10 6Y EA RS LA TE R
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Ab er de en Pr ov in gG ro un d
HA RF OR DC OU NT Y
Ka re nH olt ,D irect or
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
220South Main Street, BelAir,MD2 1014 www.har fordcountymd.gov/OED oed@har fordcountymd.gov 410-638 -3059
APG Senior Commander
Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II
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, APG South, and Adelphi.
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.
Rachel Ponder
CECOM Public Affairs
Some of the most loyal members of the Aberdeen Proving Ground community have four legs and receive payment for their specialized skills in the form of toys and praise.
The Military Working Dog program was established at APG in 1984 to serve and protect the community.
“The APG K-9 Unit provides a broad range of support to commanders [as part] of policing operations through law enforcement, physical security, force protection, and crime efforts, with specialties in explosives and drug detection,” Lt. Ronald Colbeck, who leads the unit, which is part of the Directorate of Emergency Services’ APG Police Department, said.
Just like Soldiers, MWDs must train to be ready to perform heroic duties at a moment’s notice. The 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, trains all MWDs used in patrol, narcotics, and explosive detection.
Lackland AFB has a breeding program with puppy development specialists who work with the puppies from birth, imprinting and exposing them to various simulations and activities to prepare them for passing the MWD certification. Those who do not meet the DOD requirement for government work are generally put up for adoption.
Lackland AFB also imports dogs from vendors in other countries to try to keep up with the high demand for MWDs. The most popular breeds for MWDs are
German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. Both breeds are known for their strong work ethic and are valued for their trainability, loyalty, and courage.
Due to the increased use of MWDs, the Army has established a new military occupational specialty, Working Dog Handler 31K.
“That is now a job category you can jump into instead of going into infantry or military police first,” Cpl. Peter Morales, a handler with the APG K-9 Unit, said.
At APG, there are currently three MWDs: Iggy, 10, a male German Shorthaired Pointer trained to detect explosives; Max, 3, a male German Shepherd trained to patrol and detect explosives; and Jaffa, 4, a female German Shepherd, trained to patrol and detect narcotics. Traditionally in the Army, every MWD is one rank higher than its handler. This custom was to prevent handlers from mistreating their K-9s, Morales explained.
Every April, a Lackland AFB representative recertifies each K-9 team. The three handlers here at APG are civilians. An incoming fourth handler, Cpl. Victor Dulay, is currently completing a three-month certification at Lackland AFB.
“This process is similar to attending a police academy,” Morales explained.
Morales has been teamed with Jaffa since October 2023. Like civilian dogs, MWDs build a bond with their partner through activities like walking, petting, playing, and grooming. He said a MWD is more motivated to obey a handler when a bond is established.
“From day one to now, it is so much better,” Morales said about his bond with Jaffa and his ability to communicate with her through body language and tone. “And we will just keep at it until we are a welloiled machine.”
Morales said a dog’s olfactory system, or sense of smell, is “beyond what we can comprehend” and extremely reliable. Additionally, their sense of smell is far more specialized and sensitive than a human’s sense of smell. For example, by smelling, a dog can detect different kinds of pepperoni, pepper flakes, and the salt used in a pepperoni pizza. This keen
Cpl. Peter Morales, a Military Working Dog handler for Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Jaffa, 4, his MWD trained to detect narcotics, bond with praise, playing, grooming, and walking. Morales and Jaffa, paired since October 2023, have a strong bond that will only continue to get stronger the longer they are paired together. |Sean Kief, CECOM Public Affairs
sense of smell is how dogs can detect narcotics or the chemicals used in explosives.
“It is so far advanced that there is no machine or technology out there that can beat a dog’s nose,” Morales said. “They have tried and tested it, and it failed.”
Because their sense of smell is so advanced, dogs use their nose to explore and experience the world. MWDs are driven to use their nose to complete tasks to please their handlers.
Morales said MWDs are trained on a rewards system; handlers use toys to motivate or train them. In a process called “imprinting,” the handler will place a toy in a box with a drug, and the dog will receive the toy after they smell the box. After repeating this action several times, the K-9 will associate the toy with the smell of that drug.
Morales said dogs who have been certified at Lackland AFB all have a strong drive and willingness to perform. MWDs will alert their handler by sitting and staring at them when they find the odor they were trained to detect. MWDs are only specialized in one specific focus area, so they can more effectively communicate what they find to their handler in a potentially high-risk situation.
“It is all a game to them,” he said. “Essentially, the ball or [other toy] is their paycheck.”
Morales said German Shepherds have an “endless” supply of drive. Their breed thrives on having a job to complete since they were traditionally used to herd cattle.
Training also includes using the obstacle course at the unit’s facility. The course provides exercise, mental stimulation, and teaches off-leash obedience. Morales explained that Jaffa can be “like a bull in a china shop” because she is such a high-energy dog. Completing the obstacle course burns energy and helps her stay focused.
“It kind of gets [the dogs] into work mode, “he said. “We will do it once in the morning, and it [signifies] that we are ready for the day.”
MWDs provide protection, criminal deterrence
Morales said with the K-9 program, each day is different, so their routine is not predictable.
Morales said at the front gates, MWDs are used for criminal deterrence. He said simply standing by the front gate with a K-9 keeps people honest. MWD teams rotate between the gates at APG North (Aberdeen) and APG South (Edgewood).
At the gate, K-9 teams will also conduct random
anti-terrorism measures. In this act, a K-9 handler randomly selects a vehicle for inspection and does a quick detection sweep with the K-9 smelling the vehicle for narcotics or explosives.
“Having a K-9 program in agency and on installations is worth its weight in gold,” he said. “People feel much safer with the dogs on the installation… It’s like a physical deterrent for wrong doers. So, if say you’re a bad guy, you’re trying to come on base, you don’t know if the dog at the gate is a drug [detection] or a bomb [detection] dog, but you’re going to have to make that decision, ‘do I really want to mess with them today?’ Hopefully our presence would deter them.”
K-9 teams will also conduct force protection sweeps, which involve walking through high-volume areas like the Post Exchange or Commissary, walking the floors of buildings and in large parking lots like the C5ISR Center of Excellence Campus. The force protection sweeps are random unless a commander requests one.
“At the end of the day, we have to have a probable cause, so if the dog were to find something, we have to have a reason to be there. So, random anti-terrorism measures or force protection sweeps, that’s our reason
to be there. [That’s] my probable cause if the dog were to respond,” Morales explained.
The K-9 unit frequently performs demonstrations for different agencies, Soldiers in on-post housing, Organization Days, Armed Forces Day, and National Night Out.
Typically, the handler commands their K-9, instructing it to attack a “bad guy” in a protective suit. This demonstration allows the handlers to showcase the capabilities of the K-9 unit and enables the K-9s the opportunity to socialize with new people.
“People respect [the K-9s],” Morales said. “There is always a sense of security when a dog team is around.”
After the demonstration, attendees are allowed to interact with and pet the K-9s.
“These dogs can turn that part of their brain essentially off; they are not always in attack mode,” he said.
Morales said people enjoy seeing the MWDs; their presence helps Emergency Services build a connection with the community.
“We go out to housing to walk around, meet people who happen to be outside,” he said. “It’s valuable to be able to talk and engage with our community. People who live here can feel our safety presence. Not only do we have the police agency, but the dogs here are protecting residents, too. The dogs are like their own personal protection.”
Morales explained in a real-world situation, K-9s can sense danger through the pheromones and hormones released by the handler and the perpetrator. This phenomenon is another reason why a strong bond between a K-9 and a handler is essential.
Handlers are responsible for monitoring the K-9’s overall health and well-being and are tasked with ensuring rest and water breaks are incorporated throughout the day. Every month, a veterinarian or a technician from Dover AFB will conduct a “spot and weigh,” which means the MWDs will receive their flea and tick medication and be weighed, which will help determine how much food they should receive each day. Because their weight is closely monitored, the MWDs do not receive food treats.
Morales said K-9s typically work until they are about 9 or 10 years old, then they “retire” and become a pet.
In the Army, a former handler is given the right of first refusal during the adoption process.
“You bet your bottom dollar, Jaffa is coming home with me,” Morales said.
Morales said he greatly values the service MWDs provide. He saidhe loves his job because he gets to observe K-9s building their skills over time.
“MWDs are essentially protecting your life,” he explained.
Morales said he kind of “fell into” the job as a K-9 handler when he was working on the security team for Disney theme parks. He then served as a K-9 handler as a contractor at an Army Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan and at the U.S. embassy in Iraq. After that, he became a trainer, working for a company that supplies dogs to U.S. embassies.
Morales then attended the Police Academy and served as an APG police officer for six years before a position opened in the K-9 Unit. He considers it a privilege to serve in this capacity.
“[Being a K-9 handler] was one of those jobs where it called me,” he said. “I had always wanted to be a police officer but I never in a million [years] thought I would be a K-9 police officer. This is the best job I have ever had.”
Various Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison employees displayed excellence as organizational partners during their attendance at the 38th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference in Baltimore, Feb. 15-16, 2024.
The conference offers K-12 students, college students, government, military professionals, business, and industry employers with three days of learning, networking, celebrating excellence, and showcasing STEM career opportunities.
Joe Copeland, director of public works, and Cheryl Bonine, human resources specialist, represented APG Garrison as part of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command’s presence in the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s BEYA 2024 booth. The booth supported efforts to recruit and hire the most diverse and qualified talent possible.
“BEYA represents an opportunity to tap into a talent pool of both graduating STEM seniors and experienced professionals,” Copeland said.
Hundreds of prospects visited the APG booths and multiple tentative job offers were provided utilizing the direct hiring authority, Copeland said, who prefers a direct approach to getting to know quality STEM candidates.
“The opportunity to talk about engineer career paths and opportunities in the Army with young, talented individuals at BEYA is extremely rewarding,” Copeland said.
First-time attendee, Morgan Hood, agreed saying virtual job fairs are great, but the human connection one finds in the office environment is more enjoyable.
Additionally, Hood was excited to find a possible career in federal service, which she is very familiar with.
“I am an Army brat. Both of my parents are stationed at APG,” Hood said.
