AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes - DAU

AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes

DEFENSEACQUISITION | March-Aprl 2020 | 1

DCMA Gains New Directorate, SESDEFENSE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AGENCY PUBLIC AFFAIRS (NOV. 25, 2019)Misha King

FORT LEE, Va.—The Defense Contract Management Agency formally stood up the Total Force Directorate here Oct. 28 as Michael Beaupre became its first executive director during his induction ceremony into the Senior Executive Service.

Beaupre, now one of 11 SES members in the agency, said he is excited to join the DCMA team. “You have welcomed me with open arms, and I look forward to the challenges ahead and working with each and every one of you,” he said during his induction ceremony. “I believe as a team, we can and will take the Total Force Directorate to the next level, exceeding the director’s intent and making Total Force the best human capital organization in all of [the Department of Defense].”

The SES-led directorate became effective Sept. 29 and was created by combining the previous Human Capital Directorate

with the Combat Support Center and military divisions. Kathy Butera, Human Capital’s former director, is now the Total Force civilian deputy director, while Air Force Col. Kenyatte Booker is the military deputy director.

According to the Office of Personnel Management, the Senior Executive Service was designed to be a corps of executives selected for their leadership qualifications, serving in key posi-tions just below the top presidential appointees as a link be-tween them and the rest of the federal civil service workforce. Like military general officers, SES members are accountable for implementing and serving at the pleasure of the secretary of defense and undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment.

Beaupre has over 25 years of professional leadership experi-ence in human capital, program and operations management. Prior to DCMA, Beaupre worked at the Defense Logistics Agency as the administrator of DLA Human Resources Ser-

Defense Contract Management Agency Deputy Director John Lyle (left) presents Michael Beaupre with his SES certificate dur-ing a ceremony inducting him into the Senior Executive Service and appointing him the executive director of the new Total Force Directorate Oct. 28, 2019. DCMA photo by Krystina George


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vices. Before attaining his position at DLA, he served as techni-cal director for Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Services. Beaupre retired from the Army as a master sergeant after 22 years of service.

Kirkland Provides Readiness Update to CongressAIR FORCE SUSTAINMENT CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS (DEC. 11, 2019)Jillian Coleman TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.—Air Force Sustainment Cen-ter Commander (AFSC) Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee on Nov. 21.

The testimony pertained to the organic industrial base within the United States Air Force and allowed the general to update the members of the committee on the challenges, solutions, and readiness impacts. Most prominently, Kirkland focused his statements around two things: investing in infrastructure and investing in people.

With tankers that have been around since the 1950s and new fleets on the horizon, one of the greatest challenges facing the AFSC is maintaining one while preparing for the other.

“Our logistics enterprise effectively uses existing infrastruc-ture across our three depots and two supply-chain lanes to provide cost-effective readiness for a range of legacy weapons systems while posturing for the future,” Kirkland said.

Whether it’s sustaining aging aircraft like the KC-135, and cur-rent fighters like the F-35, or preparing for the newest Air Force bomber, the B-21, the depot capacity to maintain the aircraft needs appropriate funding, he said.

“Without investments which assure lethality, maintain readi-ness, properly fund and train our personnel, and deliver neces-sary infrastructure, we risk losing our advantage,” the general said.

Kirkland referenced an initial report on the Organic Industrial Base (OIB) infrastructure in March of this year, which outlined the potential steps.

“This study made clear that even as we smartly use current investments, over the next 20 years we will need resources above current thresholds to modernize across four dimensions of our industrial base,” he said. A second and more detailed analysis of the OIB report will be released in late 2020.

Kirkland also addressed the diminishing supply and manu-facturing base challenges within the Air Force and the accel-

erated use of predictive analytics. Tools like condition-based maintenance-plus can minimize the time a weapon system is unavailable due to an unscheduled maintenance occurrence. Predictive analytics, Kirkland said, is becoming more main-stream in AFSC, optimizing supply forecasting and essentially generating longer term efficiencies.

