Sally Frodge

Experience

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  US Dept of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Sectretary

  Jan 1995 - Jan 2003

  Senior Policy Analyst, Spectrum WG Chair

  Hired to work transition and policy of the Global Positioning System (GPS) from a miliary system to a dual civil-miliary system, work often included radionavigation spectrum issues. At that time, GPS was new or unknown to many and not yet adopted by the FAA. There also was a lack of awareness of the importance of either GPS or spectrum to DOT modal agencies. To address this, I chartered the DOT Spectrum Working Group and became its first chair. This group accomplished what it was formulated to do -- increase awareness of the potential and current dependence on GPS and spectrum to aid in better policy input from modal agencies, increase awareness of the importance of spectrum and spectrum protection and the vigilance it takes to accomplish this, and creating an organized and informed group that could more effectively discuss issues of GPS and spectrum facing DOT. For example, this group was in the lead in identifying and clarifying the issues of ultra-wideband (UWB) to GPS and other systems, particularly those used by the FAA. Successfully led effort to prove UWB technological proposals harmful to GPS and worked with providing input to FCC, NTIA, and others to help protect the spectrum. Provided input to policy, legislation, rule-making, statements and Congressional Testimony to formulate policy on spectrum and GPS. As Chair, I co-chaired with a DoD counterpart to detemrine the appropriate frequency allocation for the GPS L5 signal, now moving into operations on GPS satellites. Show less

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  FAA - Commercial Space Integration Team (CSIT)

  Jan 2003 - Feb 2020

  Joining the recently formed Commercial Space Integration Team (CSIT) as a Senior Systems Engineer. CSIT was formed in 2015 to ensure the safe and efficient integration of commercial space operations into the National Airspace System (NAS). Responsibilities are in multiple areas, including strategic and tactical planning for merging spaceport launches and landings into the ongoing operations of the NAS and airports system. This work includes development of the initial commercial space roadmap for the FAA NAS Enterprise Architecture and managing these changes, including those policy and regulatory changes required to ensure safety and the international coordination for these capabilities and changes. Show less Achieved results working as Program Manager from late 2014- early 2015 for Alaskan Satellite Telecommunications Infrastructure (ASTI), a major FAA program. ASTI is the upgrade to the current ANICS communications backbone for Air Traffic Control for the State of Alaska. Obtained results for the lagging performance of ASTI by improving the work and team environment for both FAA and vendor, ensuring additional resources, quality control, configuration management, change management and other processes were either established or enforced. Achieved additional results reducing overall schedule delay by employing innovative means in the difficult Arctic construction environment. Increased overall program control to avoid additional delays, changed personnel as needed, and improved the financial processes. Modernized ASTI will provide critical services (0.9999), essential services (0.999), and routine services (0.99). Site installation is throughout the State of Alaska, including arctic and subarctic installations. Also performed as the COR and Project Lead.Additionally, retained program management of the Enhanced Low Visibility Operations (ELVO) and area navigation (RNAV) distance measuring equipment (DME) analysis work under the NextGen Navigation Engineering (NNE) program. ELVO, in earlier phases, supported Flight Standards efforts for RVR 1800, Special Authorization (SA) Category I, SA CAT II, and lower than standard IFR departures to as low as 500 feet. ELVO Phase 3, the current program effort, is focused on maximizing use of advanced avionics, such as Head Up Display (HUD), Enhanced Vision Systems/Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EVS/EFVS), and related technologies such as Synthetic Vision Guidance Systems (SVGS), Combined Vision Systems (CVS), and others. These efforts decreased delays, diverts, and cancellations within the NAS in low visibility conditions, a great improvement for operational efficiency. Show less Systems engineering to ensure integration of NextGen initiatives into the NAS. Currently Program Manager (PM) for Enhanced Low Visibility Operations (ELVO) Program that supports FAA Flight Standards getting additional low visibility operations (LVO) into the NAS via RVR1800, SA CAT I, SA CAT II, and lower than standard IFR take off minimums. Also PM for NextGen program working issues with RNAV DME and additional low visibiltiy operations, again supporting Flight Standards for operations below 1200RVR, that is LVO/Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS). Expertise with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) process to take ideas from concept and move them into operations with support from the FAA. For example, ELVO Phase II was approved December, 2012, and is now in execution phase. LVO/SMGCS incorporates newer technologies, such as Head Up Display (HUD), Enhanced Vision/Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EV/EFVS), and Combined Vision Systems (CVS) that utilize a combination of systems and technologies. The goal is to have a greater number of flight operations go as planned during low visibility conditions. To support this, work also includes such efforts as supporting Volpe development of testbed site at Otis, working with SAE G20 Committee, and others.ELVO is a Flight Standards initiative supported by Navigation Services. In addition to Standard low visibility services via FAA Order 8400.13D, RVR1800, Special Authorization (SA) Category I (CAT I), SA CAT II, and lower than standard IFR take off minimums continue to be added to the NAS. Return on Investment can be less than one year and provide the NAS with increased capacity during IMC, allowing flight operations to continue as planned rather than divert or be delayed.SAE G20 Committee, ATCA Publications Commmitte, and Institute of Navigation (ION) DC Section Chair Show less

  • Senior Systems Engineer

    Feb 2016 - Feb 2020

  • ASTI Program Manager - Level III PM

    Dec 2014 - Feb 2016

  • Systems Engineer

    Jan 2003 - Aug 2015
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  RTCA

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2009

  NECC Rep (former)

  Appointed by the then Director of Navigation Services to work as liaison wtih industry through the Navigation Evolution Customer Council (NECC) of the RTCA. After establishing a charter and TOR, regular discussions were held as the future navigation infrastructure roadmap for FAA Navigation was developed. These discussions were very helpful in understanding industry perspective and concerns, as well as incorporating feedback and suggestions to the Navigation Evolution Roadmap that then became the basis for the first Navigation Roadmap for the FAA NAS Enterprise Architecture. Show less

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  FAA ATO Mission Support Services Corporate Strategy

  Feb 2020 - now

  Senior System Engineer Corporate Strategy

  Development of strategy for the safe integration of newer operations into the National Airspace System (NAS). Current focus is on upper E operations, commercial space launch/reentry operations transiting the NAS, future of the oceanic environment, and support to FAA executives in these areas.