The Proof Summer 2024

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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

APG Senior Commander

Brig. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV

APG Garrison Commander

Col. Philip J. Mundweil

The Proof is collated, compiled, and edited by the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command’s G-9/Strategic Communications Team, the APG Garrison Public Affairs Team, and with the assistance of public affairs offices from tenant commands throughout APG North, APG South, and Adelphi.

DC Military/ APG Media

President

Jim Normandin jim.normandin@adamspg.com

Executive Editor Eli Wohlenhaus ewohlenhaus@dcmilitary.com 240-801-2258

Account Executive

Ryan Ebaugh

David Murch

Jason O’Neill

Kim Spencer

Designer Steve Baird

The Proof magazine is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The Proof magazine are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or Aberdeen Proving Ground. The content of this publication is the responsibility of the CECOM Strategic Communications Office and editorial staff from APG Media of Chesapeake, LLC. Ideas and news items for The Proof magazine can be sent to usarmy.apg.imcom.mbx.apgpao@mail.mil.

The Proof magazine is published by APG Media of Chesapeake, LLC.APG Media of Chesapeake, LLC is located at 29088 Airpark Drive, Easton, MD 21601. Telephone (301) 921-2800. Commercial advertising should be placed with the printer. APG Media of Chesapeake, LLC Publications is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include all inserts and supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser shall result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

These veteransknowwhatitmeans to go “allin,” andwe’re committedto doingthesame forthemand foryou.Whether thatmeansearning adegreeorgettingtraining to starta newcareer,we’re here to supportthenext chapterof yourlife.

Reaching soaring heights with APG’s bald eagle program

Maya Green

CECOM Public Affairs

Environmentalism and climate change are global issues that rely not only on the stewardship of national leaders, but the genuine efforts of individual citizens to minimize their environmental impact and pollution. Dedicating time and care into the environment is an investment for a secure future. Sustainment and stewardship are the Army’s top priorities as the effects of climate change worsen. Environmental conservation, compliance, and restoration strengthen Army infrastructure, maximizing the availability of training and testing land in support of Soldiers and Army Civilians.

Aberdeen Proving Ground is one of the Army’s 14 major installations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Possessing more than 40,000 acres of land, 30,000 acres of open water, and over 100 miles of shoreline, APG heralds a distinctive responsibility to the protection and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. APG is home to more than 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and commercially important fish species.

Additionally, APG boasts the most bald eagle nests compared to any other DOD installation. Over the past five years, APG has averaged 65 nests that produced 112 chicks per year, Lynda Hartzell, a biologist with APG Garrison’s Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division, and Natural

A juvenile and an adult bald eagle sit near a nest in the trees of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Final 2024 season numbers are not yet available, but APG currently tracks about 60 nests that collectively produce close to 100 chicks. |Ann Gonzalez, CECOM Public Affairs

Resources Team, said.

DPW’s Natural Resources Team ensures that the Army mission is in accordance with natural resource laws and regulations that govern operations at APG.

“We are located on the Chesapeake Bay, which is a highly regulated region—and justifiably so. Activities can have such an impact [on] the Chesapeake Bay if not done properly and in accordance with environmental stewardship protocols,” Hartzell said.

“We have multiple programs that cover [everything from] the bugs and the bunnies—or the flora and the fauna. [Our team] specifically does bald eagles.”

Additionally, there are overarching resource programs like coastal resilience and Chesapeake Bay stewardship.

For the community living on APG, the team provides guidance and best management practices for coexisting and living cooperatively with the wildlife in the natural landscape. The team regularly hosts shoreline cleanup efforts on APG’s north and south locations. When able, they also participate in installation and community outreach events.

“We love engaging with the community when we can,” Hartzell said. “We participate in Earth Day celebrations, and we reach out to local schools for [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] activities.”

The Honorable Rachel Jacobson, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment, unveiled and signed the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy during the Earth Day Showcase hosted by the DPW on April 22. This strategy serves as the Army’s blueprint for a more sustainable future for the Chesapeake Bay.

“[This year’s strategy] is still very similar to the previous [year’s] strategy,” Hartzell said. “It now touches on [concerns] like climate change and coastal resilience, but we are still pursuing the same efforts that we did prior. In other words, we are still safeguarding local water quality, protecting habitats, and providing data to the greater Chesapeake Bay scientific community.”

If efforts like these were ignored, there would be a significant data gap for the Chesapeake Bay due to its overlapping with APG, as it is a proving ground with restricted access, Hartzell added. The Natural

Resources Team is a facilitator, coordinating data collection for state and regional research efforts.

Flying high: APG’s bald eagle program

Previously, bald eagles were on the endangered species list, but are no longer threatened or endangered. Still federally protected, they are the poster child for success under the Endangered Species Act.

The bald eagle program allows the proving ground to conduct necessary testing and training in compliance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and similar laws that protect the species. This specific act makes it illegal to harm, even unintentionally, or take a bald or golden eagle without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The act spells out when an applicant needs to obtain a permit. If an activity could potentially harm an eagle, then a permit is required. The permit will state specific requirements or conditions that must be met. APG has a federal permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that authorizes incidental take of bald eagles, meaning it is legally allowed to unintentionally harm or “take” a bald eagle in the regular course of performing military activities.

According to Hartzell, APG’s permit is a programmatic permit and the first of its kind issued to the DOD. It serves as a model for authorizing incidental take on

A lone adult bald eagle perches atop the treeline at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. |Ann Gonzalez, CECOM Public Affairs

a programmatic level for an installation. This unique permit is required due to the various complex mission activities performed at the proving ground.

“We don’t intend to hurt any eagles, but in the conduct of our activities, we may incidentally harm them,” Hartzell said. “The most common form of incidental take are powerline strikes. We have over 140 miles of overhead powerlines that provide the electrical infrastructure to support our [Army] mission.”

The Natural Resources Team implements a plethora of protective measures and management strategies

for the sake of the more than hundreds of bald eagles who call APG home: 200-meter buffers, reflective line markers, and flight diverters on overhead powerlines, burying powerlines, seasonal nest surveys, ground monitoring observations, ankle tags for tracking, and road barricades during nesting season.

“We have come a long way with our management,” Hartzell said. “At times, it used to be very restrictive. But we were able to evolve past that and become a much more flexible management program. We work in advance with our mission partners during the planning phases of activities to make sure that we’re not impacting the species, but we’re also not

Lynda Hartzell, a biologist with Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison’s Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division, and Natural Resources Team, studies a juvenile bald eagle resting in a nest along the treetops. Hartzell has worked as an Army Civilian for more than 14 years. |Ann Gonzalez, CECOM Public Affairs

unduly delaying or restricting mission. And that’s really important.”

The 200-meter buffers were previously 500 meters, but this took up acres of land. Through research, the Natural Resources Team was able to present evidence and data to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services that eagles were tolerant and adaptive to APG operations. Areas are no longer completely shut down during nesting season.

“We work with our mission partners to ensure there is minimal impact to bald eagles,” Hartzell said. “We are a proving ground first and foremost.”

Eagles choose APG as their home because it’s a green oasis, Hartzell said. The miles of low/undeveloped forested shorelines, ample amounts of prey in the rivers and bay, and limited human presence/ activity make it a perfect habitat. Bald eagles are a top predator at APG, so their presence reflects the habitat’s health.

APG is located within one of several bald eagle concentration areas in the Chesapeake Bay. A concentration area is a mixing of a year-round resident population of eagles and migratory eagles that pass through the area during certain times of the year. APG’s concentration area extends northward to Conowingo Dam, extends to the eastern shore to Sassafras River, then down, encompassing Poole’s Island and the eastern shores of Baltimore County. APG makes up a large amount of that concentration area.

“We take immense pride in having such a robust population of our national emblem here on post,” Hartzell said. “You can be anywhere on the installation, and if you stare up in the sky long enough, you’ll see a bald eagle.”

The best spots on base for the general population to catch a glimpse of a bald eagle are at Top of the Bay, Woodpecker Point, Gunpowder River T-Dock, and the Gunpowder Neck Marina.

If an injured bald eagle is spotted, first note the location, take notice if it is injured or unmoving, but do not approach or touch it, and then call the APG police dispatch at 410-306-0550. Dispatch will then contact APG’s Directorate of Emergency Services Conservation Law Enforcement Branch. Hartzell will

Aberdeen Proving Ground boasts the most bald eagles of all DOD installations. This is due to the Chesapeake Bay, undeveloped shorelines, and various protective measures enforced by the proving ground. APG Garrison’s Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division and Natural Resources Team uses measures like reflective markers on the powerlines, aluminum migratory bird bands, and road/trail buffers. |Ann Gonzalez, CECOM Public Affairs

also respond to the call and meet the conservation law enforcement officer on-site to evaluate the scene and the eagle’s safety in accordance with protocol.

Cooperation and conservation

“We have seen such a significant recovery of the species and yet our mission operations have been sustained or even increased over the past decade,” Hartzell said. “It’s a wonderful example of how the [DOD] and a protected species can coexist.”

Success in the bald eagle program can be attributed to cooperation with APG’s mission partners, Hartzell added. For example, on-site support like aviators from the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center allows the team to conduct nest surveys by helicopter.

This relationship with mission partners and regulators is Hartzell’s favorite part of her job. Collaborating allows the program to be efficient for both sides while maintaining the proving ground’s stewardship and high-level performance.

“Much of our work is behind the scenes and not noticeable,” she said. “And that’s the way it should be. We want to avoid impacting, delaying, or imposing restrictions on missions.”

CECOM welcomes 18th commander

Rachel Ponder CECOM Public Affairs

Brig. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV assumed command of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and the duties of Aberdeen Proving Ground senior commander during a ceremony at the Myer Auditorium June 28, 2024.

Lt. Gen. Christopher O. Mohan, deputy commanding general and acting commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, presided over the ceremony, which was attended in-person and virtually by Army and local leadership, community partners, members of the CECOM workforce, and Turinetti’s family and friends.

The formal event included the traditional passing of the colors to signify Mohan’s trust in Turinetti to lead CECOM. Mohan said this long-standing military tradition, rich with symbolism, sets the Army apart from other occupations. Our business, he said, is fighting and winning our nation’s wars.

“We do this [ceremony] because it is part of our Army tradition; it is part of the fabric that binds us together,” he said.

Mohan welcomed Turinetti to AMC and CECOM.

Throughout his 30-year career as an Army officer, Turinetti has served as a leader in various roles at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. In his last assignment, he was the J-6 director for the U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He previously served as the commandant and 41st chief of signal at U.S. Army Signal School, Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. His deployments include Afghanistan and Iraq to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

According to Mohan, the Army needs an experienced leader like Turinetti, especially during these complex, challenging times. Mohan said he looks forward to working with Turinetti.

“[Turinetti] understands how to keep an organization moving forward,” Mohan said. “He understands how to define the outputs that we need to achieve.”

28, 2024.

During Turinetti’s remarks, he thanked the audience for welcoming him and his wife, Monique Kelsey, to Maryland. He said he is honored to serve as the 18th commander of CECOM and senior commander of APG.

As a signal officer for 30 years, he has had experiences with the CECOM workforce for every assignment, he said.

Turinetti said he looks forward to leading the team, supporting Army readiness, and ensuring that the transformation of the future Army is sustainable, to “win any fight.”

“Being new to AMC and CECOM, I appreciate that I now have the privilege to learn from you, and I expect to learn an awful lot.”

As the commanding general for a 9,000-person, twostar global command and senior commander of a 28,000-person military base, Turinetti serves as the U.S. Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and medical materiel integrator. He is responsible for enabling the U.S. Army’s warfighting readiness by providing sustainable global C5ISR and medical materiel support.

(From right) Lt. Gen. Christopher O. Mohan, deputy commanding general and acting commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, passes the colors to Brig. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, the incoming commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and senior commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground, during Turinetti’s assumption of command ceremony at the Myer Auditorium, June

|Sean Kief, CECOM Public Affairs

Medical readiness coordinator selected as 20th CBRNE Command

Civilian

of the Year

for 20th CBRNE Command was an immense honor and privilege,” Diep-Arwood said. “It will certainly be one of the highlights of my career that I will always cherish.”

Diep-Arwood said her selection as the first 20th CBRNE Command Civilian of the Year also holds a special significance.

“It signifies not only personal achievement but a testament to the value placed on civilian contributions within the command and serves as motivation for others to strive for excellence in their roles,” Diep-Arwood said. “Being selected as the first Civilian of the Year was a moment of pride and validation, but more importantly, it was a catalyst for continued dedication to serving the command and its mission to protect and defend our nation.”

Originally from the Boston area, Diep-Arwood is a retired Massachusetts National Guard sergeant first class.

Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE Command

The U.S. Army Civilian medical readiness coordinator for the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command was selected as the Civilian of the Year for the one-of-a-kind command.