Challenges and solutions to readiness are not limited to aircraft though, as Kirkland emphasized the importance of investing in people. One of the most important investments in recent years has been the implementation of Direct and Expedited Hiring Authorities. In fiscal year 2019, AFSC secured 74 percent of all its hires through these authorities. But it’s not just hiring em-ployees that is critical – it’s training them, and retaining them.

“Simply having a steady influx of trained personnel … in order to keep the production lines going—that has morale increase,” Kirkland said.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Gene KirklandCommander, Air Force Sustainment Center

U.S. Air Force photo


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In wrapping up his remarks, the general reiterated that de-cisions made in Congressional hearings, strategic meetings, and thoughtful discussions are ultimately decisions that affect generations to come.

“The Air Force needs stable and predictable budgets to main-tain and modernize our critical logistics and sustainment ca-pabilities,” he said. “And consistent funding underwrites our mandate to produce readiness that guarantees our Service’s ability to fly, fight, and win.”

New DLA Joint Reserve Force Leader to Keep Focus on Readiness DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY NEWS RELEASE (DEC. 18, 2019)Beth Reece FORT BELVOIR, Va.—More than 650 reservists assigned throughout Defense Logistics Agency directorates and major subordinate commands play a vital role in warfighter support,

said their new boss, DLA Joint Reserve Force (JRF) Director Navy Rear Adm. Grafton Chase.

The 33-year veteran considers himself a long-term DLA cus-tomer, one who relied heavily on the expertise of local com-modity, distribution, and disposal experts in his previous as-signment as head of readiness and logistics for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa.

Taking over DLA’s JRF is a great opportunity to lead service members who are already proving their worth, he said. In fiscal 2019, 85 DLA reservists deployed overseas and 129 served on active duty in the United States. They contributed to military training exercises, the Audit Task Force, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Nine are currently stationed in Bagram with DLA Disposition Services. And some are even assigned to DLA’s new 24-hour Agency Synchronization Operations Center.

Navy Rear Adm. Grafton Chase, a 33-year veteran and native of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, is the new director of the DLA Joint Reserve Force. Photo by Beth Reece



“We keep getting requests for more support from our reserv-ists, and that’s a great thing because it shows they’re appreci-ated,” Chase said.

He credits retired Navy Rear Adm. Deborah Haven, former DLA JRF director, for emphasizing reservists’ medical, physi-cal, and mental readiness to deploy. A believer in the train-like-you-fight ethos, Chase plans to strengthen their ability to succeed in contingency operations by grouping reservists in functional areas rather than by Service.

“My goal is to get our reservists to work side by side with each other. Now, when they’re doing mission support at the MSCs [major subordinate commands], we’ve got the Army element assigned to one warehouse, for example, and the Navy ele-ment somewhere else. We need to emulate how we’ll operate in the fight,” he said.

Chase summed up his expectations of the JRF with what he calls the “Three B’s”—be proficient, be ready, and be safe.

“Every member of the team should strive toward professional development and be proficient in their support to DLA and the billet they’re assigned to,” he said. “And readiness is more than medical and physical readiness. We must be emotionally and spiritually ready to go forward, and our families also have to be prepared.”

Ensuring service members are safe is one of leaders’ tough-est challenges, he added. While deployed for operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, Chase recog-nized that many of the sailors in his care were the same ages as his son and two daughters, who are now 31, 27, and 19.

“Even here, the majority of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are the ages of my kids. I feel my responsibility as a leader, much like being a parent, is to train them and set them off on success,” he said, adding that he feels military members are part of his extended family.

When not on active duty, Chase is the deputy chief for the Coast Guard’s Office of Reserve Affairs, where he works on policy changes like the current revamp of reserve duty status that he said will make it easier for reservists from all the Ser-vices to go on and off orders to deal with unexpected events like family emergencies.

Military service is a “family affair,” the Wynnewood, Pennsyl-vania, native added. His grandfather served in the New Jersey National Guard during World War I, his father was in the Navy during World War II, and his sister is a retired Army colonel.

