ISR Division reorganization kicks off today

A reorganization in the International, Space and Research (ISR) Division kicks off today. ISR Division Leader Doug Beason announced the reorganization at an all-hands division meeting on Feb. 25.

The reorganization has two primary components: the splitting of High Power Microwave, Advanced Accelerator and Electrodynamic Applications (ISR-10) into two groups — Applied Electromagnetics (ISR-5) and RF and Accelerator Physics (ISR-6); and the moving of two teams between Space and Atmospheric Sciences (ISR-1) and Space and Remote Sensing Sciences (ISR-2) — the astrophysics and energetic particle team in ISR-2 shifts to ISR-1, and the radio & ionospheric physics team in ISR-1 moves to ISR-2.

The full ISR Division leadership team and non-management representatives from each group and program office developed the reorganization plan during several strategic planning sessions held over the past few weeks; although several options were considered, Beason said the final decision was made based on survival, growth, and new opportunities for ISR people and programs. The purpose of the planning sessions and the ultimate reorganization is to ensure that ISR Division is appropriately aligned to achieve the vision, mission and strategic goals of ISR.

While Beason said he has full confidence in the current ISR leadership team, five of the group-leader positions will be re-competed. "These positions have changed from when they were originally competed, and I want to ensure that I have a leadership team committed to the future of ISR," explained Beason. The only group-leader position that will not be re-competed is the new ISR-6 group leader spot because of a "sunset" clause for the group to grow and become self-sustaining within a three-year period. Michael Fazio, the current group leader for ISR-10, will assume the helm of this new group and will undertake a program development effort across ISR Division.

"I am very enthusiastic about the adjustments we are making to the division structure, and I believe they will further enable us to meet our programmatic commitments to our customers, expand our science base, and make ISR an even better division in which to work," said Beason. "In addition to the structural changes, we also will be implementing procedures and practices that will enhance interactions between groups, programs and projects."

In related news, the ISR Division Office is moving to the second floor, southeast corner, of the Nonproliferation and International Security Center (NISC) building today. The division office will have new telephone and fax numbers, as well as a new unclassified mail stop. The new telephone number is 667-2965 and the fax number is 665-3169. The unclassified mail stop is B244. The private lines of division office staff remain the same.

-- Nancy Ambrosiano

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