Acquisition & Logistics Excellence · 2021. 1. 6. · Artillery, a self-propelled system built onto...

Acquisition & Logistics Excellence

DoD Official Discusses Hypersonics Development DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (OCT. 1, 2020)David VergunThe Defense Department is developing hypersonic strike systems because of their unique warfighting aspects of range, speed, maneuverability, survivability, and lethality, said the assistant director of Hypersonics, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

Those hypersonic attributes address the problem of area access and area denial, posed by potential adversaries, Russia and China, in particular, said Mike E. White, who spoke yesterday at a Defense One Hypersonics and Space panel.

Some of the research is going into reusable hypersonics vehicles, White added.

The Chinese and Russians have stated that they’re developing hypersonic systems for both nuclear and conventional weapons delivery, he said, adding that the DoD is focused on conventional systems.

The Department is currently looking at designing hypersonic systems that are reusable, White said, meaning that once a hypersonic vehicle takes off, it doesn’t just explode like a missile, but rather, it can be used again, in certain ways similar to the reusable SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

He said factors that will go into developing a reusable system include, developing suitable high-temperature materials; effective thermal management systems; and turbine-based propulsion systems, as opposed to rocket-based, boost-glide systems or rocket-boosted, scramjet-powered cruise missiles.

Reusable hypersonics is still in the maturation stage 1, he said, meaning that it’s still got a long way to go. System and subsystem integration is critically important in this regard, he added. “It’s a hard problem.”

Turbulence modeling using wind tunnels is useful but can only go so far, White said. It’s difficult to do that between mach 5 and mach 20 in the wind tunnel. The ultimate test bed may involve flying hypersonic test vehicles at that speed and evaluating the data, as weird things can happen at those incredible speeds that would otherwise be hard to predict.

Advanced modeling and simulation techniques being developed could address some of those concerns regarding testing, he added.

Interestingly, a number of small companies and venture capitalists are interested in trying to leverage the advantages

of reusable hypersonics for various applications including military, satellite delivery, and even human space transport. He said the Department hopes to leverage those innovators.

The Department is heavily investing in hypersonics and it’s a priority, White noted.

The hypersonics budget since 2016 has gone up by a factor of 10. This year, it’s about $3.5 billion, and it’s expected to continue.

Programs of record and fielding of hypersonics weapons should be in the middle of this decade, he added.

Army Pursues New Mid-Range Missile to Fill Gap in Precision FiresARMY NEWS SERVICE (OCT. 7, 2020)Sean KimmonsFORT SILL, Okla.—The Army is seeking a new mid-range missile system that can hit targets between 500 to 1,500 kilometers, or 310 to 930 miles, to help fill a gap in its fires portfolio by 2023.

Brig. Gen. John Rafferty, director of the Long-Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team, said the surface-to-surface

Defense Acquisition: January-February 2021 1

Mike E.White, SES, principal director, Hypersonics, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.DoD Photo


launch capability could prove beneficial if positioned in strategic areas such as the Pacific island chains.

“What a dilemma that would create for our adversary,” he said Sept. 29, referring to China, which the National Defense Strategy states as a near-peer threat along with Russia. “How we would change the calculus in a second, if we could deliver this kind of capability out there.”

The endeavor is currently being researched by his team in a partnership with the Field Artillery School, Fires Capability Development Integration Directorate, and Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.

Precision fires is currently the Army’s No. 1 modernization priority, since they can allow formations to penetrate through enemy anti-access/area denial capabilities, Rafferty said.

“It enables access at the strategic level, and it enables combined arms maneuver at the tactical level,” he said during the 2020 Army Fires Conference.

Extended Range Cannon Artillery

The fires portfolio also includes the Extended Range Cannon Artillery, a self-propelled system built onto a Paladin Integrated Management howitzer chassis. But ERCA has more firepower with its 58-caliber, 30-foot cannon tube compared to the Paladin’s 39-caliber, 20-foot tube.

The longer tube and a different chamber, along with improved projectiles and propellant, allow it to shoot artillery shells out to 70 kilometers, or over 40 miles, he said.

After several successful tests, the Army recently sought Soldier feedback of the system during 1st Infantry Division’s rotation at the National Training Center in California.

