NERC TrainingNERC TrainingUseful Military Parallels

EMS User Group MeetingSeptember 21 2010September 21, 2010

Chicago, IL

Presented By

Robin PodmoreIncSys, Issaquah, WA

Personal ObservationsUS Naval Academy - AnnapolisUS Military Academy – West PointUSMC Basic School – QuanticoUSMC Basic School QuanticoUSN Flight School – PensacolaUSMC – Cobra Training Squadron – Camp PendletonUSMC HMLA 167 Squadron – New River, NCUSACE Baghdad School House – Camp Kanun, IraqUSACE – Camp Victory IraqUSACE Camp Victory, IraqUS Army Balad Airbase, IraqUSMC Al Asad Airbase, IraqUSMC HMLA 167 Squadron – Al Taqqadum Airbase, IraqUS Dept of State, International Zone, Iraq

2009 Copyright Incremental Systems Corporation

OutlineThe Strategic CorporalEngineers and OperatorsSystematic ApproachNaturalistic Decision MakingMilitary Knowledge and SkillsInnovative Approaches to Learning ObjectivesIncident Analysis Career Performance Assessment Cross Training at Trident Training CenterCross Training at Trident Training CenterApplications of Simulators Power4Vets ProgramPower4Vets Program

2009 Copyright Incremental Systems Corporation

The Strategic CorporalThe Strategic CorporalGeneral Krulak, Commandant USMC described the

“Strategic Corporal” and the “Three Block War” inStrategic Corporal and the Three Block War in Marine Corps Gazette, January 1999.

“In many cases, the individual Marine will be the most conspicuous symbol of American foreign policy and will potentially influence not only the immediate tactical situation, but the operational and strategic levels as wellsituation, but the operational and strategic levels as well . . . he will become, as the title of this article suggests, the Strategic Corporal.”

As shown by recent blackouts the actions of power system operators can have a national level impactoperators can have a national level impact.

Why Define the Strategic Grid Operator?Strategic Grid Operator?

To provide a focus on the System Operator for d l t fdevelopment of:New computer applicationsNew control systemsyNew operator training methodsNew college educational curriculaNew power system journalsNew power system journalsNew power system operator career pathsNew IEEE PES activitiesNew APDA ActivitiesNew DOE ResearchNew FERC Regulationse C egu a o sNew ERO Standards

The Strategic Grid OperatorHas the ability to analyze often incomplete or inconsistent

informationMust be able to move from routine to leading in crisisMust be able to move from routine to leading in crisis

management in a matter of minutesMust know their system and components inside outOver time develops “gut” to distinguish between artifacts and

situationsDraws on a broad range of both knowledge and experienceDraws on a broad range of both knowledge and experience

to predict and prevent major system problemsIs able to manage large sources of varying data inputs and

make mathematical calculations in their head on the flymake mathematical calculations in their head on the flyIs able communicate with precision under tight time constraintsHas to be ready to face the “Three Minute Crisis”y

The Engineer vs. Operator Gap

Source: SOS International

The Engineer – Operator Gapg p p“Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School – Skills for

Success in the Real World, by Carl Selinger, IEEE Press 2004 ”Press, 2004.

“Book smart and dumb to the world”“I can train an operator to be an engineer, I can’t train

i t b t ”an engineer to be an operator.”“Four year graduate engineers are not recruited for

system operators.”“The rigorous technical Engineering curricula does not

allow time for us to teach soft skills.”“New graduate engineers will not work shifts.”g g“Applications designed by engineers for engineers.”“Our EMS simulator is an engineers dream but an

operators nightmare ”operators nightmare.

Engineer – Operator Gap“Engineering Schools do an inadequate job at

producing well-rounded engineers with background courses in English, writing, economics, history and so g , g, , yon.”

“I have fifty engineers and fifty operators. The engineers, cannot make a real-time decision.” Chief gSystem Operator of a major RTO.

“MIT is coming to ask us on how they can train there engineers to be leaders. Industry is telling them that g y gthere graduates cannot handle operations.” Dean, United States Naval Academy.

“The IEEE Working Group Report is not readable by operators”

“Some of the best candidates for power system operators are navy enlisted personnel who have

l t d t f d t l b icompleted a tour of duty on a nuclear submarine or carrier.” Operations Manager for WECC Control Area.