Karen Diep-Arwood, the medical readiness coordinator for the command surgeon cell, was one of two U.S. Army Civilians selected as the first ever 20th CBRNE Command Civilian of the Year, together with Keioka J. “Kaye” Norfleet, the victim advocate for the 48th Chemical Brigade.

Diep-Arwood maintains technical links with Army, joint, and interagency CBRNE organizations to ensure medical readiness. In addition to analyzing data on medical readiness requirements, she monitors, manages, and interprets data to allow commanders to prioritize efficiently.

“Being selected as the first ever Civilian of the Year

While in uniform, Diep-Arwood deployed to Uzbekistan following 9/11 and supported the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit, now known as the Soldier Recovery Unit.

Diep-Arwood said the people are what makes the 20th CBRNE Command the premier command of its kind in the DOD.

Several mentors have played pivotal roles in shaping her professional growth and development throughout her career, Diep-Arwood said.

“These mentors have provided guidance, support, and valuable insights that have helped me navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve my goals,” Diep-Arwood said. “It wouldn’t be equitable for me to single out just one influential mentor. I strive to glean something valuable from each interaction I have with every individual I meet.”

She added that many peers have also served as mentors and provided her with support, encouragement, and camaraderie.

Karen Diep-Arwood, the medical readiness coordinator for the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command surgeon cell, was one of two U.S. Army Civilians selected as the first ever 20th CBRNE Command Civilian of the Year, together with Keioka J. “Kaye” Norfleet, the victim advocate for the 48th Chemical Brigade. Diep-Arwood maintains technical links with Army, joint and interagency CBRNE organizations to ensure medical readiness. |Marshall R. Mason, 20th CBRNE Command Public Affairs

“Their collaboration, insights, and shared experiences have enriched my professional journey and inspired me to strive for excellence,” Diep-Arwood said.

“I am deeply grateful for the positive impact everyone has had on my personal and professional growth.”

Diep-Arwood said she plans to continue to serve with dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.

“I plan to actively pursue professional development opportunities, such as training programs, certifica-

tions, and higher education that will enhance my capabilities and prepare me for expanded roles and responsibilities,” Diep-Arwood said.

“My overarching goal is to continue making meaningful contributions to the mission and success of the Army while also advancing my own career and professional development,” Diep-Arwood said. “I am committed to serving the organization with integrity, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in all that I do.”

CECOM employee named Army Civilian IG of the Year

Rachel Ponder CECOM Public Affairs

Justin Meissner, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command employee and retired Army chemical officer, recently competed and won the Army Civilian Inspector General of the Year Award.

The IG of the Year Competition was held at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, April 23-25, 2024. The Civilian IG of the Year Competition is designed to select the most outstanding Army Civilian who best represents the U.S. Army IG community. Prior to the competition, IGs were nominated by the command IG or state IG and endorsed by the first general officer, flag officer, or senior executive service member in their chain of command.

In the event there were multiple candidates within a category, the major command was responsible for selecting the best candidate. Finally, all participants were approved by the Department of the Army IG.

This year, more than 30 people were selected to compete from across the Army, including noncommissioned officers, officers, and civilians.

During the competition, the IGs were tested round-robin style on all aspects of the Army IG system, including the four IG functions: inspections, assistance, investigations, and teaching and training.

The next day, the top six competitors answered questions in front of a panel of six senior-level IGs. Meissner described the win as validating. This was his first time participating in the competition. He received the award during the Worldwide IG Conference at

Justin Meissner, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command employee and retired Army chemical officer, recently competed and won the title of Army Civilian Inspector General of the Year. |Courtesy photo provided by Justin Meissner

Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 9-11, 2024.

Role of an IG

The IG acts as the eyes, ears, voice, and conscience of the commander. The role of the IG and his or her staff is to determine and report on the economy, efficiency, discipline, morale, esprit de corps, readiness, and resources of the command. An IG aids in resolving issues relating to Soldiers, Army Civilians, family members, retirees, and members of the surrounding community, while protecting confidentiality to the maximum extent possible to guard against reprisal.

Meissner said his background in engineering taught him how to think logically, which now helps him in his current role. Serving as an IG requires him to be familiar with all Army regulations and be aware of past regulations. An IG aims to be as objective as possible and leave the decision making up to senior leaders.

“I enjoy this job, and I like the work,” he said. “[The competition] was a chance to demonstrate my skills.”

Meissner, a native of Denver, Colorado, has been with the CECOM IG team since June 20, 2023. Meissner said he likes serving with the small team, which is composed of four IGs.

“Here, there are some advantages in a smaller office like CECOM, because as an IG we have to do all the functions,” he said about being prepared for the competition.

Meissner said IGs will often visit subordinate commands to solicit confidential feedback from employees during “walkabouts.” He said topics of discussion are often based on the results of the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. The command IG then gives these findings to the commanding general.

“An IG, especially as a military member, is probably one of the places where you can see the most impact of your work,” he said.

Upholding high standards

CECOM IG Renee Baldwin commended Meissner for having the “vulnerability and courage” to compete for the IG Civilian of the Year award.

“His dedication to upholding the highest standards

of integrity, accountability, and oversight is an inspiration to us all,” she said. “I trust this experience reinforced the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new challenges, which leads to personal and professional growth, new perspectives, and a deeper understanding of oneself, others, and the IG Corps.”

Baldwin said Meissner is an asset to the CECOM IG team because he is technologically savvy.

“With Justin’s technical skill set, I am excited to see what enhanced technologies he will introduce that will transform the IG workplace into a more productive environment.”

Meissner credits his colleagues and supervisor for helping him get competition-ready. Once he was selected, the team quizzed him during staff meetings to help him prepare for the competition. Baldwin, a former NCO, gave him board preparation during his mid-point counseling session.

“It was a team effort,” he said.

Previous experience

Meissner has been an IG since 2016. His previous military assignments include command IG of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command; joint command IG of the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve; chief of the assistance division with the Department of the Army IG; and senior official investigator in the Investigations Division at the Department of the Army IG office. He retired as an Army colonel with more than 26 years of experience.

Meissner holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, a master’s degree in engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

The CECOM IG Office is on APG, 6565 Surveillance Loop, in Bldg. 6001, first floor. To contact, call 443861-6600 or usarmy.apg.cecom.list.amsel-ig@ army.mil.

Army Civilian operational planner recognized for enabling global CBRNE deployments

Nathan C. Cantwell was selected as the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command Civilian of the Quarter for October through December 2023. Cantwell supports high stakes missions by developing, preparing, and publishing operational plans for 20th CBRNE Command units. |Marshall R. Mason, 20th CBRNE Command Public Affairs

Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE Command

An Army Civilian operational planner was recognized for enabling global deployments at the U.S. military’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives command.

Nathan C. Cantwell was selected as the 20th CBRNE Command Civilian of the Quarter for October through December 2023.

Cantwell supports these high stakes missions by developing, preparing, and publishing operational plans for 20th CBRNE Command units. He has routinely responded to emergent requirements for CBRNE support around the world.

In addition to being an operational planner for the 20th CBRNE Command, Cantwell is the Army Reserve operations officer at Army Materiel Command –

Army Reserve Element Detachment 7, which directly supports the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.

Cantwell serves in the CECOM Current Operations (G3/5) staff office during annual and monthly training. In this Army Reserve capacity, he has supported exercises, equipment testing, equipment fielding, and other events identified by the CECOM commander and staff.

CECOM delivers command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and medical capabilities, weapons systems, business systems and medical sustainment to enable full spectrum combat operations around the world.

Cantwell is a field artillery officer who has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and served in Germany for 12 years.

He said his service at 20th CBRNE Command as a U.S. Army Civilian is an extension of his service for him and his family.

“Finding a way to continue service in a new role as an Army Civilian fulfills that need. It also provides an additional sense of security, work/life balance and predictability than my reservist time overseas provided in the last few years,” said Cantwell, a native of Phoenix and graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State University.

“The biggest bonus is the ability to maintain our inclusion to the comradery that exists with Soldiers,” Cantwell said. “The community the Army and military service has provided my family through some truly tough times has been greatly appreciated and we feel a sense of duty to pay it back and to pay it forward.”

Cantwell said his civilian operational planner position has brought together his Army Civilian and Army Reserve service since the 20th CBRNE Command and CECOM are both headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

“There are so many instances where life on both sides of the coin come together to my benefit,” Cantwell said.“Whether it be my continued learning through Intermediate Level Education Common Core in the Reserves or just staying informed on daily changes in the big ‘A’ Army as an Army Civilian, it really allows me to bring more to the table and be more active to make positive change for our subordinate commands and units.”

In his role as a civilian operational planner, Cantwell said he always works to provide as much predictability as possible for Soldiers serving and deploying at the unit level.

Cantwell said he plans to continue to focus on his family life while leveraging lessons learned to better serve the Army and nation in positions of greater responsibility.

“I am not sure how far that path will take me yet but it is one that I know will be enjoyable as it has been for the past 24 plus years,” Cantwell said. “My key to success has just been maintaining the course and diversifying. Have the events and paths that I have taken throughout the years been unclear or cloudy at times? Sure. But through support, mentorship, resilience and perseverance, I believe I have left some positive mark on the force.”

CECOM holds relinquishment of command ceremony, Edmonson retires

Rachel Ponder CECOM Public Affairs

The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command hosted a relinquishment of command ceremony, saying farewell to Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, the outgoing commanding general of CECOM and senior commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground, during a ceremony at the Myer Auditorium June 7, 2024.

Edmonson, who has served more than 33 years in the Army, also formally retired in front of friends, family, colleagues, and community leaders.

Edmonson assumed duties as the 17th commander of CECOM and senior commander of APG on Aug. 6, 2021. In this position, he served as the U.S. Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and medical materiel integrator. He enabled the U.S. Army’s warfighting readiness by providing sustainable global C5ISR and medical materiel support.

Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, the outgoing commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and senior commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground, passes the colors to Lt. Gen. Christopher O. Mohan, deputy commanding general and acting commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command, during Edmonson’s relinquishment and retirement ceremony at the Myer Auditorium June 7, 2024. |Sean Kief, CECOM Public Affairs

In front of a packed audience of well-wishers, Edmonson relinquished the colors to Lt. Gen. Christopher O. Mohan, deputy commanding general and acting commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command, who presided over the ceremony. Mohan then passed the colors to CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Conaty, signifying trust and confidence in the NonCommissioned Officer Corps.

Leading by example

Mohan complimented Edmonson on his ability to lead during uncertain times. Edmonson assumed responsibility of CECOM on the heels of a global pandemic when the country was facing massive supply chain issues and the world was just a few months away from the beginning of the RussiaUkraine war, Mohan explained.

“[Edmonson] took charge and led by example, and what he and his team have accomplished has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Mohan said.

The ability to shoot, move, and communicate is paramount for every Soldier, and the Army heavily depends on CECOM to be able to do all three, Mohan said. In addition to leading the CECOM workforce, Edmonson also strengthened APG’s relationship with the surrounding community as the APG senior commander.

“It is safe to say you made us shoot better, move better, communicate better, and you built better communities,” he said. “On behalf of the Soldiers who depend on what you do here, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to you and the entire CECOM team.”

Celebrating more than 33 years of service

Retired Gen. Dennis Via, who served as CECOM’s 11th commander from 2007 to 2009, presided over the retirement portion of the ceremony. Via called it a “full circle moment” because he welcomed Edmonson to the 82nd Signal Battalion (Airborne) when he was a lieutenant colonel, and Edmonson was a first lieutenant.

Via said Edmonson leads with compassion and humility. His legacy will live on. He thanked him for all he did for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the U.S. Army, and the nation.

“Rob, you can depart the Army ranks today with confidence, knowing you leave behind a generation of leaders you personally developed and inspired,” he said.

Via presented Edmonson with a governor’s citation from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore; a Certificate of Appreciation from U.S. President Joseph Biden; the Department of the Army Certificate of Retirement; and a retirement pin. Via presented Edmonson’s wife, Ellen, with the Department of the Army Certificate of Appreciation. Conaty presented Edmonson with the U.S. flag.

Saying farewell

Edmonson shared reflections on his life and career with the audience. He attributed his success to family, friends, mentors, and Army leaders who helped shape his life positively. Throughout his career, one piece of advice that stuck with him, he said, was to “choose the hard right over the easy wrong.”

“I am proud to say I didn’t get here by myself,” he said. “I am proud to say my village played a vital role in making me the man I have become.”

Edmonson thanked the dedication of the CECOM workforce and CECOM and APG leadership. He always aimed to inspire people to do their best.

“My Army career was never about me; it was always about being a part of a team of highly prepared, supremely outfitted professionals who share a common set of values, common bond, and have pledged themselves in supporting and defending the constitution,” he said.

Edmonson said he is confident that future generations of Soldiers will continue to hold the banner of freedom high as a beacon for the world.