The Army expects to deliver a set of prototypes to a division artillery battalion in 2023, which will then evaluate the operational concept of the system, he said.

2 Defense Acquisition: January-February 2021

Brig. Gen. John Rafferty, director of the Long-Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team, speaks during the Army Fires Con-ference at Fort Sill, Okla., Sept. 29, 2020.U.S. Army screenshot image


Precision Strike Missile

The Precision Strike Missile now has three successful flight tests under its belt. The surface-to-surface missile looks to increase the range of the Army Tactical Missile System, which has been around for nearly four decades.

The PrSM is half the size of its predecessor that has a maximum firing range of only 300 km, or 180 miles—nearly half of the PrSM’s 500 km range. Both missiles pack the same explosive punch.

The next phase of testing will include four shots, one of them to be fired out into the Pacific Ocean from the Californian coastline.

“We’ll go to Vandenberg Air Force Base and we’ll test it out into the ocean and see how far it will go,” Rafferty said.

Strategic Fires

At the farthest end of the portfolio includes two complementary systems: a long-range cannon system and hypersonic weapon.

The surface-to-surface capabilities will push the Army’s reach to thousands of kilometers, he said.

The Army and Navy successfully tested a common hypersonic glide vehicle across the Pacific in March. An Army unit is slated to start training on the system without the live rounds next year. And after additional tests, the weapon will be fielded to a missile battery by 2023.

To help offset the cost of hypersonic weapons, the Army is also looking at a strategic long-range cannon capable of firing a higher volume of rounds that are less expensive, Rafferty said.

The cannon, which is expected to fire rounds out to 1,000 km, or 620 miles, is currently a science and technology investment led by the Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.

But the project is not without controversy, Rafferty said, adding its feasibility is now being examined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

“We’re going to get a fair evaluation,” he said. “They appreciate the operation and utility in our approach of a volume of fire with more affordable projectiles.”

Even if the system is not expected to be fielded soon, the general said that science and technology projects such as this one will also help with deterrence.

“It’s not just moving units around and fielding systems,” he said. “It’s also where our research and development is and where our science and technology investment is. So, we’re having an effect with our approach to this.”

2020 AFRL Fellow Advances Nation’s Space TechnologyAIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (OCT. 20, 2020)Jeanne Dailey KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.—Air Force Research Laboratory Commander Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle recently announced the sought-after annual AFRL Fellow and AFRL Science and Engineering Early Career awards.

This year, the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate on Kirtland Air Force Base is proud to recognize Dr. Michael Starks as a 2020 AFRL Fellow.

Initiated in 1987, the program recognizes AFRL’s most outstanding scientists and engineers for exceptional career accomplishments in either research, technology development and transition, or program and organizational leadership. Individuals selected for this honor represent the top tier of the agency’s professional technical staff.

Starks grew up in western Nebraska and went east to receive his formal education, receiving bachelor and master’s degrees from Boston University and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—all in electrical engineering.

“AFRL Fellow is a career honor, and I will be joining a group that includes many of the mentors who helped me along the road to this moment,” said Starks, who serves as the lead for radiation belt remediation technologies in the Geospace Technologies Division.

“Those men and women impressed upon me the importance of hard work and dedication, but they also showed by example the responsibility to lead with honesty and integrity, and to mentor those around you,” he said.

“Personally, I don’t view this honor as the culmination of my AFRL career, but rather as an encouragement to keep at it and more importantly, to continue working to enable the next class of laboratory Fellows to achieve great things for our Nation.”

Starks went on to say everything that earned him this accolade is built upon the hard work and amazing accomplishments of scientists and engineers, program managers, and the support agencies on the AFRL team.



“This is a shared recognition for all of us, and I am grateful for their dedication to the mission and especially their indulgence of this particular engineer in their midst.”

The Space Vehicles Directorate nominated Starks as a Fellow for his program and organizational leadership. He has been involved in four major flight experiments valued at over $600 million, and has led several AFRL research investments—all of which address top U.S. Space Force priorities. In addition, Starks has been a leader of the DoD Space Weather Enterprise, working constantly to connect research to operations and promote cooperation between the military and civil communities.