Hood said her particular interest in federal work is
two-fold; her skills in digital art and her contribution to something greater.
“AMC is in the ballpark of my current skill set, and there is a bigger fulfillment to working in the federal government,” she added.
Many people like Hood are exactly what federal employers are looking for; young, talented, and diverse individuals who will become tomorrow’s Army Civilian leaders, Copeland said.
Even if he can’t hire everyone who walks by his booth, Copeland said real success during the conference could be measured by how well employers mentor the next generation of STEM professionals.
“As a leader and an engineer, it’s important to provide career advice and coaching to those just starting out in their careers,” Copeland said.
Many candidates will find multiple opportunities at BEYA, but the impressions left on them from being mentored on federal employment, navigating careers, and being placed with the right employer will last a lifetime, Copeland added.
Ryan Rayno
DEVCOM Strategic Communications
Erica Bertoli, the workforce and community outreach lead for U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center, was announced as an ATHENA Leadership Award finalist for the Harford County, Maryland, region Jan. 8, 2024.
The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates the highest-level of professional excellence, improves the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assists others in realizing their full leadership potential.
Previous awardees include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, activist and tennis player Billie Jean King, and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
“I legitimately can’t explain how much it means to me to have been nominated, let alone to be a finalist,” Bertoli said. “Everybody always makes the joke around the Academy Awards, ‘oh it’s great just to be
nominated,’ but the nomination and what it means… I was floored and just so, so grateful.”
Bertoli was nominated and later announced as a finalist for her work bringing STEM opportunities to students in the surrounding areas of Aberdeen Proving Ground.
“One of the programs that I first built after coming to C5ISR was Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Superstar, which is a program where every elementary public school student in Harford and Cecil Counties on a five-year rotation gets to become a STEM superstar,” she said. “So, there’s 50 schools in total, which gets us into about 10 a year, and we’re in each school for about a week.
“We talk about what an engineer is, and we use touch points that they would understand, like Tony Stark from The Avengers, or Shuri, the sister of Black Panther, things like that. Then we give the students a project to solve as a team, and it will usually be a creepy project like meatballs from outer space are going to fall down on the playground and they have to figure out how to protect the playground.”
With the everchanging advances of STEM fields, Bertoli and her team also trY to focus on aspects that will help students be successful in the workplace, such as selfconfidence, leadership skills, and teamwork skills.
“We ask our students to raise their hand if they think they’re smart, and while some raise their hand, the girls are more prone to not raise their hand,” she said. “Whether that’s because they’ve been taught culturally it’s arrogant, or because they don’t feel confident in themselves, I tell them that the secret is that every smart person believes in themselves.”
Aside from elementary school students, Bertoli and her team work with high school students through the Real-World Internships in Science and Engineering Program internship.
The internship is a two-week program for current high school students who will be 16 years old by July 1 each year.
“In many marginalized communities and communities
of color, especially in lower income communities, when a student turns 16 years old, there’s sometimes a drop off in enrichment summer activity because they can begin working at a job and earning money.
“The RISE Program embeds kids in a lab with a team of engineers and they go through a four-part communication and leadership curriculum, and, just as importantly, they get paid.”
Acceptance into the RISE Program is completely merit based, with no personal identifiable information used during the review process.
“We redact applications completely so there are no names or addresses listed, the gender is not listed and things like that,” Bertoli said. “Application reviews take transcripts into account, but what is weighted the highest amount are the essays, because we want to know what kids think, and we want to know what their experiences are.
“Once students are selected, we see them just open up and start to trust each other, and most importantly, start to trust themselves. At the end of the day, though, I feel that if we have a teeny, tiny piece in making a connection that allows somebody else to make the
world better. We’ve won.”
That dedication to the betterment of others is what led to her nomination for the ATHENA Leadership Award by her supervisor.
“One of Erica’s most remarkable attributes is her natural leadership ability,” Stephanie Batrony, the assistant chief of human resources for DEVCOM C5ISR, said. “She leads by example and consistently places the needs of our employees, her mentees, the organization, and the community above her own.”
According to Batrony, since Bertoli joined the DEVCOM C5ISR team over a decade ago, she has made a positive impact not just with her students, but with her teammates as well.
“Erica is not only an outstanding employee, but also a dedicated mentor who takes great pride in nurturing the growth of our team members,” she said. “Her commitment to fostering talent is evident in both her formal mentoring interactions and the informal guidance she offers to colleagues daily. She goes above and beyond to support others in their professional development and has contributed to the overall success of our projects and initiatives.”
Five civilians with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command were awarded Black Engineer of the Year Awards, Feb. 17, 2024, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
The BEYA community aims to create a network of role models who can serve as inspirations to others and help senior leadership in companies identify exceptional talent.
Nominations are open to all without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics.
Aisha Mims, DEVCOM Armaments Center, and Clare Yang, DEVCOM Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center, received the Modern-Day Technology Leader award.
Chad Nash, DEVCOM C5ISR, received the Outstanding Technical Contribution award.
Dax Cadet, DEVCOM C5ISR, received the Science Spectrum Trailblazer award.
Tony Harris, DEVCOM Analysis Center, received the Community Service in Government award.
At the same ceremony, three DEVCOM civilians received Stars and Stripes honors.
Christina Weber, DEVCOM headquarters, received the Stars and Stripes United States Federal Agency Leadership Award.
Dr. Eric Moore, DEVCOM deputy to the commanding general, and Jeff Thomas, DEVCOM director of Science and Technology Integration, were recognized as Stars and Stripes honorees, which recognizes the top military leaders of the nation.
“Our awardees are representative of the level of expertise we have within our command, and I am so proud of what they have accomplished,” Moore said. “They represent excellence within their respective fields and within the Army.”
For Nash, receiving a BEYA is a result of working with some of the best teams he has collaborated with.
“Being nominated and selected for the prestigious BEYA is an honor and a privilege,” Nash, chief of the quick reaction capability branch at DEVCOM C5ISR, said.
“Serving as a Department of Defense civilian for 20 years has afforded me the opportunity to collaborate side-by-side with some of the most intelligent, dedicated, and relentless teams in the world. This award is a testament to the collaborative team I have
been privileged to work alongside.”
Adam Bogner, Nash’s supervisor at DEVCOM C5ISR, said nominating Nash was an easy decision because of the demonstrated commitment to greatness.
“Chad is the complete package,” he said. “His technical skills are outstanding, and his leadership skills are exceptional. He is an exemplary leader and mentor for all to learn from and work with, including myself.”
According to Adam McCauley, Cadet’s supervisor at DEVCOM C5ISR, mentorship and leadership are themes that resonated with Cadet as well.
“Over the past couple of years, Dax has truly separated himself from his colleagues as an amazing technology developer and leader,” McCauley said. “Dax consistently tailors products that exceed the expectations of our stakeholders, which has only raised the bar for our organization.”
For Moore, the BEYA winners serving as role models within the STEM fields as DEVCOM representatives is a reason to be excited for the future of the organization.
“I know they will continue to drive the advancement of STEM professions,” he said. “I am looking forward to watching them shape the talented men and women following in their footsteps.”
‘There is no limit to what you can do’
Rachel Ponder
CECOM Public Affairs
March l is l Women’s l History l Month, l a l time l to celebrate women’s outstanding accomplishments and contributions throughout our nation’s history. This year’s WHM theme is “Women Who Have Made Great Achievements.” To honor WHM, a female senior leader, Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic Commander Lt. Col. Lauris Trimble, shared her story.
On July 13, 2023, Trimble became the sixth female commander of KUSAHC since the facility opened in 1964. The first female commander was Col. Cecily David, who served from 1993-1997.
Trimble said she considers it a privilege to serve the APG community. Patients include Soldiers, retirees, and their family members. KUSAHC’s motto is, “Your Health is Our
Goal.”
“Health care is a passion for everyone who works here, but because we get to serve the community that we do, I think it is especially meaningful,” she said.
Originally from Hampton, Virginia, Trimble never thought about joining the military until her senior year of high school, when she received a scholarship through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Virginia. There she received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and then started her military career in 1998 at Fort Eisenhower, formerly known as Fort Gordon, Georgia.
After serving as a Signal Corps officer for 11 years, Trimble became a certified physician assistant in 2011. She desired a career change and discovered that some skills she learned as a civil engineer were transferable.
“My background in civil engineering does play a part in problem-solving and figuring out systems,” she explained. “That is what medicine is about, but you are dealing with that on a human level.”
Trimble said she thought it was a risk to change careers at that time but is ultimately glad she did because medicine is her passion.
“It is a huge gift,” Trimble said about earning a master’s degree in physician assistant studies while serving in the military. “The opportunities in the Army, and in the military in general, are just enormous, and I feel very thankful to utilize those programs that are available.”
As the KUSAHC commander and the director of Health Services, Trimble is responsible for running the clinic, which provides primary care and selected specialty care for TRICARE Prime enrolled patients. Trimble oversees 160 employees.
“The Kirk staff members are experts in their field,” she said. “I rely on the institutional knowledge of the employees here, so that I can do my job.”
Trimble’s leadership philosophy is to lead by example
while trust and empowering people so they can do their jobs. She also believes in treating people with kindness and having a positive attitude.
“Teamwork is my favorite thing about the military and medicine,” she said. “Teamwork is everything to me, and when I see it in action, it brings me joy to see all that we can accomplish as a team.”
Trimble said many people have inspired her throughout her career. One of the biggest lessons, she said, was leading with authenticity. Being her authentic self gave her the self-assurance to apply for different positions.
“It’s only been in the past couple of years that I came to this realization that I don’t have to be exactly like someone else,” she said.
Trimble recommends setting professional and personal goals. She added that a well-rounded person is suitable for any organization.
“It makes you a better leader to have a well-balanced life,” she said. “Find what brings you joy outside of work and do that because it will make you better at work.”
Trimble said she has many hobbies, including running and swimming.
“One of the reasons I am in the Army is that physical fitness is an expectation, and I love that,” she said.
Trimble enjoys spending time with her pets; she has two dogs and recently adopted a cat. Reading also helps her unwind from a hectic lifestyle.
