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Minutes of the Meeting
of the
Engineer Professional Advisory Committee
Friday, October 29, 1999
The EPAC welcomes your suggestions. Meetings are open to all PHS Engineers,
and those outside the Washington, D.C. metro area may attend via conference
call by dialing 919-856-4188.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. EDT at the NIOSH Pittsburgh
Research Laboratory (PRL). Prior to the call to order, the EPAC members
enjoyed the opportunity to tour the PRL laboratories, including the witnessing
of research at the dust & ventilation galleries, and the Safety Research
Mine. Roll call for the meeting was taken. Substantive comment was solicited
for the September 23, 1999 meeting minutes, no further corrections were
required, and the September meeting minutes were approved. The next meeting
will be held Thursday, December 9, 1999, at 1:00 p.m. in the National Institutes
of Health's Natcher Center, Conference Room 'D' in Bethesda, MD. To attend
via conference call, dial 919-856-4188.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Office of the Chief Engineer: RADM Bob Williams reported the
following:
Welcome: RADM Williams expressed appreciation for the hospitality
and excellent overview of operations provided by Mr. Tony Iannacchione
and folks from the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory prior to the start of
the meeting. These "remote" EPAC meetings are well worth the effort and
enable us to more fully understand the various roles and responsibilities
of engineers and architects in the PHS.
PHS Civil Service Engineers and Architects: RADM Williams emphasized
that Civil Service engineers and architects are important to the mission
of the PHS. The Office of the Chief Engineer and the EPAC serve both Commissioned
Officers and Civil Service employees. There are more than 1100 engineers
and architects in the PHS and about two-thirds are Civil Service employees,
meaning that there is a large talent pool to draw from in planning, developing,
and implementing EPAC activities. Some tidbits folks might not be aware
of:
There are currently two Civil Service engineers and architects on the EPAC,
and there will be three next year
One assistant to the Chief Engineer (Ms. Lisa Hayes) is a Civil Service
employee
Civil Service employees have previously served as the EPAC Chair
Each year a Civil Service engineer or architect has won an USPHS Engineer
Literary Award
Civil Service engineers have been named USPHS Engineer of the Year (including
Mr. Iannacchione)
There are many opportunities for the engineers and architects of the
PHS to become involved in EPAC, so choose some and your efforts and expertise
will be appreciated.
Emergency Preparedness: RADM Williams noted that we recognize
the participation of engineers CDR Ken Martinez and CDR Andy Smith in disaster
and emergency response activities - and offered thanks for representing
us!
Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health: The report is due
in December, and is characterized as controversial to some, and broad in
its concepts and outlook. The report takes a life span approach to mental
health, covering diversity in many ways, and discusses the concept of the
"plastic brain" that changes as we age.
Fitness and Wellness Activity: The activity is moving forward
with the potential detail of a person to the Office of the Surgeon General
(OSG) for one year to help develop the program. The November issue of the
Commissioned Corps (CC) Bulletin should highlight fitness and include information
on the President's Sports Program.
Strategic Visioning: The committee that looked at the future
of the CC will continue its efforts by reaching outside the USPHS to identify
unmet health needs that will require the Corps' intervention in the future.
Recognition of PAC Members, PAC Chairs, and CPOs: Several proposals
on how to recognize Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) and Chief Professional
Officer (CPO) activities have been drafted. Most proposals center on a
distinctive ribbon with some device that denotes the type of service. In
addition, there would be opportunities to be nominated for honor awards,
dependent upon the performance, and quality thereof, of the PAC/CPO duties.
Promotions and Personnel:
A letter has been mailed to all officers who are promotion eligible.
The Division of Commissioned Personnel (DCP) is forming a work group to
examine the promotion process. This will be a small group that will identify
issues and present potential solutions which will be debated throughout
the Corps.
Leave transfer between the Civil Service and the Commissioned Corps (or
vice versa) is no longer permissible.
The Sanitarian Category has been converted to the Environmental Health
Officer Category.
The electronic file room ( https://dcp.psc.gov/InsideDCP/DCPLoginForm.asp
) is now open - you can begin reviewing records. If you experience problems,
please report them to the DCP hotline.
Role of the Commissioned Corps: The OSG and the DCP are looking
into ways to expand the influence of the Corps. Agreements with the U.
