$2 million for Suffolk County Community College to stimulate workforce training and redevelopment

At a recent meeting of the Corporate Committee of the Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States, US Navy Command Master Chief Joshua Sturgill who is Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Team Submarines, announced a $2 million grant for Advanced Manufacturing Scholarships supported by the Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base. The $2 million grant was awarded to Suffolk County Community College and will be funded over a five year period covering tuition of 500 certificate students.

The event represented the culmination of the Long Island Council Corporate Committee’s year-long effort to stimulate workforce training and re-development in alignment with the US Navy’s Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Program.

Walter A. Poggi, Corporate Committee Chairman and President of Ronkonkoma, NY-based Retlif Testing Laboratories stated, “members of the  Corporate Committee have been diligently working to develop stronger and closer ties with the US Navy, and this grant is a potential game changer for the Long Island economy and Long Island defense manufacturers. It is also pivotal for the US Navy because it will result in an educated professional workforce knowledgeable of the most rapidly evolving technologies in the manufacturing sector of the Submarine Industrial Base (DIB). Their skills and nationally recognized credentials will make them eminently capable of fulfilling the Navy’s goals to develop leading edge submarines and other vessels. These capabilities are direly needed today in American shipyards, with American manufacturers and throughout the U.S. military and maritime industry.”

The event was held at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC), Brentwood, NY campus. A crowd of sixty from over two dozen prominent Long Island defense manufacturers and defense testing organizations as well as interested parties from higher education and county, state and federal governments, were among the first to learn the welcome news. In addition to keynote speaker Command Master Chief Joshua Sturgill, other dignitaries who spoke included Rosalie Drago, Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Labor and SCCC President Edward T. Bonahue. US Navy Rear Admiral Scott W. Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, addressed the gathering remotely via zoom conference.

Photo Identification, left to right:
Michael Griffin – The Griffin Group Global
Michael Cinque – Curtiss Wright
Jim White – Curtiss Wright
Walter Poggi – Retlif Testing Laboratories
CMC Josh Sturgill – U.S. Navy
John Smith – Cox & Company
Philip Duplisey – Business Lens
Bob Arnold Jr. – Arnold Standards Cos.
Roger Noakes – TeamLogic IT Solutions
Owen Watford – Retlif Testing Laboratories
Bill Nelson – Sector Microwave Industries

Retlif Testing Laboratories supports developing future engineers and scientists by sponsoring Sachem High School Robotics Team at FIRST Robotics Competition

April 24, 2023; Ronkonkoma, New York – Retlif Testing laboratories, currently celebrating its 45^th anniversary in 2023,  firmly stands by its philosophy of philanthropic support dedicated to developing future engineers. Headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York, Retlif supports the Sachem High School Robotics Team known as the Sachem Aftershock Robotics in their efforts at the Long Island FIRST Robotics Competition. Under strict guidelines, limited resources and bound by a time limit, students are challenged to work as a team to develop and build industrial-size robots.

This year, the team was awarded the Gracious Professionalism Award which is given to the team that exemplifies fairness, humility, positivity, and respect. Retlif Executive Vice President William Hayes stated, “The FIRST robotics program is an excellent vehicle for introducing students to engineering and project management. With support from Retlif and other local companies, we can help influence, direct and mold future engineers, technicians and scientists in today’s world where technology knowledge and expertise is direly needed. We are proud to support such a great team of dynamic individuals that continually places their community first.”

Since 2000, Retlif has supported the Sachem Aftershock team with engineering support, financial contributions and internships at Retlif’s Ronkonkoma, New York Headquarters. The Sachem Aftershock Robotics Team has previously ranked in the top 1 percent of all competing teams, adding to previous triumphs that include SBPLI Regional Winner, South Florida Regional Winner, as well as the Xerox Creativity Award.

Retlif Testing Laboratories is a leading independent testing and engineering organization with locations in three states, and is an ardent supporter of the Navy league of the United States.  As an active member of the Long Island Council, Retlif supports the organization’s objectives to enhance the morale of sea service personnel and their families through national and council level programs.

Developing youth programs that reinforce the essential values of sea services is an ongoing part of the Long Island Council’s efforts. In a June 17, 2022 ceremony, Long Island Navy League Council President, Roger Noakes presented the Navy Officer’s Sword to MN Lieutenant Tyler Pitman at the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) graduation ceremony in Kings Point, NY.