Trimble can name many leaders who inspired her to keep growing in her career and go further. This, she said, helped build her self-confidence.
“I had a lot of great leaders who told me I could do things that I didn’t think I could do myself,” she said.
To young Soldiers, her advice is, “There are no limits to what you can do.” She encourages them to do “what they love to do.” Trimble said she is motivated by the many strong female leaders in the Army.
“I love the mentorship part of being a more senior leader because I know that anything is possible because I have been through it,” she said. “Even 20 years ago, I had no idea I would be here.”
PEO IEW&S Public Affairs
The Program Executive Office-Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors is known for its leading-edge technology provided to servicemembers in the execution of their mission to defend our country and our interests. The personnel behind the equipment are some of the most creative and gifted acquisition professionals. PEO experts across numerous technical and non-technical roles ensure systems are fielded to Soldiers across the globe.
One such PEO expert is Anne Decker. She works within the PEO IEW&S financial department as a program analyst for audit readiness. Money is required to procure parts, equipment, and resources. The purpose of
Decker’s job is to ensure the audit trail for all acquisitions is clean and that taxpayer money is not only well spent but accounted for every step of the way.
“It is absolutely imperative for everyone in the Army to be proper stewards of taxpayer funds,” Decker said. “While it is also extremely important that we meet the mission and Soldiers are safe, proper financial accountability must be maintained throughout.”
Because of her diligence to her job duties, Decker’s supervisor nominated her for the Department of Defense’s Individual Achievement Award for Auditing. She won and is scheduled to receive her award early next year during an awards ceremony at the Defense Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. A key area impacted by Decker’s efforts was training. Recorded
training sessions were made available on the Microsoft Teams channel she established, available for review at any time. The platform also allows for the ability for internal control administrators to post questions where Decker could provide responses for all subscribers to see.
According to Decker, the formula for success centers around taking one’s time.
“Attention to detail and a preference for taking the time to do the job right is important,” Decker said. “If you take a little bit of extra time at the front end to do the job right, you save yourself and the Army the wasted time due to reworking things afterwards.”
Amongst her numerous achievements, Decker is at the forefront of the Risk Management Internal Control process and was the first to use the Army Control Catalog in development of test plans for PEO IEW&S. Her efforts quickly identified deficiencies and material weaknesses, enabling her to develop a corrective action plan that was ultimately deployed Army wide.
“Decker’s impact on risk and audit activities has provided a decisive impact in ensuring accountability of PEO programs,” said Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, Program Executive Officer IEW&S. “Her willingness to jump in and serve as a pioneer for ACC development has been
key for PEO IEW&S and the greater Army community, whom she has shared insights on the program with.”
After serving in the U.S. Army and a stint in the private sector, Decker has spent the last 14 years as an Army civilian. The Individual Achievement Award for Audits is her first major civilian award. It recognizes the significant impact she has made in improving Risk RMIC processes not only in PEO IEW&S, but across the Army community as well.
APG Garrison Public Affairs
Dozens of Aberdeen Proving Ground senior leaders, Soldiers, and civilians celebrated the completion of a 14-month renovation project to improve unaccompanied housing for single Soldiers during a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 22, 2024.
Upgrades to the apartment-style barracks include new HVAC systems, furniture, flooring, and roofing, plus new washing machines and other amenities. Safety features,
including new fire doors, sprinkler systems, and smoke detectors, were also installed.
Renovations on the more than 20 years-old buildings began in January 2023. The renovation project started 10 months before military leaders met on Capitol Hill to discuss with lawmakers how the Army is aware of issues in unaccompanied service member housing and their proposed solution to remedy the problems.
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth laid out the strategic plan to improve the Army’s permanent barracks,
including budget requests to Congress for renovations and 100% barracks sustainment, during an interview with C4ISRNET in October 2023.
During the ceremony, U.S. Army CommunicationsElectronics Command commanding general and APG Senior Commander Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II said APG leaders understand the need for calibre housing and how it impacts quality of life.
“Unaccompanied Soldier housing is no different than any other housing on this installation, and it is critical,” he said.
Edmonson said Soldiers make a selfless service investment with their lives to support the Army, so it’s the Army’s job to return the investment to the Soldiers by ensuring they are safe and comfortable in their living spaces.
“The completion of this project ensures that APG can provide quality, safe housing and maintain trust with our Soldiers for years to come,” Edmonson said.
First Sgt. Zackery Jones, of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, said he believes a proper living space increases quality of life, morale, and a stronger work ethic.
“If [Soldiers] feel like the Army cares about their home, they’re going to invest that back into their jobs… it makes them more productive, it makes them happier and they want to be at work,” he said.
Jones added that he believes APG continues to succeed in quality-of-life initiatives that other installations might emulate.
“APG is in the forefront,” Jones said. “Our Soldiers’ quality of life here is well above and beyond the rest of the Army.”
Single Soldiers who attended the ceremony were getting a look at the updated living space for the first time, Jones, who was very interested in getting their feedback, said.
Spc. Kirsten Bell, an APG veterinarian technician, said her first impressions of the renovations were amazing after she reflected on the building’s dismal appearance
(From left) Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Conaty, command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command; Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, commanding general of CECOM and the APG senior commander; Spc. Yadira Benitez, religious support specialist with APG Garrison; Spc. Kaire Henry, preventative medicine specialist with Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic; Col. Phillip Mundweil, APG Garrison commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Denson, APG Garrison command sergeant major, take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a 14-month renovation project to improve unaccompanied housing for single Soldiers March 22, 2024. |Wayne Gray, APG Garrison Public Affairs
during her move-in in 2022.
“They made improvements with furniture, paint, utilities… it’s been great,” Bell said.
After a hard day of work, it’s great to have a place to call home where one can relax and hang out with other fellow Soldiers while improving morale, Bell added.
“Being able to move back is really exciting… it brings more morale to the Soldiers and spreads pride and joy around the entire unit,” she said.
Bell said she was thankful for the quick turnaround of the renovation project, which Edmonson credited to the renovation team who worked diligently over the past year to complete the project and to the noncommissioned officers who initiated and led efforts to kick-off the project.
“The noncommissioned officers who walked the halls, walked the floors, talked to the Soldiers, and made the observations along the way… they are ones that brought this [project] to the forefront,” Edmonson said.
Soldiers will begin moving back into the barracks within the next month, and small but essential improvements will continue through the next year, including a TV room and additional dayroom upgrades.
Walter T. Ham IV
20th CBRNE
A one-of-a-kind U.S. Army command recognized its fifth command sergeant major as the 2023 Defender of Liberty.
The 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command selected retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham as the 2023 Defender of Liberty.
Graham is the first retired enlisted leader to earn the prestigious award.
Established in 2019 on the command’s 15th
anniversary, the Defender of Liberty Award is presented to leaders who have made a significant impact on the U.S. military’s only multifunctional CBRNE command.
Retired Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Richard Cody was the first recipient of the award in 2019 for authoring the memo that led to the creation of the 20th CBRNE Command while serving as the deputy chief of staff of the Army for operations and plans.
The command selected retired Maj. Gen. John C. Doesburg as the 2020 Defender of Liberty. The 2021 Defender of Liberty was retired Maj. Gen. Keith R.
Wendel. The 2022 Defender of Liberty was retired Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith.
Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty U.S. Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams, and three Nuclear Disablement Teams.
From 19 bases in 16 states, Soldiers and Army Civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency, and allied operations.
A native of Warren, Ohio, and Chemical Corps Soldier, Graham served in leadership positions from squad leader to command sergeant major during his 31 years in the U.S. Army. Graham deployed for Operation Desert Storm and Operation Joint Endeavor. He also deployed to Iraq three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In addition to serving as the first sergeant for the 21st Chemical Company, Graham served as the senior enlisted leader of the 23rd CBRN Battalion and 48th Chemical Brigade before becoming the command sergeant major for 20th CBRNE Command.
Today, Graham serves as the vice president for Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier Affairs for the Maj. Gen. Harry Green Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.
Graham earned a master’s degree in business management from Excelsior College and graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John C. Doesburg, the 2020 Defender of Liberty; retired U.S. Army Brig.
Gen. William E. King IV, the sixth commanding general of 20th CBRNE Command; and retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Gutjahr, the president of the AUSA Maj. Gen. Harry Green Chapter, all praised Graham for his leadership and commitment to Soldiers.
Mary Jane Jernigan, the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for northern Maryland, presented a coin and letter to Graham for his service.
Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the current commanding general of 20th CBRNE Command, hosted the event that wrapped up a three-day commander’s forum at the command headquarters. Hood thanked Graham for his leadership and continued support of the oneof-a-kind command.
Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Silva, the current senior enlisted leader of the 20th CBRNE Command, said Graham mentored him while in uniform and continues to mentor him today.
“Talk to anyone who served under him or beside him and then you will be inspired,” Silva said. “He gave me the opportunity to lead and that gave me the opportunity to stand here and sing his praises from the position he proudly held before me.”
Silva said Graham was an example of the kind of leadership that has made the command the premier CBRNE command in the U.S. military.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome you into this prestigious and small group,” Silva said. “It is neat that he is the first enlisted precipitant of this title and this award. I can’t think of a better leader than retired Command Sgt. Maj. Ken Graham.”
Graham said he was honored to be named a Defender of Liberty by the command.
“I’m proud to stand next to the former recipients of this Defender of Liberty award,” Graham said. “I look forward to continuing to serve this organization.”
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.
Maya Green
CECOM Public Affairs
Mankind has used dogs for the protection of life and property since their domestication. Whether it was for land or livestock, dogs underwent intense training to perform sophisticated acts of service. In modern times, technology has grown to become the biggest ally to warriors, but no matter how complex machinery becomes, it will never be able to replicate the operational effectiveness of a properly trained Military Working Dog.
Dogs’ official role in the U.S. military did not begin until 1942 with the creation of the Army K-9 Corps. Despite this, they have fought alongside our Soldiers in battle since the birth of the nation. In their early roles, dogs served as unit mascots and companions. They grew to be able to warn troops of approaching enemies, detect gas, and locate wounded troops. Now, MWD can detect explosives and narcotics and
engage the enemy. Not every dog works securityrelated jobs however; along with serving as mascots, MWDs can perform as service or therapy dogs.
