System Studies & Simulation Inc.
AUG 18, 2022
Jan Smith, founder and CEO of S³, has made a gift of $200,000 to The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to establish the Janice Hays Smith Endowed Scholarship in Electrical Engineering.
Smith has given an additional $10,000 to UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, as well to fund a recipient in 2022 to enable the student to benefit from the scholarship immediately.
Each recipient will be known as the Janice Hays Smith Electrical Engineering Scholar.
“I’m so proud to be a part of this program and proud that UAH is a partner to our defense industry in Huntsville,” Smith says. “This scholarship is my second scholarship. The first was aimed more toward cybersecurity or software engineers.”
The new scholarship will be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student for their freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year, or to a full-time graduate student, pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. Scholarship recipients who are entering as freshmen must have a high school GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved a minimum ACT score of 30.
“On behalf of the electrical and computer engineering department, and the College of Engineering at UAH, I am truly grateful for Ms. Jan Smith’s generosity,” says Dr. Shankar Mahalingam, Dean of Engineering.
Kachemak Bay Flying Service (KBFS), is offering a wide range of rotary wing civilian pilot training at its Temple, TX Flight Training Academy. In addition to providing candidates the opportunity to pursue a half dozen fixed wing qualifications, the Academy is now routinely providing Part 61 and/or Part 141 pilot training in the MD-530F, UH-H Huey, and Robinson R44 helicopters. If you or your clients need any type of fixed or rotary wing pilot qualification, currency, or renewal training, please contact Bill Rodriguez or Gregory White at 254.771.0077.
September 30, 2021: S3 was selected by the United States Army to mentor three Huntsville based Small Businesses under the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program. Each two-year Mentor Protégé Agreement (MPA) provides the Protégés tailored developmental and technical assistance to enhance their respective capabilities and facilitate growth as a Small Business Prime Contractors. Our three new DoD MPA’s represent 60% of the total 2021 MPAs awarded by the Army and support the following Small Business Partners:
Canvas, Inc.: Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) specializing in Engineering, Test & Evaluation, Technology & Product Development, and Acquisition & Program Management.
Cortina Solutions, LLC: Small Business Administration 8(a) and HUBZone certified WOSB providing Engineering, Test & Evaluation, Modeling & Simulation, Software Development, Acquisition, and Program Management services.
H2L Solutions, Inc.: HUBZone and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business specializing in Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) services.
The DoD’s Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) is the oldest continuously operating federal mentor-protégé program in existence. S3 is honored to receive these awards as they also represent the third, fourth, and fifth protégés that we have supported during the past five years. Established during the First Gulf War, the MPP helps eligible small businesses expand their defense industrial base footprint by partnering them with larger companies to provide unique capabilities and enhance the DoD supply chain. MPAs provide a win-win situation which results in successful small businesses, large/small business partnerships, and outstanding, cost-effective support for the Warfighter.
August 21, 2019 – Jan Smith, S³ CEO, received the Heart of an Eagle Award from the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Heart of an Eagle Award is given to deserving individuals who have demonstrated leadership, character and integrity in their service to the community, their profession and their country. Jan was recognized at a luncheon along with Captain (U.S. Army Retired) Gary (Mike) Rose, Medal of Honor Awardee, as well as the Semper Fi Community Task Force. Guest speaker for the event was the “Voice of the Crimson Tide” Eli Gold. Her personal motto has served her well; ‘Destiny is a matter of choice, not a matter of chance.’ That motto has also driven her choices to serve with her personal time and philanthropy to a host of 501c3 organizations that benefit Huntsville, our soldiers, and our nation, inclusive of the following: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville Community Foundation, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Burritt on the Mountain, Huntsville Community Orchestra, Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, University of Alabama in Huntsville, American Heart Association, National Museum of the United States Army, the Army Aviation Association of America, and many more. Jan’s service to the community is in keeping with the highest ideals of what an Eagle stands for within Scouting and her recognition was well deserved.
S³ is proud to have been a sponsor for the AAAA Climb for the Soldier “Rock Steady” Team. The goal was to climb Mt. Piegan in Glacier National Park, Montana, to raise money for the veteran’s organization, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, which is a group of vets helping vets in North Alabama. This was a 4.61 mile, very tough, climb.
The Climb took place on August 19, 2019. Participating were Steven Sanders, Sr., Steven Sanders, Jr., LTG Neil Thurgood, Cliff Calhoun, and Steve Mathias. Four of the five are current active duty, or veterans of the U.S. Army; the fifth is a former ROTC Cadet Commander and Raider Team member from Sparkman High School.