“Michael is a brilliant engineer and an amazing leader and mentor,” said Col. Eric Felt, director of the Space Vehicles Directorate. “I am so proud to have him on our team. His never-give-up spirit and scientific triumphs ensure AFRL continues to out-innovate our competitors and deliver amazing, game-changing technology to our Air and Space warfighters.”

Starks says he enjoys his work at AFRL, and believes that AFRL’s greatest strength is the combination of deep in-house expertise seated squarely at the interface between the unclassified academic world and the classified operational world.

“We are uniquely suited to bridge that gap and draw on the Nation’s innovative might to keep the U.S. ahead of its adversaries,” Starks said. “To work at AFRL means interacting daily with incredible people making cutting-edge developments in the basic and applied research communities with an eye toward promoting them into the defense systems of the future.”

Starks explained that the velocity of the state-of-the-art innovation, and AFRL’s investments in the next game-changing capabilities make every day on the job something new.

“You get to do all of that while working with an operational community that, in my experience, always welcomes our interest in helping them to do today’s mission and to invent tomorrow’s,” he said.

When asked about a career highlight from his illustrious 24 years of government service, Starks was forthcoming.

Starks said he has two satellites in space right now, the Demonstration and Science Experiments or DSX, and the Very Low Frequency Propagation Mapper or VPM, working to develop technology to eliminate the radiation threat to satellites from a high-altitude nuclear explosion.

“I started working on this project near the beginning of my AFRL career, and I am just one of many who tirelessly built the models and simulations, designed the space systems, secured and defended the resources, marshalled academia and industry in support, and conducted experimentation and data analysis,” Starks said.

“Today we are writing the final chapter in this remarkable basic research-to-technology development story, and AFRL’s relentless pursuit of this game-changing technology for almost 20 years is something we can all be proud of,” he said. “No one else could have done it; no one else would have done it.”

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across


The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate on Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is proud to recognize Dr. Michael Starks as a 2020 Air Force Research Laboratory Fellow.DoD Photo


Brisson was nominated by Dr. John Camp, chief of the Joint All Domain Systems Section, Mission Analytics Branch for AFRL. Prior to her recent move to AFLCMC, Brisson worked for the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright Patterson AFB—part of AFRL.

Brisson was in JROTC in high school and then attended Florida A&M University on a scholarship. A self-proclaimed “nerd” who loved to spend free time in the library, Brisson says she discovered engineering while looking through books one day. From that discovery, a spark was lit and she began researching the field, career options, and the impact she could make with the right training.

During her college days, Brisson completed an internship at Eglin AFB. This created a sense of purpose and she knew she wanted to work for the government from that point forward.

For nearly nine years, Brisson has worked in a variety of engineering roles for the Air Force. While at Robins and the


the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: http://www.afresearchlab.com.

AFLCMC Engineer Wins Women of Color STEM HonorAIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OCT. 28, 2020)Allyson B. Crawford

Civilian Airman and electrical engineer for AFLCMC’s Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, Monique Brisson was honored with the Professional Achievement in Government award during the 2020 Women of Color STEM Virtual Conference held Oct. 8–10, 2020.

The Women of Color STEM award is a prestigious annual honor granted to those in the field who make significant contributions across 15 categories including positively impacting government, educational leadership, and technical innovation.

Monique Brission, Air Force civilian and electrical engineer for Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, is a winner of the Professional Achievement in Government award during the 2020 Women of Color STEM Virtual Conference held Oct. 8-10, 2020. The award is a prestigious, annual honor granted to those in the field who make significant contributions across 15 categories, including positively impacting government, educational leadership, and technical innovation. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo


581st, she was a software maintenance engineer, writing test programs to test components for use in aircraft.

“I’m just incrementally progressing [in my career],” explains Brisson. “I do not know if there is an end goal. There are so many opportunities just working for the Air Force. I am so excited to work on these technologies to help the warfighter.”

Brisson is humbled by the award and proud to represent the Air Force. Writing in her nomination letter, Camp says:

From the very beginning of her Air Force career in engineering, Monique was pressing forward and leading the way ahead. She successfully secured Air Force Research Lab sponsorship of her master’s degree thesis research and leveraged that into a full time position as an Air Force Electronics Engineer at Robins Air Force Base. Playing a critical role in the Commander’s Challenge team, she led the development of the sensor fusion component. For her contributions, she was recognized with the Air Force Civilian Achievement Award Medal.