A famous MWD is Stubby, a stray smuggled to Europe during World War I. He entertained Soldiers by learning bugle calls and how to salute. His heroics of alerting Soldiers to gas attacks, capturing a disguised German spy, and serving in more than 15 battles earned him the honor of being the first dog to receive a rank (sergeant).
The U.S. military officially began training dogs by World War II. Quickly, they became a major force multiplier on the battlefield. There are high expectations for not only the dog, but also the handler. K-9 teams deploy alone with just the handler and dog, so there is no squad leader ensuring the work gets done. Handlers must be able to operate independently in a professional manner. Every MWD has the rank of a non-commissioned officer in tradition to prevent mistreatment.
More than 1,600 MWDs assist in protecting the nation. Their missions can be on land, in the air, or at sea, but first they must undergo extensive training.
The 120-day Department of Defense Military Working Breeding Program, affectionately known as “The Puppy Program,” takes puppies from the 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio. About 50-90 Belgian Malinois puppies are born into the program each year. The U.S. military finds them ideal due to their high energy, strong sense of smell, trainability, speed, drive, work ethic, loyalty, and fierceness. Personality traits the military prefer are inquisitiveness, sociability, eagerness to interact with objects, not overly aggressive, and not easily frightened.
While the dogs are still nursing, caregivers expose them to various kinds of stimuli.
At age six to eight weeks, puppies live with a foster family for six months of socialization. During this time, the squadron visits monthly to develop basic hunting instincts and stability in environments. Then at nine weeks, the puppies leave their fosters and enter an intensive training phase on the base. Until they are 11 months, they practice basic obedience, bite work, the release command, and how to recognize odors and respond to them with pointed behaviors like sitting. Trainers also expose
the puppies to environments they could encounter on an installation or while in combat.
Once they turn a year old, the dogs must be evaluated for entry into the MWD Training Program with a consignment test. This test is a requirement for any dog to be purchased by the DoD. No matter the pedigrees or outside credentials, the dogs must graduate from the MWD Training Program to enter military service. Most dogs are qualified to be dualpurpose so that they can patrol and find explosives or patrol and detect drugs.
After dogs graduate, they are off to work in one of the military services. Dogs will typically remain with their assigned service throughout the duration of their careers. After a few weeks of building rapport with handlers, the MWDs train even more in their specific job skills. MWDs do risky, physically demanding jobs, and training ensures they remain in shape. The bond they have with their handlers is unbreakable.
On Nov. 6, 2000, Congress passed Public Law No. 106-446. This act ended the DOD’s practice of euthanizing MWDs at the end of their “useful working life” and facilitated the adoption of retired MWDs by law enforcement agencies, former handlers, and other capable caregivers.
Then on Jan. 2, 2013, Congress passed Public Law No. 112-239. Within the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, retired MWDs were treated as more than equipment, able to be transferred back to the 341st Training Squadron or another location on U.S. soil for adoption if no suitable adoption was available at the military facility where the MWD was located. The secretary was also authorized to maintain a system to provide vet care for retired MWDs.
MWDs are more than tools or weapons or equipment. They, too, are service members who fight and bleed for this nation. They undergo training, face hostiles on the battlefield, and protect our Soldiers.
Allison Weissert
PEO IEW&S Public Affairs
The Army Acquisition Executive’s Excellence in Leadership Awards recognize the performance of an individual or team who achieve exceptional mission accomplishment, and extraordinary service to the United States. This year, Monica Griffin won the Engineering and Technical Manager Professional of the Year Award. She was celebrated with other winners at the Pentagon during the award’s ceremony on Jan. 9, 2024, led by the Honorable Douglas R. Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.
Griffin is the lead systems engineer for the Limited Interim Missile Warning System for Program Manager Aircraft Survivability Equipment. LIMWS answers the chief of staff of the Army’s directed requirement to rapidly develop, procure, and field an advanced missile warning system. LIMWS protects the aircraft from guided and unguided hostile fire indication by deploying flares through laserbased countermeasure systems for Army aviation platforms. The system uses machine learning to
discriminate threats and improve performance in various conditions. This new system provides better detection times and range, providing greater protection of aircraft and aircrews.
Griffin’s efforts contributed to the culmination of over 6,000 flight hours in theater with no mission affecting failures and demonstrated the latest missile warning technologies to maximize aircraft survivability. She expertly mitigated multiple supply chain challenges by engaging with stakeholders including suppliers to mitigate risks and established a plan to deliver the necessary products to deployed units.
Griffin worked with multiple external stakeholders to achieve urgent material releases for Black Hawk and Apache helicopters resulting in equipping and fielding of LIMWS to two Combat Aviation Brigades. She developed work performance statements, product reviews, weekly updates, and risk management review boards. She coordinated with the test community to achieve proof of system performance and briefed at senior executive levels.
“In layman’s terms, I lead a team of engineers for missile warning, making sure that we have the capability to protect our aircraft with the hardware and software that senses and defeats threats,” Griffin said.
She provided programmatic and technical oversight for the Functional Configuration Audit for the latest software, ensuring time was allotted in the schedule to mitigate errors and apply fixes that were discovered during the preceding software FCA while maintaining requirement traceability. Her efforts resulted in a successful validation, verification, and qualification of the software. In an interview with Griffin, she stressed the importance of traceability as it provides the fidelity needed to be able to go back and review to mitigate errors. According to Griffin, pausing during a review has value to quality data collection as opposed to rushing through.
“That’s some of the fidelity that I would try to keep up with during the functional configuration audit and
is basically making sure that all requirements could be traced and verified that they’ve been tested,” she said.
“Griffin’s devotion to the mission, willingness to perform, technical acumen, and leadership abilities are peerless,” Lt. Col. Sean Quinn, Product Manager for Missile Warning, PM ASE, said. “She is a consummate professional, whose work ethic and dedication to mission assisted the product office in accomplishing the mission. Her efforts have been, and will continue to be, instrumental in providing the Army and DOD with the most advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment to protect Army aircraft and Soldiers.”
Griffin credits her family and her teammates for her success.
“We’re a strong team, and we’re motivated to try to make sure that the best things get put forth out there, and I enjoy working with them day to day, and it’s been a blessing to have the aircraft, survivability equipment team behind me as well as my product office,” Griffin said.
This was undoubtedly a proud moment for Griffin, who is also a mother of three and community volunteer. She noted how proud she was to receive the award and knows that her work mattered in the lives of Soldiers.
Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE
A retired U.S. Army Chemical Corps officer was inducted into the Chemical Corps Regimental Association’s Order of the Dragon on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Feb. 28, 2024.
Antonio J. Amos, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and senior Army civilian, was welcomed into the order that recognizes current and former Soldiers, Army Civilians, and other individuals who have contributed to the promotion of the Chemical Corps.
Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, inducted Amos into the order. Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional CBRNE command.
American Soldiers and U.S. Army Civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency, and multinational operations.
With units on 19 bases in 16 states, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty
U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams and three Nuclear Disablement Teams.
Amos served together with Hood during two previous Army assignments.
“I have known Maj. Gen. Hood for over 25 years,” Amos said. “We served together at the U.S. Army CBRN School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in various positions in the 84th Chemical Battalion. He is a great leader and someone for whom I have great admiration and respect.”
Amos currently serves as the chief of Plans and Future Operations (G3/5) at the U.S. Army CommunicationsElectronics Command.
He is responsible for synchronizing, integrating, and coordinating actions supporting the successful management of strategic plans and programs across the C5ISR enterprise.
“I continued my service as an Army Civilian because it gave me an opportunity to serve the Army I love in another capacity,” Amos said.
Originally from New Orleans, Amos served in the U.S. Army for 25 years and deployed for Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
He worked at the White House, Pentagon, and U.S. Central Command.
Amos earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Notre Dame. He also earned master’s degrees in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University and administration from Central Michigan University.
Amos said that serving as the commander of the 21st Chemical Company in the 82nd Airborne Division was one of the highlights of his U.S. Army career. “I had the pleasure of serving with some of the most professional and combat-ready Soldiers imaginable,” Amos said. “I truly believe we were the best company in the division and represented the Chemical Corps well. Also serving as the CBRN Defense Program Manager in the White House Military Office was a highlight. But the real highlight of my career was meeting and serving with incredible Soldiers, civilians, and family members.”
Often called Dragon Soldiers, CBRN officers and specialists assess, protect, and mitigate Weapons
of Mass Destruction and other CBRN hazards.
Amos encouraged today’s CBRN Soldiers to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for growth and development available in the Army Chemical Corps.
“Diversify your Army experience by serving in various types of organizations, take advantage of the opportunities presented to you, learn everything you can, stay proficient in both CBRN and Army operations and help others along the way,” Amos said.
As the latest inductee into the Order of the Dragon, Amos was recognized for his steadfast commitment to the CBRN community and dedication to the Chemical Corps.
“I was humbled and honored to be inducted into the Order of the Dragon,” Amos said. “The highlight was receiving the award from Maj. Gen. Hood in the presence of other distinguished leaders and friends, including the CECOM deputy to the commanding general, Ms. Liz Miranda, retired Sgt. Maj. Bruce Griffin, and my current team from the CECOM G3/5 Plans and Future Operations Branch.”
Walter T. Ham IV 20th CBRNE
A U.S. Army specialist who turned a grassroots bone marrow registration drive into a lifesaving Army-wide campaign spoke with the U.S. military’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command.
Spc. Christian Sutton addressed Soldiers and leaders during the Commander’s Forum at the 20th CBRNE Command Headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Feb. 5-6, 2024.
“The 20th CBRNE Command is establishing one of the first unit-driven programs that is going to empower their junior leaders and noncommissioned officers to take on these drives, to give these briefs, and to register people themselves,” Sutton said. “They will be directly responsible for saving lives.”
Sutton leads a team of more than 20 Soldiers in the “Operation Ring the Bell” campaign that supports the Department of Defense “Salute to Life” Bone Marrow program.
A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Sutton has a personal reason for his commitment to the bone marrow drive. His mother passed away from Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was four.