General Officer Assignments DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (DEC. 19, 2019)The chief of staff, Army announces the assignment of the fol-lowing general officers:

• Brig. Gen. Vincent E. Buggs, commanding general, 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Marysville, Wash-ington, to deputy commanding general (Operations) and director, Army Reserve Engagement Cell (Individual Mo-bilization Augmentee), U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

• Brig. Gen. Stuart E. Werner to commanding general, 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Marysville, Wash-ington. He most recently served as deputy commanding general (Troop Program Unit), 79th Theater Sustainment Command, Los Alamitos, California.

New Vice Director Joins AEDC TeamARNOLD ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX PUBLIC AFFAIRS (JAN. 6, 2020)Bradley Hicks

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn.—Jason Coker was im-pressed with Arnold Engineering Development Complex long before recently accepting a leadership post within the organization.

“What Arnold does and its criticality to the nation’s aero-nautical capabilities are really second to none,” he said. “It is an extremely important mission, and I am excited to be a part of it.”

In early December, AEDC Commander Col. Jeffrey Geraghty announced Coker as the new AEDC Vice Director. Coker began serving in this capacity on Dec. 9 from his office at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., the headquarters of AEDC.

“I have been impressed by the environment here, the pro-fessionalism of the people, as well as the warmth,” he said. “From day one, I felt like I was already a team member here. Everybody has truly rolled out the red carpet to welcome me.”

Coker, an Idaho native, earned his bachelor’s degree in electri-cal and electronics engineering from the University of South Alabama and his master’s in systems engineering from the University of West Florida. He began his civil service career in 1999 after spending a decade in the Department of Defense industry where he supported developmental test and evalua-tion for numerous weapons programs across the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency. Coker also has more than 20 years of ground test experience. He served in multiple leadership roles from team lead to Squadron Director, including previously



serving as the 782nd Test Squadron Director, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. There, he was responsible for Eglin’s ground test facilities, providing hardware-in-the-loop, electronic warfare, climatic, seeker and sensor testing for weapons, aeronautical systems and countermeasures programs.

He also served in the Office of the Security of Defense, Ac-quisition Technology & Logistics, as assistant deputy director of the Test Resource Management Center. There, he provided oversight for the U.S. Air Force test ranges and multiple aero-nautical programs.

Coker most recently served as the Deputy Division Director for Space and Missile Defense Policy, Joint Staff J5, at the Pen-tagon in Washington, D.C. He was responsible for overseeing and providing strategic analysis, planning and coordination for Space and Missile Defense activities to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his tenure on the Joint Staff, Coker provided oversight for the standup of the new United States Space Command and the coordination and implementation of the 2019 Missile Defense Review.

In his role as AEDC Vice Director, Coker said he wants to be a senior leader to support and serve those working across AEDC.

“I’m not here to tell people how to do their jobs or put direc-tives out,” he said. “I want to get their feedback and find ways I can help them accomplish the mission more effectively.”

He added that one of his primary goals is to work to make operations across the Wing Enterprise more efficient while not creating additional work for those already busy conduct-ing the mission.

“I want to handle the bureaucracy and the problems at this level so that they can execute and do their mission more ef-ficiently,” Coker said. ”I don’t want to push my problems down to them.”

Among Coker’s other goals is the recruitment and retention of AEDC personnel. He wants to create an environment in which DoD civilians, military, and contactors have rewarding work and are recognized for their accomplishments and con-tributions.

Along with focusing on personnel and working to create a more efficient organization, Coker said he will work to ensure facilities are maintained and AEDC personnel have access to the technologies and tools required for success.

“I’ll be working closely with the technical director and leader-ship here on how we maintain and keep facilities funded, not only here at Arnold Air Force Base, but our other operating locations, as well,” he said. “We have some very expensive infrastructure and a lot of key technologies that need to be maintained and developed. I’m keenly interested in the sus-tainment, restoration, and modernization, as well as new in-vestments, for the Wing Enterprise.”

Over the course of his prior positions, Coker was engaged with Arnold at various levels. This includes work in hypersonics during his time with the Test Resource Management Center in Washington, D.C.