Monique later moved to Wright-Patterson AFB as a research electrical engineer. Eager to tackle new challenges, she began focusing on modeling and simulation, in particular, virtual reality. Demonstrating her ability to broadly apply her capabilities, she enabled a novel study incorporating human motion tracking, virtual reality, biometric monitoring, and aircraft maintenance.

Winners reflected on the conference theme “The World is Counting on Us: Reset to Rise.” For Brisson, the theme conjures up images of doing yoga, meditating, or praying while striving for the highest version of self.

“Take time to connect with yourself,” she explains. “Find your passion. Find your purpose. Take actions that propel you to greater heights.”

Brisson has an undergraduate and two graduate degrees and is considering a doctoral program in the future. She credits her success to her mother who instilled the value of hard work. During her virtual acceptance speech, Brisson said:

“I am the third of four children and I watched my mother perform miracles raising the four of us on her own. She always stressed the values of education and hard work. Initially, I struggled in college to find my learning style but with perseverance and support of family and mentors, I finished college and two graduate degrees. Through my job with the Air Force, I have opportunities to work on amazing technology

and also find a way to give back to the community. I am grateful for my rewarding career.”

Brisson gives back by tutoring and speaking to local students in the Dayton, Ohio, area. She believes the best way to get more women of color involved in the STEM field is to be visible and just show that opportunities abound for those who want to work for them.

AFRL’s Newest Lab to Boost Nation’s Space CapabilitiesAIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (NOV. 3, 2020)Jeanne DaileyKIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.—The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 29 to usher in its newest construction project, the Deployable Structures Laboratory, or DeSel, for short.

Construction of the $4 million, 7,000+ square foot laboratory began in December 2019. Scientists and engineers working in this new laboratory will continue the work of the Spacecraft Component Technology Center of Excellence that has a long history of technology development and transition in spacecraft structure materials.

“I’m excited to have a facility that was specifically built for testing novel deployable space structures,” said Benjamin Urioste, research engineer and lead for the Integrated Structural Systems team that will be performing the research in the DeSel.

“With the push toward hybrid architecture and smaller satellites, high-packing efficiency structures and the ability to bring large satellite capability to small satellites is more important than ever,” he said.

AFRL has been successfully conducting research and development of high-strain composite materials for use on spacecraft for more than a decade.

“This new class of high strain composite-enabled structures requires new ground test facilities,” said Urioste. “Satellite deployments are nerve-wracking, one-shot endeavors and the high-fidelity ground testing that will take place in the DeSel is critical to ensuring on-orbit success.”

Urioste said the DeSel facility is capable of testing 20 meter x 15 meter (65.7 ft. x 49.2 ft.) structures in a secure, climate-controlled, vibration-isolated laboratory. He elaborated that specialized equipment will be used to analyze the precision and repeatability of spacecraft structure deployments.



one of our top-priority programs,” he said. “SSPIDR is a system that will collect solar energy in space, convert it to radio frequency, and beam it to forward operating bases.”

“This innovative research will help us to deliver the essential energy our warfighters need at the right place at the right time,” Felt said.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology


“The structures made possible by high strain composites will enable new mission paradigms for the U.S. Space Force,” said Mark Roverse, the Spacecraft Technologies Division Chief. “AFRL has led development of high-strain composites for deployed spacecraft structures, and we are excited to see the new mission capabilities that are being enabled.”

Col. Eric Felt is the director of the Space Vehicles Directorate, and is a selectee to transfer from the Air Force to the Space Force.

“AFRL is proud to be the laboratory that supports both the Air Force and Space Force,” Felt said. “I am thrilled with the capabilities and game-changing research that will be carried on in the DeSel that will give our air and space warfighters the best advantages possible over our adversaries.”

“Some of the first structures that we look forward to testing in this new lab are those required for our Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstration and Research [SSPIDR] project,

Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate Col. Eric Felt (left) and Benjamin Urioste, research engineer, prepare to break the satellite piñata, following the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the directorate’s Deployable Structures Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Oct. 29, 2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers


replacement effort. “Besides the technological advances, the ride and comfort of the vehicle is so much better, especially when you are going over uneven terrain. A ride in a Humvee can be very jarring, but this [JLTV] has an independent suspension, increased power with General Motors power and drivetrains, and overall is just a better vehicle due to evolving technology.”