Spearheaded through social media platforms, the campaign has gained support of numerous senior leaders and formations around the U.S. Army. The campaign is named “Ring the Bell” in honor of a custom that marks when a patient is cancer-free.
“Getting people on the registry is the way of not only saving the lives of those that need your specific donation right now but also safeguarding your own future and the future genetic matches out there somewhere that might need your donation,” Sutton said. “It increases the chances of hope for cancer patients either now or over the next several decades.”
Since 2022 when he started the campaign, Sutton has personally registered more than 4,042 people and his campaign team has registered 5,926. He hopes to establish the U.S. Army as one of the largest sources of bone marrow donations in the United States.
“Having a diverse and robust donor database is the best way to protect American cancer patients as well as protect our service members. In the Army, we have a young, diverse and healthy population that can register more than are currently being registered. The Army alone could double the number of donors each year,” Sutton said. “It’s about service.”
Attached to the 1st Armored Division on Fort Bliss, Texas, Sutton is currently working full-time for the DOD Bone Marrow Registry and engaging with leaders at major Army formations across the nation.
He has worked with commanders and senior enlisted leaders across the Army and helped to shape policy.
“I really enjoy the idea of serving in a way that really makes a lot of impact on my heart and my idea of service,” he said.
Chad C. Ballance, the senior recruiter for the DOD Bone Marrow Program, said Sutton is critical to the mission of increasing people on the donor database.
“It is inspiring to see a young private 1st class become a specialist and lead other young enlisted troops to
step up to find that cause, to find that purpose, and to help our program,” Ballance said. “We have 500 DOD families every year diagnosed with fatal blood cancers and 18,000 Americans diagnosed with fatal blood cancers, every year, and his campaign to help the DOD marrow program cannot be understated.”
A native of White Cloud, Michigan, and retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant, Ballance said he has no doubt that the “Ring the Bell” program will become the number one source of bone marrow donations in the DOD program.
Ballance said 1.3 million people have registered in the DOD Bone Marrow Registry with more than 100,000 having a preliminary match.
“We have had 9,300 donors over the 33 years that the program has existed,” Ballance said. “We are looking for that needle in the haystack and we are looking for that perfect genetic match.”
Ballance said the “Ring the Bell” campaign has been successful because it has been championed by leaders like Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the commanding general of the 20th CBRNE Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Silva, the 20th CBRNE Command senior enlisted leader.
Silva said the campaign will be implemented to reach Soldiers, Army Civilians, and Army families stationed on the 19 bases in 16 states where 20th CBRNE Command units are stationed.
“The biggest takeaway for me about Spc. Christian Sutton and Operation Ring the Bell is you don’t need rank or a position to make a big impact in the Army. All you need is passion and initiative,” Silva said.
“As leaders, our job is to recognize Soldiers like Spc. Sutton within our ranks, arm them with our support, empower them to do great things, and then step back and be amazed at what’s possible. He’s changing culture, saving lives, and ensuring all his efforts are integrated into Army processes so they are sustainable and repeatable,” Silva said. “I’m so impressed with this young man and all he’s accomplished. We have so much talent in the Army. The solutions to most of our challenges lie right within our formation.”
Walter T. Ham IV
20th CBRNE
Leaders from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command recognized units and individuals for excellence in retention during a ceremony on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the commanding general of the 20th CBRNE Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Silva, the senior enlisted leader of the 20th CBRNE Command, presented awards to the top retention teams, career counselors, and retention noncommissioned officers during a ceremony at the Commander’s Forum, Feb. 8, 2024.
Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75% of the active-duty U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technicians and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five weapons of mass destruction coordination teams, and three nuclear disablement teams.
American Soldiers and Army Civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency, and multinational operations.
Staff Sgt. Filip Velghe from the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 184th Ordnance Company was recognized as the 20th CBRNE Command Career Counselor of the Year.
U.S. Army Commendation Medals were presented to Master Sgt. Russell Ellison; the senior career counselor for the 52nd EOD Group; Staff Sgt. Yanique Roberts; the career counselor for the 22nd CBRN Battalion; Staff Sgt. Hector Melendez, the full-time retention noncommissioned officer for the 192nd EOD Battalion; and Sgt. 1st Class Jarrod Vanwinkle, the career counselor for the 184th EOD Battalion.
For unit retention awards, the Early Bird Award went to the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 52nd EOD Group.
The Commanding General’s Award for Retention Excellence went to the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 22nd CBRN Battalion and the Fort Liberty, North Carolinabased 192nd EOD Battalion.
The Liberty We Defend Awards were presented to the 52nd EOD Group, 192nd EOD Battalion, 184th EOD Battalion and 22nd CBRN Battalion.
Master Sgt. Wade A. Wagley, the 20th CBRNE Command senior retention operations noncommissioned officer, said the retention awards demonstrate the impact that proactive leadership has on unit retention.
“These retention accomplishments convey that our leadership across the command is fully engaged and invested in the Army Retention Program,” Wagley said. “Our command provides the necessary time, resources, and effort to ensure all Soldiers are afforded effective retention counseling.”
Wagley said the U.S. Army has to compete with the private sector to keep Soldiers in uniform.
“We have talented Soldiers with desirable skills and abilities,” Wagley said. “Our command and its subordinate units retain talent by caring for Soldiers and leveraging the unit career counselor.”
Wagley said unit career counselors explain U.S. Army incentives and benefits, including the retention bonuses, educational benefits, training opportunities, assignment choices, medical benefits, and retirement benefits.
Wagley said he became a career counselor because he liked to help Soldiers and their families.
“We play a vital role in the Soldiers’ decision-making process to further their career in the Army,” Wagley said. “It is the most rewarding job in the Army.”
Sgt. Maj. Eric C. Detheridge, the 20th CBRNE command career counselor, said the command retention program contributes to readiness.
“These awards demonstrate the commitment that our command teams and retention personnel bring to the task of retaining our most important resources — our Soldiers,” Detheridge said. “Every day, they greatly contribute to the readiness not only of this important command but also of the world’s greatest Army.”
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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.
Austin Fox
CECOM Public Affairs
Erica Harris navigates the halls of C. Milton Wright High School with confident authority. As she weaves between students and greets colleagues with a welcoming smile, her ability to identify a dress code infraction in one step and offer a word of encouragement in the next seems almost instinctual.
As the school’s principal, Harris is charged with a myriad of responsibilities. Of Harris’ many duties, including the safety of her students, mentorship for her educators, and keeping the school’s population of parents well informed, one task stands at the center of everything she does: preparing Harford County students for their graduation into adulthood.
For Harris, it’s more than implementing a curriculum or pushing students toward higher education. It’s about
putting every possible path in front of her kids so they can find their way into a meaningful life and contribute to society. At every possible opportunity, Harris jumps at the chance to participate in events around the community that may benefit her students. Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Immersion Day did just that.
Immersion Day brought approximately 30 educators, community leaders, and Soldiers together on March 21, 2024 to tour APG and to understand the missions on post. The event allowed Harris, along with other school administrators from the community, to bring back a wealth of information to their students and colleagues.
“It was very interesting, the standpoint of how APG works, where you’ve got the civilian piece, and you’ve got the military piece,” Harris said. “It really kind of laid open that the right people don’t know what goes on at APG.”
As the home to several Army units at the forefront of research, development, and modernization, APG’s success is heavily reliant on a skilled workforce, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. For educators and youth leaders in the community, understanding the opportunities at APG is as obvious as it is auspicious. The overarching goal of wanting the best for their students, like advanced education and a job in STEM, can be achieved, quite literally, right down the road.
One such institution, housing as much opportunity as it is groundbreaking research for the DOD, is the Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen. After a quick trip down Route 40 to APG South (Edgewood), Harris and her colleagues began their day at DCPH-A. A subordinate organization of the Defense Health Agency, DCPH-A is one of several centers focused on military public health.
From a hands-on laboratory experience with DCPH-A researchers, to an up-close visit with a few Madagascar hissing cockroaches, participants saw the work being done daily to support the public health of the military
community.
Dr. Jessica Jones, a biologist with DCPH-A, underscored the impact of events like Immersion Day and how speaking with educators offers a bridge to students. As a specialist in the Vector-Borne Disease Branch, Jones led a discussion with participants aided by insects and other tools of her trade.
“I would like to reach as many people as I can by casting a wide net to hopefully trickle down that information to the rest of the community,” Jones said.
“It would not be reasonable to visit with all of the kids from all of the schools that are represented here today.”
Jones radiates excitement about her work, proudly holding up a cell phone-sized cockroach to the educators in the room like a beacon of off-putting enlightenment. Harris is one of the few unfazed by the bugs, soaking in Jones’ information while curiously inspecting the insects.
Following their time at DCPH-A, the Immersion Day
group was greeted by leaders from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. A component of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, MRICD works to enable warfighters by developing medical solutions in response to chemical threats.
One presentation, which focused on new Army technology to detect chemical exposure with blood test kits developed from standard glucometers, was particularly impactful for Harris.
“How they are parlaying what they’ve learned about glucometers into things they can use and upgrading the materials so that there’s an ease of use for Soldiers,” Harris said. “Those are scientists who are [Army] Civilians who are working on it, and it will be for the troops, but then could be used in other situations, as well.”
For visitors, discovering this work was revelatory, and for some, quite exciting. For those doing the work, this type of innovation is indicative of APG. The APG workforce continuously transforms the landscape of their respective fields, developing new techniques and developing pathways to push the boundaries of technology.
Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and APG senior commander, joined the group for the day. At every opportunity, Edmonson emphasized the groundbreaking work on post, the foundational role of the APG workforce, and the need to find the next generation of innovators.
“There is a race for talent underway in the United States, and it is absolutely critical that we in Harford County and Cecil County capitalize on the potential that is at APG,” Edmonson said.
Commanding a global workforce with thousands of employees, Edmonson understands where trends are headed.
“Science, technology, engineering, and math is the way forward; STEM is important to the high schools, it’s important to the colleges, and it’s important to Aberdeen Proving Ground,” Edmonson said. “If we want to remain the world’s premier fighting force, it is absolutely critical that we surround our Soldiers with the best technology to win and win fast.”