Retlif Business Development Manager Owen W. Watford stated “given the ultimate importance of sea services to the national defense and to overall economic prosperity, it is rewarding to witness the recognition of outstanding individuals. The next sword presentation by the Long Island Council of the Navy league of the United States will be to the Gold Star graduate at SUNY Maritime College, Throgs Neck, New York, in August, 2022.

Photo: Long Island Council President Roger Noakes presents the Navy Officer’s Sword to MN Lieutenant Tyler Pittman.

Retlif Welcomes Garbarino with a Laboratory Tour and Roundtable Discussion

A globally recognized, independent EMC/EMI and environmental testing organization, Retlif Testing Laboratories welcomed New York State Congressman Andrew Garbarino to their secure facility for an escorted tour of their EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and Environmental Simulation Services (ESS) laboratories. The tour was followed by a roundtable discussion in support of military contracting and defense manufacturing on Long Island, logistics and supply chain issues, and the growing employment opportunities within the contracting space.

The visit began with a presentation by Retlif Testing Laboratories President Walter Poggi and Business Development Manager Owen Watford which provided an overview of Retlif’s history, services, facilities, industries served, accreditations and approvals. Congressman Garbarino received tours of Retlif’s EMC laboratory by Retlif Executive Vice President William Hayes, and Retlif’s ESS laboratory by Laboratory Supervisor Nick Accardi.

The visit was capped by an industry roundtable discussion with Congressman Garbarino and six members from the Corporate Committee of the Long Island Council of the Navy League representing leading Long Island defense manufacturers. Topics included the value of technical education and training, the lack of emphasis by schools despite an acute shortage of technicians and engineers, and the need for educational funding to support these growing employment opportunities. Congressman Garbarino expressed his support and appreciation for Long Island’s military manufacturing community and offered a helping hand for projects in need of appropriation.

“I am very appreciative of Congressman Garbarino’s visit to Retlif,” stated Retlif President Walter Poggi, “and I know he received an appreciation of how our testing supports Long Island’s defense manufacturing community. I am also very pleased that we were able to provide a forum for the Congressman to meet representatives of the Corporate Committee of the Long Island Council of the Navy League to better understand their concerns and thoughts on defense manufacturing on Long Island.

Prev

1of3

Next

Retlif Testing Laboratories has historically viewed robotics as a marriage of engineering expertise and computerization that integrates numerous scientific fields and brings the present closer to the future.

In Long Island’s Sachem Central School District, a healthy, vigorous interest exists within the student body. Retlif Executive Vice President Bill Hayes and Human Resources Manager Sharon Murphy represented Retlif when the company was recently honored for its many years of support by the Sachem High School Robotics team, the Sachem Aftershock.

“Having Retlif being recognized by the Sachem Aftershock Robotics team is an exciting honor for the company and personally rewarding,” Bill Hayes observed. “But to me as an engineer, especially one so connected to the EMC/EMI testing industry, the greatest pleasure is seeing young people immersed in the science of robotics with a desire to learn and to achieve.”

Sharon Murphy agreed, noting “the Sachem Aftershock Robotics team has had many successes through the years. It is encouraging to realize that Retlif is contributing to raising awareness and interest with young people who might potentially use this experience as a springboard to a career.”

Certainly, by assisting with funding and contributing time, direction and energy to the Sachem Aftershock Robotics team, Retlif is helping students with hands-on education in a meaningful way.

Prev

1of2

Next

A group of eleven students from Longwood High School recently received a guided tour of Retlif’s Ronkonkoma, NY headquarters facility including the EMC/EMI and Environmental laboratories. The students and Longwood School to Career Coordinators discussed summer internships and potential opportunities for graduating high school students with Retlif Executive Vice President Bill Hayes, Laboratory Manager Nick Accardi and Retlif Human Resources Manager Sharon Murphy.

Mr. Hayes commented “the Longwood High School student visit continues Retlif’s long history of community outreach and introduces these young minds to potential career paths. We are always pleased to see the growing interest from young students in what we do at Retlif and in the importance of EMC/EMI and Environmental testing services to modern business.”

Ms. Murphy added, “The Longwood High School tour of the facilities exposed the students to the real-world career opportunities that exist within their community at technology companies such as Retlif.”