“But make no mistake, they will hold that banner high because of the villages that they come from,” he said.

Edmonson said during retirement, he looks forward to spending time with family and moving into their forever home in Florida. He thanked his wife and their two sons for their sacrifices they made as a military family, so that he could serve the country.

JPEO-CBRND prioritizes mental health awareness

Vashelle Nino

JPEO-CBRND

This May, Darryl Colvin, joint program executive officer for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense, hosted a mental health awareness event, providing resources and insightful discussion about the importance of mental health and its role in the overall wellness and resiliency of a healthy workforce.

The event included a presentation by and discussion with special guest, Dr. Jenise Bryce, Aberdeen Proving Ground’s employee assistance program coordinator. The event illustrated Colvin’s commitment to both the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense and APG’s “People First” philosophy.

People First

“People First” is paramount to the JPEO-CBRND’s P.A.I.D. U.P. approach. Prioritizing the mental wellbeing of the workforce supports everyone’s ability to operate healthily and happily and underpins their ability to focus on the mission to support the warfighter. Colvin believes we accomplish this by keeping a pulse on our own mental health and that of our teammates. To help the workforce understand what taking care of themselves and others looks like, he called in the experts.

Bryce is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a breadth of psychology and counseling education and experience. During her mental health awareness presentation, she shared ways to identify mental distress in ourselves and others, encouraging attendees to be especially mindful of any dialogue

Dr. Jenise Bryce, Aberdeen Proving Ground’s employee assistance coordinator, and Joint Program Executive Officer for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Darryl Colvin discuss ways supervisors can create a supportive environment for their workforce. |Matt Gunther, JPEO-CBRND

that might signal thoughts of suicidal ideation.

Bryce also suggested ideas to help employees relax, destress, and remain mindful every day, but especially during difficult times. She had a special message for supervisors too: create a safe, supportive environment for your team that encourages one-on-one dialogue, acknowledges contributions, sets realistic deadlines, and resolves workplace conflict in a positive manner.

Bryce closed out her briefing by sharing helpful resources, like the APG chaplain’s office as well as national mental health and suicide prevention helplines.

Mental health and maintaining a security clearance

DOD employees are often concerned about mental health reporting and its impact on security clearances. To help dispel myths and calm fears surrounding this topic, Colvin invited Dwayne Green, JPEO-CBRND security lead, to speak at the event.

Green assured the workforce that in general and in most cases, seeking mental health treatment does not negatively impact one’s ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance. If anything, voluntarily seeking care is a positive indicator of self-awareness, reliability, and willingness to fulfill personal security responsibilities. In addition, reporting a mental illness diagnosis is only required if the mental health condition impacts one’s judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness. He reiterated that thousands of people maintain security clearances while seeking mental health assistance and less than one percent of clearances are denied or revoked due to psychological concerns.

Green encouraged the workforce to reject the stigma, misinformation, fear, or shame that often accompanies seeking mental health assistance to instead create a culture that supports those seeking help.

“We want you to get help. It’s more important than anything,” Green said.

JPEO-CBRND wellness and resilience

The final speaker was Taylor Ebner from the JPEO-CBRND’s People Operations and Workforce Development Office. Ebner’s passion for workforce wellness and resiliency was evident as she shared mental health and overall wellness resources, including a custom-made wellness and resiliency Microsoft Teams channel containing free virtual wellness classes, recorded trainings, short videos, and a newsletter.

Fireside chat

To round out the event, Colvin and Bryce sat down for a candid chat that included fielding questions from the workforce. Bryce reaffirmed the importance of self-care and seeking help when needed despite unjust feelings of ineptitude or brokenness.

“Yes, the stigma still exists, but our primary focus should be ‘how do I take care of me?’ If we worry too much about what other people are thinking, we will never get the help we need,” Bryce said. Both Bryce and Colvin emphasized that everyone individually and the collective workspace–plays a role in reducing the stigma of mental health. The first steps include checking in with both ourselves and our colleagues and letting others know it’s okay to be vulnerable and seek help. In this spirit, Colvin reminded the workforce that “we are truly stronger together.”

Resources: Army Employee Assistance Program 1-800-222-0364, Mental Health Helpline 1-800662-HELP, APG Chaplain 410-278-4333. Crisis Text Line text HELLO to 741741

Medical Corps colonel retires at premier CBRNE command after 33 years in uniform

Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE Command

A seasoned Medical Service Corps colonel retired from the U.S. Army after more than three decades of serving around the world.

Col. Matthew J. Grieser retired during a widely attended ceremony, April 11, 2024, at the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command Headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

From July 2021 to September 2023, Grieser served as the commander of the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, which is part of the 44th Medical Brigade and 20th CBRNE Command.

Activated in 1942, the 1st AML has served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Soldiers from 1st AML deployed to help contain the Ebola outbreak in Liberia in 2014-2015. The 1st AML was also the first Army unit to deploy to U.S. military installations overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his time in command of the 1st AML, Grieser helped to forge partnerships with military medical professionals in Germany, South Korea, Romania, Canada, Australia, and Poland.

A seasoned combat veteran who started his U.S. Army career as an enlisted infantry Soldier, Grieser served his first assignment at the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington.

He reenlisted as a medical specialist in the Army Reserve while earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Idaho where he was the distinguished military graduate.

After being commissioned into the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, Grieser was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division where he served in multiple assignments.

Grieser deployed 15 times during his 33 years in

uniform. He deployed to Afghanistan four times and Iraq five times. He also served in Haiti, Panama, and New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Hosted by Col. Michael F. Belenky, the commander of the Fort Liberty, North Carolina-based 44th Medical Brigade, the ceremony was attended by many current and former leaders from the 20th CBRNE Command and 1st AML, as well as other leaders from previous commands where Grieser served during his Army career.

Early in their careers, Grieser and Belenky served together in the 82nd Airborne Division. Belenky thanked Grieser for his many years of service to his nation and his dedication to supporting warfighters by providing “good medicine in bad places.”

Grieser said he plans to return home to his wife and children in Rhode Island. He also expressed his enduring gratitude to the many leaders who came to his ceremony and served with him over the past three decades.

“I thank you all for coming to share this moment with me,” Grieser said.

Col. Matthew J. Grieser retired during a widely attended ceremony, April 11, 2024, at the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command Headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. |Marshall R. Mason, 20th CBRNE Command Public Affairs

EXTRAORDINARY

AND PROVING IT EVERY DAY.

At Aberdeen Proving Ground, we create barrier-shattering innovations that forged our Nation’s history and guide our present day advancements to keep pace with emerging 21st century threats.

Soldiers excel at 20th CBRNE Command Best Squad Competition

get ready for the competition.

Soldiers from the DOD’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives command proved their grit, ingenuity, and tenacity during the Best

The 48th Chemical Brigade squad won the 20th CBRNE Command Best Squad Competition on Fort

The team will now compete in the U.S. Army Forces

Spc. Junxian Wu from the 51st Chemical Company won Best Soldier and Sgt. Grant I. Crank from the 744th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) was the Best Noncommissioned Officer.

Wu said his team prepared for the five-day competition with physical training, warrior tasks, and

Wu credited Sgt. Gustavo Lopes for helping him to

“He helped me prepare for the competition by providing me with guidance on how to be successful as a Soldier,” Wu said. “His teachings helped me be a better Soldier than anyone in the competition.”

Wu said the biggest challenge of the competition was the 12-mile ruck march on the final day.

“I had to push through my exhaustion from the previous days to cross the finish line. I couldn’t let my comrades down and their motivation helped me accomplish my goal,” Wu said.

After earning the Best Soldier title for the 20th CBRNE Command, Wu plans to share his knowledge from the competition with his fellow Soldiers in the Fort Stewart, Georgia-based 51st Chemical Company.

“By doing the Best Squad Competition, I can help other CBRN specialists be better by offering valuable insights on what type of training is needed to improve their skills and readiness,” said Wu, who is originally from Rowland Heights, California.

U.S. Army Sgt. Bradley James, assigned to the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command conducts the Leaders Readiness Course at the Best Warrior and Best Squad Competition hosted by 20th CBRNE Command on Fort Stewart, Georgia, May 14, 2024. The 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Squad Competition and Best Warrior Competition is a single event used to select the best Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year from Soldiers within the command and its major subordinate commands. |Sgt. Deonte Rowell, U.S. Army

A graduate of John A. Rowland High School, Wu is currently pursuing his associate’s degree in general studies from Columbia College.

Wu said he joined the Army because he liked science and wanted to defend the freedom of the United States.

His company previously served on the Defense CBRN Response Force, which provides domestic mass decontamination capabilities to the U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil Support.

Crank said it took endurance to succeed at the competition.

“The most challenging part was not only the quantity but also longevity of physical tasks needing to be accomplished. There were also many taxing events on the legs and your overall fitness,” said Crank, who is a native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. “To be prepared for this, I am an advocate for working out and going to the gym. I try to motivate everyone I work with to [exercise] and also draw motivation from them to stay true to working out as much as possible.”

Crank said good leadership during his time in the Army helped to prepare him for success in the competition.

“My preparation mostly came from a culmination of my Army career and having good leaders that have forced me to practice and perfect many of the tasks that we performed,” Crank said.

“This, combined with becoming a leader as well and having to know these tasks proficiently in order to teach them to my Soldiers, has kept me well-rounded in not only Army but my EOD knowledge as well.”

After joining the Army as a combat engineer, Crank became an EOD technician in 2022.

“I wanted to go EOD for a few reasons—one being that I love the ability to have a stateside mission with homeland response and get to use our training on real world scenarios all the time,” Crank said.

“One of the other amazing things about EOD is the culture that we have, it doesn’t matter who it is but when you meet another EOD tech you instantly are family and have such an amazing bond.”

Crank said his favorite EOD mission was a three-day response where he helped to dispose of thousands of rounds of expired munitions.

The Best Squad Competition included teams that represented the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Marylandbased 20th CBRNE Command Headquarters and Headquarters Company; the Fort Cavazos, Texasbased 48th Chemical Brigade; the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 71st EOD Group; and the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 52nd EOD Group.

In addition to Wu, the 48th Chemical Brigade team included Sgt. 1st Class Allison Grover from Baltimore; Sgt. Jesus Perez from Chicago; Spc. Johnmichael Quiblio from Yigo, Guam; and Spc. Romeo Hall from San Antonio.

In addition to Crank, the 71st EOD Group included Staff Sgt. Keith Gentile from Marlboro, Connecticut; Sgt. Connor Chambers from Merritt Island, Florida; Spc. Fabian Lewin from Portsmouth, Virginia; and Spc. Wiyao Alaki from Togo.

The 52nd EOD Group was represented by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Thornton from Minden, Louisiana; Sgt. Nikolai Krusenstjerna from Eugene, Oregon; Spc. Carmine Tufano from Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania; Sgt. Levi Newhouse from Yakima, Washington; and Spc. Isaac Linton from Atwater, Ohio.

The 20th CBRNE Command Headquarters and Headquarters Company squad was represented by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hawkins from Clinton, Maryland; Sgt. James Bradley from Belle Chasse, Louisiana; Spc. Jonath Hoffman from Los Alamitos, California; and Spc. Antonio McNew from Sheridan, Indiana.

Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Silva, the senior enlisted leader for the 20th CBRNE Command, said the squads excelled during the grueling competition.

Silva, who has deployed seven times and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said that training events like the Best Squad and Best Warrior competitions help to prepare the U.S. Army to succeed during large-scale combat operations against near-peer adversaries.

“The mission of our Army is to fight and win our nation’s battles,” said Silva, who is originally from Long Beach, California. “We just don’t go to show up. We are there to win and we want to be so powerful and mighty that just our existence is a deterrent.”

C5ISR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 memorialized in induction ceremony

Maya Green CECOM Public Affairs

Aberdeen Proving Ground celebrated the C5ISR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 in the Myer Auditorium and virtually via Microsoft Teams June 27. C5ISR organization leaders, community officials, family members, and members of the APG workforce gathered to honor the contributions of the inductees. Each inductee is a first-class leader in their field and an inspiration to the community.

The C5ISR Hall of Fame recognizes and memorializes former members of the C5ISR community, which includes both Soldiers and civilians from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command; Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground; U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center; Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications – Tactical; Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors; and Network Cross-Functional Team who have made a significant and enduring

contribution to the community and the U.S Army.

The event’s host, CECOM’s Deputy to the Commanding General Liz S. Miranda, opened with remarks.

“Events like this allow us to share and reflect upon this community’s distinguished past as well as look forward together,” Miranda said after thanking past and present inductees for their attendance. “We are privileged that our community has the vital mission of keeping Soldiers equipped with state-of-the-art C5ISR systems while simultaneously maintaining important enduring platforms.”

Miranda finished her remarks by speaking to the C5ISR workforce in the audience and watching online.

