Odyssey Group Highlights

Aviation Group

One of the unique differences with the KC-46 is how the boom operators refuel aircraft in-flight. Previous platforms (KC-135 and KC-10) had boom operators looking through a window at the back of the aircraft, with direct line of sight to the aircraft being refueled. However, the KC-46 has an Aerial Refueling Operator Station (AROS) just behind the cockpit and the boom operators use a Remote Vision System (RVS) equipped with cameras on the outside of the plane, 3D glasses, and a joystick to move the boom into position to refuel aircraft. Sounds fun—right? What could go wrong? A lot.

The issue Boom Operators faced was that the RVS wasn’t responding quickly enough to sun and shadows making it difficult at times to see the plane being refueled or the aircraft receptacle, causing boom strikes and damage to the aircraft skin. Some of the strikes were significant, due to the classified coating on the stealth bomber being comprised. This drove the Air Force to issue a Category I Deficiency.

According to an article in Defense News, “The RVS was meant to transform how the service conducts aerial refueling. It did bring about change, but the service and the aircraft’s manufacturer, Boeing, concede it hasn’t lived up to all its expectations.”

After years of halting development and at times contentious negotiations, the Air Force and Boeing say the company and its primary subcontractor, Collins Aerospace, have developed the right solution.

The new version of the vision system, dubbed RVS 2.0, uses 4K ultrahigh-definition cameras to give boom operators a full-color, sharp 3D image as they guide the refueling boom into the receiver aircraft.

The Air Force approved the design for the new RVS and said the upgrade will eliminate the KC-46′s longstanding issue with lighting conditions—and that “it’s time to start making this design a reality.” Odyssey teammates reviewed Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs) for lab, ground, and flight test as well as studied the Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification (SCASE) guide which helped facilitate fielding and test support. The team consisted of Mark Baker, Roshel Aminov, and Chris Kowalchuk.

“We have the demos, we have the videos, we’ve flown it on [Boeing] planes … and it looks magnificent,” Lt. Col. Joshua Renfro, the head of the Air Force’s KC-46 Cross-Functional Team, said in an interview with Defense News. Yet another significant contribution to the Air Force mission by the Odyssey Team.

Elsewhere in the Aviation Group

Odyssey became an integral member of Automatic Test Systems Division (AFLCMC/WNA) at Robins AFB, GA. Since that time, every area within WNA has felt the “Odyssey Impact”… either through direct management of programs or through director-level comparisons to programs we are managing. We brought on four Program Managers and two Equipment Specialists and combined Odyssey employees to manage over 700 pieces of specialized equipment for the USAF, along with introducing division-level methodologies to holistically manage its programs.

C5ISR Group

As usual, the last few months have been a whirlwind in every corner of the C5ISR Group. With the dizzying array of programs we support—from weather systems, air traffic management, and Link-16 Data Links, to Over-the Horizon Radar, Battle Management, and F-35 Interoperability Trainers, and even aircraft platforms like AWACS, Joint STARS, and the next generation E-7—the C5ISR team is involved in many of the nation’s most important defense systems.

Without any exaggeration, Odyssey employees are making it happen at Hanscom AFB, Langley AFB, Scott AFB, Offutt AFB, Tinker AFB, Wright Patterson AFB, Ramstein AFB, Taiwan, Japan, the Middle East, and at our newest site at Hill AFB. Unfortunately, there isn’t space to capture all of the amazing work being done everyday across the group, so we’ll turn the spotlight on a small sample.

First, a peek into our newest division of C5ISR, HBZ (Aerospace Dominance Enabler) at Hill AFB. This part of the HB contract was delayed to line-up with the end of a prior support contract. For us, the action began on 1 March 2024, though in reality, the action started a few months earlier with our transition activities. Our multi-functional transition team comprised of Talent Acquisition (Kate Copley, Scott Bingham, and Max Kachur), Human Resources (Bill Decker, Suraiea Hussain, Melanie White, and Maxine Ferrara), Quality & Compliance (Beth Salter), Security (Michael Laurie and Jamie Lufkin), and Operations (Bob Sanguinet, Dave McMillan, Cindy Callahan, John Dionne, and Leah Pfeifle). Over about three months they’ve made offers, received acceptances, processed new Common Access Cards (CACs), updated special access, and onboarded 97 incumbent personnel (60 new Odyssey employees). Because of their amazing efforts, we’re ready for a super successful contract start. They make it look easy, but only because they are so good.

