August 1, 2019 • APG News B5 TECH

Continued from Page B1 new ideas seed money to develop them. It was one of eight projects chosen from a field of 17 to receive funding. The LEDs work by way of photocatalysis, meaning that the light acts as a co-catalyst in the degradation of the CWA. “Some chemicals break down under light and some chemicals break down even eas- ier under certain wavelengths of light, let’s say a red LED, a green LED and blue LED,” Landers explained. “The purpose of the blue LED is to activate a dye that in turn gen- erates a reactive oxygen that breaks down these chemical agents.” Wang and Landers’ work with boron- dipyrromethene (BODIPY), an organic compound that acts as a photosensitizer – a molecule that brings about a chemical change in another molecule - decontamina- tion of the HD molecule in this case - in the presence of light. “The LED initiates the reaction, activat- ing the dye-like BODIPY and the BODI- PY, when exposed to LED light, converts Photo by Shawn Nesaw, CCDC CBC the nearby oxygen to a more reactive form,” Wang explains further. “It’s that reactive Primary investigators Hui Wang, Ph.D. and John Landers, Ph.D. hope to fight chemical warfare agents with light. oxygen that breaks down the chemical on stealth, Wang and Landers realized “Instead of taking an LED and applying circuit between layers of a uniform allowing agent. It all begins with the LED.” that light emitted from LEDs would need it to the surface of clothing, we will incor- the LEDs to safely activate if a warfight- Because warfighter safety often relies obscuration. porate small LEDs with an ink jet-printed er suspects an agent threat,” Landers said.

deputy, served as master of ceremonies for “Don’t forget the magnitude of your “A leader is best when people barely the pinning ceremony, during which Cox everyday work,” Cox advised. “I know many know he exists,” he said, “when his work is SES received his official SES pin and accompa- feel that no one is paying attention when you, done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did nying certificate, as well as the official SES yourself, are toiling in the lab, but our adver- it ourselves.” flag. Moore administered the oath of office, saries are. We are a deterrent to them to pre- The Senior Executive Service was estab- Continued from Page B1 as Cox’s wife, Dr. Joy Ginter Cox, also a vent their actions.” lished in 1978 to be a corps of executives as a contractor supporting projects for the CCDC CBC scientist, held the Bible on Cox also praised the camaraderie of the to serve in key governmental positions not Department of Homeland Security and the which her husband pledged his loyalty to the center workforce. filled by top presidential appointees. It is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, organization and the tenants of service. “We are a great team. We have each oth- highest civilian service in the government Cox found himself supporting the overall After the official proceedings, Cox took er’s backs and lift each other up,” he said. and is extended only to those federal employ- chemical and biological defense mission of the podium to thank his family, friends and While the focus of the celebration, Cox ees who demonstrate professional integrity, the United States. colleagues who gathered for the occasion, made sure to share credit with his fellow a broad perspective, and a commitment to Cox transitioned to a federal civilian and to focus attention on the criticality of the CB Center team members. He deflected his the highest ideals of public service. The SES position in 2009 when he became the cen- center’s mission. He mentioned the support own accomplishments and encouraged his Corps is comprised of more than 7,000 mem- ter’s Chemical Biological Radiological Fil- role the CCDC Chemical Biological Cen- co-workers to take advantage of the many bers. The Department of Defense employs tration Branch chief. After dedicated service ter played during the chemical warfare agent opportunities that present themselves during approximately 460 members of the SES, who supporting his team, he was promoted to poisoning in Salisbury, England, in 2018 and a long career. are accorded general officer status. Chemical and Biological Protection and how center employees would be called to Moore concluded with a quote from the For more information about the CCDC Decontamination Division chief. action in the event of a similar attack in the Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu that he said Chemical Biological Center, visit https:// Col. Thomas Saltysiak, CBC military United States. summed up Cox’s leadership style. www.ecbc.army.mil/.

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and the Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida. The Smithsonian At the center of it all is the Smithsonian Institution was founded Institution Building, better known as “The Castle.” Its “America’s Treasure Chest” exhibit 173 years ago on inspires all with a sneak peek at the types of Aug. 10, 1846. artifacts displayed in all of the museums. Smithsonian facts The Smithsonian is the world’s largest The Smithsonian’s federal appropriation for museum, education, and research complex, fiscal year 2019 - from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, with 19 museums and the National Zoo. 2019 - is $1 billion. Nearly 29 million people The Smithsonian was founded with funds visited the museums and the National Zoo from James Smithson, a British scientist who in 2018. All Smithsonian museums are open left his estate to the United States to found “at seven days a week, except Christmas Day, and Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian admission is free. A visitor’s center is located in Institution, an establishment for the increase the Castle. and diffusion of knowledge.” On Aug. 10, 1846, the U.S. Senate passed the act organizing the Smithsonian Institution, which Collections was signed into law by President James K. Polk. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 155 million, of which nearly 146 million are scientific specimens Who was James Smithson? at the National Museum of Natural History. Smithson was the illegitimate child of a wealthy Englishman. He traveled throughout his life, but never set foot on American soil. Some speculate that he left Digital information his fortune to the United states because he was denied his father’s legacy. Others The Smithsonian home page, www.smithsonian.org, offers a wide range of say he was inspired by the United States’ experiment with democracy. Smithson information, from planning a visit to exploring the collections online. Also, the never discussed his bequest so it is simply accepted that his gift has had a significant Smithsonian had 160 million visitors to its website in 2018, and has more than 30 impact on the arts, humanities and sciences in the U.S. Smithson’s legacy amounted mobile apps, digital magazines and more than 13 million images and records on to more than 100,000 gold sovereigns. Recoined in U.S. currency, the gift amounted the Collections Search Center site. Across its most frequently used social-media to more than $500,000. platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, the Smithsonian had 15 Smithson died in 1829 and his remains were relocated to the U.S. in 1904 where million followers and nearly 250 million YouTube views in 2018. he was reinterred at the Smithsonian. His crypt is located on the first floor of the Location Smithsonian Castle. Many of the museums are located on the National Mall and are easily accessible Today, the Smithsonian Institution is a museum and research complex of 19 by Metro. Other museums are located throughout Washington D.C., such as the museums and galleries and the National Zoological Park, as well as research National Zoo in Woodley Park and the Postal Museum near Union Station. Visit the facilities. They include the popular National Air and Space Museum; the National Smithsonian website at https://www.si.edu/museums for museum locations, hours, Museum of American History; the National Museum of African American History and maps, parking, Metrorail information, and much more. Culture; the National Portrait Gallery; the National Museum of the American Indian, Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. and much more. Smithsonian research facilities include Archives of American Art; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; Smithsonian Yvonne Johnson, APG News Environmental Research Center; Museum Conservation Institute; Smithsonian Source(s) https://www.si.edu/about; https://washington.org/smithsonian-institution- Libraries; Smithsonian Institution Archives; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; museums-overview; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithsonian_Institution Tell them you saw it in the APG News

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