“It is all of our people, all of you, and your vast abilities dedicated to the mission of developing, modernizing, fielding, and sustaining the C5ISR technologies that ensure our warfighting force remains the best in the world,” she said.

Each inductee was formally honored for their contributions, receiving a trophy and a plaque

Family members and inductees pose with trophies at Aberdeen Proving Ground’s C5ISR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the Myer Auditorium June 27, 2024. (From left) Drew D’Angelo, son of the late inductee Andrew R. “Andy” D’Angelo; inductee Kathleen A. Batdorf; inductee Mike Carter; Marsha McAfee Bera-Morris, daughter of the late inductee Dr. Walter S. McAfee; and inductee Thomas J. Michelli. |Sean Kief, CECOM Public Affairs

displayed on the C5ISR Hall of Fame wall.

Class of 2024 C5ISR Hall of Fame

Kathleen Batdorf served as the director of the Logistics, Engineering, and Operations Directorate within the CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center before retiring with 40 years of government service. She reengineered U.S. Army Materiel Command’s business processes and organizational structure to ensure a robust organic industrial base for Force 2025. Batdorf was also a key player in ensuring CECOM’s success during the base realignment and closure move.

Mike Carter served as the ILSC associate director for operations from 2008 to 2011. Prior to that, he was both a CECOM logistics assistance representative master technician and a senior command representative. Carter was known for his willingness to deploy to combat environments in support of our warfighters and his monumental technical expertise.

Andy D’Angelo began his civilian career with CECOM at Fort Monmouth in 1965. He held multiple positions before being appointed to the Senior Executive Service. He retired as the program executive officer for IEW&S in 1993.

During his 42 years of service, Dr. Walter McAfee served in multiple positions including scientist, educator, chief, and director. Walter worked on the McNamara Line, sensor systems used to detect and track enemy forces during the Vietnam War. He spent decades of his life researching, mentoring, and innovating.

Tom Michelli served as the acting director of the U.S. Army Information Systems Management Activity/ Program Manager Army Information Systems after 30 years of service. He spearheaded major projects, including the relocation of U.S. Southern Command headquarters and the Pentagon Renovation project, relocating and upgrading C5ISR assets in both locations.

Pentagon staff visits APG to sign 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy

Maya Green CECOM Public Affairs

Aberdeen Proving Ground Earth Day Showcase attendees witnessed the unveiling and signing of a new strategy that seeks to improve the overall health of the nation’s largest estuary, the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy, April 22. The showcase was held at APG’s premier restaurant, catering, and conference center, Top of the Bay, which overlooks the reflecting waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The Honorable Rachel Jacobson, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and environment, served as the ceremony’s distinguished guest.

The Earth Day Showcase was hosted by APG’s Directorate of Public Works with notable leaders in attendance, including Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Mary Jane Jernigan, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Deputy to the Commanding General Liz Miranda, CECOM

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Conaty, APG Garrison

Commander Col. Philip J. Mundweil, and APG Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Denson.

Here at APG

APG is one of the Army’s oldest installations; established in 1917 as an answer to the nation’s need for defense after Germany launched its first gas attack on April 22, 1915. What began as a site for testing war munitions transformed into something greater: a research, development, testing, and evaluation facility for military weapons and equipment.

While the Army operates 14 major installations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, APG is one of three that actively use the bay and its tributaries for training and testing in water settings. Due to APG’s proximity to the bay and several of its major tributaries, the installation has a unique responsibility to protect the health of the waterways and ecosystems.

APG boasts more than 40,000 acres of forested lands,

serving as one of the Army’s most diverse active installations in the nation. Protected lands at the installation have limited development and advanced the protection of endangered species such as the bald eagle and northern long-eared bat, as well as supported the Army mission and Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.

“[More than] 17.5 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and APG is an important part of that,” Miranda said. “In addition to APG’s thousands of acres, we are custodians of over 100 miles of shoreline and have federal jurisdiction over the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers. APG is also home to the most bald eagle nests of any [DOD] installation; a distinction of immense pride.”

Conserving land both on its installations and outside their boundaries enables the Army to sustain its military mission and bay ecosystems.

APG at the forefront of readiness

By investing in Army infrastructure, installations are kept modern and able to support Soldiers and Army families. These investments are focused on environmental conservation, compliance, and restoration, which maximize the availability of training and testing land which enables readiness for Soldiers. APG has had several conservation accomplishments over the last decade in accordance with the previous Army Chesapeake Bay Strategy:

– APG completed the construction of a submerged gravel wetland that treats more than 35 acres of urban land. The best management practice was retrofitted from an existing dry pond to a submerged gravel wetland. The practice was selected based on site characteristics and the need for increased nutrient removal. Since the wetland was completed, inspectors have noted wildlife, including deer, blue herons, and frogs, congregating around the pond.

– In cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, APG assessed sea level rise and storm effects on wetlands and low-lying areas for climate preparedness and resilience. The installation installed six surface elevation tables to measure changes in water level. The data was utilized to provide more accurate estimates of potential sea level rise. The installation would also undertake further monitoring with sensors mounted to pre-installed brackets to assess the time, extent, and magnitude of storm surge during extreme weather.

– APG conducted surveys of northern long-eared bats across the installation’s 40,000 acres as part of the Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment

Rachel Jacobson discusses the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy at Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Earth Day Showcase April 22, 2024. |Sean Kief, CECOM Public Affairs

The northern long-eared bat is federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

– APG protected more than 2,146 acres of forest, agricultural land, wetlands, and shorelines through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration. Protecting this land limits development within the installation’s high operational noise area, supporting mission and Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. Additional benefits of this land conservation include the protection of bald eagle habitats, Maryland critical areas, forests, and wetlands.

– APG conserved more than 400 acres of land by leveraging REPI and local partner resources. While REPI provided $895,000 to fund these easements, the installation partners, including Harford County, Harford Land Trust, and Maryland’s Program Open Space, provided $9.8 million toward these conservation efforts. The conserved land includes culturally significant landscapes, forested shorelines along the Chesapeake Bay, and forest interior dwelling species habitats. This land will also remove 206 development right options from the installation’s operational noise corridors.

APG continues to implement environmental stewardship practices in support of the battle against climate change. APG eagerly accepts the challenge of the goals layed out in the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy, including:

– Contribute to restoring and sustaining the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries

– Restore and sustain living resources and healthy habitats on Army installations

– Strengthen stormwater management practices and maintain healthy watersheds

– Foster Chesapeake Bay stewardship

Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated annually, across the globe, on April 22 to demonstrate support for the environmental conservation movement. This year’s theme for Earth Day is “Planet vs. Plastic.” This concept calls for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040.

“Plastics are the most common form of marine debris,” Jacobson said. “At least 14 million tons are added to the ocean annually. Plastic ends up being consumed by more than 200 species, which we know is terrible for the ecosystem.”

Jacobson announced the Army will be phasing out the procurement of single-use plastic and Styrofoam dishware used in installation dining facilities by 2030.

“This is a great way to kick off Earth Day, to demonstrate [the Army’s] commitment to lead in environmental

excellence, but we have more to celebrate today,” Jacobson continued before announcing the Army’s 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy.

By unveiling and signing the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Strategy on Earth Day, the Army reaffirms its commitment to stewardship and investing in the world’s future. Jacobson emphasized that this commitment strengthens readiness and is compatible with military missions.

“It is important that our strategy stays dynamic to meet the current needs for Chesapeake Bay recovery because this is one of the nation’s most important watersheds,” Jacobson said. “Our commitment to working with the Chesapeake Bay’s stakeholders is absolute.”

Jacobson stressed the importance of APG’s role in the bay’s health.

“From shoreline stabilization, to mitigating the risk of soil erosion, to cultivating submerged aquatic vegetation to support ecosystems in the watershed— the environmental division here at [APG] is just top notch and they’re dedicated to excellence.”

Thai American officer molds future Army leaders through AANHPI development network

Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE Command

A U.S. Army lieutenant colonel has led the charge to connect and develop a new generation of military leaders in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community.

Lt. Col. Seth T. Varayon has championed connecting and developing the U.S. Army’s AANHPI culture over the past few years.

Varayon currently serves as the information operations officer and future operations planner for the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command on Aberdeen Proving

Ground, Maryland.

A first-generation Thai American officer from McLean, Virginia, Varayon was commissioned as an infantry officer in May 2007.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and his master’s degree in adult education and leadership from Kansas State University in Manhattan.

Varayon has served in staff and leadership positions from the platoon to division level in light infantry and combined arms formations. During three deployments to Afghanistan, Varayon earned three

Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He has also served on a unit rotation to South Korea.

Varayon is the co-founder and chief administrator of the Asian and Pacific Islander Army Officers Network, which consists of nearly 2,000 former, current, and future commissioned and warrant officers across the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and sister services.

“This group stresses inclusion, so there are officers from other services as well,” Varayon said. “Over time, we have realized that the benefits of this group are universal, and that the next evolution will focus on an expanded group of Total Army AANHPI–that means Soldiers, NCOs, warrant officers, commissioned officers, families, Army Civilians, and Soldiers for Life.”

Varayon recently moderated a Federal Asian Pacific American Council panel called the “SES pipeline” that included Dr. Michelle Zbylut, the senior advisor to the secretary of the Army for diversity and inclusion; Young Bang, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army (acquisition, logistics and technology); and Hong Miller, the chief human capital officer at U.S. Army Futures Command.

He also spoke at the Pentagon’s Joint AANHPI Heritage Month observance at the Pentagon Auditorium, May 15, 2024.

“Since I was a young lieutenant, I’ve always enjoyed the numerous Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander month events and observances in May,” Varayon said.

“Each year, the guest speaker or speakers were usually the highest ranking and notable AANHPIs on the post or in the surrounding area,” Varayon said. “Seeing and hearing these inspiring stories from these AANHPI leaders over the years lit a fire within me to one day pay it back to others following in our footsteps.”

Varayon won the 2022 FAPAC Uniformed Services Award in the Army category because of his involvement with the Asian and Pacific Islander Army Officers Network. He has volunteered to serve as the FAPAC Awards committee chairperson for the past two years.

Varayon said the FAPAC Pentagon event theme of “Advancing Leaders through Innovation” applies to the important role that mentors and coaches have in molding the leaders who will guide the U.S. military and the nation it defends into the future.

“Innovation, resilience, and a pioneering spirit are cornerstones of American leadership,” Varayon said.

“AANHPI leaders have made lasting contributions to our nation’s economic prosperity, technological advancements, and social and political change through their ingenuity and creativity while navigating significant cultural and systemic barriers.”

He offered some examples of how Soldiers can advance leaders through innovation.

“I can advance leaders through innovation by introducing a mentorship program if my organization does not have one,” Varayon said. “Mentoring and coaching aren’t innovative in the sense that they have never been done before, but being deliberate about innovating some aspect of yourself or your organization to advance leaders can be just as effective.”

The Pentagon’s Pacific Islander and Asian American community team hosts an event honoring Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders at the Pentagon Auditorium in Arlington, Virginia, on May 15, 2024. Event performers included the Taiko Ensemble, the Hale’ Para Agupa, Cambodian Celestial Dance, Vietnamese Timeless Blossoms, Halau Nohona Hawaii, and a Taekwondo demonstration by Kong’s Taekwondo. |Henry Villarama, U.S. Army

CONNECTED AND PROVING IT EVERY DAY.

Aberdeen Proving Ground is home to generations of scientists, engineers, and technologists deeply rooted in the unique community energy of Northeast Maryland.

PEO IEW&S puts honor in action at the Perry Point Maryland veteran’s facility

“Honoring the past, defending the future,” the Army declared this as its theme for the Army’s 249th anniversary celebrated on June 14th. Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors took the spirit of that message to the fullest when he, along with Soldiers from PEO IEW&S, visited the Perry Point VA Medical Center in Perry Point, Maryland, to celebrate the Army birthday with residents, patients, and staff at the

The Perry Point VA Medical Center provides comprehensive mental health care to Maryland’s veterans and a full range of inpatient medical, intermediate, and long-term care programs to include nursing home care and low-level rehabilitation. This is

an annual event PEO IEW&S supports, and they spent the afternoon conversing with many of the residents throughout the facility. This was Barker’s second time celebrating the Army birthday at Perry Point.

“I believe it is both a pleasure and an honor to take the time to talk to and, more importantly, listen to our veterans,” Baker said. “Many of these former military members reside in the facility, and a visit from us on the official Army birthday is a great way to show our appreciation and let them know that they are not forgotten.”

A part of the annual celebration is a cake cutting ceremony where the youngest Soldier present and the oldest Soldier present cut a cake together with a commemorative sword. This year, Maj. Matthew Szarzynski, assistant product manager at Project

(From left) Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jabar Steward, Capt. Casey Mueller, Kelley Anthony, assistant director of Perry Point Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, Brig Gen. Ed Barker, and Maj. Matthew Szarzynsky celebrated the Army birthday with veteran Kernie Thompson, seated. Volunteers from Project Manager Electronic Warfare and Cyber and Project Manager Positioning, Navigation and Timing demonstrated technologies to the veterans at Perry Point

Manager Positioning, Navigation and Timing fulfilled the role of youngest.