About Longwood: Founded in 1959, Longwood Central School District covers 53 square miles in central Brookhaven Town, Suffolk County, New York, USA. It serves the hamlets of Ridge, Gordon Heights, Middle Island, Coram and Yaphank, and parts of Shoreham, Shirley, Medford and Upton.

Retlif Executive Vice President Bill Hayes, sixth from left; Retlif Human Resources Manager Sharon Murphy, eighth from left.

Retlif Testing Laboratories, an internationally recognized, independent EMC/EMI and Environmental Simulation testing leader, proudly announced its continuing sponsorship of the Sachem High School Robotics Team in the 2022 School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) FIRST Robotics Competition.

Retlif’s Bill Hayes addresses the Sachem High School Robotics Team.

For over twenty years Retlif has provided the Sachem Aftershock Robotics Team with engineering support, financial assistance and internships at the Retlif Ronkonkoma (New York) headquarters. High school students from both campuses of Sachem Central School District have been involved in hands-on robotic science, and though students change as they progress through high school, the enthusiasm of each class is remarkably the same from year to year. Team 263, Sachem Aftershock is currently deeply involved in the 2022 Build Season.

Retlif Executive Vice President William Hayes (East Islip, NY) stated, “We are extremely proud to sponsor Team 263. With this support weare helping to mold the engineers and scientists of tomorrow in a world where technology is at a premium and where expertise is in high demand. We find that the students are very committed, enjoy competing and applying their skills, and that they want to win. That’s a tribute to all the participants and the Sachem faculty including Andrew Cifuni, Robert Wentzel, and James Byrne, who devote their time and energy to a positive learning experience that may prove extremely for those seeking STEM careers, science, technology, engineering and math.”

The Sachem Aftershock Robotics Team has consistently ranked in the top 1 percent of competing teams. Students are taught to follow a policy of gracious professionalism and sincere cooperation. Retlif President Walter Poggi stated “designing, testing, troubleshooting and building a robot means that students are exposed to technical engineering skills, learn how to program, and most importantly, develop a sense of personal responsibility through regularly scheduled weekly meetings and workshops.”

The Long Island Council of The Navy League of the United States, an organization dedicated to strengthening the ties between Long Island-based defense supporters and veterans and the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard and maritime sea services, has announced new leadership. Owen W. Watford, Retlif Business Development Manager, has been elected Vice President by the Long Island Council of The Navy League.

Vice President Watford stated “being in a position to assist our men and women in uniform and all our veterans through corporate support and grass roots efforts creates a feeling of accomplishment in the defense of our nation. I’m pleased to announce that we will continue our tradition of commissioning US Navy ships with the commissioning of the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Patrick Gallagher which is currently under construction.”

Retlif Testing Laboratories is a business supporter of the Long Island Council of The Navy League of the United States.

Retlif Receives ASCA Pilot Program Accreditation

As one of the first independent EMC laboratories to gain accreditation in the United States, Retlif supports conformity assessment schemes which rely on test data provided by ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently embraced accreditation through a Pilot Program, the Accreditation Scheme for Conformity Assessment (ASCA).

ASCA incorporates international conformity assessment standards and practices with the goal of increasing confidence in medical device testing among FDA reviewers and medical device manufacturers. Anticipations are that this will decrease requests for additional information relating to testing methodologies when pre-market submissions include a declaration of conformity to an FDA-recognized consensus standard within the FDA ASCA Pilot Program.

Access For Retlif Customers:

Retlif medical equipment manufacturers can readily access this alternative path for FDA acceptance of EMC test reports. All three Retlif EMI facilities (Ronkonkoma NY, Goffstown NH, Harleysville PA) have achieved FDA ASCA Pilot Program accreditation.

Scopes Of Accreditation:

Scopes include basic EMC requirements contained within IEC 60601-1-2, Edition 4.0, 2014 and specific requirements for:

• Medical Electrical Equipment and Medical Electrical Systems used in the Home Health Care Environment
• Medical Electrical Equipment and Medical Electrical Systems used in the Emergency Medical Services Environment
• Electrocardiographs
• Endoscopic Equipment
• Infant Radiant Warmers
• Infant Transport Incubators
• Infant Incubators
• Ultrasonic Medical Diagnostic and Monitoring Equipment
• X-Ray Equipment for Computed Tomography
• Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Systems
• Medical Beds
• Nerve and Muscle Stimulators
• Dental Intra-Oral X-Ray Equipment

Contact ASCA@Retlif.com for more information.