As the Air Force modernizes it’s C5ISR systems to cloud-based applications, many of Odyssey’s top experts and Subject Matter Experts (SME) are at the heart of those efforts. One such effort has been in AF Mission Planning (HBM). One such contributor has been our own Scott Dowty. Responsible for Crypto Products, he plays a critical role in ensuring that new capabilities like In-Flight Replanning can be conducted securely in a cloud environment. Scott organized and led the National Security Agency (NSA) and Network Enabled Weapons (NEW) 2024 stakeholders meeting to map out the strategy for getting from the recently completed Electronic Key Production and delivery software to actual fielding of the capability across multiple Services. By leading the effort (working closely with the NSA partner), the program is on the final stretch before fielding. Scott is a retired Lt Col who teaches Air Force Doctrine courses and volunteers at the Hanscom AFB Chapel as Choir Director in his off time—truly the epitome of selfless service.

One of the unique parts of Odyssey capabilities is our FIRES team. Led by Phil Freeman and his teammates Robert Bonta and William Morris, they are the developers, sustainers, and operators of our proprietary TACTICS and AJACTS systems. Both are learning management and database tracking systems—which is a boring way of saying that we provide the means to track all the courses, certifications, and qualifications of Special Operations Tactical Air Controllers. The system’s Green/Yellow/Red stoplight report is key to determining that appropriate qualifications are met before real-world deployment. Meeting SOCOM, AFSOC, MARSOC, and ACC new requirements is a full-time job, and their expert enhancements such as expanding system libraries, enabling document exchange, adding Change Trackers, and new reporting features, have direct and tangible benefits to the Special Ops community.

Across the pond in Europe, our Odyssey program management team supporting USAFE at Ramstein and Einseidlerhof AFBs in Germany have had a few very busy months. First, they successfully closed our one contract and ushered in another, making it through the recompete process. Second, they did it without any disruption of service or significant change in personnel. This, of course, is a tribute to the amazing service by Rick Mercer and his team (OT Solomon, Jay Walton, Karleton Dempsey, Jim Bennett, Tim Griffin, Christine Bennett, and Bob Kennedy). Among their most important accomplishments has been support to Precision Multi-Role Operations (PMRO), Air Base Air Defense (ABAD), USAFE AFAFRICA Base Operations Support (UABOS), and Air Force Modeling and Simulation (AFMS3) contracts. Within the A8I branch, our team designed the framework for the new Consolidated Mission Support (CMS) concept and the authorship of the CMS Performance Work Statement (PWS). CMS will form the basis for USAFE-USAFRICA for the next 5 years and is estimated to save significant money for the Air Force.

The USAFE-AFAFRICA Warrior Center (UAWC) completed the first phase of a major F-35 Effects Based Simulator (EBS). EBS is a F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) sponsored and owned simulation system that provides functionally equivalent performance of the F-35. It is intended for high intensity, multi-mission and multi-domain interoperability training with other USAF, Joint, NATO and Coalition forces focused on the European environment. The effort garnered praise from General Hecker, USAFE-AFAFRICA Commander, during a recent tour and demonstration. Because of the success, the program is expanding to 20 nations and new sites in Europe. Finally, for those of you familiar with the Kaiserslautern area, the team enjoyed an early holiday lunch with C5ISR Executive Director, Paul Marston at well-known local establishment, Big Emma’s. The giant schnitzels are not to be missed!