“I appreciated being part of the cake cutting ceremony at Perry Point,”Szarzynski said. “I’ll admit that this was the first time I was the ‘youngest’ Soldier in the room. Still, it was great to share this moment with so many Army veterans and remind them their legacy still matters to our military. When the veterans tell you their stories, they remind you that their service and our current efforts build the future for the next generation of Soldiers.”

Szarzynski shared this moment with veteran Kernie Thompson, who turns 100 years old in January. Thompson was 18 years old when he was drafted into World War II. This was his second year cutting the cake, and he said he looked forward to doing it again next year.

Kelley Anthony, the assistant director of the facility, met with the visitors as they arrived. She was grateful

for the visitors’ time spent with the patients.

“The patients will be talking about this for weeks,” Anthony said. “We truly enjoy having this event on the Army birthday, it gives the residents an opportunity to share their stories and meet new people. We can’t wait to further support next year.”

In addition to visiting with patients throughout the facility, PM PNT and PM Electronic Warfare and Cyber provided volunteers who shared their technologies with the veterans. PM PNT presented their dismounted assured PNT system, which enables dismounted Army forces to shoot, move, and communicate in GPS-challenged environments. PM EW&C provided a demonstration of their Modi, a dismounted manpack programmable system that provides full spectrum coverage allowing Soldiers the ability to maneuver with increased protection against radio-controlled improvised explosive devices. The engagement among the volunteers, Soldiers, and veterans was a

Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors, along with other Soldiers greeted veterans at the Perry Point VA facility. They distributed certificates of appreciation and spent time talking to them about their Army experiences. PEO IEW&S shared then and now posters with the veterans at the Perry Point VA facility June 14, 2024. |Allison Weissert, PEO IEW&S Public Affairs

success.

“As a retired veteran, it was truly a heartwarming experience for me,” Dale Perry, assistant product manager for dismounted PNT and volunteer, said. “Our group of veterans, while small, was very engaged. They knew what we were talking about, though their baseline was a bit dated, as one would expect. They understood what we are working on and providing to the warfighter. I believe they enjoyed our presence and the feedback and questions they offered are invaluable.”

The visitors also brought posters representing past technologies compared to today’s, sparking conversation throughout the event. The vets were impressed by the advances, particularly with regard to challenging environments and jamming.

“We had a great group of veterans at the demonstration, who had a lot of great questions about the equipment,” Eric Baughman, technical representative for the Modi

team, said. “The team at the demonstration were all veterans, so we had a lot in common with the patients and had a wonderful time.”

The staff at Perry Point appreciated the visit almost as much as the patients. One nurse at the hospice building was especially grateful when Barker visited those patients, spending time and thanking them for their service. Veterans throughout the facility were happy to tell the visitors their experiences. Another patient, Paul Smith, talked about how he remembered firing his weapon for the first time, and that you don’t really forget what you see as a Soldier. The visitors were honored to be there and listen.

“The very fabric of this nation was built on your backs and your sweat and sometimes your tears,” Barker said in a short speech. “So, we are truly appreciative of everything you have done for us, it allows us to do what we do today.”

American, Polish laboratory technicians train together on

APG

Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE Command

U.S. Army and Polish Armed Forces laboratory techs honed their skills together during a mobile laboratory workshop on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, April 8-19, 2024.

American Soldiers from the 1st Area Medical Laboratory and U.S. Army Civilians from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Analytical and Remediation Activity trained with laboratory technicians from the Polish Epidemiological Response Center and Polish Military Center for Preventive Medicine.

Col. Dubray Kinney Sr., the commander of the 1st AML, said the bilateral training was designed to improve interoperability during mobile laboratory operations.

“The training also included Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear sampling, exploitation, decontamination, and technical transport,” said Kinney

a native of Washington, D.C., and graduate of the University of Maryland at Eastern Shore who has deployed to Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

“The workshop allowed a focused venue for the CARA and 1st AML laboratories to work on technical details important to sampling and escort that a field training exercise doesn’t permit due to time limitations,” Kinney said. “This was a great opportunity to train together with our partners in CARA and with one of our nation’s strongest allies.”

The workshop helped to prepare the 1st AML to support the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Surgeon Cell during the upcoming NATO Exercise Clean Care 2024 in Hungary. The NATO Center of Excellence for Military Medicine said Clean Care is a biennial medical exercise conducted in a simulated CBRN environment that provides a collective training opportunity for medical CBRN defense entities and medical personnel.

Leaders from the 1st AML also previously visited Poland in April 2023.

U.S. Army and Polish Armed Forces laboratory technicians honed their skills together during a mobile laboratory workshop on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, April 8 – 19, 2024. American Soldiers from the 1st Area Medical Laboratory and U.S. Army Civilians from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Analytical and Remediation Activity trained with laboratory technicians from the Polish Epidemiological Response Center and Polish Military Center for Preventive Medicine. |Maj. Steven M. Modugno, 20th CBRNE Command Public Affairs

During that week-long visit to Poland, the 1st AML leaders toured the Polish Epidemiological Response Center and Military Institute for Chemistry and Radiolog. Both Polish organizations have similar missions to the 1st AML.

The 1st AML leaders also toured the laboratory facilities at the Polish Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute in Warsaw, Poland, and the biological and chemical labs at the Military Preventive Medicine Center in Modlin, Poland.

Headquartered on APG, Maryland, the 1st AML identifies and evaluates health hazards through unique medical laboratory analyses and rapid health hazard assessments of nuclear, biological, chemical, endemic disease, occupational, and environmental health threats.

From Australia and South Korea to Canada and Germany, the 1st AML conducts medical engagements with allied medical personnel around the world.

An Army-Civilian focused organization, CARA is a one-of-a-kind deployable activity that supports unified land operations with theater validation analysis of chemical, biological, and explosive agents and materials.

CARA’s other sections provide additional capabilities

to include worldwide response for Recovered Chemical Warfare Material, technical escort of surety and non-surety chemical material, and remediation support to combatant commanders.

Franz J. Amann, the CARA director, said his activity always welcomes the opportunity to train with allied militaries and to partner with the 1st AML. Amann said allied training opportunities give the organizations an appreciation of each other’s capabilities.

“This type of training makes all of the units involved stronger and more capable to conduct their highstakes missions around the world,” said Amann, a retired U.S. Army Chemical Corps Officer from Spartanburg, South Carolina.

“CARA is fortunate that its chemists and microbiologists remain with the organization for several years,” Amann said. “These scientists are able to hone their skills as they refine and improve their laboratory processes. With their many years of experience, our Army Civilians at CARA are able to contribute to this valuable training opportunity with our Polish allies.”

CARA and the 1st AML are part of the U.S. Army 20th CBRNE Command, the U.S. military’s premier CBRNE formation.

Army aviation achieves modernization through key partnerships

Allison Weissert PEO IEW&S Public Affairs

The U.S. Army Signal Corps first partnered with the aviation community when they purchased the Wright Military Flyer in 1908. This was a two-seat observation plane that was used to conduct flight training for only one year. More than 115 years later, the Army Aviators perform a multitude of missions from patrolling the modern battlefields from the sky to piloting unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance.

As the Army aviation community continues to strive for innovation, they presented their near- and longterm goals for emerging technologies, rapid acquisition strategies and aircraft survivability at the annual Quad A Mission Solutions Summit conference in Denver in April. One key point coming from the conference was the need for innovation through partnerships.

During the opening ceremony, Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. David S. Doyle said, “Now is the time to innovate, successful innovation requires all of us.”

Program Executive Office-Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors partners with PEO Aviation to provide aerial platforms with modernized sensors dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance as well as survivability. Project Director Sensors-Aerial Intelligence and Project Manager Aircraft Survivability Equipment are PEO IEW&S’ lead organizations providing sensors to the aviation community.

PD SAI’s mission is to develop, acquire, field, and supply life cycle support to tactically relevant aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors on

Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, left, hosts a panel during Quad A: Modernized Sensors for Aerial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, and Survivability in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. Participants include (left to right): Andrew Evans, director of the ISR task force; Brig. Gen. David Phillips, PEO for aviation; Dennis Teefy, project director sensors-aerial intelligence; and Col. Brock Zimmerman, project manager for aircraft survivability equipment. |Allison Weissert, PEO IEW&S Public Affairs

multiple platforms that maintain battlespace awareness and superiority. Some of these platforms include the Airborne Reconnaissance & Electronic Warfare System, or ARES, the Airborne Reconnaissance Targeting Exploitation Mission Intelligence System, or ARTEMIS, the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System, or EMARSS, the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, the High Altitude Extended-range Long-endurance Intelligence Observation System, or HELIOS, and the High Efficiency RF Monitoring and Exploitation System, or HERMES, as well as several uncrewed aerial systems.

PEO Aviation’s PM Fixed Wing and PD SAI share a unique acquisition approach. For the development of the HADES program of record aircraft, PM Fixed Wing and PD SAI share funding and work together through the requirements process. HADES is planned to achieve deep sensing capabilities, which is a focus for Army Leadership, as deep sensing provides the identification, monitoring, targeting, and striking of targets from long distances with precision. PM Fixed Wing provides for the plane, platform, and integration of sensors. PD SAI provides their expertise on the sensor development and fielding throughout its life cycle.

“We ensure the platform we build and select is reliable, robust, and open so we can develop over time,” said Col. Joseph Minor, PM Fixed Wing, about the relationship with PD SAI. “We have a seamless relationship with SAI, we look forward to working together to deliver HADES as we have with the legacy fleet.”

“We make sure our sensors work within the architecture of the digital backbone built by the aviation side,” said Dennis Teefy, project director sensors-aerial intelligence, during a leadership question and answer session at Quad A.

The HADES acquisition management plan maximizes affordability through competition, enabling the Army to meet stringent cost, performance, and schedule requirements. The HADES team also employs the Modular Open Systems Approach, or MOSA, which meets the Army’s modernization plan. MOSA uses a system architecture that allows major system components to be incrementally added, removed, or replaced throughout the life cycle of a major system platform to afford opportunities for enhanced competition and innovation. PD SAI is leveraging software solutions to provide

updated capabilities where possible. As the operational imperative is to sense and see farther, the ability to calibrate sensors through scalable, cost effective and advanced software is key for the new higher altitude platforms such as HADES, that are being developed.

A key partner in developing the requirements for aerial ISR needs is the Army ISR task force. The organization partners with PEO Aviation and PEO IEW&S to seek out and develop ISR technology through multiple stakeholders, including the DOD, industry, and academia. Andrew Evans, director of the ISR task force highlighted his priorities during a panel discussion at Quad A.

“The four P’s we have to be ruthlessly focused on are: the right platforms, software defined payloads, modernized processing, exploitation, and dissemination processes, and partnerships. Modernization is a team sport,” Evans said.

By leveraging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to refine data that comes in massive quantities, humans can then use discretion and judgment based on relevant information obtained by sensors.

PEO Aviation Brig. Gen. David Phillips referred to partnerships as a team of teams.

“Without these team efforts, we would not accomplish any of these visionary capabilities,” he said.

These teams come together to create a common architecture to prevent having to re-architect or over complicate sensor capabilities.

High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System will be a multi-faceted sensing capability on higher altitude, longer endurance manned platforms. |Courtesy photo provided by PEO IEW&S

The Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo spoke during the opening day ceremony to update attendees on the state of the Army aviation portfolio.

“The Army and the Joint Force rely on aviation contributions on today’s missions and well into the future,” Camarillo said. “Accomplishing this mission will require us to equip our warfighter with a mix of innovative and enduring capabilities, and I think we have the right investments in place.”

Camarillo pointed to a strategy of incremental upgrades purchased in smaller quantities, adopting MOSA, and using software to make improvements with minimal mission disruption.

“When we talk about modernizing sensors and aerial ISR, we are talking about what the chief and secretary of the Army often talk about—the operational imperatives of seeing and sensing farther than the enemy,”said Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, PEO IWE&S. “We know that the enemy definitely gets a vote on how fast we have to iterate and innovate. I am very proud of the enduring partnerships we have with PEO Aviation and the ISR task force.”

PM ASE is also a key partner in the aviation community.

It provides for the development and fielding of aircraft systems that maximize the survivability of Army aircraft against continually evolving threats while minimizing mission degradation.

“Our first strategic priority is to focus on ASE architecture and modernization,” said Col. Brock Zimmerman, PM ASE. “My office is looking to field threat agnostic and defeat capabilities, field rapid system updates, as well as present relevant and actionable information and deliver multi-mission capabilities.”

