TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, PA. - Hard work and dedication to the success of a critical test simulator program earned an equipment specialist a depot-level award.
Constantine (Dean) Georgiades was named Tobyhanna's second 2010 Employee of the Quarter for his role in expediting the fielding of several Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar (LCMR) systems since the beginning of the fiscal year.
Georgiades works in the Production Engineering Directorate's ISR Engineering Branch and has worked here for six years.
Depot personnel test new and repaired AN/TPQ-48 LCMR systems using a mechanical live-fire test simulator (M-LFTS) that replicates war zone scenarios. LCMR provides early detection and warning of mortar fire so U.S. forces can suppress or destroy the threat.
There are three versions of the radar in use or in development-V1, V2 and V3. There are hundreds of radars in various stages of upgrade or manufacture.
What started out as a two-month volunteer mission to learn about the LCMR has turned into a full-time job. A job Georgiades finds rewarding.
"I like the challenges of the program and the fact that we are helping our troops do the best job they can," he said. "Also, providing the support and equipment warfighters need to stay safe and return home to their loved ones. They deserve it."
Georgiades was instrumental in the development and integration of the LFTS which led to an increase in productivity, according to [Northampton resident] Mark Viola, C4ISR Division chief. It's estimated the simulator will save the U.S. government about $10 million for the testing of more than 400 radars throughout 2009-2010, he added.
The LFTS is housed in an anechoic chamber and has the capability to electronically simulate actual mortar fire.
"Dean is the kind of guy who goes the extra mile all the time," Viola said. "He's got a can-do attitude and an honest desire to make a difference."
The division chief praised Georgiades' "tireless" efforts to strengthen the depot's partnerships with multiple companies to maintain and upgrade the LFTS, consequently ensuring Tobyhanna has the capacity to accommodate future workload. Most recently, the depot was able to schedule the installation and verification of modified adapter pedestals for testing multiple systems versions.
"We are always striving to provide better support to the troops in the field and in the states getting ready to deploy," Georgiades said. "As the mission changes we keep the shop up-to-date with the latest software and hardware configurations."
Georgiades has been an integral part of the LCMR mission since becoming operational in 2008, according to Viola. He helped set up the shop area, including test equipment and other items needed to support the mission at Tobyhanna.
"We have also established Forward Repair Activities in the continental United States to provide quick response to our troops in the field," Georgiades said. "The LCMR is a vital sensor in Force Protection on almost all Forward Operating Bases."
Viola considers Georgiades as "the kind of guy people like to work with" and deserving of the depot-level award.
"He's an exceptional employee and coworker," he said. "There are many depot employees with the same great work ethic as Dean, but few, if any, with a better one."
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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