Medical Group

Odyssey WRAIR Biological Research and Development (BRD) Highlights

Within the WRAIR Biological Research and Development (BRD) Section of the Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR), Odyssey scientific and technical staff work in the Structural Vaccinology group. Their primary objective is to design, develop, optimize, and transition vaccines and therapeutics to pre-clinical animal models using a proprietary vaccine platform that is easily modified to work against most infectious agents. Originally developed to create a Malaria vaccine, the group has expanded their work to other infectious diseases of military relevance. Primary among them is a mosquito-borne virus illness that is becoming more prevalent in both Asia and Africa. Recent studies in mice suggest the vaccine produces a good immune response so further development to optimize the product is ongoing. Another vaccine specific to a bacterial pathogen being developed within our Wound Infection Department (WID) has progressed to the stage of small animal testing. Given the anticipated success of these vaccines, the Odyssey group has begun collaborating with the WRAIR cGMP Pilot Bioproduction Facility (PBF) to develop the necessary Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for production of clinical trial material.

Odyssey Brain Trauma and Neuroprotection (BTN) branch within the WRAIR Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience (CMPN) Highlights

The WRAIR Brain Trauma and Neuroprotection (BTN) branch within the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience (CMPN) has been focused on the development of various interventions, from small molecule drugs and biologics to medical devices, that mitigate the devastating effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on our warfighters. Recently, the Combat Casualty Care Research Program (CCCRP) awarded one of our researchers a $1.5M grant to study the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved blood pressure drug, Bumetanide, for its ability to reduce cerebral edema immediately following a penetrating brain injury. Another project led by this scientist includes the pre-clinical investigation of a prescription blood thinner, similar to heparin, for its ability to prevent neuronal loss, post-TBI, due to fibrin deposition without inducing a brain bleed. This work was recently published in the Journal of Neurotrauma. A separate team, led by another Odyssey researcher, is concentrating on the mitochondria found in nearly all eukaryotic cells, including all cell types found in the brain. Mitochondria, sometimes called the cell’s “Powerhouse”, are responsible for nearly all of the cell’s energy production. Damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria lead to cell death, or apoptosis. However, the effects of TBI on the mitochondria are poorly understood. This Odyssey team is evaluating mitochondria biomarkers to better define the effects of TBI on function and survival while also investigating various classes of known drug compounds for their ability to prevent or reduce damage to the mitochondria in the brain. This month, the group published an article in the Journal of Translational Medicine summarizing the advantages of intranasal delivery of these drugs in the prevention and / or reduction of mitochondrial damage post-TBI.

WRAIR Department of Diarrheal Disease Research (DDR) Highlights

In addition to ongoing projects to produce high-titer anti-Shigella antibodies in cows, development of an “Intestine on a Chip” technology, and a collaboration with the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) to develop a novel vaccine against Campylobacter jejuni, the DDR group is investigating Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) as a potential therapeutic against Shigella infection- the most common enteric infection among deployed soldiers. Each peptide can have a different mechanism of action, allowing them to be combined into a cocktail with broad spectrum activity. The group is currently synthesizing a library of peptides and testing for identification and purity using Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS). Once complete, the peptides will be tested for functionality using a panel of assays such as the Serum Bactericidal Assay, Invasion Assay and the aforementioned “Intestine on a Chip” system. This same group continues to be the World’s largest producer of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a critical reagent used in the evaluation of products developed against all enteric pathogens.

Odyssey WRAIR Wound Infection Department (WID) Highlights

The WRAIR Wound Infection Department (WID) continues to identify, evaluate and transition therapeutics and medical devices against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial and fungal wound infections. This work is a high priority for the DoD as the risk of MDR is greatly increased in the context of delayed medical care expected during a near-peer conflict.

In the past six months, the Structural Biology group has been testing several new classes of drugs and drug combinations including, peptoids, Resveratrol, EBSeb, MurC compounds and Dichlorophene.

The Human Monoclonal Antibody Platform (HMAP) group is utilizing its in-house developed mouse lung infection model to evaluate monoclonal antibodies Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA). At the same time, the group is using the same mouse model to collaborate with the Biological Research and Development (BR&D) branch at WRAIR on a new virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine against Acinetobacter baumannii. Recently, one of Odyssey’s Junior Scientists in HMAP was selected by WRAIR leadership to participate in a nationwide NIH-funded Early-Career Leadership Training Program to take place this coming Spring. She is only one of 20 researchers from WRAIR to be chosen for this training.