S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the
Department of Veterans Affairs are underway. Although mostly oriented toward
clinicians, the EPAC should look at how engineers and architects can be
a part of these initiatives.
Defense Appropriations Bill: There are 35 changes (or parts)
of the Defense Appropriations Bill that affect the USPHS. Highlighted was
the repeal of the Dual Compensation Act - as of October 1, those who retire
from the Commissioned Corps can apply for Civil Service jobs, be selected
and work until retirement, without experiencing an offset in their Commissioned
Corps pension.
2. EPAC Chair: CAPT Bedick reported the following:
PAC Chair PAC Meeting:
•PAC Participant Report Card: A draft document which provided
a checklist for use in identifying the contributions to PACs over a member's
term had been considered. It was agreed that the document would not be
used, as there was no support among the PACs.
•Veterinarian PAC Changes: The VetPAC has changed its charter
to reduce members terms to two years, and to provide for the election of
members through a vote of the entire category.
3. DCP Liaison: No report this month.
4. CCRF Liaison: CAPT Sven Rodenbeck reported the following:
Field Medical Readiness Badge: All Officers who believe that
they have completed all the requirements for the Field Medical Readiness
Badge (FMRB) should make sure that the Office of Emergency Preparedness
(OEP) has all of the necessary information. In particular, Officers should
make sure OEP has a currently valid CPR, First Aid, and First Responder
certificate. OEP will be reviewing all applicants and approving Officers
for the FMRB over the next several months. The old criteria will be used.
OEP will be revising the requirements for the FMRB. At this point it is
unclear whether or not the requirements for the FMRB will be tougher.
CCRF Database: OEP has also requested that all Officers review
their information in the CCRF database ( http://oep.osophs.dhhs.gov/ccrf/
). OEP will drop any Officer from their rolls if they do not review their
information by November 8, 1999.
CCRF Deployments: The CCRF was activated because of Hurricane
Floyd and the fires in California and Arizona. Engineers have been deployed
under both situations. An engineer was part of the PHS-1 DMAT for Hurricane
Floyd and an air expert was sent to the fires.
5. COA Liaison: CAPT Bedick (for CDR Kathy Poneleit) reported
the following:
Defense Authorization Bill: The Defense Authorization Bill was
signed by the President on October 5, 1999, providing for a 4.8% pay increase
effective January 1, repeal of the dual compensation restriction, a change
to the REDUX retirement system, special pay for veterinarians, and a requirement
to present flags to PHS members upon retirement.
COA Membership Dues: A recent count indicated that dues for
679 Commissioned Officers Association (COA) members were in arrears, including
31 engineer members. The COA contributes to the health of the Corps by
supporting its members through addressing their pay, benefits and other
activities on Capitol Hill. To continue to receive these benefits, it is
important for members to support this organization through paying their
dues. All members are urged to renew their memberships, as those in arrears
as of November 15, 1999 will be dropped from the Association's membership
roles.
COA Bylaws: The revised Bylaws are available for comment, and
key proposed changes include a shift from a single vote per branch to one
vote per member, as well as the elimination of the House of Delegates.
6. Job Vacancies: The PHS Engineers web site has links to vacancies
within all the DHHS OPDIVs at http://www.usphsengineers.org/joblists.htm,
and also maintains a list of vacancies at
http://www.usphsengineers.org/vacancy.htm.
FDA: The Food and Drug Administration is currently advertising
for a GS-15 Supervisory Interdisciplinary Scientist position (including
Biomedical and Electrical Engineers) in Rockville, MD.
National Park Service: The National Park Service is seeking
an Engineer or Environmental Health (Sanitarian) Officer at the O-6 rank
for Philadelphia, PA or Boston, MA.
OLD BUSINESS
EPAC Chair-Elect 2000: CAPT Kevin Chadwick was the only nomination
received seeking the position of Chair-elect for 2000, and he took the
opportunity to explain his goals if he is elected to serve as the Chair-elect
for 2000 and the EPAC Chair for 2001. The election was held and resulted
in CAPT Chadwick being elected to serve as EPAC Chair-elect for 2000.
