October 2020 - FY 2021 Issue 1 Welcome to FY 2021! The start of a new USRA fiscal year is also the time to be reminded of two important events: 1) enrolling in USRA benefits and 2) getting a flu shot. Benefits Open Enrollment Benefits Open Enrollment is scheduled for Monday, November 2 through Friday, November 13, 2020. This is your opportunity to make changes to your medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage for next year.  All current coverage will carryover into 2021 unless you choose otherwise except for the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).  If you wish to participate in the Healthcare or Dependent Care FSA, enrollment is required each year. Open Enrollment details will be announced via email in late October. Flu Shots The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot.  This can help protect you and those around you all throughout the season. CDC recommends getting a flu shot by the end of October.   Flu shot Q&A

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Hello! My pronoun is... The USRA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee has implemented its first initiative, asking that USRA employees consider using Personal Gender Pronouns (PGPs) in email signatures as a gesture to help normalize the discussion of nonbinary gender identities and to create an inclusive environment for USRA employees who identify as nonbinary. Jeff Isaacson encouraged this initiative in a September 22 email to all USRA staff, saying, "Making our personal gender pronouns clear—those pronouns which we define for ourselves—is one way we can help to remove any stigma attached to non-binary gender identification and make our workplace more inclusive."   Learn more   Employee Recognition Congratulations, FY 2021 IRAD Awardees! USRA’s Internal Research and Development (IRAD) funds are for early stage investments in technology and algorithm development, new mission concepts, and innovative university community engagement ideas consistent with USRA’s vision, mission and purpose. Congratulations to FY 2021 awardees: Susanne Craig, Oreste Reale, Thomas Fauchez, Samuel Teinturier, Germán Martínez, Kushal Moolchandani, Pavan Yedavalli, David Bell, Ata Akbari Asanjan, Saba Hussain, Milad Memarzadeh, Corinne Fletcher, Adam Goldstein and Kennda Lynch.   Learn more   Employee Recognition Congratulations, Managers Award recipients! USRA’s Manager Awards recognize managers who demonstrate excellence in leading a team, managing the work, and positively affecting staff – all while demonstrating USRA Values – Passion, Partnerships, Professionalism. In our October 28 Town Hall Session, Jeff Isaacson, USRA President and CEO recognized Julie Pelletier, Cecile Rousseaux, Jamie Shumbera, and Easter Wang. Congratulations!   Learn more Information Technology Prohibition Against Certain Information Technology Equipment A major portion of the sweeping John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA) that impacts federal contracts took effect in August 2020. NDAA section 889 prohibits the federal government from directly procuring “any equipment, system or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as a part of any system” or “entering into a contract with any entity that uses such covered telecommunications equipment or services.”  The vendor survey and USRA’s training slides are available here: https://infohub.usra.edu/depts/contracts-grants/1-internal-customers/c-g-training-resources.  If you have any questions, please reach out to your contracts specialist or email contractshelp@usra.edu.   Learn more In the News NASA's SOFIA Discovers Water on the Sunlit Surface of the Moon NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface, and not limited to cold, shadowed places.   More on newsroom.usra.edu Massive Stars Are Factories for Ingredients to Life The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), NASA’s flying observatory, has provided a new glimpse of chemistry surrounding massive young stars where future planets could begin to form. It found massive quantities of water and organic molecules in these swirling, disk-shaped clouds, offering new insights into how some of the key ingredients of life get incorporated into planets during the earliest stages of formation.   More on newsroom.usra.edu New Insights into the Origin of Diamonds in Meteorites Scientists have offered new insights into the origin of diamonds in ureilites (a group of stony meteorites). These diamonds most likely formed by rapid shock transformation from graphite (the common low-pressure form of pure carbon) during one or more major impacts into the ureilite parent asteroid in the early solar system.   More on newsroom.usra.edu Coming Soon November National American Indian Heritage Month 1-7 November Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week   1 November NPP next cycle   2 November Benefits Open Enrollment begins   3 November Election Day 11 November Veterans Day   26 November Thanksgiving Holiday New hires, anniversaries and awards › Welcome to USRA! › Congrats on your anniversary! › Employee Spot Awards Your input is important to us Click here to suggest improvements for USRA via Infohub. Suggestions are reviewed by the Executive Leadership Team. Please send newsletter feedback or story suggestions to: Erin Senoz, Discovery Editor 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia, MD 21046 esenoz@usra.edu

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