May 13 as part of the Cohoes Middle School Career Day. This was the third year the Arsenal has participated in this annual event and the second year in a row that both Day and Luther had supported the school.

Ginger Bruce, who coordinated the career day for the middle school, said the school administrators greatly appreciate the continued support by the Arsenal, especially in a career field (machining) that has wide application throughout the United States.

“I wanted the same two Arsenal workers (Day and Luther) back this year because the students gave them high marks last year for answering all of their questions,” Bruce said. “I already know that I want them back again next year.”

Top Photo: Students passing around some of the tools of the trade.

Center Photo: Machinist Robert Day, with Apprentice Stephen Lu-ther in the background, talking to students about the type of gauges used at the Arsenal.

Bottom photo: Tools of the trade displayed in front of the class.


Cohoes Cont.

During the seven hours on campus, Day and Luther talked to the students a little about history, pride, and of course, machining. And the students challenged them in each session.

One of the students asked how machinists could apply their trade to one who has a musical ability.

Luther explained that the machines and parts they are machining produce a unique set of sounds and tones, just like a musical instrument. And when a machinist hears a tone that doesn’t sound right, he or she knows immediately that something is wrong and the process should be stopped, just like a musician would stop if his instrument was out of tune.

Another student asked Day if he could apply culinary arts to his trade, to which he replied, “Just like a baker who must mix the right ingredients, in the right order, and then bake at the right temperature, a machinists must follow a similar process in making sure cannon steel is of the right properties, is heated at the right temperatures, to ensure that the steel remains tough and straight.”

Although other questions that touched on such topics as problem solving, computer skills, and ability to work alone may have been more tailored to the craft of machining, Day and Luther took great joy in answering all of their questions and seemed to enjoy the challenge the 7th grade students poked at them throughout the day.

Why does the Arsenal believe that it is important to reach out to the community’s youth?

“We must keep in mind that these students may one day be running our local communities and so, it is critical that they know the history and the importance that the Arsenal has on the community and our nation,”

Day said. “Additionally, I love my job and hope that through our presentation the students will someday love a job at the Arsenal, too.”

Luther had similar thoughts.

“When the first class walked in and a student said out loud ‘Awesome, it’s the Watervliet Arsenal guys,’ that made me feel an intense sense of pride that what we do does have an impact on today’s youth,” Luther said. “If I got one student to go home and tell his or her parents a little about the Watervliet Arsenal, it was a successful day.”

And so, every community engagement the Arsenal does, which was more than 60 last year, is an invest-ment in time to educate those who would otherwise be blind to the great work, sense of pride, and Arsenal his-tory that resides just a few minutes’ drive from where they live.

Cohoes school administrators said they greatly appreciate the continued support by the Arsenal, especially in a career field (machining) that has wide application throughout the United States.

Top Photo: Apprentice Stephen Luther, right, talks about his experience as an apprentice, as well as the job opportunities that may be available at the Arsenal.

Left Photo: One of the great things about the Arsenal’s presentation was that students got to handle some of the tools that machinists use everyday.



Debbie Moody A ‘supporter to all’

And, an Arsenal Face of Strength

To many outside of the Arsenal fence line who are new to the Arsenal story, the fact that women have played a significant role throughout the history of the Arsenal sometimes raise some eyebrows. After all, heavy manu-facturing centers have traditionally been male-dominated societies, but not here. Women have been part of the fabric that binds the Arsenal together since operations began in 1813. They have played every role, from flannel-cartridge packers to cooks to nurses to machinists. Although their numbers may have never equaled the num-bers of men, their presence is no less important. Not wanting to go down the road of stereotyping the quali-ties that many believe that women have, one of those stereo-types known of women, such as “nurturing,” may be appropri-ate in this case. Debbie Moody, who began working at the Arsenal in 2010, is an Industrial Management Specialist. She does not shy away from being known as a nurturer or in her words, “Mama Moody.” When one combines that personal quality (nurtures) with a ‘can-do’ attitude that is often found of those who have served in the military, the Arsenal has an incredible role model for excellence in the workplace. For those who don’t know Debbie, she is a former active-duty Soldier and member of the Army Reserves, who has also worked as a Department of the Army Civilian at a Military Entrance Processing Station prior to her arrival here. She is married to a former Soldier who, with Debbie by his side, put in more than 26 years of active service. So, she is not new to the Army environment. When Debbie first started working here, she was the secre-tary to the Director of Operations. But what the director soon found out is that Debbie’s allegiance was to everyone in the directorate and not just to him. To hear Debbie put it, she says she was the “secretary

for all.” She can be often found throughout the directorate helping workers update their Thrift Savings Ac-counts, Health Records, Training Records, on log-ging into email. During the course of the interview for this story, one of the floor workers stopped by and asked for her support on the computer. Even though she is no longer a secretary, she remains available to all.

