David Gartman
Argonne’s Environmental Science Division (EVS) began a large, nine-year interagency agreement this spring with the United States Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC). The Civil Engineer Center provides civil engineering services and enterprise leadership to Air Force installations around the world. Division Operations Officer David Gartman (EVS) coordinated the development and implementation of the agreement. The scope of the agreement also creates future opportunities for Argonne to expand its scientific support to other departments in the Air Force.
Previously, EVS provided limited technical area support to the Air Force. The new agreement allows Argonne to provide environmental restoration, environmental cleanup, National Environmental Policy Act activities, cultural and natural resources studies, compliance reviews, geographical information systems, risk assessment and toxicological studies, and atmospheric sciences to AFCEC. “Stewardship of the environment is a very high priority for the U.S. Air Force and Argonne is able to provide significant scientific support to them,” said Gartman.
A reorganization of the Air Force’s support center initially led Gartman to contact base personnel and also personnel at AFCEC in San Antonio, Texas. There, Gartman developed relationships with members of the AFCEC staff. He learned more about their mission and priorities, while also promoting the diversity of programs and services at Argonne.
Gartman demonstrated how EVS could support AFCEC’s mission directly and established an interagency agreement for more projects between EVS and AFCEC. EVS will now assist AFCEC in environmental projects on Air Force installations around the world.
The nine-year interagency agreement refers to the entire EVS division, so Gartman is collaborating with other Air Force divisions to expand the agreement and support them in new ways. After signing the current interagency agreement, EVS submitted a significant five-year strategic partnership projects proposal through the U.S. Department of Energy Site Office.
“The U.S. Air Force’s staff has been great to work with. I have worked with personnel in many different Air Force locations and departments and they are all passionate in fulfilling AFCEC’s mission,” said Gartman.
Gartman is excited by the direction of the collaboration between Argonne and the U.S. Air Force, yet feels that any service to the Air Force is rewarding. “Environmental protection means service members and the community are protected. It is great, in our way, to assist the people that are protecting our country,” said Gartman.