Important Traits

SourceJ TheotonioJ. Theotonio NERC

Military Knowledge and Skillsy g• Leadership• Teamwork• Diversity and Inclusion in Action• Performance Under Pressure• Respect for Procedures• Integrity• Conscious of Health and Safety Standardsy• Triumph over Adversity

2009 Copyright Incremental Systems Corporation

Types of Knowledge and SkillsSkills

Knowledge of power system equipment and principles Suited forand principles

Knowledge of Operating Procedures –NERC, Region, Utility

Technical skills at operating A power

Suited for self study and Virtual InstructorTechnical skills at operating A power

systemTechnical skills at operating YOUR power

systemsystemSoft skills: team work, communications,

multi-tasking, managing stress and uncertaintyuncertainty

Knowledge of departments/personnel you need to work with.

K l d d Skill f tiKnowledge and Skills for operating your EMS and related communication equipment

Learning Objectives

Using most effective approach to meet the learning objective:learning objective:Paper drillsMini applicationsGeneric SimulatorCustom SimulatorWalk through of EMS ScreensWalk through of EMS ScreensOn the Job Operation of EMSReplica EMS Simulatorp

How to Train a Marine to bail out from a T34?from a T34?

Incident Reporting andAnalysis

Admiral Bowman USNDirector Naval Nuclear PropulsionDirector Naval Nuclear Propulsion

ProgramOversees DOE Labs,Oversees DOE Labs, Res. Des. Acq. Inst. Cert. Test. Op. Maint of all

naval nuclear propulsion plantsa a uc ea p opu s o p a sTraining, selection, assignment personnelSafety 103 reactorsSafety 103 reactors

Work Small Problems to Prevent Bigger ProblemsPrevent Bigger Problems

What are the facts? H d k ?How do you know? Who is responsible? Who else knows about the issue and what are theyWho else knows about the issue and what are they

doing about it? What other ships and places could be affected? p pWhat is the plan? When will it be done? Is this within our design, test, and operational

experience? Wh t th t d t ?What are the expected outcomes? What is the worst that could happen? What are the dissenting opinions?

Examples of Applying USMC Concepts to SGO’sp

Strategic CorporalTeam Decision MakingTeam Decision MakingMarine Corps GazetteOODA – Observation, Orientation, Decision,OODA Observation, Orientation, Decision,

ActionMarine for LifeT k f S i E li d d J i OffiTeamwork of Senior Enlisted and Junior OfficersOfficers that lead from frontEvery officer is trained as a rifle manEvery officer is trained as a rifle manContinuous evaluation and improvementUse of simulations and dramatizationsUse of simulations and dramatizationsEmphasis on Making good decisions under stress

Examples of Applying USNA Concepts to SGOsto SGOs

Short Term MemorySome prior enlisted enter AcademiesOne Officer per CompanyOne Senior Enlisted per CompanyTeam building skillsEmphasis on LeadershipEngineering is a minor for every graduate

Examples of Applying Flight Concepts to SGOsFlight Concepts to SGOs

Crew Resource ManagementCrew Resource ManagementFlight SimulatorsSituational Awareness (Cockpit vs ControlSituational Awareness (Cockpit vs Control

Room)Ground Proximity Warning Systemsy g yWind Shear Warning SystemsStall Warning Systems

SGO AssessmentSGO AssessmentCurrent

Power System Operator DegreePower System Operator DegreeOIT CertificateNERC Certification Exam and CertificateCEH T t d C tifi tCEH Test and Certificates

FutureProfile of Excellent OperatorsStandardized JTA’s – CompetenciesOJT and TrackingSimulation based competency assessmentsSimulation based competency assessmentsIncident Assessments

Operator Backgroundp gPAST PRESENT

LinemanSubstation Switchman

LinemanSubstation Switchman

Relay TechnicianUSN enlisted

Relay TechnicianUSN enlistedAS, AA degreeBS, BA degreeSecretarySecretarySchedulerMeter ReaderMeter Reader

Strategic Grid OperatorProvides Focus forProvides Focus for

Development of:New computer applicationsNew operator training methodsN ll d ti l i lNew college educational curriculaNew power system journalsNew power system operator career pathsp y p pNew IEEE PES activitiesNew APDA ActivitiesNew DOE ResearchNew FERC and ERO Regulations

ConclusionThere are numerous proven concepts that have

been successfully applied to training ourbeen successfully applied to training our marines, soldiers, sailors and pilots.

These can be applied with adaptation to training St t i G id O tStrategic Grid Operators.

Engineers often complain about non-engineers running the show.g

But the time has come for engineers to simplify the important messages and mental images so that the general public regulators andso that the general public, regulators and operators have the right technical foundation.