NEW BUSINESS
Mentoring Program Package: Mr. Mitch Williams presented a draft
of a package prepared by the Mentoring Ad hoc Subcommittee to be distributed
to engineers and architects participating in the Engineering Category Mentoring
Program. Mr. Williams explained that unlike some mentoring programs where
participants can be brought together for a group orientation and training
session, the fact that this program's participants will be dispersed throughout
the nation necessitated a comprehensive resource for use as a learning
tool and reference by participants. The documentation was compiled and
modified largely from an existing program in place at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, supplemented by information extracted from the
EPAC's pilot mentoring program and new information specifically generated
for this package, and Mr. Williams expressed his special appreciation for
CDR Maurice West's efforts in pulling the package together. EPAC members
are to review the package and provide comments to either Mr. Williams (
william7@niehs.nih.gov
) or CDR West ( myw4@cdc.gov ) by November
15, 1999.
Establishment of Mentoring Subcommittee as a Standing Subcommittee:
CAPT Tom Bedick read from a memorandum to him from Mr. Williams explaining
that the Mentoring Ad hoc Subcommittee was nearing completion of its established
purpose, that purpose being the development and implementation of a Mentoring
Program for engineers and architects in the USPHS. The memorandum continued
by advising that the Subcommittee had determined that a need to administer
the Mentoring Program would remain following the Program's implementation,
and that the Subcommittee thus proposed that its status be converted from
an ad hoc to a standing subcommittee. Ensuing discussions addressed the
current responsibility for the Mentoring Program by the Career Development
Subcommittee as identified in the EPAC Bylaws and the overlap with the
proposed Mentoring Subcommittee, and the appropriateness of a work group
under the Career Development Subcommittee in lieu of a separate subcommittee.
Ms. Hayes, Career Development Subcommittee Chair, expressed that this Subcommittee
currently had all the work that it could handle, and that the effort involved
in administering the Mentoring Program could certainly support a separate
standing subcommittee. It was agreed that Ms. Hayes and Mr. Williams would
review the possible overlaps of the Career Development Subcommittee and
a Mentoring Subcommittee, and that they report at the December EPAC meeting.
Additionally, the memorandum from Mr. Williams to CAPT Bedick requesting
conversion of the Mentoring Subcommittee from ad hoc to standing subcommittee
would be forwarded to all EPAC members along with proposed changes to the
Bylaws which might be necessary.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Awards: CDR Maurice West reported the following:
Awards Subcommittee Purpose and Activities: The purpose of the
Subcommittee is to distribute notices for awards available to USPHS engineers
and architects, to evaluate nominees for awards, and to advise the EPAC
on methods to encourage the submission of nominees for awards.
Engineer of the Year Awards: The Awards Subcommittee has e-mailed
all PHS engineers and architects the criteria and nomination procedures
on the OPDIV, PHS, and NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year Awards and the
Call for Papers for the Literary Awards, has posted this information on
the USPHS Engineers web page ( http://www.usphsengineers.org/eoy.htm
), and has included it in the upcoming
Chief Engineer's News Report
( http://www.usphsengineers.org/ocenews.pdf
). Nominations for OPDIV, PHS and Federal Engineer of the Year should be
submitted to the OPDIV awards coordinators
as soon as possible.
OPDIV selections are to be sent to the Office of the Chief Engineer by
November
19, 1999. Literary Award papers are due to the Awards Subcommittee
by December 1, 1999.
Recognition of Contributions to the EPAC: Sample certificates
recognizing contributions to the EPAC were presented.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Awards Subcommittee will
be November 16, 1999 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
2. Building Design & Construction: CDR Ken Martinez reported
the following:
Building Design & Construction Subcommittee Purpose and Activities:
The purpose of the Subcommittee is to advise the EPAC on issues related
to designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating US Public Health
Service facilities. The Subcommittee is intended to provide a professional
practice bridge and forum for engineers and architects to discuss common
concerns and identify professional and technical problem-solving resources
while enhancing the sense of common purpose of PHS engineers and architects.