This requires common architecture, a reduction in ASE size, weight, and power, an increase in integration efforts that speed updates to software and hardware, and an improved threat detection system, focusing on the new Future Long Range Assault Aircraft system that will eventually apply to the legacy system.

”We are hyper-focused on protecting our air crews and the passengers on those platforms before we put them in harm’s way,” Barker said, echoing the importance of ASE. “We need to protect them the best way possible.”

Juneteenth: Celebrating freedom, honoring those who fought for equality

Rachel

CECOM Public Affairs

Juneteenth is known as America’s “second” Independence Day because it commemorates the end of slavery in America. The holiday also represents the beginning of the fulfillment of America’s promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for Black Americans.

President Abraham Lincoln issued The Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, declaring “that all per-

sons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” However, Texas resisted the Emancipation Proclamation for more than two years.

On June 19, 1865, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved Americans in Texas from bondage. This day became known as “Juneteenth,” or “Jubilee Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.”

Ponder

Juneteenth is considered the longest-running Black American holiday. Over the years and through successive waves of migration, Juneteenth celebrations spread to the rest of Texas and eventually the country at large.

Juneteenth officially became the 11th federal holiday in 2021, and is the first new federal holiday since the recognition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in 1983.

“Juneteenth represents not only the commemoration of the end of slavery in America more than 150 years ago, but the ongoing work to bring true equity and racial justice into American society,” said U.S. President Joseph R. Biden before the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021.

APG Soldiers, civilians advocate for equality in Harford County

Juneteenth is an integral part of Army life. It is an opportunity to reflect on the crucial role the Army played in the Emancipation Proclamation and ending segregation in the U.S.

On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which ended segregation in the military. This order marked a significant moment in the civil rights movement. It was also one of the first instances where a U.S. president used an executive order to implement a civil rights policy.

Locally, APG Soldiers and civilians were instrumental in the desegregation of Harford County by leading efforts to desegregate local restaurants, facilitate school integration, and advocate for fair and open housing in the 1960s, said Patricia D. Cole, president of the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.

These efforts included peaceful protests, speeches, and involvement in lawsuits. For example, Cole said many Soldiers and civilians were involved in the Route 40 protests, advocating for the desegregation of restaurants and other public accommodations. In the 1960s, George S. Pettit, an APG scientist, filed a lawsuit to enable his son A. Dwight Pettit to attend Aberdeen High School. After a two-year legal battle,

the Pettit family won the lawsuit, allowing A. Dwight to attend Aberdeen High School instead of Havre de Grace Consolidated, a segregated school for Black students. Today, A. Dwight is a prominent Baltimore lawyer.

Cole said in 1961, APG leaders facilitated meetings between local restaurant owners and civil rights leaders to advocate for removing racial exclusions in restaurants along Route 40.

“This effort was crucial as Black Vietnam veterans returning home faced significant challenges in finding housing off the post,” Cole said.

This Juneteenth, take time to reflect on what it means to be free, celebrate the resiliency of Black Americans, and honor those who fought and sacrificed to ensure the Constitution fulfilled its promise to all Americans.

Patricia D. Cole, president of the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center, Inc., shared how APG Soldiers and civilians were instrumental in the desegregation of Harford County by leading efforts to desegregate local restaurants, facilitate school integration, and advocate for fair and open housing in the 1960s. |Courtesy photo provided by Patricia D. Cole

APG re-establishes ties to local history

Susan Thompson CECOM Command Historian

Col. Philip J Mundweil, Aberdeen Proving Ground garrison commander, believes in the value of local partnerships and is re-establishing ties with the local history community around Aberdeen, Maryland.

A delegation from APG, including Col. Mundweil, members of his department of public works staff, Anna-Lisa Marcum and Mark Galihue, along with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Historian Richard Wiltison and U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Historian Susan Thompson have held several meetings with local history organizations to begin rebuilding the relationship that has waned since the celebration of APG’s centennial in 2017.

Col. (Ret) Bill Montgomery, current councilman for Aberdeen, Maryland, and council liaison to APG, coordinated the meetings between APG and the history organizations. The first meeting was held at the end

of April with the Aberdeen Historical Museum, and the second in early June at the Baltimore & Ohio, or B&O, Train Stations, both located in Aberdeen.

Ruth Peters, president of the Aberdeen Historical Museum, and Anne Dulik hosted the event in April and provided an in-depth tour of the many resources held by the museum that relate to the founding and operations of APG since its establishment in 1917.

The Aberdeen Historical Museum, previously known as the Aberdeen Room Archives and Museum, Inc., is a small nonprofit 501(c)(3) museum in Aberdeen, Maryland, which was established in 1987. The museum connects the Aberdeen community with the area’s rich history to awaken an interest in local history.

Peter Dacey and Mary Rasa, board members of The Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station, lead the group on a tour of the work in progress in early June.

The Friends of the B&O Train Station Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose vision is to preserve the Aberdeen B&O Train Station as the historic

Aberdeen Proving Ground historians and APG Garrison Commander Col. Philip J. Mundweil listen to an overview of Aberdeen Historical Museum holdings by Ruth Peters, president of the Aberdeen Historical Museum, April 2024. |Photo courtesy of Col. (Ret) Bill Montgomery

gateway to Aberdeen and America’s Railroading Heritage. The organization is dedicated to the preservation of the B&O Railroad’s only existing station on the Philadelphia Subdivision in Maryland.

The Aberdeen Station was constructed in 1885 following plans by architect Frank Furness. Many Soldiers arriving at APG or deploying to fight in wars used the Aberdeen station, forever linking the histories of APG and the train station. It was also instrumental in transporting military weaponry and supplies to and from APG until 1958, when passenger service on the line was suspended.

The station was scheduled for demolition in 2003.

A last-minute agreement was made by CSX and the Historical Society of Harford County to save the building from destruction. In September 2016, the Aberdeen Room Museum & Archives took over the project to restore the train station from the Historical Society of Harford County. During that time, private contri-

butions and several grants were obtained to fund the project. Then, in June 2020, a new non-profit was officially formed, The Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station, Inc., whose focus was solely the restoration of the train station.

Currently, the exterior of the train station is being restored to its 1885 appearance in coordination with the Maryland Historical Trust. The Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station are planning for future interpretive signs around the exterior and will dedicate the completed exterior renovations in August 2024.

These meetings and initial discussions were held to reach agreement where a mutually beneficial relationship could be developed. The hope is to reinvigorate interest and cooperation between APG and the many local organizations that share interest in the history of APG and to develop partnerships that support a broad range of participation.

Troops from Aberdeen Proving Ground wait to board a train at Aberdeen B&O Train Station for deployment to Korea, circa 1950 (train station in upper left corner).

|Photo courtesy of Friends of Aberdeen B&O Train Station

IronBirds ballgame celebrates Military Appreciation Night, Army birthday

Rachel Ponder

CECOM Public Affairs

The Aberdeen IronBirds, a Baltimore Orioles farm team, hosted its annual Military Appreciation Night at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium on the Army’s 249th birthday, June 14, 2024. The festivities included giveaways and several educational displays to give the community a glimpse of some of the state-of-the-art technology used by military organizations.

In keeping with the night’s theme, hundreds of attendees signed a giant birthday card at the stadium

entrance. Local mascots, Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Col. Baldwin, the Ironbirds’ Ripcord and Ferrous, Aberdeen High School’s Deen, and Swan Creek School’s Binx, participated in the festivities by signing a small Army birthday poster for attendees featuring the mascots.

A highlight of the festivities included military vehicles from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command; U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity; U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command; U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command; a helmet car

Liz Miranda, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command deputy to the commanding general, signs a card wishing the Army a happy 249th birthday during Military Appreciation Night at Ripken Stadium, June 14, 2024. |Sean Kief, CECOM Public Affairs

from APG Garrison, a crash truck from the Directorate of Operations, and the Harford County Link Bus.

Additionally, Meg Holahan and Rich Wallace, with the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense, demonstrated an augmented reality training device for attendees. This high-tech device allows Soldiers to train with each other in different parts of the world.

Recognizing those who serve

During the opening ceremonies, the stadium played an Army birthday video and two representatives from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors threw out ceremonial first pitches.

On the field, 20th CBRNE Command’s Commanding General Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood welcomed the crowd, leading them in a round of applause to celebrate the Army’s birthday and to thank past, present, and future service members.

“Your sons, your daughters, your brothers and sisters, there are so many who have raised their right hands to serve, and I really appreciate that,” he said.

He also recognized the Gold Star family members and the 29 TAPS members who served as special guests that evening.

Then Hood threw a ceremonial first pitch to Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly.

After the first pitch, Master Sgt. German Sanchez, from the 20th CBRNE Command, sang the national anthem.

At the bottom of the third inning, an Army birthday cake was cut by Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors,

and the audience sang Happy Birthday. After Barker cut the cake, volunteers from the Association of the United States Army and the APG Community Spouses Club passed out cupcakes in front of the giant birthday card.

At the bottom of the fourth inning, the APG Soldier of the Year Spc. Nikolas Henderson, a medical laboratory specialist with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, was recognized as the “Hometown Hero.”

“It is nice to be recognized, because we don’t always get that recognition,” Henderson said about the positive response he and other service members received that evening. “It is a good morale boost for us as service people. Seeing all those people cheer for me, just then, was heartwarming.”

Attendee Dave Goff, an Army Vietnam veteran, said he enjoyed seeing the military vehicles during the event as he reflected on his time in the service. He said he had many friends who served in the Vietnam War, and his father served in World War II.

“Ordinary guys do extraordinary things,” he said as a tribute to his loved ones who served.

CECOM Community Relations and Executive Services Chief Becca Kidd thanked the members of the APG workforce who contributed to the community-building event.

“It’s always a special opportunity for our APG workforce to be able to demonstrate to our community the extraordinary work we prove on the installation day-in and day-out,” Kidd said. “But to have the opportunity to celebrate our Army’s birthday with over 6,000 fans was the icing on the cake.”

Greening leads to more effective acquisition professionals

Allison Weissert

PEO IEW&S Public Affairs

Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors Integration Directorate escorted newer members of the PEO at a greening event to observe the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Combined Forcible Entry exercise at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. A greening event exposes civilian employees to the duties and missions of the operating force to increase their understanding of the challenges our Soldiers face, thereby improving the work they do as acquisition professionals on behalf of the warfighter.

A combined forcible entry operation is a core ranger mission that requires the seizing and securing of an airfield for follow-on operations. This culminating exercise consisted of entry into a remote airfield, encountering an opposing force and simulated casualty evacuation, complete packing up of equipment, and real-time reporting.

Two civilians accompanied William Reagan from the

Integration Directorate on a three-day temporary duty to Savannah, Georgia, near HAAF and Fort Stewart, where they toured facilities; interacted with Soldiers from the Marne division, including a tank crew and their most modern M1 main battle tank in the field; and learned about Army Rangers lineage, capabilities, and equipment. This was an opportunity for the acquisition workforce to observe and engage with Soldiers of the famed 75th Ranger Regiment, the premier raid force, and talk to them about the products they use, how they use them, and what they need the fielded products to do.

Reagan, a former infantryman turned Special Forces and retired officer, led the greening as an expert in tactical and technical fields. He was able to provide context and explain the event as it unfolded.

“I have been connecting technical experts; engineers, researchers, program, project managers, capability managers, etc., with tactical experts; Soldiers, users, leaders, commanders, both at PEO Soldier and our PEO for many years,” Reagan said. “I continue to be amazed

Army Ranger exercise viewed by members of last year’s greening event at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Johnson, Louisiana. |Bill Reagan, PEO IEW&S

when these two groups come together. Inevitably there is not only greater understanding of each other, but more importantly, greater appreciation of each other’s complementary knowledge, skills, operating environment, and efforts or projects. Ultimately these are high quality professional development or educational opportunities that often build long-lasting personal connections between these expert communities.”

Heather Ferguson, recently hired program analyst for Project Director Sensors-Aerial Intelligence, attended the greening, and understands how events like this can help shape requirements.

“The greening was truly a fantastic experience,” Ferguson said. “Being new to the Army and the world of acquisition, this opportunity really brought things into perspective for me. I was able to interact with the warfighter, talk to Soldiers, and ask questions about the equipment they use. I will take from this experience the importance of continuing to build relationships and how it informs the acquisition process.”

The group arrived at HAAF just prior to the nighttime exercise, Capt. James Kuzunas Jr. provided an overview of what was to happen and introduced them to several rangers. They observed the practice exercise and spoke to Soldiers about how they use equipment, the weight of their packs, and how vehicles are outfitted. While speaking with two of the rangers who handle communications, it became evident just how important size, weight, and power, or SWaP, is to Soldiers and how SWaP is an important factor in considering requirements that later become fielded products.

The group also had the opportunity to observe discussions by the rangers regarding training, physical, and mental requirements for passing ranger school and the upcoming combined forcible entry exercise. After the practice, the visitors watched the nighttime exercise from an observation post through night vision goggles.

