Polar Research Support

Erick Chiang

Head, Polar Research Support Section

21 - 22 August 2006 U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators Workshop

NSB Guiding DirectiveNSB Guiding Directive

• 1987 NSB Report – The National Science Foundation in Polar Regions

“Scientific needs and opportunities should determine the research conducted in both polar regions, with logistics deriving from and supporting the research rather that dictating it.”

Who are we?Who are we?• Erick Chiang – Section Head• Brian Stone – Deputy Section

Head• Science Support Manager –

(currently vacant)• Arthur Brown – NZ

Representative• George Blaisdell – Operations

Manager• David Bresnahan – Logistics

Manager• Patrick Haggerty –

Construction Manager• Jerry Marty – South Pole

Construction Manager• Michael Schueremann –

Aviation Projects Manager

• Alexander Sutherland – Marine Projects Manager

• Col. Paul Sheppard – DoD Liason

• Lt. Col. Ian Biggins – ANG Liason

• Sandra Singer – Facilities Engineer

• Patrick Smith – IT Technology Manager

• Kevin Culin – South Pole IT Engineer

• Ben Bergerson – IT Security• Bill Michael – IT Support• Carlena Fooks – Section

Support

21 - 22 August 2006 U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators Workshop

What do we do?

Program Oversight of:

• Science Support: Get you there and back and insure you can get your science done.

• Operations and maintenance of station infrastructure: Power; water; facilities; airfields; seaports; roadways – just like any small town

• IT and Communications Infrastructure: We are the .com and telephone company in Antarctica.

• Engineering and Construction Management: What we need we have designed and built.

• Logistics and Resupply: 8 million gals of fuel and 15 M lbs of stuff

• Budgets and Cost Control: $208M

21 - 22 August 2006 U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators Workshop

What Does it Cost? (FY 06 in What Does it Cost? (FY 06 in millions of dollarsmillions of dollars))

US Air Force Airlift (C-17) $ 5.00

Environmental Operations $ 6.00

Engineering & Construction $ 14.00

Resupply Sealift $ 21.00

IT & Communications $ 23.00

Research Field Support (non-marine) $ 24.00

Research Vessels $ 26.00

Air National Guard LC-130 Support $ 33.00

Operations and Infrastructure $ 56.80

Total $ 208.80

21 - 22 August 2006 U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators Workshop

Who Else Plays?Who Else Plays?

• Raytheon Polar Services Company• Air National Guard

– 109th AW LC-130’s

• Department of Defense– Pacific Command (PACOM)

• Overall command of military units

– Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)• Military Sealift Command for resupply ships

• Strategic Airlift – C-17s

• Space and Naval Air Warfare Center• U.S. Coast Guard

21 - 22 August 2006 U.S. Antarctic Program, New Investigators Workshop

Who Else Plays (con’t)?Who Else Plays (con’t)?

• Cold Regions Research and Engineering Labs• Naval Facilities Engineering Command• Petroleum Helicopter LTD

– A 350’s; Bell 212 helicopter

• Kenn Borek Air– Twin Otters; Basler 67

Science Support

Effectively plan for and execute science support requirements

Maintain the InfrastructureMaintain the InfrastructureImplement effective quality management systems to provide well maintained and operationally effective facilities

Palmer Station

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station

McMurdo Station

IT and CommunicationsIT and Communications

To provide network systems that allow intra- and intercontinental communications comparable to that found at typical business and higher education establishments in the continental United States

Black Island Communication site

South Pole MARISAT antennaPalmer Station INTELSAT antenna

Transportation and LogisticsTransportation and LogisticsTo effectively deliver people/cargo/science to, within,

and from Antarctica