AFTAC contractor recognized for 30+ years of service

  • Published
  • By Susan A. Romano
  • AFTAC Public Affairs

For more than three decades, Dr. Anne S. Henson has focused her attention on physics, geophysics and seismology, and that hard work paid off: her company recognized her with a token of appreciation for her continued dedication.

For 22 of her 32 years as a nuclear seismologist, Henson has been associated with the Air Force Technical Applications Center here, working as a scientific manager for the Leidos contract that oversees the U.S. National Data Center. The USNDC provides national authorities quality technical analysis in concert with AFTAC’s nuclear treaty monitoring mission.

Henson began her career with a small consulting company in New York State that focused on application of signal processing and modeling to nuclear seismology. After spending two years there, she was hired by Science Applications International Corporation – better known as SAIC – where she continued to work as a seismologist. Later, SAIC became a joint venture, split, and in 2013, Leidos was formed. Both companies have a long-standing history in the field of nuclear science.

“At the time, I was working for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the prototype of the International Data Center,” said Henson. “While there, I met Dr. David Russell, AFTAC’s (then) Director of Treaty Monitoring, and he suggested I come to work for him on the prototype for the USNDC. I was flattered that he considered me for the job!”

Her role as the scientific manager includes managing studies for the contract -- both geophysical data processing and information technology infrastructure studies. “I supervise geophysicists and, in my spare time, I work on in-depth investigations of the geophysical performance of the USNDC system.”

Henson, who grew up in Southern France and studied at the University of Paris, credits a woman she met in graduate school as one of her biggest professional mentors.

“When I was at the Institute for Physics of the Earth, and later as an early career scientist, Dr. Barbara Romanowicz was a role model and inspiration to me,” she said. “She proved there were no limits for women determined to succeed in geophysical science. I’m a better person for having known her.”

Having managed the USNDC studies for 15 years, coupled with her work on various other projects, Leidos presented her with a beautiful glass clock at a ceremony in March, engraved with the following inscription: Leidos – Anne S. Henson – 30 Years.

“It was quite an honor to be recognized in such a manner,” Henson said. “I have been fortunate to work with bright, hard-working and dedicated people over the years, and while it’s sometimes difficult to serve a variety of customers with different cultures and priorities, that challenge is also extremely rewarding. I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to do so.”

While Henson still works full time, she hopes to “semi-retire” sometime in the near future.