Leadership Conference - Biomedical Research and the Environment:
The Subcommittee continues to work with the National Association of Physicians
for the Environment (NAPE), which is sponsoring the conference to take
place at the National Institutes of Health on November 1-2, 1999, in developing
the break-out session on Healthy Buildings which will highlight the EPAC's
proposal to the Surgeon General on this issue.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Building Design &
Construction Subcommittee will be November 9, 1999 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
3. Career Development: Ms. Lisa Hayes reported the following:
Career Development Subcommittee Purpose and Activities: The Career
Development Subcommittee is involved in projects designed to provide career
enhancement opportunities for Civil Service and Commissioned Corps engineers
and architects. The Subcommittee has about fifteen members, only two of
which are civil service engineers, and while the subcommittee would be
extremely happy to get new members from either personnel system, they would
be especially thrilled to have more Civil Service engineers and architects
on the Subcommittee.
The Subcommittee's current activities include planning the engineering
symposium for the 2000 Commissioned Officer's Association Conference, working
on a welcome package for engineers and architects new to the PHS so that
they have some information about PHS career opportunities, and working
on efforts to recruit more junior engineers and Civil Service engineers
into EPAC subcommittees. In the past the subcommittee has planned and participated
in career development seminars that were two or three day events. During
our November meeting, we will be deciding what projects we would like to
undertake for the year 2000.
Welcome Packages: E-mail messages have been sent to all EPAC
members who are asked to make welcome calls to engineers who joined the
PHS in the 2nd quarter of FY 99. Members are asked to please
make their calls and report back to LT Sean Boyd on how they went. Welcome
calls are assigned to EPAC members based upon the geographic and/or operating
division (OPDIV) location of the new engineer.
The Subcommittee is also working with the Mentoring Subcommittee to
determine how the welcome package can be integrated with the Mentoring
Program. Two ways have been identified so far: the welcome letter will
mention that the EPAC has a mentoring program, and will include a contact
to get more information about the program or to get a mentor. In addition,
the person that makes the welcome call will follow up to see if the new
engineer or architect has any questions about the Mentoring Program.
2000 Engineering Symposium: The work group for this Symposium
will have another planning session in the next couple of weeks. Anyone
interested in helping with the planning of this session should contact
Ms. Hayes ( lih1@cdc.gov ) or CAPT Joe
Cocalis ( jgc6@cdc.gov ).
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Career Development Subcommittee
will be November 9, 1999 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
4. Emergency Preparedness: CAPT Rodenbeck reported the following:
Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee Purpose and Activities: The
mission of the EPAC subcommittee for Emergency Preparedness is "to assist
and promote the effective use of engineers in the response to emergencies
affecting public health." In order to accomplish this mission, the subcommittee
has developed and informed the various organizations about the capabilities
of PHS engineers, has helped develop and coordinate various training for
PHS engineers in emergency preparedness, and has provided PHS engineers
with information about training and deployments. Currently the subcommittee
is developing the training curriculum for PHS engineers involved with the
Commissioned Corps Readiness Force (CCRF). The subcommittee is also trying
to develop an "Engineer Disaster Response Handbook" and coordinate a session
concerning chemical bio-terrorism session at the Water Environment Federation
Conference.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Emergency Preparedness
Subcommittee will be November 4, 1999 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
5. Information: CAPT Kevin Chadwick reported the following:
Information Subcommittee Purpose and Activities: The Subcommittee
advises the EPAC on ways to inform PHS engineers and architects of the
activities, accomplishments, and opportunities available in engineering
throughout the PHS, and recommends activities which promote public recognition
of the accomplishments of PHS engineers and architects. Activities under
the responsibility of the Information Subcommittee include the management
of the engineer database, updating the Engineer Directory and
Engineer
Handbook, and activities associated with Engineers Week.
PHS Engineers Web Site Revisions: CDR Skip Lightner is transferring
responsibility for the web site to the current Chief Engineer's office.
The web site workgroup was asked to continue to work on editorial issues
such as web site content, criteria and the scheduling of submissions to
the webmaster. In response to a request, it will be possible to add an
area for junior engineers as part of the existing web site.
Photo Archive: LCDR Hung Trinh has gathered information on storing
the Chief Engineer's photo archives with the PHS historian. Recommendations
to be provided to the Chief Engineer include providing copies of photos
to the historian and scanning photos into electronic files, for possible
web posting of an index. The Chief Engineer's office would keep photos
in case they are needed with short notice.
SAME: The EPAC Chair asked the subcommittee to make recommendations
on how EPAC can work with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME).
