News Release
NASA has recently certified Xavier Sweeney as a Payload Rack Officer (PRO). Xavier is the first flight controller whose status was obtained as a part of a Mentor Protégé Agreement (MPA) between Teledyne Brown Engineering and Alabama State University. The MPA was signed under Teledyne Brown Engineering’s Mission Operations and Integration (MO&I) Contract and allows the university and students participating in the program to receive assistance in developing multi-media training for the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Ground Support Personnel and Payload Developers. This agreement was put in place on July, 27th 2015.
“Xavier started as an intern with us and was offered a full-time position upon his graduation. He’s spent the past year tirelessly training to reach his certification goal. His efforts are commendable, and we are pleased to have him on our team.” stated Dr. Dwight Mosby, Senior Director with Teledyne for the MO&I contract.
The ISS certification qualifies Xavier to provide real-time command and control for NASA research facilities such as: EXpedite PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station (EXPRESS) Racks, Window Observational Research Facility (WORF), Minus Eighty-degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI), and EXPRESS Logistics Carriers. As a Payload Rack Officer Xavier will also coordinate and monitor use of Payload Support Systems resources, which includes power, water flow, vacuum and nitrogen gas usage for all NASA payload facilities.
“This partnership has allowed for multiple accomplishments for students, the university, and our company,” stated Debbie Batson Small Business Liaison for Teledyne. “Along with NASA, we work diligently to ensure that we are giving experience to young professionals and our future workforce that allow for possibilities that otherwise may not have existed.”
About Teledyne Brown Engineering
Teledyne Brown Engineering is an industry leader in full-spectrum engineering and advanced manufacturing solutions for harsh environments in space, defense, energy, and maritime industries. For over six decades, the company has successfully delivered innovative systems, integration, operations and technology development worldwide. For more information about Teledyne Brown Engineering visit: www.tbe.com.
About Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated instrumentation, digital imaging products and software, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne Technologies' operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne Technologies' website at www.teledyne.com.