“I’ve had an opportunity over the years to visit a large number of the facilities, but it’s been a while, so I’m really looking for-

Jason Coker, Vice Director of the Arnold Engineering Devel-opment Complex (AEDC), headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. The complex employs more than 3,000 people and comprises more than 68 aerospace test facilities span-ning eight states.U.S. Air Force photo



ward to getting out and getting refreshed on what’s going on here,” he said. “Arnold is doing some important work that is directly tied to the National Defense Strategy’s emphasis on great power competition. The work Arnold is doing is critical to meeting key national challenges, especially in the area of hypersonics, which has a lot of traction right now. Space is another national priority that is gaining traction and will likely become an even larger part of the Arnold mission going for-ward in the future.”

With his extensive experience in test, Coker feels he will be right at home at Arnold.

“Virtually all of my experience is in ground test and devel-opmental test, so everything that’s going on here at Arnold is near and dear to what I enjoy and what I have a passion for,” Coker said. “I’m excited to be here. There’s nowhere in the Air Force that has the span and scope of AEDC’s ground test capabilities for aeronautical testing. It is second to none in the Department.

“I consider it a privilege to be here and to be able to lead and serve this organization.”

General Officer Announcements DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (JAN. 13, 2020)Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper announced today that the president has made the following nominations:

• Air Force Col. Matthew W. Higer has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Higer is cur-rently serving as the commander, Data Masked, Headquar-ters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

• Air Force Col. Joseph D. Kunkel has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Kunkel is cur-rently serving as the vice director, Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

• Air Force Col. Joshua M. Olson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Olson is cur-rently serving as the executive officer to the commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

• Air Force Col. Stephen G. Purdy Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Purdy is cur-rently serving as the senior materiel leader, Space Superior-ity Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.

• Air Force Col. Dale R. White has been nominated for ap-pointment to the rank of brigadier general. White is cur-

rently serving as the program senior materiel leader, Ad-vanced Aircraft, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Pence Swears in First Chief of Space Operations at White House Event SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (JAN. 14, 2020)Charles Pope (Contributor: Air Force Maj. Will Russell)

Vice President Mike Pence swore in Air Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond as the highest ranking military leader of the newly created U.S. Space Force in a ceremony that recognized the arrival of the nation’s newest military branch.

Raymond was formally designated the first chief of space operations in a formal ceremony sponsored by the White House and held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Build-ing. It came less than a month after the Space Force, by law, became the sixth independent branch of the U.S. military, marking the first time since 1947 that a new military branch had been created.

“The first decision the president made after establishing the Space Force was deciding who should be its first leader,” Pence said. “I was around when the President made that decision and I can tell you, he never hesitated. He knew right away there was no one more qualified or more prepared from a lifetime of service than General Jay Raymond to serve as the first leader of the Space Force.”

The Space Force was established Dec. 20 when President Donald J. Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act. He also appointed Raymond to lead the Space Force. Al-though directed by its own military leadership, the Space Force is nested within the Department of the Air Force.

Raymond noted the historic nature of the moment. “Not only is this historical; it’s critical,” he said. “That is not lost on me or the outstanding Americans who serve with me.”

The Space Force’s overarching responsibility is training, equipping, and organizing a cadre of space professionals who protect U.S. and allied interests in space while also provid-ing space capabilities to the joint force. The Space Force’s mandate includes developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, refining military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces for use by com-batant commands.



A major reason for creating the Space Force is the importance of space for both national security and everyday life. It is the backbone that allows for instant communication worldwide, precision navigation, and global commerce. The U.S. Space Force will ensure the country’s continued leadership in space, Raymond said. Equally important, he added, is avoiding con-flict in space.

“We want to deter that conflict from happening,” he said. “The best way I know how to do that is through a position of strength.”

Among those attending the ceremony were Defense Secre-tary Dr. Mark T. Esper, Deputy Defense Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as Adm. Charles Ray, vice commandant of the Coast Guard; Navy Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations; and Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

“We are moving forward with alacrity and in accordance with presidential direction, the law, and DoD guidance,” Barrett said

about the establishment of the new U.S. Space Force. “Direct-ing this effort is the incomparably qualified leader, General ‘Jay’ Raymond. As a career space officer, he’s the perfect per-son to guide this lean, agile, vital Space Force.”