Roughly halfway through Immersion Day, the group found themselves preparing for a view of APG unlike any other. Hosted by the Maryland Army National Guard,
Harris and her colleagues were given a tour of the flight facility at Weide Army Heliport. After walking through a few different aircraft and learning more about the MDARNG mission, the group stepped out on to the airfield and found themselves walking toward a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. With ear protection in and belts buckled, they were airborne.
With wind-whipped hair and chilly faces, the group next visited the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command for more hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment and an opportunity fair to speak with dozens of APG organizations.
For Harris though, the stop at 20th CBRNE Command offered something more worthwhile. As one of the majority military organizations on post, Soldiers were the primary presenters, which allowed for discussion with some of the warfighters that put this technology into practice.
“There was a lot of eye-opening stuff from our military counterparts,” Harris said. “They talked about how they enlisted, and how they got there, and how that wasn’t necessarily their plan from the beginning.”
Speaking with Soldiers who love their work but hadn’t set out on their current path initially had a significant resonance with Harris. For educators, Harris said, you seldom come across students who know exactly what they want to do and have a plan to achieve that goal.
“There were a lot of people, very much like me, who were career changers,” Harris said.
Aside from the near limitless opportunities to serve as an Army Civilian, Harris wanted to make sure she had a solid grasp on understanding service as a Soldier for students who set out to join the Army.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Allen, a master trainer with the U.S. Army Baltimore Recruiting Battalion, was a part of the Immersion Day group throughout the day and highlighted the importance of working with the community.
“I think this is something we need to do more of,” Allen said. “Expand it out to more teachers and more principals in the community.”
Familiarizing educators and students with opportunities in the Army is a pillar of Allen’s work as a recruiter. As a master trainer with years of experience recruiting, Allen exudes knowledge and a desire to help students achieve
their goals.”
“I think this [Immersion Day] is a really good tool to showcase that we’re not just about blowing stuff up, we’re about the STEM field too.” Allen added.
The day culminated at a fitting location. Some of the Army’s most essential, advanced, and timely work occurs at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center, and the group had a front-row seat to the work that supports American troops around the world.
From experimental batteries that are wearable and long lasting, to advanced solar testing facilities and energy storage, the team at DEVCOM was able to show the group how truly impactful it can be to work at APG.
Harris and her colleagues rode quietly back on the bus to their cars. Though riddled with yawns after eight hours on their feet, the group still couldn’t stop
talking about their students. They promised to touch base about something they saw, exchanged emails to coordinate later, and prepared what they planned on bringing back to their teams.
The free world demands a U.S. Army that is wellprepared and globally ready. The next generation of innovators that will continue and transform our Army for the better are sitting in classrooms around the country, unsure of what they will be. Luckily, educators like Harris and her colleagues in the community remain unwavering in their commitment to their students, ready to give gentle guidance or, in some cases, a push.
“Each place we visited was so focused on how what they were creating would be for the betterment of not just the military, but of the world,” Harris said. “Each place, they’re passionate about what they are doing and the impact it is going to have.”
PEO IEW&S
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council within Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors solicited the workforce for feedback and identified that the nursing mother facilities could be improved. The issue immediately got full attention and command support.
Holly Travers, security specialist for PEO IEW&S within the Operations Directorate and nursing room advocate said, “Once the decision was made to provide a space for nursing mothers, we had the full support of PEO IEW&S Chief of Staff, Kyle Perkins, and Director of Operations, Noel Osborne.”
“I am proud that PEO IEW&S was able to support and provide a convenient and comfortable space for nursing
mothers,” Perkins said. “Our mission was extremely focused on creating a space that is functional, wellequipped, but is also calming. I definitely believe we hit the mark and truly appreciate the effort of all the teammates who worked diligently to make this room a reality.”
Members of the DEIA Council discovered a need and an opportunity to provide nursing mothers, who work in building 6006 on the C5ISR campus at Aberdeen Proving Ground, an updated, tranquil place to express breast milk. In recent years, new state and federal laws protecting nursing mothers have allowed for more reasonable break times and required employers to provide a clean and private space for breastfeeding moms. Studies show that investing in lactation spaces with exceptional accommodations encourages women to continue breastfeeding for the benefit of the child,
which in turn increases morale, confidence, and possibly the employee’s work productivity.
Sandra Gaston, chief of operations and plans for Project Manager Sensors-Aerial Intelligence, found a temporary location within their spaces while the search and construction for the permanent location took place. Travers created a working group with representatives from each of the PMs and identified all the facilities where PEO IEW&S has a footprint and asked for a point of contact from each of the PMs to participate in that working group to gather information.
Travers contacted Robyn Nadolny, chief of the VectorBorne Disease Branch, Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen and nursing room advocate, for her advice. Nadolny co-wrote her organization’s Lactation Room Policy, “Establishing and implementing a successful Nursing Mother’s Program.” The policy states the following points that a nursing mother’s program could achieve:
1. Reduce staff turnover and loss of skilled workers after the birth of a child
2. Reduce sick time/personal leave for breastfeeding women to attend to their babies
3. Foster higher job productivity, employee satisfaction, and morale
4. Add recruitment incentives for women
5. Enhance [any organization]’s reputation as an organization concerned with adopting business practices that improves the welfare of its personnel and their families
6. Potentially lower healthcare cost associated with healthier breastfed babies
7. Higher productivity and morale
“I think all of the above reasons for ensuring robust lactation policies are in place could not be more relevant,” Nadolny said. “When an organization truly embraces diversity, that added diversity of thought means an enhanced ability to surmount obstacles and solve tough problems, something military organizations do every day. By ensuring working mothers are not only included but embraced, we gain every benefit of having those tough, smart, and persistent individuals back in the workforce. As a former nursing mother, I wanted to make sure that the breastfeeding individuals who came after me were made to feel valued professionally while
also having their choice to nurse their children honored and respected.”
The room is fully equipped with amenities most requested by nursing mothers. Travers said, “The vision for this is that they will have a full refrigerator with a freezer, which is very important for making sure they can bring an ice pack and have it stay frozen so they can be confident they maintain proper temperature when they go home, which is something that a mini fridge may not accommodate. There are lockers so mothers can actually bring in their supplies and not have to carry them back and forth every time they’re coming to the room. For privacy purposes, this is very nice for new moms because not everyone is going to be comfortable telling their coworkers they are going to pump.”
A microwave is included to enable sterilization of supplies. Sturdy tables for equipment, comfortable chairs, a white board, and space for photos complete the picture. There are two partitioned sections where each can be reserved through a reservation system, which is maintained by Gaston. Information about reserving the space or questions about it is available through each organization.
Perkins described the project saying, “This was a total team effort. In addition to Holly and Sandra’s dedication and hard work on the project, Lori Hummel, creative sciences lead, designed a space that would be aesthetically pleasing, while adhering to the requested functionality. Dave Mullins, business operations analyst, helped with the carpet and painting logistics. Nicole Cawthern, event coordinator, guided the ribbon cutting
and Mac Mcclarin, HQ current/future operation branch chief contributed to purchasing. Finally, we appreciate all the lactation coordinators throughout the PEO who volunteer to be points of contact for our nursing mothers.”
During a ribbon-cutting held March 5, 2024, Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, Program Executive Officer for IEW&S, presented Gaston with a certificate of appreciation for her contribution to the project and acknowledged all those involved.
Maj. CJ Estelle, assistant product manager for TITAN, Project Manager Intelligence Systems and Analytics, is a nursing mother and previewed the space. She expressed her excitement saying, “This is a gamechanger for me and improves my workday. I was pumping in my car yesterday. This room is convenient, clean, close-by, and makes coming into the building
to work accommodating. I appreciate the effort that went into this.”
Emily Myers
APG Garrison Public Affairs
“As a former company commander, I had Soldiers use [Army Emergency Relief] on multiple occasions instead of going to a pay-day loan situation, because they fell behind on certain payments and needed help,” Maj. Dominic Adams, an assistant product manager with Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, said.
Adams was one of hundreds to participate in APG’s 2024 Army Emergency Relief Campaign kickoff at Brewner Lanes March 1, 2024.
The AER is the Army’s only nonprofit financial assistance organization. The annual campaign’s purpose is to fully inform 100 percent of all active-duty and retired Soldiers and their family members, including spouses and children of deceased Soldiers, about the types of financial assistance available from AER and provide the
opportunity for Soldiers to donate.
APG’s campaign was a combination awareness event and bowling tournament designed to promote AER services and financial readiness.
“Today is about leaders and friends and family members understanding the resources that are available to assist soldiers and their families in times of need,” Col. Phil Mundweil, APG Garrison commander, said.
The AER offers help in the forms of zero-interest loans and grants, available to multiple individuals for different reasons.
“I used AER to ensure a down payment for an apartment because I hadn’t received my basic allowance for housing,” Capt. Alexander Davie Sr., company commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, APG Garrison, said.
Basic allowance for housing is a United States-based
allowance that provides uniformed service members equitable housing compensation based on costs in local markets when government quarters are not provided.
Finances are one of the biggest challenges Soldiers encounter and can be a stress on families, Mundweil said. Soldiers can be too embarrassed to talk to their chains of command.
“In the current Army, we understand asking for help is a sign of strength,” Mundweil said. “It’s not a weakness and it’s imperative we all know how to direct those who do show that sign of strength and ask for help and direct them to where resources exist.”
One of Adams’ Soldiers who utilized AER wasn’t only unafraid to ask for help but found success from it.
“AER was there to help them through those times and that was amazing for them. They turned themselves around financially and carried on with the mission,” he added.
Mundweil completed his remarks and began the bowling tournament with a call to action.
“I am asking [everyone] to go out and help spread the word about AER,” Mundweil said. “Share the links, get the QR codes, and share a positive sentiment, as well, as we try to meet the campaign goal of 10% participation across APG and 100% awareness, because there is absolutely a gap in our collective knowledge and understanding of this wonderful program.”
The 2024 AER campaign ends on June 14, 2024: the Army’s 249th birthday.
