Engineers design software in Metrology

The above photo is from April 1983 On Target.

It's been 15 years ago that Newark AFB learned of its pending closure, 43 years since the base's newspaper, On Target, was first published, and over 45 years since the establishment of a guidance and metrology operation in Heath. From a complete collection of On Target newspapers and other archives, the Port Authority's Bill Wright creates a month-by-month look at The Base through the years.

One Year Ago - April 2007
ProjectCam Goes Live. The James Parkway roadway extension project entered its final stage of development with the ProjectCam on the South Campus viewable LIVE via the Internet. The camera is a cutting edge monitoring tool that is wireless in every way. It is solar-powered and connected to the Port Authority network via a wireless internet connection as well. The Cam joins others among the on-site camera systems deployed at the COATC.


5 Years Ago - April 2003
Aerospace and Defense Council Meets At COATC. The Port Authority hosted the Ohio Aerospace and Defense Advisory Council in the newly-remodeled COATC Conference Center. The Council is a 17-member group of business, military, academic, and legislative leaders. The meeting proved to be a chance to raise the profile of the COATC and its major aerospace and defense tenants among industry leaders in Ohio. Former astronaut Kathleen Sullivan, who chaired the Council meeting, and Ohio Dept. of Development Director Bruce Johnson, who would later become Governor Bob Taft's Lt. Governor, toured Boeing facilities that day.


10 Years Ago - April 1998
Boeing added a second amendment to their current lease agreement to lease the Cafeteria and signed an agreement with Aramark. After many years of service from Aramark, AVI Foodsystems Inc is now the tenant of the cafeteria.


15 Years Ago - April 1993
In Line to Leave? The first of those accepting the incentive offers were in line by 8 a.m. to process out in the mass exodus. By the time everyone had completed the out processing procedure 350 had cleared the base through retirements, early outs, and resignations.


20 Years Ago - April 1988
Colonel Powell reflects on command. "It was all I expected and more," said Col. Powell when looking over his two-year stint here. The Center made great progress towards meeting its mission responsibility. At a Change of Command ceremony near building 2, Col. Powell relinquished his command to Col. Flournoy.


25 Years Ago - April 1983
Engineers Design Software in Metrology. Metrology's "youth program" continued in full swing as the directorate turned to young engineers to cope with the exodus of retiring veteran engineers. Examples of the "youth program" were David Brown and Gene Pishner. The pair, under the tutelage of Terry Green of the System Metrology Engineering Branch completed the software programs for a Portable Automatic Test Equipment Calibrator.


30 Years Ago - April 1978
Roof issues nothing new to Building 4. There's something fishy in Metrology! The following story was told by metrology physicist, Howard Hopkins. " A live goldfish was recently discovered swimming in a trash can in the engineering office of Metrology's DC and Low Frequency Standards Lab. The trash can was being used to catch water from roof leaks during the recent heavy rains. Apparently, the fish had slipped into the building with the rain water through the crack in the roof and had fallen into a plastic sheet used to channel the water into the trash can. Hopkins speculated that the fish may have been swept up from a pond and dropped on the roof of Building 4.


35 Years Ago - April 1973
Fitness at the Base? AGMC Commander Col. Neville turned the first shovelful of dirt for the construction of the new handball court located on the west side of Building 4. New indoor driving range opened. AGMC's new indoor driving range was ready for use. The range was located in Building 4 on top of the KT-70 platform area. The range was 82 feet long and 22 feet high and enclosed with nylon netting and had a vinyl ball return.


40 Years Ago - April 1968
Savings Bond Award. The Industrial Engineering Division "flew" the Air Force Minuteman Award for the highest rate of participation division employees had shown in the U.S. Savings Bond Program. They won their award for the 96 percent participation rate, the only NAFS organization to be so honored.


45 Years Ago - March 1963
Payroll for Air Force Station tops $1 million. Payroll at the Newark Air Force Station exceeded a million dollars for the first time. An increase of 57 new employees and salary increases pushed the payroll from $939,000 to $1,060,000. The Base today employs over 900 people with an annual payroll of over $55 million.