Raymond was the natural choice for the job. He is the com-mander of the U.S. Space Command—the nation’s unified command for space

Before his new role, Raymond was the commander of Air Force Space Command, which carried the nation’s primary military focus on space, managing a constellation of satellites, developing policy and programs, and training frontline space operators. Air Force Space Command was redesignated as the U.S. Space Force under the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act.

More broadly, the Space Force is responsible for maintaining the United States’ space superiority, even as space becomes more crowded and contested. The NDAA, which created the Space Force, also directs that the Space Force “shall provide the freedom of operation in, from, and to space, while provid-ing prompt and sustained space operations.”

Vice President Mike Pence congratulates Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond after swearing him in as the first chief of space opera-tions during a ceremony in Washington, Jan 14, 2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya



General Officer Announcements DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (JAN. 14, 2020)Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper announced today that the president has made the following nominations:

• Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David W. Maxwell has been nomi-nated for appointment to the rank of major general. Max-well is currently serving as the assistant deputy comman-dant (plans), Department of Installations and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, District of Columbia.

• Marine Corps Reserve Col. Douglas K. Clark has been nomi-nated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Clark is currently serving as the Marine detachment commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command, Norfolk, Virginia.

WSMR Chief of Staff Says Farewell to Teammates and FriendsWHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE PUBLIC AFFAIRS (JAN. 6, 2020)Vanessa FloresWHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M.—White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Chief of Staff Glen Adams revealed, “As I look at my career, it’s always the people that I work with that make it successful,” as he bid farewell to his teammates and guests from the surrounding communities.

He spoke in amazement of the dedication and support that WSMR receives from partnerships external to the base. “The relationships we have here are phenomenal—I’m proud to be part of it.”

Adams is departing WSMR to take on his new role as the city manager of Santa Fe, Texas. Santa Fe has been in the headlines lately, as the city recovers from a 2018 high school shooting that killed 10 and left 10 injured.

WSMR Installation Command Sgt. Maj. William Wofford, left, and WSMR Executive Director Richard Meador, right, presentWSMR Chief of Staff Glen Adams with the Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal on Jan. 15, 2020. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tanisha Tate



“They are a community that needs leadership, and they asked me to be there, and I will be there,” said Adams. “I will say that I don’t want to say goodbye—I will say, so long for now.”

The luncheon on Jan. 15 recognized Adams for the achieve-ments he made during his service at WSMR since July 2015. The room was filled to capacity, and included representatives from the Office of the Secretary of the Army, the state of New Mexico, Doña Ana County, the city of Las Cruces, and WSMR leadership.

“You came into White Sands with no background in acquisi-tion, didn’t speak ‘geek’ engineer talk with us, but you quickly acclimated to that,” said Deputy Test Center Commander Jerry Tyree. “You got the WSMR bug and the passion for the mission and why we are all here, and what the communities mean to our mission.”

As a part of the ceremony, the executive director of WSMR, Richard Meador, presented Adams with the Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal. He also spoke of his personal experiences of working with Adams.

“I came from outside of ATEC, I came from outside of the Army, I came from outside of New Mexico, I came here and didn’t know a single face, and it was Glen who really helped with my transition. You helped me out tremendously, Glen,” said Meador. “Everything you did was to help me come on and to help me be successful and to enjoy my work here, so Glen, I want to thank you very much.”

Meador went on to explain that it did not matter what ranking or position a person has; Adams will do what he can to help anyone out, referring to Adams as a “people person.” This was the theme throughout the luncheon as individuals recounted Adams’ dedication to people and WSMR.

“It’s lonely at the top; you don’t have anybody to talk to and as a Sergeant Major, you really have nobody to talk to. But the chief was always there,” said Installation Command Sgt. Maj. William Wofford. “For a lot of reasons, he became a friend.”

After 36 years of military service, Wofford said, “You have a lot of associates, but not a lot of friends. Glen Adams, you are a friend to me.”

