Return to BTJ Online

SGS provides launch and base operations support services
The contract reduces costs and increases efficiencies by blending the managing of spaceport assets

by Kathy Hagood
Brevard Technical Journal

Bill Sample, president of Space Gateway Support at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, is positioning his company to be the prime contractor of choice for future base operations support contracts at the spaceport.

Leon McGovern, Director of Engineering Services (left) and William Sample, President of SGS review work schedules. Photo by Craig Rubadoux, © 2004.

With Eastern Range upgrades and new vehicles for human space flight in process, visionary leadership is needed to prepare SGS for new NASA and U.S. Air Force contracts that will follow the conclusion of the current Joint Base Operations Support Contract (JBOSC). Assuming all options are renewed, the contract will conclude in 2008.

"Safety is our No. 1 core value. And while we continue to focus on satisfying our customers' needs, we have to prepare for technologies coming down the road," Sample said.

Juggling the two imperatives is a challenge. While the Space Shuttle isn't launching during current return-to-flight preparations, the Air Force and its contractors are launching about 21 to 23 rockets a year.

Sample served as SGS deputy program manager from Oct. 2000 until his appointment as president December 1. He was quickly promoted to deputy program manager after serving as the director of Performance Management Division of SGS from April 2000 until October 2000.

Before working for SGS, Sample was project manager, business development and capture manager for Northrop Grumman and EG&G from 1996 to 2000.

SGS was formed in 1998 by Northrop Grumman Corp. and Wackenhut Corp. to meet the requirements of JBOSC, a revolutionary new contract that provided launch and base operations support services to both Kennedy Space Center and the 45th Space Wing.

The idea behind the contract was to reduce costs and increase efficiencies by blending the managing of spaceport assets. The much lauded strategy has reduced costs at the spaceport and allowed extra funds for capital improvements on both sides of the river.

SGS and its affilitated companies provide facilities management, public works, engineering services, infrastructure/base support services, protective services, logistics, information technology, administrative services, medical services and environmental services. In summary, SGS basically provides city services to the spaceport.

Of the 3,000 employees on JBOSC, about 2,000 are employed by SGS and 1,000 by affiliated companies.

Affiliated companies include Comprehensive Health Services, Creative Management Technology Inc., InDyne Inc., Research Planning Inc., Science Applications International Corp., Wyle Laboratories, United Paradyne, Wiltech and Yang Enterprises.

JBOSC was awarded to SGS and began on Oct. 1, 1998, with a ten-year potential, assuming successful option renewals, of more than $2.2 billion.

Since being awarded the contract SGS and its affiliated companies have performed so well that NASA and the Air Force have rewarded them with a one-year option renewal and significant award fees.

The current two-year option renewal under review will be announced Aug. 1. Near the conclusion of that option is the potential for another two-year option renewal.

"Because we continue to earn high ratings from NASA and the Air Force at each award-fee period, we're confident the option will be renewed," Sample said.

Sample is taking steps that go beyond the respected efforts of the company's previous president, Michael Butchko Jr.

"Under Butchko's leadership we moved up from the mid-80s to the low 90s (on the award-fee rating scale)," Sample said. "My goal is to improve that score while preparing for the future."

Sample has used "lean initiatives" to help improve the company's contract performance.

The institution of monthly contract meetings with NASA and the Air Force has improved communications and helped resolve contract issues sooner rather than later, he said.

"I have a different style and different expectations (than Butchko)," he said.

Sample was chosen to lead SGS after acquiring 35 years of technical management experience. His career experience includes strategic planning, business development for launch range, and technical infrastructure operations and maintenance services for the government and commercial launch industry.

Sample retired from the Air Force in 1994 after 26 years of service, including management of operations and maintenance for the Eastern Range and the Vice Wing Commander of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base.

His education includes a bachelor's degree in economics and sociology from Washington University, a master's degree in industrial psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, and a master's degree in systems technology from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif.

Sample serves on numerous boards in Brevard County, including for the Economic Development Commission.

He is married to R, his wife of 28 years. The couple has two daughters, Alison, 26, and Amanda, 22.

For more information on Sample and Space Gateway Support visit www.spacegatewaysupport.com.