While the Air Force has both up-armored and non-armored Humvees, this effort is currently focused on replacing up-armored Humvees.

The directorate is acquiring three different JLTV variants including a general purpose vehicle (GP), utility vehicle (UTL), and a heavy guns carrier vehicle (HGC).

“The functional mission determines the vehicle variant and configuration,” said Bello.

For instance, due to their unique mission and requirements, Security Forces, Tactical Air Control Party, Special Tactics and Explosive Ordnance Disposal professionals will all have different configurations.

The new vehicles will start coming off the production line in January 2021. From there, they will be sent to the Naval Information Warfare Center located in North Charleston, South


AFLCMC Working to Replace Up-Armored HumveesAIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS (NOV. 9, 2020) Brian Brackens

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio—The Agile Combat Support Directorate is working with the Department of the Army to field the DoD replacement for up-armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, better known as Humvees.

Through an Army contract with the Oshkosh Corporation, the directorate’s Support Equipment & Vehicles Division, in partnership with the 441st Vehicle Support Chain Operation Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, plan to acquire and field approximately 3,230 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles starting in 2021. Developed by the Army based on the U.S. experience fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the JLTV is considered a major upgrade from Humvees currently in the field. It’s designed to achieve operational objectives in Performance, Payload, and Protection against adversaries and provide better protection against improvised explosive devices.

“The JLTV is much more capable than the Humvee,” said Al Bello, chief of the division’s Mobility and Vehicles Branch, which oversees the JLTV Integrated Product Team leading the

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Agile Combat Support Directorate is working to replace the up-armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, or Humvee (right), with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (left). Courtesy photo


Carolina, for the installation of mission-specific equipment. Providing there are no equipment delays, the vehicles will then be fielded to Air Force units starting around September 2021.

“This is a long-term program, and we’ll be buying [JLTVs] through possibly 2045,” said Bello. “There are a lot of Humvees out there that are still in good shape. We’ll replace approximately 125-150 per year through attrition.”

Bello added that his team is motivated by the fact that the JLTV will make a difference in the field.

“It’s important to protect our warfighters in the field and ensure they have the best equipment to do the mission,” Bello said. “The Humvee was purchased years ago, it was a good vehicle and served its purpose, but technology has improved and for us, it’s all about getting the best equipment into the hands of the warfighter.”

DoD Announces Rare Earth Element Awards to Strengthen Domestic Industrial Base DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (NOV. 17, 2020)As part of the U.S. Government’s strategy to ensure secure and reliable supplies of critical minerals under Executive Order 13817, today the Department of Defense is announcing contracts and agreements with several rare earth element producers, which will strengthen the domestic rare earth element supply chain. Three of the awards were made under the authorities of Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA).

MP Materials, which owns the largest rare earth element mining operation outside of China, has been awarded a DPA Title III technology investment agreement to establish domestic processing capabilities for light rare earth elements (LREE). LREEs are critical to numerous defense and commercial applications, including petroleum refining, glass additives, and magnets used in electric vehicle drivetrain motors and precision-guided munitions. Upon successful completion of this project, MP Materials will refine its current mixed rare earth concentrate production, which represents approximately 12 percent of global rare earth oxide content, into separated rare earth products at its site in Mountain Pass, California.

Under the technology investment agreement with MP Materials, the Department of Defense will contribute $9.6M to MP Materials’ effort to add value-added processing and separation capabilities to the Mountain Pass operations. MP Materials has recently announced a definitive agreement to transition to a publicly held company through a merger with Fortress Value Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC.

The Department of Defense also signed DPA Title III agreements with TDA Magnetics of Rancho Dominguez, California, and Urban Mining Company of San Marcos, Texas for rare earth element magnet supply chain studies and inventory demonstrations. The Department of Defense funding was $2.3M and $0.86M, respectively.

On Sept. 10, 2020, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) increased the scope of its Rare Earth Salts Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) project to expand production to 20 tons per annum of neodymium praseodymium (NdPr). Under their RIF project, Rare Earth Salts has been scaling up capacity of their low capital and operating cost technology at their Beatrice, Nebraska, facility. Rare Earth Salts made their first deliveries of high-purity refined rare earth elements to an industry partner in 2020.

