Article about Me

NASA is having its 50th birthday this year, and they put out a publication to celebrate. My boss's boss recommended me for the "rising stars at NASA" section but sadly I wasn't interesting or impressive enough to make the cut. The good side is that I got a sweet picture taken of me at work and an article written about me, and now I can publish them on this here blog. Mostly still accurate but I've actually only been accepted for another masters, not a PhD. In any event, enjoy...


(Picture by Dominic Hart)

FRESH IDEAS AND PEOPLE ARE MOVING NASA INITIATIVES FORWARD

Although there are many stories to tell and tributes to make about the people who have devoted long careers to the space program, in large measure NASA’s 50th anniversary is about the future and the great opportunities for exploration and discovery that lie ahead. This section recognizes some of NASA’s “new kids on the block” who’ve been inspired by NASA’s pioneers and are fired up with a desire to carry the torch of exploration forward.


AMES RESEARCH CENTER

MICHAEL BLOEM

By Ruth Dasso Marlaire

Air travel has become one of our country’s greatest challenges. It is repeatedly being transformed by information technology, from the automation of air traffic control processes to the online reservation phenomenon and beyond.

As the number of flights increase each year, the demand for a more efficient national transportation system grows urgent. For the last fifteen years, NASA Aeronautics has been working in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop software tools for our country’s airspace infrastructure.

“I want to help design the Next Generation air traffic control system,” said Michael Bloem, an aerospace engineer working in NASA Ames’ Automation Concepts Research Branch. “The air traffic control problem,” he says “is what attracted me to NASA.”

As an expert in control theory and optimization, he has applied these tools to air traffic flow management and anticipates studying the economics of safely changing the national airspace configuration. “I am confident that careful modeling, rigorous application of mathematical theory, and insightful consideration of cost tradeoffs and user preferences will bear fruit in air traffic control system design,” he said.

Bloem was born in Southfield, Mich., in 1982. As a young boy, he liked to design and build vehicles or buildings with Lego toy pieces, as commissioned by his two brothers. In high school, his favorite subject was science, and for fun he would enter math competitions.

After graduating with honors from Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Mich., he moved to Nigeria to do community development work. One year later, he was off to Champaign- Urbana, Ill. where he earned another degree in electrical and computer engineering, this time a masters of science degree. He expects to soon begin work on his Ph.D.

“There is no silver bullet solution that will fix this problem,” said Bloem. “I have been impressed and sometimes discouraged by the complexities and difficulties of the air traffic control problem. However, I am hopeful that we will create a new system that meets society’s needs.”