JPEO-CBRND Public Affairs
Seven Chemical and Biological Defense Program professionals were inducted into the Order of the Dragon during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground on Feb. 27, 2024. The OOD recognizes those who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character, shown an outstanding degree of professional competence, and contributed to the promotion of the Chemical Corps.
Mr. Darryl Colvin, Joint Program Executive Officer for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense
hosted the ceremony, recognizing Michele Parrish, deputy joint product director for biological detection systems with JPEO-CBRND; Drew Murphy, joint product lead with JPEO-CBRND; Eric Struba, systems engineer with JPEO-CBRND; Carolyn Matz, chemical engineer with JPEO-CBRND; Ryan Adams, joint biological tactical detection system project officer with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center; Kia Hopkins, physical scientist with DEVCOM CBC; and Jeffrey Nathan, assistant program manager acquisition with JPEO CBRND.
Susan Nappi Army Alliance
The Association of Defense Communities’ Defense Community Champions program was launched to recognize individuals who make a difference in their defense communities through deeds both big and small. Defense Community Champions are leaders on installations, in communities, across local governments, and in industries. ADC presents this program in partnership with the Navy Federal Credit Union.
The Army Alliance enthusiastically supports the program and identified Mary Jane Jernigan as its 2023 -2024 Defense Community Champion for Northeastern Maryland, also known as the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor. The Army Alliance submitted Jernigan’s nomination package for recognition as a National Honoree. She competed successfully and was recognized as one of three National Honorees on April 9, 2024, at a luncheon of more than 700 ADC National Summit attendees in Washington D.C.
“Mary Jane is the heart and light of APG,” Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Silva, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Explosives Command, said. Jernigan earned this accolade by wearing many hats stepping up to fill voids while leading with her heart.
Jernigan is a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, interfacing with Aberdeen Proving Ground. CASAs are influential business and community leaders appointed by the Secretary of the Army to advise and support Army leaders across the country and are equivalent in ranking to a lieutenant general. CASAs are special government employees who agree to serve as representatives of the SecArmy without salary, wages, or related benefits.
CASAs are essential to the Army’s ability to connect with America by helping to build partnerships and strengthening relationships in their communities.
As the CASA representing APG, Jernigan’s support has been invaluable to the local defense community. At defense events and ceremonies, Jernigan is in attendance and effectively networks with APG and community leaders, matching needs with resources.
Jernigan started a CASA Coin Award Program where she presents a challenge coin and official letter to someone at or in support of APG who goes above and beyond in the workplace or in the community. This program draws needed attention to the superior accomplishments across the defense community with SecArmy visibility.
The Honorable Mario Diaz, deputy under secretary of the Army, proudly presented Jernigan her National
Mary Jane Jernigan received her National Honoree Award at the Association of Defense Communities’ National Summit from the Honorable Mario Diaz, deputy under secretary of the Army. |Courtesy photoHonoree award at the ADC National Summit and stated emphatically “Mary Jane is one of the best CASAs.”
Jernigan is also president of the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Foundation. The purpose of the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy is to provide at-risk youth with academic opportunities, job skills, and life skills training with an emphasis on positive values in a structured environment that will give them hope and opportunity to become productive citizens.
The FCA is a division of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Established under the authority of both federal and state law in 1993, the FCA is a state-run 17 ½ month residential and post-residential intervention for 16–18-year-olds who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of high school. The FCA is located on the APG South (Edgewood).
As president of the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Foundation, Jernigan oversees fundraising for scholarships and the expenditures for cultural education for the cadets. Jernigan interfaces with the director and the Adjutant General of Maryland and is the liaison between the Academy and APG leadership. Jernigan effectively communicates with the senior leaders of APG and the surrounding community about this great program, identifying tutors, mentors, and other volunteers.
Due to her voice, many are made aware and educated about the program and many young people’s lives have been improved. Jernigan has connected on a personal level with so many people in this program.
“I have personally seen the commitment Mary Jane has shown to our Freestate ChalleNGe Academy and the cadets whose lives are changed by the program,” Army National Guard Brig. Gen. (retired) Adam Flasch said. “No one has put more sweat, equity, passion, and compassion than Mary Jane into the young men and women who attend ChalleNGe to change their lives. Mary Jane and the Freestate Board are critical to the program’s success and have made a substantial difference in the lives of our youth that will be felt for decades to come.”
Jernigan serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of the United States Army, MG Harry Greene, Aberdeen Chapter and is a past chapter president. Jernigan is also the current Maryland State President for AUSA. In her current and past roles in support of AUSA, Jernigan has made a huge impact on Soldiers and their families.
As chapter President, Jernigan turned an inactive chapter into one that was honored three years in a row with the award for “Best All-Around Chapter.”
“Wherever she goes and whatever she touches, Mary Jane makes the organization better by any standard,” Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) W. Douglas Gibbens, former president of AUSA’s Second Region, wrote in a letter endorsing Jernigan for the 2023 Major General Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Medal for outstanding contributions to AUSA. “She is a person who gets things done, and her loyalty to Soldiers, Army families, and to AUSA knows no bounds.”
Jernigan was named the winner of the medal and was recognized at the National AUSA Meeting in October 2023 in Washington, DC. Here are a few examples of her AUSA efforts in support of APG-deployed Soldiers and their families: she raised $7K to assist after a home was destroyed by fire; she led a Soldier Santa Ball that raised $15K for exercise equipment; she persuaded Hickory Farms to donate 2.5 pallets of gift packages; she sent monthly packages, at her own expense, to Soldiers in war zones for 19 years; and she obtained the donation of a laptop, software, and IT support for a young widow of a Soldier who had taken his own life (their smart phone and laptop were taken away as a part of the investigation).
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when masks weren’t yet available, Jernigan reached out to her connections and quickly obtained masks for veterans to wear in the commissary. APG leadership was hopeful for 200 masks, and Jernigan provided 2,500.
“Mary Jane leads the way in getting the right community members together to solve the tough challenges our deployed soldiers and families face,” Bob Gutjahr, president of the AUSA MG Harry Greene, Aberdeen Chapter, said. “She is our Defense Community Champion.”
Jernigan is a role model to emulate.
“Mary Jane is a consummate advocate for our service members, our Goldstar families, and our cadets of the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “She values the timehonored traditions of the military in our defense community and connects with Soldiers and spouses in a way that is genuine and supportive. She’s truly a champion for the APG community.”
The Army Alliance and ADC proudly recognizes Jernigan as a 2023-2024 Defense Community Champion and as a National Honoree.
Walter T. Ham IV
20th CBRNEA team of Soldiers and U.S. Army Civilians recently came together to design a better backpack.
Soldiers from the U.S. Army Nuclear Disablement Teams helped to conceptualize, coordinate, and create a backpack that helps them to provide theater-level confirmation and identification of radiological materials more quickly in a tactical environment.
The Nuclear Disablement Teams worked with partner organizations, including the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.
The Nuclear Disablement Teams are part of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, the U.S. military’s premier CBRNE formation.
The U.S. military’s only Nuclear Disablement Teams— NDT 1 “Manhattan,” NDT 2 “Iron Maiden,” and NDT 3 “Vandals” —are all stationed on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
As the U.S. Department of Defense’s nuclear subject matter experts, 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. The NDTs facilitate follow-on WMD elimination operations.
Maj. Aaron J. Heffelfinger, the deputy team chief from NDT 1, said the new mobile backpack was the result of a six-month project.
“The challenge the NDT always had with its Ortec High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors was always the deliberate cool down period required for the equipment to be ready, typically in excess of seven hours from a complete shutdown,” Heffelfinger said.
Since the detector needs to draw outside air for its internal cooling system and needs to expel this hot air to maintain cryogenic operating temperatures, Heffelfinger said the cases that came with the detector required the equipment to be shut down during transportation. The team members would have to either wait for around eight hours to use their best gamma detector or transport it unprotected with nothing more than a shoulder strap.
The backpack enables the NDTs to move faster and provides commanders with greater operational flexibility.
“Time is always of the essence,” Heffelfinger said. “The longer it takes the team to provide the gamma spectroscopy and isotopic assay results to the supported unit, the more constrained the commander becomes. If we can provide that information without an eight-hour cooldown first, it can drive the decision-making process that much faster.”
Capt. John M. Prevost, an Army Explosive Ordnance
Disposal officer from NDT 2, said the power and cooling systems are self-contained and interchangeable with a range of batteries and store power on the backpack. The detector can remain operational almost indefinitely with the new backpack, Prevost said, adding that it can be used anywhere a Soldier can carry it.
By allowing the NDTs to carry spectral analysis software
on a target downrange, the backpack eliminates the need for reach-back support if communications become degraded.
“This new backpack provides a protective, continuouslycooling, man-packable solution for bringing our most critical detection equipment to a target,” Prevost said.
“The backpack makes our most critical detection and analysis capability smaller, lighter, faster, and more ruggedized for expeditionary deployments.”
Prevost said the improved backpack was the result of an ongoing NDT discussion on existing capability limitations and doctrinal requirements.
“The backpack is proof that the best way to solve complex problems is to assemble teams of experts from varied backgrounds and establish a common vision of success, especially during initial design,” Prevost said.
“By doing this, you gain varied perspectives on potential problems, existing or innovative design solutions and end-user considerations early in the process,” Prevost said. “Put simply, a small group of motivated experts can accomplish a great deal in an environment where ideas and input are openly traded regardless of rank, education, or background expertise where mission success is the sole collective focus.”
Jaywoon Joo was one of the experts who worked on the backpack project.
As a U.S. Army civilian project engineer at the C5ISR Center, Joo regularly supports organizations by rapidly prototyping services for them.
Originally from San Diego, Joo studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas before moving to Maryland.
“My father, Bill Joo, is my main inspiration for becoming an Army Civilian,” Joo said. “He has always explained that our work is important— not only because it helps us to win wars— but because it ensures our Soldiers come home safe to their families. I’ve always found that idea to be really inspiring and it’s why I’m working here today.”
Quentin Johnson
APG Garrison Public Affairs
Approximately 50 individuals representing more than 30 organizations gathered in Mallette Training Facility on Aberdeen Proving Ground Feb. 7, 2024, to begin the first APG Installation Safety and Occupational Health Advisory Council, or ISOHAC, in more than 10 years.
