For release November 22, 2006
Betsy Harbin, who recently assumed new duties as administrative
assistant in The University of Tennessee Space Institute’s
Electrical Engineering Department after two decades with UTSI’s
Aviation Systems program, received a surprise commendation
recently.
Johnny O’Connor, an instructor in a recent Rotary Wing
Performance Short Course at UTSI, presented a letter of
appreciation and photograph to her. The letter was signed by
Capt. T.W. Huff, commander of the Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS)
at Patuxent River, Md., where O’Connor also is an instructor.
“As principal coordinator and conduit for the cooperative
educational and training programs between our schools,” Capt.
Huff wrote, “you have facilitated a myriad of unique program
requirements with your signature personal care and attention.”
Huff himself is a graduate of UTSI, having earned a master’s
degree in Aviation Systems in December, 1994. In June, he was
named to head the Maryland school.
Ms. Harbin began working with UTSI’s Short Course program in
August 1985, where she coordinated short courses with NTPS.
Among pilots she met at that time were Richard Ranaudo, current
Aviation Systems faculty member, who lectured in various
Aviation System short courses. In May 1988, she transferred to
the Aviation Systems program and worked with Dr. Ralph Kimberlin
who headed the department until he retired in 2005. Betsy,
daughter of Roy and Alice Smith of Tullahoma, and her husband
Dennis reside in Estill Springs.
Capt. Huff wrote the letter on behalf of “the hundreds of
graduates from UTSI and the Naval Test Pilot School,” thanking
her for years of “dedicated and faithful service to the Aviation
Systems Department.”
Huff wrote that the scope of Betsy’s accomplishments “was
nothing short of impressive, including, but not limited to a
master’s degree program coordination for some 200 graduates
since 1988, including a proverbial who’s who among test pilots,
astronauts and senior officers.”
He also cited her scheduling of short courses, coordination of
multi-site extended learning and remote site facilitation, and
management of student database and historical reference
archiving.
Executing the distance learning master’s degree program was “not
a trivial task and required significant time investment and
attention to detail,” the commander wrote. “With enrollees
stationed and/or deployed worldwide, your extraordinary
communication skill and uncanny ability to schedule thesis
defenses and committee reviews ensured seamless program
accomplishment.”
Her “attentiveness to applications, transcript management, and
enrollment fees was crucial to program success,” Huff noted,
“particularly for military students” receiving tuition
assistance from the government.
Huff said anyone “with a UT sheepskin, and those educators and
administrators that had contact with you, appreciate, admire,
and will recall your legacy and years of service to the Aviation
Systems Department.”
John O’Connor presents Betsy Harbin a letter from the commander of the Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md., and a photograph of aircraft at the school.
Writer: Weldon Payne (931) 393-7222
wpayne@utsi.edu