The DPA Title III awards follow a series of rare earth element actions the Department of Defense has taken in recent years to ensure supply and strengthen defense supply chains. Specific actions include stockpiling, implementing Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) rules to transition defense supply chains to non-Chinese sources of rare earth element magnets, launching engineering studies with the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program focused on re-establishing domestic heavy rare earth element processing, partnering with industry to re-establish domestic neodymium iron boron magnet production, and leveraging the Small Business Innovative Research and Rapid Innovation Funds to accelerate development of new rare earth element processing technologies.

Space Force to Remain ‘Lean, Agile, Fast’ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (NOV. 18, 2020)David VergunSpace Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, chief of Space Operations, spoke today about the Space Force at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics conference.

“We anticipate adversaries will try to degrade or destroy our space capabilities, denying the advantages that they provide,” he said, mentioning Russia and China, which have cyber jammers, lasers, and missiles that can take out satellites.

To better compete, the command places a premium on speed. “We know a conflict that begins or extends into space over vast distances at tremendous speeds,” he said, noting that anti-satellite missiles can reach low-Earth orbit in a matter of minutes, moving at speeds of over 17,500 mph.



Raymond also mentioned that big organizations move slowly, and the Space Force and Space Command have to stay “lean, agile, and fast.”

And, the Space Force has also shortened the decision-making process by removing unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and shortening the acquisition process, he added.

For instance, this year, the Service brought in 50 software coders and then secured over 6,000 licenses to be used for defense software innovation.

What is Raymond’s next goal? “Our vision for a digital service should be out soon. Beyond our workforce, we aim to build a digital headquarters that designs and executes digital operations because we know there’s power in data, information, and software,” he said.

Raymond said another goal is to improve partnerships with the other Services, the intelligence community, allies, partners, and the commercial sector. Historically, DoD space organizations have not had the number of partnerships as other domains such as land, air and sea, he said, adding “This has to change.”

He added, “This is an exciting and critical period for our country in space. As a spacefaring nation, we are strongest when the domain is secure and stable, accessible to enterprising Americans for scientific and economic reasons.”

DoD Announces Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award Winners DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (NOV. 19, 2020) The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the 2020 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon systems and military equipment maintenance.

A total of six field-level awards are presented in three categories—large, medium, and small. The recipients of this year’s Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Awards in the large category are the USS Abraham Lincoln and the 56th and 944th Fighter Wings combined as the 1K Maintenance Group. Winners in the medium category are the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and 100th Maintenance Group. The small category winners are


Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, chief of Space Operations, speaks about the Space Force at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics conference, Nov. 18, 2020. DoD video still


Bravo Company, 526th Brigade Support Battalion and the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron FIVE ONE.

The Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Awards are symbolized by the legendary Phoenix, a mythological bird which lived for some five centuries, died, was consumed by flames, and then reborn from its own ashes. Periodically, so states the myth, the Phoenix would again and again be reborn. This unique ability of the legendary Phoenix to rejuvenate and renew itself characterizes the role of weapon systems and maintenance in the DoD. The winner of the Phoenix Award, recognized as the best of the best field-level maintenance units, will be selected from the six field-level award winners.

The depot-level award is named in recognition of Robert T. Mason, a former assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for Maintenance Policy, Programs, and Resources. Mason served as the champion of organic depot maintenance for three decades and was instrumental in transforming DoD organic depot-level operations. The recipient of the 2020 Robert T. Mason Depot Maintenance Excellence Award is Satellite Transportable Terminal Depot Maintenance Program, Tobyhanna Army Depot.

The Department also recognized the sustainment training, advice, and assistance of foreign military forces awards. This year’s ministerial category winner is the Jordan Country Project, Institute for Security Governance and the operational category winner is 108th Sustainment Brigade – Task Force Lincoln, Team Blackhawks, United States Central Command.

The 309th Software Engineering Group at Ogden Air Logistics Complex was selected as the Rear Admiral Grace M. Hopper award for software maintenance excellence in the second year of its award.

The awards will be presented to the winners on Jan. 13, 2021, in the Pentagon Auditorium.

Nuclear Weapons Experts Win Defense Acquisition AwardsAIR FORCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS (NOV. 23, 2020)Leah Bryant

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.—Several Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center experts recently won the Defense Department’s most prestigious acquisition awards.