Thomas Trzeciak, project engineer, Unified Data Reference Architecture, attended a similar event led by Reagan last year.

“Having participated in the training helped me understand the amount of gear and knowledge the Soldiers need to have,” Trzeciak said. “So many months after the event, I still take into account the greening event to make sure the Soldiers have all they need from

our program.”

At the Marne Innovation Center on Fort Stewart, the group saw developing projects firsthand, such as a working drone, a device that detects mold, and 3D printers. Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Lopez, noncommissioned officer in charge, conducted the tour.

“I believe that innovation and increasing the Army’s understanding of technology leads to improving Soldiers’ lives,” Lopez said.

Kayla Lake, operations research analyst, Project Manager Positioning, Navigation and Timing, recently celebrated her first year with PEO IEW&S.

“Being a new civilian with no prior military service, this training experience puts into perspective the sacrifices and service Soldiers experience daily,” Lake said. “It was very humbling to see their dedication to every task and the expectation of being available 24/7. It made me develop a deeper appreciation for the work we do every day in the acquisition community to support the warfighter. The Innovation Center tour was inspiring to not only see Soldiers working collectively to solve issues, but to see the tremendous pride in each individual and group member discussing their solutions and innovations.”

The Integration Directorate for PEO IEW&S supports bringing together the acquisition community with Soldiers to bridge the gaps between capabilities in design and development with real functional products in the field. Greening is one way to help achieve that goal for both communities.

Heather Ferguson, program analyst, Project Director Sensors-Aerial Intelligence, takes a tour of a tank from its operator on Fort Stewart, Georgia. |Shawn Nesaw, PEO IW&S Public Affairs

Army pilots leasing model for commercial satellite communications

Amy Walker

PEO C3T PM Tactical Network Public Affairs

An innovative pilot known as Satellite Communications as a Managed Service, or SaaMS is informing Army decisions on a lease-versus-buy business model for acquiring and delivering scalable commercial satellite communications to support unit readiness and unique missions in future large scale combat operations.

In support, Project Manager Tactical Network assigned to the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical, which manages the SaaMS pilot for the Army, facilitated the fielding of different bundled commercial equipment, bandwidth, and service packages to units in several regional coverage

areas around the globe. The intent of the pilot was not to create a separate SaaMS evaluation event but to enable operational units to use the different service and equipment sets to best suit their individual needs and roll it into their existing training events through fiscal year 2024.

Instead of the Army having to procure, field, sustain, and modernize equipment on its own for every unit and every mission, SaaMS could enable the Army to lease these capabilities at the point of need. This business model would be scalable to expand or contract as missions change, helping to reduce on-hand inventory, satellite airtime, and cost. SaaMS would ensure bandwidth is allocated at the right place and time to support data exchange in a wide variety of mission sets.

In support of the Army’s Satellite Communications as a Managed Service pilot, Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard, 529th Sustainment Support Battalion, train on expeditionary commercial SATCOM equipment in North Chesterfield, Virgina, Feb. 14, 2024. This is the first of several Army units to be fielded in support of the SaaMS pilot. |Amy Walker, PEO C3T PM Tactical Network Public Affairs

“In today’s dynamic [operational] environment, a SaaMS model could allow us to scale and adapt network connectivity seamlessly,” said Col. James Sullivan, commander, 11th Corps Signal Brigade, one of several units supporting the pilot. “We could easily increase or decrease bandwidth and services based on mission requirements, unlike fixed capacity with owned equipment. This flexibility is crucial for diverse missions across Europe, the Pacific, or the Arctic.”

The Army will leverage the data and Soldier feedback from the pilot and other DOD efforts to make informed decisions on the implementation of SaaMS to meet the increasing demand for secure reliable satellite communications.

In line with the Army’s unified network plan, a SaaMS model could help the service more affordably keep up with the accelerating speed of technology

advancement, while reducing equipment obsolescence and other sustainment challenges. Solutions will be flexible and tailorable to meet the needs of specific mission sets and enable SATCOM connectivity and hardware to be surged for deployments or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Sullivan added that instead of having fixed assets tied to specific locations, SaaMS could allow units to more freely allocate resources globally as needed.

“Imagine seamlessly shifting resources from a quiet Pacific base to a suddenly active European theater,” Sullivan said.

The SaaMS pilot encompasses commercial capability in both low earth orbit and the traditional geosynchronous earth orbit constellations. Leveraging SaaMS’ multivendor, multi-orbit SATCOM capability could fuel the Army’s efforts to enhance network resiliency through

In support of the Army’s Satellite Communications as a Managed Service pilot, Project Manager Tactical Network, Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical facilitates new equipment training on commercial equipment for the Virginia Army National Guard, 529th Sustainment Support Battalion, North Chesterfield, Virgina, Feb. 14, 2024. This is the first of several Army units to be fielded in support of the SaaMS pilot. |Amy Walker,

PEO C3T PM Tactical Network Public Affairs

transport diversity, especially in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited bandwidth environments.

The pilot also includes network connectivity to commercial teleports and internet services, and the Army is integrating the commercial capability into Global Agile Integrated Transport network design, enabling units to tie into the unified network from anywhere in the world.

“SaaMS strengthens our Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency, or PACE, communications plan and network resiliency through redundancy,” said Lt. Col. John “Chris” Acosta, deputy commander for the 11th CSB. “We can access diverse, geographically dispersed network providers. This could ensure communication even if specific regions face disruption.”

Further enhancing resiliency and ease of use, SaaMS allows for quicker signal rerouting and failover to alternate providers through the use of commercial auto-PACE software technology, minimizing downtime and mission impact, Acosta said.

During the pilot, the Army is assessing varying degrees of leased end-to-end service models with tailorable features that include satellite terminals, bandwidth capacity, security compliance, logistics, and repair, said Lt. Col. Mark Scott, product manager for Unified Network Capabilities and Integration, assigned to PM TN.

“As our adversaries strive to enhance their own network capabilities, agile procurement methods will be critical to U.S. forces in retaining technological overmatch on the battlefield, and it will enable us to more rapidly refresh units with dated equipment,” Scott said. “By leveraging commercial research and development, SaaMS could enable the Army to securely integrate emerging commercial capabilities into its SATCOM fleet at a much quicker pace and at less cost, compared to procuring capability through traditional methods with lengthy acquisition cycles.”

During the pilot, the Army is assessing different scenarios, such as using SaaMS to provide a stop gap for maintenance issues due to obsolescence, or to rapidly deliver the “latest and greatest” in commercial technology to an Army National Guard unit prior to a deployment, said Seth Chouinard, PdM UNCI SaaMS project lead.

“If a unit that hasn’t deployed in several years and is then called up to support a mission, SaaMS becomes the solution for rapid equipment refresh,” Chouinard said. “When their deployment mission concludes, the unit can simply return the equipment back to the industry partner.”

If fielded to a National Guard joint force headquarters, SaaMS could also allow for quicker deployment for domestic response operations, said Cpt. Sam Stout, signal officer for the Virginia Army National Guard 29th Infantry Division, another of the pilot units.

“You can pack it into the back of a truck and roll it out with pretty much any of the communications packages we have now, versus our current large trailermounted satellite terminal,” Stout said. “With this [more expeditionary] satellite terminal, we could set up a response cell pretty much anywhere.”

Stout also noted that the commercial equipment is also easy to use and train, aiding in the Army’s network design goal to enhance simplicity at the edge so Soldiers can focus on the fight.

Alongside the pilot, the Army is accelerating the potential use of an “as a service” business model by concurrently leveraging lessons learned from other DOD efforts in the managed services realm, including those conducted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Similarly, the Army is looking into the potential of leveraging a commercial “as a service” model for tactical radios, as well, releasing a request for information to industry last month to gain further insight into such an effort. To further examine the pros and cons of the SaaMS model, the Army also leveraged John Hopkins University to conduct a SaaMS business case and cost analysis to aid in future lease-versus-buy decisions.

“[With SaaMS], we can adjust the scope of technology adoption based on needs and budget, allowing us to test and evaluate new solutions before full-scale deployment,” Sullivan said. “[Additionally], we only pay for what we use, eliminating costly unused capacity during low-intensity periods… and we eliminate the need to maintain and manage diverse communication equipment. This frees up resources for other missioncritical needs.”

Premier CBRNE command participates in Exercise Freedom Shield in South Korea

Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE Command

The DOD’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives command participated in Exercise Freedom Shield in South Korea.

American Soldiers and Army Civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command trained with Eighth Army and Combined Forces Command units during the exercise, with some of their personnel in South Korea while others supported remotely from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, March 4–14, 2024.

Conducted to strengthen the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance, Freedom Shield 2024 is a routine and defensiveoriented exercise designed to strengthen security on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia.

The annual exercise integrated live training and constructive simulations that brought together South Korean, U.S., and multinational sending states.

The training events focused on conducting multi-domain operations leveraging land, sea, air, cyber, and space assets with emphasis on counter nuclear operations and non-kinetic effects.

Soldiers and Army Civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command routinely deploy to South Korea for exercises and send a Chemical Corps company to support rotational forces.

The Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington-based 45th CBRN Company (Hazardous Response) recently arrived in South Korea for a rotational deployment in support of the 23rd CBRN Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, and Eighth Army.

Soldiers from the 45th CBRN Company serve near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the world’s most heavily guarded border.

Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the commanding general of 20th CBRNE Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Silva, the 20th CBRNE Command senior enlisted

Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood (right), commanding general of the U.S. Army 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, speaks with Soldiers from the 23rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Battalion on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, March 11, 2024. American Soldiers and Army Civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command trained with Eighth Army and Combined Forces Command units during the exercise, with some of their personnel in South Korea while others supported remotely from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. |Chin-U Pak, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division

leader, met with Soldiers at the 23rd CBRN Battalion Headquarters on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, during the exercise.

Maj. Steven M. Modugno, the public affairs director for the 20th CBRNE Command, said the 20th CBRNE Command routinely trains with Republic of Korea CBRN Defense Command forces on the Korean Peninsula and at combat training centers in the United States.

“The exercise focused on building stronger bonds and improving interoperability with our partners in the ROKU.S. Alliance,” said Modugno, who previously served with the South Korea-based 2nd Infantry Division as a Chemical Corps officer. “For more than 70 years, we have trained with South Korean troops and we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them on Freedom’s Frontier.”

TITAN Pre-prototype illuminates the way forward for the U.S. Army’s “king of battle”

Ron Lee

PEO IEW&S

Field artillery has always been the U.S. military’s long reach battlefield weapon. Because of the big booms and big distance, field artillery has long been called the “king of battle.” Well, the king is getting a new jewel that will add a lot to its distance capability by way of technology. Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, or TITAN, pre-prototype and the TITAN program of record introduces deep sensing to field artillery. While deep sensing sounds like a drilling term, its real purpose is all about long range sighting.

“Deep sensing, to me, is being able to see over the horizon,

no longer limited line of sight,” Richard Thompson, Army Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities ground station lead, said. “Being able to see on the other side of the mountain or seeing deep into enemy territory would be the deep sensing aspect of that.”

Thompson is a former U.S. Army chief warrant officer 4 who worked in the field for over 20 years and has seen all sorts of development in the field artillery world, but nothing like this.

“I was in the Army for over 20 years and some of the first systems I used were TENCAP systems,” Thompson said. “So, the team and I are very passionate about TITAN and we see the importance of the deep sensing and targeting

Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node pre-prototype. |U.S. Army

aspect of it.”

TITAN is a big deal to people like Thompson who have worked in this field for as long as he has. The value added has everyone excited because TITAN delivers a nextgeneration, expeditionary, scalable, and maneuverable platform at echelon that is purpose built to address the Army’s number one gap in large-scale combat operations: deep sensing.

By accessing sensor data from multiple sensors simultaneously across the space, high altitude, aerial, and terrestrial layers, TITAN provides situational awareness and situational understanding across operations. Fusing that data and using advanced analytics to deliver targetable intelligence to lethal and non-lethal networks reduces the sensor-to-shooter gap and enables long range precision fires, aviation, and mission command.

In short, TITAN pre-prototype is focused on space-based intelligence surveillance and is a reconnaissance asset. As such, the program serves as a critical capability for both the intelligence and fires communities.

According to Thompson, their effort with the preprototype is meant to deliver space-based functionality to the TITAN program of record that will later be integrated into a single system. This is a major capability increase.

“The key is our peers and near peers are developing weapon systems that can range further,” Thompson said. “We must be able to find those threat systems and be able to help the fires community and the mission command community engage those systems at range. We have to be able to shoot further, but to shoot further you have to find those targets.”

For those who are in field artillery, these are exciting times as the “king of battle” is poised to be more formidable than ever.