The subcommittee members felt that EPAC should use the relationship with
SAME to publicize the work of PHS engineers through articles in the SAME
magazine. SAME offers professional networking opportunities, however, this
is one of many organizations that EPAC can encourage PHS engineers to consider
joining for professional development.
Chief Engineer's News Report Reporters: The subcommittee
discussed recruiting correspondents from OPDIVs to write articles on the
work of PHS engineers for the Chief Engineer's newsletter. Interested writers
should call any subcommittee member.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Information Subcommittee
will be November 18, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
6. Mentoring: Mr. Mitchell Williams reported the following:
Mentoring Ad hoc Subcommittee Purpose and Activities: The Subcommittee
was established to identify the functional elements of an EPAC mentoring
program, and to develop a plan and then implement mentoring for PHS engineers
and architects. The Subcommittee was only first established in July 1999,
and over the past four months has accomplished a great deal in developing
and beginning the implementation of a mentoring program. As this Ad hoc
Subcommittee nears implementation of the Mentoring Program, it is petitioning
the EPAC to establish the Subcommittee with administering the program.
If not established as a standing subcommittee, it will need to exist as
a work group of the Career Development Subcommittee. In either instance,
the group is in need of additional members, especially Civil Service engineers
and architects.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Mentoring Ad Hoc Subcommittee
will be November 9, 1999 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
7. Recruiting and Retention: CDR Eric Crump reported the following:
Recruiting and Retention Subcommittee Purpose and Activities:
The Subcommittee advises the EPAC on issues relating to engineering recruiting
and retention including the identification of OPDIV recruiting contacts,
the updating of the Career Opportunities Pamphlet, and the coordination
and advice to the OPDIVs on engineer-specific information needed for effective
recruitment.
8. Rules: CAPT Cris Kinney reported the following:
Rules Subcommittee Purpose and Activities: The Subcommittee is
responsible for issues relevant to operating procedures for the EPAC, including
those necessary for a smooth administrative operation. Specific responsibilities
include serving as a nominating committee, including the solicitation and
recommendation of new members.
Junior Engineer Involvement: The subcommittee will be discussing
the issue of how to better involve Junior Officers in the EPAC over the
next month. We should be ready to discuss this before the EPAC in the December
meeting.
EPAC Members for 2000: The Office of the Chief Engineer is in
the process of obtaining the Surgeon General's approval for the members
recommended for the EPAC for the year 2000.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. ET.
EPAC Meeting Participation
Participants (Members in bold, with alternates attending
matched by number to the members absent):
CAPT Thomas M. Bedick (NIH), Mr. Suresh Bhatt (NIOSH), CDR Ezio
Borchini, CAPT Kevin S. Chadwick (IHS), CAPT Joseph Cocalis (CDC), CDR
Eric L. Crump (EPA), CDR Robert W. Faaland (FDA), LTJG Alan R. Fogarty
(IHS), CDR Jo Ann Griffith (EPA), Ms. Lisa Hayes (At Large), Mr.
Anthony Iannacchione (CDC), CAPT E. Crispin Kinney (IHS), CDR Louis
A. Lightner (HRSA), CDR Kenneth F. Martinez (At Large), LCDR Kenneth R.
Mead (CDC), CDR Leroy Mickelsen (CDC)1, LCDR Jacqueline
Parker (IHS), CAPT Sven Rodenbeck (At Large), Mr. Michael Sapco
(NIOSH), CAPT Gene Sullenger (FDA), CDR Maurice C. West (ATSDR),
Mr. F. Mitchell Williams (Ex Officio), RADM Robert C. Williams (Ex Officio)
Members Absent:
CAPT Terry L. Christensen (NIH), CDR Kevin R. Dermanoski (Ex
Officio),
CAPT James A. DiNovo (FDA), CDR Kathleen Poneleit (Ex
Officio), CAPT Larry Reed (CDC)1
Authorization
I have recorded the above EPAC meeting minutes:
/s/
10/29/99
F. Mitchell Williams, P.E.
Date
Executive Secretary, EPAC
I have read the above minutes which accurately describe this meeting,
and on behalf of the EPAC approve their distribution:
/s/
10/29/99
CAPT Thomas M. Bedick, P.E.
Date
Chairperson, EPAC
I authorize distribution of these minutes:
/s/
10/29/99
RADM Robert C. Williams, P.E.
Date
Chief Engineer, USPHS
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