Under Secretary of Defense Ellen Lord announced last month the winners of the 2020 Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards, which included Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Systems members at Hill AFB, Utah:


2020 David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Team Award: GBSD Program Office

2020 Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Award: Laura Lucas, GBSD Proposal Evaluation Team

The Packard awards are named in honor of David Packard, a former deputy secretary of defense who also co-founded the Hewlett-Packard Company. The awards were established to recognize organizations, groups, and teams demonstrating exemplary innovation and using best practices in acquisition excellence.

The GBSD program office was recognized with DoD’s highest acquisition team award for their efforts in pioneering digital engineering for the development of a major weapon system. GBSD is widely regarded as the most advanced application of digital engineering within the DoD.

“We have an incredible team with an extraordinary mission,” said Col. Jason Bartolomei, GBSD Systems director. “The innovations we are seeing inside the GBSD enterprise are accelerating change in how we engineer and develop major weapon systems. It’s exciting to be a part of a team that’s being recognized for bringing the future faster in this important domain.”

In 2020, the program office reduced by at least two years the time required to perform the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase of the GBSD acquisition effort. As a result, the GBSD program office realized a savings of $200 million in comparison to traditional TMRR contracts that did not use digital engineering.

“The Packard award is arguably the most prestigious recognition in the acquisition community and is awarded for overall excellence in acquisition to a team,” said Brig. Gen. Anthony Genatempo, AFNWC commander and Air Force program executive officer for Strategic Systems. “I can’t think of any team more deserving of this recognition. I’m very proud of every member of the GBSD team and want to especially recognize Colonel Jason Bartolomei for his outstanding leadership of this winning team.”

The Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Awards recognize individuals who demonstrate the highest levels of excellence and professionalism in their acquisition functional area.

Lucas, lead cost analyst for the GBSD Proposal Evaluation Team, was recognized for leading hands-on data analyses



and process optimization efforts critical to source selection for the GBSD Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract. She created an effective cost/price portion of the source-selection plan, which included support of source-selection evaluators from multiple geographical locations.

“Congratulations to Laura for winning in the cost-estimating category,” Genatempo said. “Given the complexity of GBSD and the integration and synchronization required within both the Air Force and the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, this is an extraordinary accomplishment.”

“Her contribution was vital in GBSD’s EMD price negotiations and will help ensure our time-certain delivery efforts of the nation’s new ICBM nuclear deterrent,” Bartolomei said. “She led her team in identifying key assumptions and data from the previous GBSD cost estimate that provided the critical information necessary for achieving best value for the EMD effort. She’s a superstar.”

The center is developing the Air Force’s new GBSD weapon system to replace the aging LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM, which first became operational in the mid-1960s. While some Minuteman III components and subsystems have been upgraded over the years, most have supported over 50 years of continuous operation. The GBSD ICBM is expected to begin deploying to U.S. missile fields in the late 2020s.

About AFNWC

Headquartered at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center is responsible for synchronizing all aspects of nuclear materiel management on behalf of Air Force Materiel Command, in direct support of Air Force Global Strike Command. It has more than 1,700 personnel assigned to 18 locations worldwide.

AFRL Researchers Recognized as Early Career LeadersAIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (OCT. 27, 2020)Jeanne DaileyKIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.—Air Force Research Laboratory commander, Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle, recently announced the 2020 AFRL Fellows and the newest class of AFRL Science and Engineering Early Career Award (S&E ECA) recipients. She welcomed 11 researchers as AFRL Fellows and nine scientists and engineers for Early Career Awards. Two of the S&E ECA honorees work in AFRL units located on Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

This award, first given in 2012, recognizes the laboratory’s most promising young scientists and engineers for exceptional

leadership potential and significant research or engineering achievements at the onset of their career.

Dr. Mark Spencer began his government career in 2014 at AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate where he is a senior resarch physicist. Spencer leads the way in research to understand deep atmospheric turbulence.

“This extremely difficult challenge results from propagating laser light vast distances through the atmosphere and ultimately prevents our warfighters from defeating distant threats using directed-energy functions,” Spencer said.