AFRL Commander Relieved from CommandAIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS (JAN. 16, 2020)WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio—General Arnold W. Bunch Jr. relieved Air Force Research Labora-tory (AFRL) Commander Maj. Gen. William Cooley from command Jan. 15 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to

lead, related to alleged misconduct which is currently under investigation.

Bunch determined new leadership was necessary to ensure good order and discipline, and continued high performance within the organization.

“The Air Force takes any misconduct allegation seriously,” Bunch said. “I expect our leadership to uphold the highest standards and live up to the Air Force’s core values.”

Brig. Gen. Evan Dertien has been appointed as the AFRL com-mander. He most recently served as the Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command Director, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations. Dertien was previously AFRL’s vice commander from July 2016 to May 2017.

“I have great confidence in Brigadier General Dertien and in the professionalism of the entire AFRL workforce,” said Bunch. “Together, they will remain focused on implementing the U.S. Air Force Science and Technology 2030 Strategy and ensur-ing AFRL is best postured to support the National Defense Strategy.”

Mason Takes Reins of Army Aviation AcquisitionARMY NEWS SERVICE (JAN. 17, 2020)Michelle MillerREDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.—The Program Executive Office for Aviation held a change of charter Jan. 14 at the Redstone Test Center hangar to commemorate Maj. Gen. Thomas Todd transferring his responsibilities as the program executive of-ficer to Patrick Mason.

“I can’t begin to say what an absolute honor and privilege it is for me to serve with the tremendous PEO Aviation team as we execute our mission,” Mason said.

Mason, who retired from the Army with more than 30 years of service in 2016, was sworn into the Senior Executive Service in June 2017 and assumed duties as the senior civilian and deputy PEO under Todd.

Mason thanked Todd for his mentorship and leadership throughout his tenure as the deputy PEO.

“I am extremely grateful for your example as a senior leader of setting priorities, remaining focused, and working to achieve a work-life balance,” Mason said. “We all should emulate this as we move forward in our careers.”

As the PEO, Mason will be the Army’s top aviation acquisition officer responsible for purchasing and managing the life cycle



Patrick Mason accepts the Program Executive Office for Aviation charter from Dr. Bruce Jette, assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, during a Jan. 14 change of charter ceremony. Photo by Denise DeMonia

of the Army’s aviation weapon systems and equipment. He will oversee 10 project offices including: Apache Helicopters, Aviation Mission Systems & Architecture, Cargo Helicopters, Utility Helicopters, Improved Turbine Engine, Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Fixed Wing Aircraft, and Multi-National Aviation Special Projects.

Bruce Jette, assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, officiated the ceremony.

Jette said he has confidence Mason will be successful in his new position, saying Mason has shown tremendous capabil-ity and competency in his ability to lead and manage as the deputy PEO.

“Maj. Gen. Todd has done an outstanding job of working with his counterparts, balancing challenges effectively, and we are well on our way to generating amazing solutions,” Jette

said. “He understands leadership, he knows how to work with people, and he understands how to manage large or-ganizations.”

Todd is no stranger to PEO Aviation. Throughout his 30-year military career, he has served in the organization for 23 years and six ranks as a captain, a major, a lieutenant colonel, a colo-nel, a brigadier general, and a major general. He received his second star in 2019.

“Being the PEO has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s been one of the greatest things I’ve ever had the privilege of doing,” Todd said. “I never thought I’d love anything more than Alabama football, but I think I like PEO Aviation a lot better.”

Todd was awarded the Legion of Merit by Jette during the ceremony. Retired Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby, a former PEO, pre-sented Todd with the Honorable Order of St. Michael, Gold



award from the Army Aviation Association of America for his significant contributions to the promotion of Army aviation. Todd’s wife, Tracy, was presented the AAAA Order of Our Lady of Loreto award for her support to Army aviation.

Established in 1987, PEO Aviation’s top priority is reducing the burden on our Soldiers with a mission focus to design, develop, deliver, and support advanced aviation capabilities for operational commanders and our allies. PEO Aviation is made up of 3,000 military, government civilian, and contractor employees specializing in acquisition, logistics and technical fields, to include 1,300 personnel deployed throughout the world supporting combatant command requirements.