The council highlights synchronized and integrated safety initiatives and provides visibility on safety requirements having impacts across the installation requiring senior leader oversight, Robb Altenberg, installation safety office chief for APG, said.
The meeting itself was described as a “home run” by Altenberg. Various topics impacting APG tenants were introduced to their safety managers and APG senior leaders for situational awareness.
Topics included new information management systems, current safety working group efforts, and organizational changes.
New topics will be introduced to the council based on responses from key working groups that ensure all safety working groups have a voice to address safety needs.
“It’s our intent all safety related working groups will have a voice in this [council] to share their successes and/or challenges,” Altenberg said.
Working groups provide structure for the council and bring each organization closer to solving problems affecting the installation, such as electric vehicle incidents or hazards related to electromagnetic radiation to ordnance.
“I’m excited to be a part of the ISOHAC,” Jac Bartel, safety and surety director for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, said. “I appreciate the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and receive leadership input on critical safety programs.”
Bartel believes events like the ISOHAC are crucial to collectively improving the installation’s safety.
“Communication, collaboration, and transparency are important as council members represent different organizations with diverse portfolios and mission priorities, but with a common goal of workforce and workplace safety as we focus on taking care of our people,” Bartel said.
As progress continues, additional working groups are scheduled to come up under the council, including radiation safety, respiratory protection, and various other public health and preventative medicine topics, Altenberg said.
The next council is scheduled to meet late Fall 2024.
Walter T. Ham IV
20th CBRNE
Experts from U.S. Army North and the National Guard Bureau discussed the importance of having trained and ready multicomponent military units to conduct domestic Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear response missions.
Leaders from U.S. Army North and the National Guard Bureau participated in a virtual Leader Professional Development Program session with officers, noncommissioned officers and Army Civilians from
the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command Nov. 14, 2023.
The CBRN experts discussed the multicomponent military units that deploy for integrated state and federal CBRN response missions in support of the lead agency.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Roberto R. Sanchez, the CBRN chief for U.S. Army North, described the CBRN Response Enterprise and Federal Response (Title 10) roles the military covers during domestic response missions to save lives and mitigate suffering.
Frank C. Hudoba Jr., the civilian Strategic Concepts and Doctrine Branch chief at the National Guard Bureau, talked about State Response (Title 32) missions that National Guard CBRN teams accomplish in support of missions around the nation as part of the Incident Command System.
The National Guard teams include Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Teams, CBRN Enhanced Response Force Packages, and Homeland Response Forces.
Hudoba said the National Guard teams have responded to numerous incidents from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to the Boston Marathon Bombing and Elk River Chemical Spill.
In addition to enabling joint, interagency, and allied operations overseas, the 20th CBRNE Command routinely supports domestic missions.
Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and CBRN specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams, and three Nuclear Disablement Teams.
From 19 bases in 16 states, Soldiers and Army Civilians from 20th CBRNE Command accomplish missionenabling and lifesaving missions by taking on the world’s most dangerous hazards.
Chemical companies from 20th CBRNE Command serve on prepare-to-deploy orders for the U.S. Northern Command Joint Task Force-Civil Support Defense CBRNE Response Force. Soldiers from 20th CBRNE Command provide CBRN assessment and
decontamination capabilities.
Nuclear Disablement Teams and CBRNE Response Teams from 20th CBRNE Command also serve on the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Ground Collection Task Force.
The FBI-led NTNF Ground Collection Task Force gathers and packages samples of radioactive fallout that enable partner agencies to determine the source of the radiation.
U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal techs from the 20th CBRNE Command also routinely confront and defeat unexploded military munitions when they are discovered on and off base across the nation.
Col. Vance M. Brunner, the G3/operations director for 20th CBRNE Command, said the professional development program session helped Soldiers and Army Civilians at the command to better understand the interrelated nature of domestic missions.
“It takes teamwork to effectively respond to domestic CBRN incidents, from FEMA and Fire and Police Departments to highly trained U.S. military units,” Brunner said.
A native of Kailua, Hawaii, and graduate of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Brunner has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The U.S. military’s multicomponent CBRN teams safeguard our nation and its citizens and warfighters,” Brunner said. “We use these Leader Professional Development sessions to remind our teammates that we are the best at what we do. The 20th CBRNE Command is a disciplined force that accomplishes many important response missions but we do this through a team effort. All of us contribute to that success.”
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which emphasizes the tremendous contributions and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. AAPI communities consist of approximately 50 ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages. To learn more, solve this AAPI Month themed puzzle!
3 This is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices, primarily associated with South Asian cuisine.
4 BTS, also known as the ___________ Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010. The band was invited to the White House in 2022.
5 This is an American comedy-drama television miniseries created by Korean American director Lee Sung Jin for Netflix, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong.
9 The Mongolian Empire introduced the hot pot cooking style to East Asia thousands of years ago. A hot pot consists of three essential components: __________, dipping ingredients, and sauces.
10 The Pacific Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and __________.
13 May was chosen for AAPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first __________ people to the U.S. on May 7, 1843.
14 Nathan __________ was the first Asian American man to earn an Olympic medal in single skating.
15 “The Joy Luck Club” is a 1993 movie about the relationships between Chinese American women and their Chinese __________ mothers. The film is based off a book of the same title.
17 Dim sum is a large range of small Chinese dishes that are traditionally enjoyed in __________ for brunch.
18 May 10, 1869, was the Golden __________ Ceremony, which marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad that was built with significant contributions from works of Chinese ancestry.
22 He was the first Asian American four-star general and the 34th Chief of Staff of the Army.
23 This is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India.
24 According to the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the year of the __________.
25 James Wong Howe was the first Asian American to win an Academy Award on March 30, 1955. He won the Oscar for Best Cinematography for “The Rose __________.”
26 In 2020, Kamala __________ was elected as the first female, Black, and Asian American Vice President of the United States, having a mother who is Indian American.
1 Tet is a significant celebration in Vietnamese culture and marks the arrival of __________ based on the Vietnamese calendar.
2 A red __________ is a gift of money during the holidays or special occasions, a tradition originated in China.
3 Born to Chinese parents in Paris, Yo-Yo Ma was considered a child prodigy. He performed this instrument for President John F. Kennedy when he was 7.
6 She is considered by many to be the first Chinese American movie star and was featured on an American quarter in 2022. She appeared in more than 60 films over her career.
7 This is the Hawaiian term meaning “family.”
8 The __________ Chinatown is home to the highest concentration of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere.
9 The 422nd Regimental Combat Team was an Army unit composed almost entirely of second-generation Japanese Americans. The unit’s motto was “Go for __________!”
11 Asian American actor Ke Huy Quan won an Academy Award for his role in “__________ Everywhere All At Once,” which features a primarily Asian American cast.
12 This is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan.
16 On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. __________ issued Executive Order 9066, resulting in the internment of Japanese Americans, among others.
17 In 2019, Jeremy Lin became the first Asian American player to win a National Basketball Association championship while he was a player on the Toronto __________.
19 Cristeta Comerford is the first woman and first person of Asian origin to hold the position of White House Executive __________.
20 Maya Lin, a young Chinese American woman, architect, and artist, designed the __________ Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
21 This is the only U.S. state with an Asian American majority population.
23 In 2023, this person made history as the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for lead actress.
seasoned with spices, primarily cuisine.
See if you can unscramble these words and phrases pertaining to Memorial Day!
ERCMINAA GFAL
___________ Boys, is a South Korean boy was invited to the White House in comedy-drama television miniseries created by Sung Jin for Netflix, startting Steven
DOOTEACIRN YAD
AEEMBNRRCEM
DRE PPOPY
EBBREAUC
the hot pot cooking style to East hot pot consists of three essential ingredients, and sauces. islands in the Pacific Ocean. They major island groups: Melanesia,
Heritage Month because it commemorates
1 Tet is a significant celebration in Vietnamese culture arrival of __________ based on the Vietnamese calendar.
2 A red __________ is a gift of money during the holidays occasions, a tradition originated in China.
3 Born to Chinese parents in Paris, Yo-Yo Ma was considered prodigy. He performed this instrument for President when he was 7.
MONTME FO SCNILEE
6 She is considered by many to be the first Chinese star and was featured on an American quarter in in more than 60 films over her career.
VGREA OIEORASCTDN
7 This is the Hawaiian term meaning "family."
8 The __________ Chinatown is home to the highest Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere.
9 The 422nd Regimental Combat Team was an Army almost entirely of second-generation Japanese Americans.
Please Reserve/Book Your Parties/ Holiday Events/Birthday Day Celebrations!
Have your event at the APG Bowling Center Brewer Lanes/Strike Force Café, Top of the Bay, 1SGT BBQ located in AA Recreation Center and don’t forget about Ruggles or Exton Golf Clubhouses. Book for 2023, 2024 and 2025 some dates are already filling up.
410-278-4041 or call Richard Burdette at work cell 443-910-5936
Strike Force Café Lunch and catered food. Parties at the APG Bowling Center! We also host office and Organization Day parties and meetings, retirement events, office team building, birthdays, church and civic groups, sports teams, and tournaments/ leagues.
The Top of the Bay is AFFORDABLE ELEGANCE. A Beautiful Indoor & Outdoor Venue! Overlooking the Waters of Chesapeake.
Call Karen Rice or Michael Artus-Cooper 410-278-5915/3062/2552.
Please have your holiday events, weddings, and all types of parties.
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.
Golf Program (Ruggles or Exton Clubhouses)
Call Ted Dolzine at 410-278-4794 or work cell 443910-5937
Need a place to host your party?
We got you covered!
Rental Fee $150 -includes cash bar when requested
Make a reservation soon!
Party platters and buffet options are available. Top of the Bay, First Sergeant’s BBQ or Bowling
Bldg. 3326
AA Recreation Center Lunch or catered events! 410-278-0534 or 443-752-4642
ANSWER KEY:
AMERICAN FLAG
DECORATION DAY
REMEMBRANCE
RED POPPY
BARBECUE
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
CIVIL WAR
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
MOMENT OF SILENCE
GRAVE DECORATIONS