Apollo 11 50-Year Anniversary Celebration Patch
S³ was proud to be a sponsor of the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration Dinner held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on July 16, 2019. S³ CEO Jan Smith along with Tony Porter, Bob Johnson, Dennis Vaughn, Jim and Margenia Charlton, and Jeff and Alice Mockensturm represented S³. Tommy Tuberville, prior coach at Auburn University and now running for Alabama Senate (R), and Wayne Parker, his campaign manager, were the two VIP guests seated at the S³ sponsored table.
This celebration was in recognition of the historic mission when the massive Saturn V lofted Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins heavenward to the moon. The world then watched and listened as Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969.
S³ CEO Jan Smith and VIP Tommy Tuberville at the S³ table
At a 1970 farewell event in downtown Huntsville, Dr. Wernher von Braun stated: “My friends, there was dancing in the streets of Huntsville when our first satellite orbited earth. There was dancing again when the first Americans landed on the moon. I’d like to ask you, don’t hang up your dancing slippers.” Nearly fifty years later, Vice President and Chairman of the National Space Council Mike Pence visited the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville and made this commitment: “It is the stated policy of this Administration and the United States of America to return American astronauts to the Moon within the next five years.”
S³ CEO Jan Smith and Margrit von Braun with an indoor replica of the Saturn V
Many renowned dignitaries were in attendance, including Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11 & Gemini XII), Tom Stafford (Apollo 10 & Gemini VI), Al Worden (Apollo 15), Jack Lousma (Skylab 3 & STS 3), Ed Gibson (Skylab 4), Bob Springer (STS 29 & 38), Bob Stewart (STS 41-B & 51-J), Jan Davis (STS 47, 60 & 85), and Larry DeLucas (STS-50). Other honored guests were author Homer Hickam; Saturn/Apollo veterans; Dr. Wernher von Braun’s children, Iris Robbins and Margrit and Peter von Braun; and Marshall Space Flight Center Director Jody Singer.
While the night had several speakers, the two that were exceptionally notable were Ms. Margrit von Braun and Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey. Ms. von Braun, daughter of Dr. Wernher von Braun, was the keynote speaker, and Governor Ivey paid tribute to the role of Huntsville in the success of the Apollo Program and to emphasize the important mission of MSFC in “return to the moon and beyond.”
A spectacular light show completed the night’s events.
S³ CEO Jan Smith and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey
S³ was pleased to be a sponsor for the Alabama Update Luncheon on July 10, 2019 at the Huntsville Madison County Chamber in downtown Huntsville. The featured speaker for this event was Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. Prior to the luncheon, S³ CEO Ms. Jan Smith, SVP Bob Johnson, AMCOM Express Director Jim Charlton, and JRS3/MDA Director Jeff Mockensturm were invited to attend a major donors’ reception.
Governor Ivey is no stranger to hard work, having worked on her father’s farm in South Alabama. After graduating from Auburn University, Governor Ivey worked several jobs until she became the Reading Clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives and was the Assistant Director for the Alabama Development Office.
While pursuing her service to the State of Alabama, Governor Ivey has accomplished many “first” distinctions. In 2002, Governor Ivey was the first Republican-elected State Treasurer since Reconstruction, and was re-elected in 2006. In 2010 she was elected Lieutenant Governor, which made her the first Republican woman to hold the office in Alabama history. In 2017, Governor Ivey was sworn in at 54th Governor for the State of Alabama due to a vacancy and elected to serve a full term in 2018, which made her the first Lt. Governor of Alabama elected to a full term after taking over as Governor due to a vacancy. As a Girls State alumnus, she is also the first to be elected to a constitutional office in Alabama.
Governor Ivey is an active member of her church, serves as a board member to several organizations, and has received numerous awards for her service to the State of Alabama.
Pictured at the S³ Aviation Industry Days booth is Gary Servold, Director S³ CDD Ft. Rucker, and Jennifer Otstot, S³ Ft. Rucker Office Manager.
The US Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE) held its annual Aviation Industry Days Event July 24th-25th at Fort Rucker’s “The Landing” facility. This event offers a first-hand look at the latest innovations in Aviation. S³ joined over 40 different exhibitors that came to offer an insight on their company, capabilities, products, services, and new technologies. The USAACE and Army Futures Command (AFC) provided insightful briefings and discussion panels on critical Army Aviation issues.
This forum allowed S³ the opportunity for recruiting, client interface, and to update our knowledge of Army and Aviation issues, challenges, and opportunities. Many of the patrons were eager, providing resumes after learning about all S³ has to offer and its broad range of capabilities. Fort Rucker S³ employees volunteered to man the S³ the booth and had the opportunity to meet USAAC/AFC leadership and interface with our customers and potential future customers. Their professionalism, knowledge, and positive attitude were the key to our success and showcased S³ talent and capabilities to event attendees.
