Modernization, readiness, focus of CCDC Aviation, Missile Center reorganization

Photo By Julie Williams | U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center Executive Director Dr. Juanita M. Christensen addresses her workforce Jan. 13 at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The center is reorganizing from five directorates to three to become more integrated, effective and efficient, Christensen said.  

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, UNITED STATES

01.15.2020

Story by Amy Tolson 

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center

Sometimes less is more.

The mission, size and funding of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center are not changing, but to ensure it is best postured to meet the emerging requirements of Army modernization and maximize readiness, it is reorganizing from five directorates to three.

CCDC AvMC Executive Director Dr. Juanita M. Christensen met with members of her workforce Jan. 13 and 14 to explain the path forward for the realignment that was announced in December. The change will allow the center to become more integrated, effective and efficient, Christensen said.

“The AvMC reorganization will deliver better warfighting solutions faster, with greater return on investment by streamlining activities in a way that best supports unity of command and unity of effort, thereby ensuring an enduring source of competitive advantage that adversaries cannot replicate,” Christensen said.

Effective Jan. 19, the new AvMC structure will be:

-- Technology Development Directorate: formed by merging the Aviation Development Directorate and Weapons Development and Integration Directorate. Led by Barry Pike, TDD will facilitate the center’s science and technology core competencies.

-- Systems Readiness Directorate: the Aviation Engineering Directorate and elements of the Engineering Directorate will combine to create SRD. The directorate will be led by Keith Darrow and provide readiness- and sustainment-based services, to include airworthiness.

-- Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate: formerly known as the Systems Simulation, Software and Integration Directorate, S3I will largely remain as is. The prototype integration facility, along with some elements that previously fell under ED, will realign under the directorate. Dr. James Kirsch will continue as director. S3I will provide product-based services.

“Some of you may feel that we are no longer valued as a part of CCDC or Army Futures Command, given the fact that they took away two Senior Executive Service positions,” Christensen said. “The answer to that is no. We are still very valued. We are the S&T lead for two of the six primary modernization priorities. We still have a very valid and valuable future relative to this organization, you are just seeing shift, and some of those shifts are very beneficial for us as an organization as we move forward.”

AvMC employees are familiar with change. In January 2019, AvMC, formerly known as the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, was formally realigned under the Army Futures Command. As readiness continues to be a top priority for the Army, AvMC develops aviation and missile systems solutions to ensure victory on the battlefield. The center plays a critical role in two of the Army’s six modernization priorities – Future Vertical Lift and Air & Missile Defense – and has a significant impact on a third – Long Range Precision Fires. The new directorate structure focuses on efforts related to science and technology modernization, readiness and sustainment, and product support.

“This is a significant change right on the heels of RDECOM becoming CCDC and us rolling under Army Futures Command,” Christensen said. “It’s a significant change for this organization; it’s a significant change in the way we do business, but I believe it’s still positioning us for success, to meet our missions. We’ve got our priorities in the right place, and we’re going to implement the right internal structures to reduce risk and provide growth opportunities for our employees. I believe it will allow us to move forward – together. I’m really going to rely on each and every one of you all to embrace this change as we move forward.”

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The CCDC Aviation & Missile Center, formerly known as the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), is part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities 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 competencies, 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 Futures Command.

• Date Taken: 01.15.2020
• Date Posted: 01.15.2020 09:50
• Story ID: 359243
• Location: REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, US