“It comes down to timeliness and accurateness,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Trader, Mutli-Domain Task Force TITAN pre-prototype officer in charge. “This TITAN pre-prototype increases the trust of ground force commanders who are relying on extremely accurate data from their Intel personnel and by what we provide.”

“That trust elevates tenfold where fires elements can simply receive the data that we provide and then employ

the appropriate weapon system to execute,” Trader added. “That is, in my interpretation, what big Army is striving for.”

Trader is a current user of TITAN pre-prototype and responsible for putting it through its paces to find ways to improve upon its requirements. Deep sensing is a critical asset. Deep visual penetration of the battlefield allows for not only better target acquisition, but better safety and security for all those operating in that battle space. The more personnel you can keep engaged in the fight speaks to the success you can have.

But what about the tried-and-true personnel operating as forward observers? Forward observers have long been the down-range eyes of field artillery. Is there a concern the TITAN program makes them obsolete?

“Absolutely not,” Trader said. “I will stand by that 100 percent, being a previous 96R, which is a ground surveillance system operator in the [military intelligence] corps. I know very intimately what and how much of a value FOs are, as I was with those guys in the foxholes. The difference is, and I’ll be very blunt, we see past them. We see in distances that they cannot see—so that’s what makes the big difference. We can see beyond the close fight. That is the intent of the TITAN prototype: to get past the close fight and focus on the deep fight.”

There are more products on the horizon, some currently in use. The technology surge represents an ever evolving and ever-expanding future.

“This is just the beginning,” Trader said. “Technology itself is improving every day, whether it’s getting smaller and more robust or the capability is becoming more user friendly. This is just the beginning.”

Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors is at the forefront of technology and innovation when it comes to enhancing the lethality of Soldiers. While it is true technology is here to stay, the goal now is to find innovative ways to get smart technology into the hands of our warfighters in the most expeditious way possible. The TITAN program of record and pre-prototype are great examples of the U.S. Army leaning in—not just current technology initiatives—but the bright minds, talent, and experience to improve upon, field, and equip the best Army in the world.

Soldiers, Airmen validate capabilities for nuclear forensics mission during exercise in Mississippi

Soldiers from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command’s Nuclear Disablement Team (Infrastructure) 2 and CBRNE Response Team 3, 46th Chemical Company (Technical Escort), certified to serve on the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Ground Collection Task Force during Exercise Prominent Hunt, April 30 – May 2, 2024.

Walter T. Ham IV

20th CBRNE Command

U.S. military units trained for domestic nuclear forensics missions with interagency partners during Exercise Prominent Hunt in Jackson, Mississippi.

Soldiers from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command’s Nuclear Disablement Team (Infrastructure) 2 and CBRNE Response Team 3, 46th Chemical Company (Technical Escort), certified to serve on the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Ground Collection Task Force during Exercise Prominent Hunt, April 30 – May 2, 2024.

As a part of the FBI-led interagency task force, the NTNF Ground Collection Task Force gathers and packages samples of radioactive fallout that enable partner agencies to conduct forensic analysis for attribution.

Air

Technical Applications Center also qualified

Airmen from the Patrick Space Force Base, Floridaheadquartered Air Force Technical Applications Center also qualified for the task force during the exercise.

Airmen from AFTAC are trained to conduct assessments on the ground and in the air and then forward the samples to a network of laboratories for analysis.

Nuclear Disablement Team 2 and CBRNE Response Team 3 are part of the 20th CBRNE Command, the DOD’s premier all-hazards formation.

The U.S. military’s only Nuclear Disablement Teams — NDT 1, NDT 2, and NDT 3 — are all stationed at the 20th CBRNE Command Headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

In addition to the three NDTs, the multifunctional 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75% of the active-duty U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and

Airmen from the Patrick Space Force Base, Florida-headquartered

Force

for the task force during the exercise. |Maj. Steven M. Modugno, 20th CBRNE Command Public Affairs

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity and five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams.

From 19 bases in 16 states, Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards during joint, interagency, and multinational operations.

CBRNE Response Team 3 is part of the 46th Chemical Company (Technical Escort), 22nd Chemical Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade and 20th CBRNE Command.

The team is stationed on Fort Bliss, Texas.

U.S. Army CBRNE Response Teams tackle a variety of challenging missions, including initial sampling, limited decontamination, packaging, escorting, detection, munitions assessment, explosive threat mitigation, and contaminated sensitive site exploitation.

The NDTs are the military’s uniformed subject matter experts in radiological and nuclear operations on the task force.

Lt. Col. Christopher Gundersen, the team chief of NDT 2, said the exercise enabled interagency partners to train for the high stakes mission of responding to a nuclear detonation in the U.S. homeland.

“To observe and participate in the Incident Command System in action was truly professionally gratifying,” Gundersen said. “It truly was a whole of government solution with the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Defense and state law enforcement—achieving unity of action through unity of effort.”

Gundersen said teamwork is the key to success in interagency exercises like Prominent Hunt.

“It takes a team—a team of teams as a matter of fact. Knowing what the DOD brings to the fight, being ready and willing to apply it and possessing the ability to engage others across the interagency with a considerable degree of humility and cooperation is the key to successful interagency operations,” Gundersen said.

“The DOD units don’t have all the answers,” Gundersen said. “We must establish, integrate, and collaborate with our U.S. government partners to seek solutions to these sorts of challenges.”

In addition to serving on NTNF Ground Collection Task Force, NDTs directly contribute to the nation’s strategic deterrence by staying ready to exploit and disable nuclear and radiological Weapons of Mass Destruction

infrastructure and components to deny near-term capability to adversaries.

“Most NDT Soldiers possess years of proven combat experience in terms of operating in challenging situations,” Gundersen said. “We also bring world class equipment (communications, vehicles) to the fight and a level of operational planning experience few of our interagency and incident command partners possess.”

A native of Montclair, Virginia, and graduate of James Madison University, Gundersen has served as a field artillery officer and logistics officer before becoming a nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction officer. He has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

“Exercises like Prominent Hunt deter threats to the U.S. homeland and our allies by demonstrating to our adversaries that the U.S. government can respond, project, and apply technical nuclear forensics capabilities to such an incident in an expeditious and effective manner,” Gundersen said. “The exercises send a clear message that the U.S. and its allies possess the intent, will, and capability to be prepared to execute such missions in defense of our way of life.”

FBI Special Agent Bomb Technician Brian Barrow, the Weapons of Mass Destruction coordinator from FBI Jackson Office, said the exercise gave him the opportunity to work with military units and other national assets.

“Throughout the exercise, it was evident across all military, state, and federal resources that this mission truly is a ‘one team, one fight’ mentality,” Barrow said. “The professionalism, teamwork, and the ability to clearly communicate among each other was unparalleled.”

Barrow said the NTNF mission is designed to deter potential state and non-state actors from attempting a nuclear attack on the homeland.

“The mission of the NTNF, as well as other programs designated with preventing a nuclear attack on U.S. soil, is a zero-fail mission,” Barrow said .

Robert A. Eikhoff, the FBI Jackson Office special agent in charge, said the exercise helped to keep the interagency NTNF Task Force ready.

“Exercises like Prominent Hunt allow us to work together with our civilian and military partners across the U.S. government and to stay ready to conduct this important nuclear forensics mission,” Eikhoff said. “They also let our adversaries know that we have the capabilities to track them down and bring them to justice.”

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Puzzles

National Parks, Sites, and Trails

Maya Green, CEOCM PAO

The National Park Service is entrusted with providing unparalleled care of our national parks. They preserve not only the natural landscape, but also historical communities that are integral to sharing the American story. Solve the puzzle to learn about national parks, sites, and trails!

Across

2 Red fire ants are invasive in Congaree National Park in _____ Carolina, and their incredible adaptability makes them highly invasive.

3 Along the Fire Island National Seashore is the Carrington House. The beach bungalow was purchased by theater director Frank Carrington. Novelist, screenwriter, and playwright Truman Capote was one of Carrington’s guests and completed his famous novella, _______ at Tiffany’s there.

5 ______ National Park, characterized by red rock desert, sandstone cliffs, and high-altitude forests, was featured in the movie “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.”

7 ________ salmon are bears’ fish of choice in Katmai National Park during Fat Bear Week, a tournament style bracket that allows the public to determine which bear is the heftiest heading into winter hibernation.

8 Formerly known as Mount McKinley until 2015, the mountain peak’s name was changed to ______ after a request from the state of Alaska in 1975 aimed to honor the traditional Athabascan name used by native Alaskans and locals for North America’s tallest mountain peak, originating from the tribes who settled the area 10,000-12,000 years ago.

9 A Kentucky doctor believed _______ could be treated in Mammoth National Park by creating a quarantined sanitarium a mile into the Mammoth Cave system, hoping the air was restorative and therapeutic for patients suffering from a bacterial infection that targeted the lungs.

10 More than half of _______ Island National Seashore’s 48,000 acres is comprised of near-shore and estuarine waters. Beginning in the 1600’s, colonists used the island for grazing horses and other livestock. The bands of wild horses living there today are descendants of those domesticated animals and remain a powerful force acting on the island’s natural systems.

12 Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, located in Richmond, ______, commemorates the crucial contributions of American civilians during World War II. The park preserves and interprets the stories of the men and women who supported the war effort from the home front.

14 The Selma to ________ National Historic Trail commemorates the heroes, actions, and route of the 1965 Voting Rights Act March in Alabama. This march was led by famous civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and non-violent supporters of every race and color for the right to vote in central Alabama.

15 ________ National Park, located in Washington, has more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams.

16 The _______ Hotel was used for filming “The Shining” in Estes Park, Colorado, the base town for Rocky Mountain National Park

17 On May 4, 1987, _______ Elementary School achieved National Historic Landmark designation for its significance to the Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court case. On Oct. 26, 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Act of 1992, establishing the school as a national park.

18 The Vicksburg National Military Park honors many patriots, along with Pvt. Albert D. J. ________, one of the most famous Civil War Soldiers who was assigned female at birth but lived as a man. He fought in more than 40 battles during service and participated in the Siege of Vicksburg. He was captured during a reconnaissance mission but escaped by wrestling a gun away from a Confederate soldier and escaping back to Union lines after being chased on foot.

Down

1 _________ National Park was established on March 1, 1872, and is the world’s first national park.

2 During the winter of 1777-78, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was the encampment site for George Washington and the Continental Army. For his reformation and straightening up of George Washington’s troops, Gen. Friedrich Wilhelm von ________, a Prussian-born American Revolutionary War general, was immortalized with a statue in what is now known as Valley Forge National Historical Park.

4 The Val-Kill Cottage, in the Eleanor _______ National Historic Site, boasts the nation’s first Presidential Library, and thousands of acres of gardens/trails.

6 Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland commemorates the “bloodiest day in American history.” More than 23,000 Soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing after 12 hours of combat on Sept. 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s first invasion into the North and led President Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary _________ Proclamation.

11 The Butt-Millet Memorial Fountain on the Ellipse, south of the White House, commemorates two U.S. officials who died aboard the RMS _______. Francis Millet served as vice chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, and Archibald Butt served as a military aide to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft. The two close friends lived together, attending social gatherings and parties together.

12 The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park commemorates Harriet Tubman, a liberator and military leader during the late 1800s. The park preserves the landscape where Tubman served as a ______ for the Underground Railroad.

13 Sprawled across more than 1,200 miles through the ______ of over 70 tribal communities, the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic trail follows the late 1700s Spanish colonizing expedition from Mexico to California.

WORD SCRAMBLE

Try to unscramble these words and phrases to find Maryland’s state symbols.

AEIBTLROM EOLRIO

SNJUOTIG

LKAWNGI

KIML

KKSACPJI

KCRO FHSI

EWITH AKO

RSEASCOL

LBEU ARCB __________________________________

CLAOIC CTA

U.S. Army MWR

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APG Bowling Center/Strike Force Cafe

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Whatever the event! Top of the Bay can accommodate. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for considering us for your special event. Whether you are planning a birthday party for a loved one, retirement for your boss or co-worker or a celebration of your new life together as a married couple, we are prepared to offer you the highest quality food and service. Here at the Top of the Bay, we can provide you with everything from elegant sit down served dinners and delicious buffets to casual hors d’oeuvres receptions. We offer a premier conference location, wedding venue, offsite catering, banquet hall, and special events space; plus, the meeting facilities and catering capabilities that your event needs. Top of the Bay is fully equipped and ready for corporate, offsite, government, and family functions for groups. No matter the size. Our amazing catering team created their original menus to any meeting or occasion from formal plated dinners to happy hours, cocktail parties, galas, and festive parties. The extremely affordable meeting space with a beautiful waterfront location is an ideal for government work functions, training, conferences, and commemorations.

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VISIT US

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Crossword

WORD SCRAMBLE:

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

JOUSTING

WALKING

MILK

SKIPJACK

ROCK FISH

WHITE OAK

LACROSSE

BLUE CRAB

CALICO CAT

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