Spencer is from a small town in southern California, named Hemet, which he stated is within the “Inland Empire” as opposed to large metropolitan areas such as San Diego and Los Angeles.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Redlands—a small liberal arts university in Redlands, California, and his master’s and doctorate degrees in

2020 Air Force Research Laboratory Science & Engineering Early Career Award recipient Dr. Mark Spencer, is a senior re-search physicist in AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate located on Kirtland Air Base, N.M. Courtesy photo


Optical Sciences and Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, located on Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

In discussing a career highlight, Spencer said his two U.S. patents, one in 2019 and the other in 2020, top the list. “These patents were awarded jointly with fellow Air Force researchers, Lt. Col. Casey Pellizzari, an assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy, and Charles Bouman, a professor at Purdue University,” he said.

“The patents describe the hardware and methodology needed to image laser light vast distances through the atmosphere with never-before-seen performance,” Spencer said. “Such technology will enable advanced directed-energy functions for our warfighters. I am leading efforts to robustly demonstrate this technology through lab and field tests beginning in late 2021 and into early 2022.”

Spencer said he enjoys working for AFRL because the lab gives him the opportunity to use his education to develop cutting-edge technology for the warfighter.

“I really enjoy mentoring up-and-coming scientists and engineers at AFRL. It is my hope that my overall efforts will solve critical technology gaps for the Department of Defense over the course of my career.”

“This recognition means the world to me because it acknowledges all the great work that we do at AFRL, particularly within the Directed Energy Directorate,” Spencer said. “It is rewarding to look back at all the things I have been a part of at AFRL over the past six years. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way!”

The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate nominated Dr. Richard ‘Zap’ Zappulla II for the Early Career Award. Zappulla has been working with AFRL since 2013. As a research aerospace engineer, he has contributed to guidance, navigation and control (GNC) technologies in the areas of space domain awareness and satellite control on three recent directorate flight experiments.

The experiments reflect an Air Force investment of almost $1 billion. Zappulla’s nomination indicates one of these projects, called the Mycroft spacecraft flight experiment, has been cited by Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and Gen. Jay Raymond, Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force as being “…the Air Force’s biggest game changer.”

Zappulla grew up in Boca Raton, Fla. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering with highest

honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, followed by a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the same institution. He would go on to receive a doctorate in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

“My career highlight so far, was being the lead GNC engineer and principal investigator for the Mycroft flight experiment,” Zappulla said.

“This program allowed me the opportunity to work alongside of, and learn from some amazing individuals while advancing the state-of-the-art in space domain awareness technologies and capabilities for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Space Force and the Department of Defense.”

See more about this flight experiment at https://afresearchlab.com/technology/space-vehicles/mycroft/.

“The experiences, opportunities and level of ownership I had in executing and making the Mycroft flight experiment a tremendous success was “out of this world,” and could not


2020 Air Force Research Laboratory Science & Engineering Early Career Award recipient Dr. Richard Zappulla ll, is a re-search aerospace engineer in AFRL’s Space Vehicles Direc-torate located on Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Courtesy photo

https://afresearchlab.com/technology/space-vehicles/mycroft/

https://afresearchlab.com/technology/space-vehicles/mycroft/


have happened anywhere else,” he said. “Because of this flight experiment, I grew as an engineer and leader, and had the honor to personally brief numerous senior leaders to include the current Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief Scientist.”

Zappulla said he enjoys being able to solve and contribute to the solutions of the next generation of “hard problems” that the Department of the Air Force and DoD face.

“This means working hand-in-hand with the entire community,” he said. “This includes the acquisition folks, the space operators and when the occasions arise, the opportunity to provide senior leaders the current state-of-the-art and state-of-the-possible, so that it can be included in their decision-making calculus.”

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized for the AFRL Scientist and Engineer Early Career Award,” Zappulla said. “I

believe that this recognition acknowledges the tremendous achievements of the Space Vehicles Directorate, and the importance and relevance of our work to the Air Force, Space Force and Department of Defense.”

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: http://www.afresearchlab.com.


http://www.afresearchlab.com

Acquisition & Logistics Excellence · 2021. 1. 6. · Artillery, a self-propelled system built onto...

Documents

Transcript of Acquisition & Logistics Excellence · 2021. 1. 6. · Artillery, a self-propelled system built onto...