By Vicky Falcón
NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

At a Department of Defense Annual Conference on Electromagnetic and Spectrum Management in early April, Robert B. Smith, head of AIR-4.9’s Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Aircraft Engineering Branch and manager of the Air Systems Electromagnetic Interference Corrective Action Program (ASEMICAP), was awarded the Dr. Robert J. Haislmaier Memorial Award for significant contributions in the field of electromagnetics that have directly impacted the fleet.

The award included a letter of commendation from RDML Elisabeth A. Hight, director, Net-Centric Warfare Division, in which she honored Smith as a well-respected expert throughout the U.S. Navy Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) community.

“His tireless efforts and dedication have significantly reduced system level electromagnetic interference problems on U.S. Navy aircraft,” wrote Hight. “The fleet is better prepared to fight today because of his many years of hard work and dedicated service.”

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is an issue in the military environment (particularly on board ships) where many types of electronic equipment have to successfully operate in close proximity to each other. In such an environment communication, navigation and data processing electronics all need to function simultaneously in the presence of strong radio frequency (RF) fields. Two-way communications equipment and radar transmitters produce these RF fields, as do natural electromagnetic phenomena such as lightning and precipitation static. In order to successfully perform its function each electronic device needs to be electromagnetically compatible with its environment – not be rendered inoperative or unsafe by that environment.

Smith, who has been with NAVAIR for more than 15 years, began his career at the NAWCAD, Patuxent River Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Lab. Six years later he became program manager for ASEMICAP – charged with resolving fleet-experienced EMI.

To reduce and control EMI, the ASEMICAP team provides engineering and technical support directly to the fleet and represents fleet interests within the acquisition community. ASEMICAP also ensures the E3 hardness of operational aircraft systems, subsystems and equipment throughout their life cycles.

One example of the kind of work performed by Smith and his team involved a “check-engine” light – called a chip detector – that was erroneously going off in the H-60 when the helicopter was at sea. The chip detector lights when sensors detect metal in the aircraft’s engine – a warning that triggers an immediate landing and costly maintenance action.

According to Smith, his team noticed a history of fleet messages showing chip detector signals where maintenance was undertaken but no metal was found in the engine. The team determined the electromagnetic interference was causing false signals and developed a filter as a “fix.” The filter is already being implemented in the fleet, saving unnecessary maintenance time and money while keeping the aircraft operational.

“I’m proud of the work our team is doing,” said Smith. “This award just recognizes the fact that we’re doing our job – keeping our warfighters safe and our aircraft ready-for-tasking.”

The award Smith received is named after Dr. Robert J. Haislmaier, a well-known and respected Navy civilian who worked his entire career on Navy E3 issues and policies. He was the chief spokesman for Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) on E3 issues and his last job was as the head of NAVAIR’s E3 division. After his death in the 1990’s, Tri-SYSCOM E3 leadership established the award in his name to honor the candidate that most epitomized Haislmaier’s dedication to E-3 engineering.

For more information about electromagnetic environmental effects or the Dr. Robert J. Haislmaier Memorial Award, go to www.asemicap.net or www.jsc.mil.

Photo Caption: Robert B. Smith (on left), head of AIR-4.9’s Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Aircraft Engineering Branch and manager of the Air Systems Electromagnetic Interference Corrective Action Program (ASEMICAP), receives the Dr. Robert J. Haislmaier Memorial Award for significant contributions in the field of electromagnetics that have directly impacted the fleet from Dave Harris of Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N71.