The Bacteriophage Group (BT) continues to develop novel bacteriophage cocktails specific for MDR pathogens. Ongoing projects include the use of specialized cocktails that inhibit biofilm formation in bacterial lung infections and the development of a new wound dressing impregnated with bacteriophage to prevent infection. The group was recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Science for their work examining how bacteria evolve systems to escape bacteriophage killing.

In the Trauma Infection Group (TIR), our scientists are collaborating with the BT group on a blast / burn mouse model, testing various therapeutics against the invasive fungal infection, mucormycosis, in a combat relevant mouse model and evaluating the effect of hypothermia on kinetics of drug metabolism. The latter work has become a DoD priority because of the increasing possibility of combat in the Arctic.

Space and Missile Defense Group

SZQ Program Office Support

After successfully recapturing the Strategic Warning and Surveillance Systems (SW&SS) Acquisition Delta (SSC/SZQ) contract last July 2023, Team Odyssey has grown its support to 253 members providing Program Management, Engineering, Logistics, Network Engineering, Software Test, Data Science, Cost Estimating/Cost Analysis, Configuration Management, Systems Administration, Cybersecurity, Test Management, Program Control, Scheduling, IT Support, Software Engineering, Contracting Support, Facility Management, and Human Resources support to the SSC/SZQ. Program highlights are below.

Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) Program

The UEWR team provides a full range of sustainment and modernization acquisition support to operational sites located across both the United States and United States European Command. These radars are capable of detecting ballistic missile attacks and conducting general space surveillance and satellite tracking.

UEWR Solid State Module (SSM) Out of Band (OOB) Program

The SSM replacement project was developed to replace the SSMs on face B at Fylingdales (the radar has three faces, faces A, B, C, with ~1600 SSMs per face). The SSMs are primarily responsible for transmitting the radar signal and then later receiving the signal. The modules, prior to updates, produced spurious transmissions that interfere with over the air transmissions such as radio, television and first responder communications in the United Kingdom. The UK made it a United States Space Force (USSF) priority to resolve these spurious transmissions. About a year into the contract, the Odyssey/Government team realized the contractors design would not be compatible with the radar systems. The Government wanted to cancel the contract, but still needed a way forward to resolve the international issue for the UK.

The Odyssey Team developed a plan allowing the cancelation of the initial program and provided a way to fix the spurious emissions. The plan underwent testing and was found to be viable. The team found that the transistors and the daughterboard in the SSMs could be replaced with new/improved parts. Doing so significantly lowered the spurious transmissions produced by the radar. The Odyssey Team created a contract with a new vendor to have all the modules replaced on the 3 faces at Fylingdales for half the cost of the original contract that only provided replacement of the modules on one face.

The SSM OOB project is currently a month ahead of schedule, and when United Kingdom (UK) Space Command personnel visited Colorado Springs, they gave the SSM OOB project high praise for the progress it has made.

Cobra Dane (CD) Program Overview

The CD team contributions ensure the single faced, ground-base, L-band phased-array radar can perform missile defense and space surveillance missions for combatant commanders.

The Odyssey team collaborated with the Government financial management team to establish an updated future year funding profile after the decision to decommission CD from the Missile Warning mission (this decision eliminated $33.4M in Future Year Defense Program (FYDP) funding). The Odyssey Team authored an FY24 Unfunded Request for the CD Transmitter System procurement program and executed an obligation plan to fund multiple contract options in FY24 that were planned for FY25. These include: procurement for the full replacement of the CD Transmitter System, including three (3) Transmitter Group Replacement (TGR) installs, one (1) Radio Frequency Amplifier kit, and TGR shipping and developer installation support.

NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex (NCMC)/Legacy Space

The NCMC-Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) program provides ITW/AA authorities with warning and attack assessment of air, missile, and space threats. The NCMC-ITW/AA system provides combatant commanders command and control information, capabilities and tools to support air, space, and missile warning missions.