Tom Pond, the Director of Operations, clearly defines the essence of Debbie. “Debbie aggressively attacks all assignments, no matter how difficult the task,” Pond said. “Her ability to organize, coordinate, and complete any variety of tasks is outstanding. She has no problem grabbing someone by the hand to make sure they complete what they need to complete, and do so cor-rectly and on time.” In the Operation Directorate, which has more than 300 personnel, that can be a real challenge, but one that she always pulls off, Pond said. To those who are outside of the operations directorate, she has become a one-source point of contact if someone needs something done or coordinated with the directorate. Simply send the request to Debbie and she will make it happen. In addition to all of those qualities, Debbie takes extraordi-nary steps to help promote the Arsenal beyond the fence line. She not only marches in the Arsenal’s parade contingents for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, she also helps build the floats. If there is an Arsenal Appreciation Game at a local pro-fessional baseball or hockey organization, she can be found at the game representing the Arsenal. The bottom line is that Debbie is as helpful as she is a great worker. Additionally, she is one who truly cares about the Arsenal long after the lights have gone out for the day. Given her qualities and her esprit de corps, Debbie deserves to be this month’s Face of Strength. She well represents the long lineage of great women who have toiled here since 1813.


Photos by Howard Kindell

Arsenal takes top honors at the Federal Executive Association Awards Ceremony

The Federal Executive Association presented the Distinguished Federal Government Service Awards at a luncheon on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Shaker Ridge Country Club.

An award was given to an Arsenal member in the following three categories:

• Supervisory Position - Gerard Mangione• Non-Supervisory Position - Brian McDonald• Community Service within an Agency - John Snyder

According to an FEA news release, these awards allowed FEA to pay tribute to the Federal workers who are the backbone of America’s Government. As leaders, FEA had the opportunity to recognize these employees for the contributions they make to help government work better on behalf of the American people. These awards will also call public attention to the fact that government employees make many contributions to the quality of life in our area.

Given that there were only seven categories of awards, the Arsenal achieved great recognition as evi-denced by capturing three of the seven awards.

GSA Regional Administrator, Denise L. Pease, right in all photos, presented the awards during the luncheon. Left photo, Brian McDonald receiving the Non-Supervisory Award from Pease. Right photo, Gerard Mangione receiving the Supervisory Award from Pease. Snyder’s picture was unavail-able for printing.

FEA AwardsMay 2015


Arsenal History May 1962

In May 1962, the strong emphasis on the expansion of research and engineering at the Arsenal, begun by Col. Walter Tisdale and maintained by Col. Keith O’Keefe, reached a milestone with the dedication of Building 40 as the Benét Research and Engineering Laboratories. Maj. Gen. H.F. Bigelow in his dedicatory address noted the outstanding services rendered to the Arsenal, the Army, and to the nation by Brig. Gen. Stephen Vincent Benét, former Army chief of ordnance, and his son, Col. J. Walker Benét, the former commanding officer.


Industrial HealthListen Up! Almost50millionAmericanshavehearinglossinatleastoneear,including1in5teenagers. 60%ofVeteransreturningfromIraqandAfghanistancomehomewithhearinglossandtinnitus;it is the #1 war wound. Depressionandisolationarecommonamongthosewithhearingloss. Thosewithamildhearinglossaretwiceaslikelytodevelopdementia,andthisriskincreaseswith the severity of the hearing loss.

Protect Your HearingRemember to wear your issued hearing protection while performing your job at work. Consider wearing some formofhearingprotectionwhenworkingathome;onthemotorcycle,whenmowingthelawnorwhenusingthechainsaw.Wearfoamearplugswhenattendingrockconcertsorwhenenjoyingfireworksduringaholi-day celebration. Turn down the volume when listening to music through headphones or ear buds.

If you think you have experienced a change of any kind in your hearing then the place to start is with the Oc-cupational Health Clinic located in Building 40. Your hearing can be tested in the Clinic or by an audiologist at your Family Provider. Your personal doctor may even refer you to an otolaryngologist, a medical doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear.

By Wayne P. RudolphArsenal Industrial Hygienist

Arsenal Appreciation Night with the ValleyCatsSaturday, 1 August, at 7 p.m.

• The Arsenal has coordinated with the Tri-City Valley-Cats baseball organization for the:

7th Annual Arsenal Appreciation Night.• Game is on Saturday, 1 August, at 7 p.m. • Department of the Army Civilians and Arsenal family

members may purchase a "Reserved Box" ticket for only $5.50 (42% discount).

• All Military Veterans will receive one free ticket.• You may also purchase a reduced meal voucher for

only $3.50 This voucher is good for one hot dog, small soda, and a bag of chips.

For Tickets: Contact John Snyder, Building 10, at 266-5055

Ticket sales begin on

July 7th

U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal's May 2015 newsletter: Salvo

Government & Nonprofit

arsenal salvo

army watervliet arsenal

arsenal gate

snyder arsenal facebook

snyder editor

busiest month

annual shutdown

department of defense