Todd’s next assignment is deputy commander, Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan, U.S. Forces-Af-ghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan.

General Officer Assignments DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (JAN. 23, 2020)

The chief of staff, Air Force announces the assignments of the following general officers:

• Brig. Gen. Evan C. Dertien, director, Air, Space and Cyber-space Operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Com-mand, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to com-mander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

• Brig. Gen. select Matthew W. Higer, commander, Data Masked, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to commander, 412th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base, California.

• Brig. Gen. Ernest J. Teichert III, commander, 412th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base, California, to senior defense official and defense attaché-Iraq, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq.

Army Places Priority on Protective Technologies with New Senior PositionU.S. ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND AVIATION & MISSILE CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS (JAN. 23, 2020)Amy Tolson

It is not enough for the U.S. Army to develop capabilities—it must also ensure adversaries cannot duplicate, infiltrate, or overmatch those technologies.

The Army welcomed a new senior research scientist in an appointment ceremony at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center Jan. 21. Dr. Donna Joyce, who serves at the CCDC AvMC Software,

Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate, was appointed the senior technologist (ST) for protective tech-nologies effective Dec. 8.

“Protective technologies is a brand new ST for the Army and that symbolizes why this is such an important day for us, be-cause we don’t have an ST for everything,” said Dr. James Kirsch, AvMC S3I director. “We have STs for those very spe-cific technologies or areas that the Army thinks are the most important as we go forward. Dr. Joyce, as the inaugural ST for protective technologies, represents the faith that the Army has not only in this center, but in her to carry out those senior technical responsibilities.”

As the Army’s chief scientist for protective technologies, Joyce provides scientific expertise and technical guidance in the re-search, development, and transition of protective technolo-gies. She brings a wealth of experience to the newly created position having spent 15 years with the Air Force Research Laboratory serving in a variety of roles with the anti-tamper program, and most recently, as the AFRL liaison to the Air Combat Command chief scientist.

“We’re trying to keep the technology edge for our warfighter,” Joyce said. “No matter what we’re doing, if our operators don’t have an edge, then we’re not really putting them in the best position, and we’re certainly not putting our whole military in a position to win if we go to war.”

Her expertise includes thin film electronics, security and reli-ability of microelectronics, and advanced circuit analysis tools. As she takes on the role of spearheading the area of protec-tive technologies for the Army as a whole, she looks forward to tackling the hard problems in areas such as anti-tamper, hardware assurance, and trusted microelectronics.

“The challenges are large and many but, with the expertise across the Services, I really do believe we can come up with innovative and creative solutions looking at security and per-formance, in a joint all-domain environment,” Joyce said.

Joyce received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in engineering from the University of Dayton. She received the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award in 2013, the AFRL Special Program Team Award in 2014, and the Air Force Meri-torious Civilian Service Award in 2019. Joyce and her husband Paul have three children and one grandchild.

A native of Pennsylvania, she attended the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1981-83 and then married into an active-duty Air Force family and spent several years raising their children. She said she has since found her civilian career to be fulfilling.



“There was always a feeling I had about doing research for a purpose and a mission,” Joyce said. “I think there’s a patriot inside of each one of us. You can work for a lot of different industry partners and academia who do a fantastic job for our government and national security; however, there was some-thing about working for the government that gave me a feel-ing of helping lead and strategically plan the future research efforts meeting warfighter needs.”

The CCDC Aviation & Missile Center, formerly known as the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering

Dr. James Kirsch re-administers the oath of office to Dr. Donna Joyce during her senior research scientist appointment ceremony Jan. 21 at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Joyce, who serves at the CCDC AvMC Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate, was appointed the Senior Technologist for protective technologies effective Dec. 8. Photo by Amy Tolson

Center (AMRDEC), is part of the U.S. Army Combat Capa-bilities Development Command, which conducts responsive research, development, and life cycle engineering to deliver the aviation and missile capabilities the Army depends on to ensure victory on the battlefield today and tomorrow. Through collaboration across the command’s core technical competen-cies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development, and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation’s wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Fu-tures Command.

AT&L Workforce—Key Leadership Changes - DAU

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