The Odyssey Team obtained O-6 approval from the Missile Warning and Tracking (MW/T) Mission Area Team (MAT) for Trial Period Entry, followed by Trial Period Exit and Operational Acceptance for the Site-E project at Pituffik SB, Greenland. This was the last of 15 sites around the globe to receive a technology refresh of Communications Processing Subsystem (CPS) completing the overall Site-E project. Odyssey engineers prepared the Trial Period Review Panel (TPRP) brief, which successfully garnered approvals for each milestone. The Odyssey Team also provided an explanation to the 12th Space Warning Squadron (SWS) Commander to alleviate concerns about a perceived communications path latency issue, which was holding up the Commander’s Trial Period exit approval. With the completion of this final site, all Forward User locations and Sensor Sites around the globe are compliant with the DoD Chief Information Officer’s mandate to transition all Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) mission circuits to IP circuits, with all sites operating on the newest equipment available.

Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS)

PARCS is a single-faced, multi-function, Ultra High Frequency (UHF), phased-array radar. The primary mission of PARCS is to keep watch for sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched toward North America. The secondary mission of PARCS is to provide Space Domain Awareness (SDA) data concerning space launches and orbital objects of interest to the Space Surveillance Network (SSN).

Odyssey personnel provided support to the PARCS Product Division (PPD). With the departure of the Government Program Manager, Odyssey personnel have provided the continuity needed to allow the program to remain on schedule.

Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC)
DARC is a ground-based radar capability designed to support and enhance Space Domain Awareness (SDA) by providing 24/7, all-weather capabilities that will increase the ability to detect, track, identify and characterize High Interest Objects in deep space.

DARC will consist of three operational sites, one CONUS and two OCONUS, United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. With Odyssey’s lead, DARC had a successful Technology Demonstration. Now identified as an Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1 Program of Record (POR), Odyssey’s personnel are on site in Australia leading the initial construction of the site for the DARC system. Our Engineers, Program Managers, and Logisticians are supporting the government by providing oversight of the Prime Contractors who are doing development, integration, and testing of the software and hardware that comprise the system. Additionally, Odyssey personnel are working to ensure funding is in place for further construction, conducting on-going international negotiations with both Australia and the UK, and that all logistical plans are in place to ensure on time delivery of this game changing technology.

System Solutions Group

Led by our Program Lead, Tim Vockrodt, Engineers Alex Agnello, Tim Ungacta, Jeff Yaeger, Adam Grey, and Jeremiah Colt have dedicated much of their time to the design, development, and testing of the RAPID-X solution—a novel concept for cross domain security based upon Odyssey’s Guard Normalization Server (GNS). Both the US Navy and Air Force contributed operational requirements and funding. Navy programs focused on the design of a low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) Tactical CDS. This lightweight kit supports high-speed, low-latency file and streaming data transfers across up to three domains. Our Air Force partner asked Odyssey to lead and collaborate with others on the team to develop what is hoped to become a new DoD/Intelligence Community (IC) Standard for Cross Domain and Multi-level Security data labeling.

Andrew Kennedy and Systems Engineers, Justin Dennis, and AJ Salinas have supported the software efforts stated above while also developing a number of new capabilities to support Odyssey internal process, as well as that of our customers. Specifically, the team has developed a capability that allows for the rapid application of information assurance, security protocols on new or existing software. This represents a considerable time and cost reduction across the software development lifecycle. Additionally, this group has established an Emulated Cross Domain Development & Test environment that allows engineers to work remotely to perform 90% of all work outside of NSA-mandated/restricted environments. Discussions are underway to make this into what could become one of just a small handful of NSA/National Cross Domain Strategy & Management Office (NCDSMO) approved secure CDS development environments that would be offers to Odyssey customers on an Information as a Service (IaaS) basis.

Robert Cognetti led a number of large strategic growth pursuits to include the Egyptian Maritime Domain Awareness program, Nigerian Wide Area Surveillance Systems program, Army Intel Apps, Advance Battle Management Systems (ABMS) Distributed Battle Management Node and recently an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) bid from MIT Lincoln Lab for Laser-based Networking & Communications.

Reid Webber has been working independently and with our trusted partners to drive awareness and advocacy for Odyssey’s LINX Mission Management & Collaboration Suite. LINX is our flagship, software-based solution for seamless planning, execution and analysis of ISR operations and intelligence missions. Reid’s engagements have recently focused on Army G2, DEVCOM, IVIII ABN Corps, 513th MI Brigade, ISR Task Force and others.