Photo By Shawn Eldridge | Left to right: Austin Tubbs, MacKenzie Kent, and Addison Southwick are currently...... read more read more
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. — The Joint Munitions Command, headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, is helping mold a trio of young professionals — MacKenzie Kent, Austin Tubbs, and Addison Southwick — who are currently serving as student trainees in JMC’s Security Assistance Management Directorate, commonly referred to as SA instead of its true acronym, SAMD.
SAMD’s mission directly supports the U.S. national security strategy by fostering partnerships and improved interoperability, while providing benefits to Joint Services and the JMC Organic Industrial Base.
“I think it is really interesting what SA does,” said Tubbs, 21, a Silvis, Illinois native, who is a senior at Western Illinois University – Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. “The ability to work with different countries from all around the world selling munitions is really cool. It’s not something I ever thought I would have the opportunity to do.”
Southwick and Tubbs began their roles in January and are currently supporting the Country Program Management Divisions, where they assist with Foreign Military Sales cases.
In essence, an FMS case is a government-to-government transaction. It is the formal mechanism by which the U.S. government facilitates the sale of defense articles, services, and training to foreign governments. It’s not a direct commercial sale, as the U.S. government is the seller, acting through the Department of Defense.
Kent, 21, has been with JMC since last June and provides FMS aid but differently. She has been a member of the policy team since February, and the role suits her, as it intertwines with her political science/international studies major, which she is pursuing at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Kent graduates in May 2026 and has plans to attend law school.
“I review the cases and review policy updates. I’m doing more of the behind-the-scenes than working with partners directly,” Kent said. “I like seeing policies and contracts and helping with that. I feel like it is right up my alley. I like finding all the mistakes and making sure everything looks proper.
“When I was interacting with our foreign partners, I was able to hear their perspectives on why they need ammunition and the different reasons and I think it is really impactful to see how we can help different countries around the world through our FMS program,” Kent added.
Southwick, a 2025 graduate of Augustana College, located in Rock Island, brings team spirit to JMC. A former baseball player for the Vikings, Southwick, a native of Arvada, Colorado, knows the value of discipline, coordination, and perseverance.
“I like the mission and what it stands for,” said Southwick, who majored in biology and minored in political science. “You are able to make an impact not only for the United States but also for other countries and help them with the ability to defend themselves.
“I have also enjoyed getting to know my co-workers and kind of realizing all the different backgrounds that make up SA,” added the 23-year-old.
Tubbs echoes Southwick’s appreciation for the learning experience.
“The most challenging is definitely when you are starting out,” said Tubbs, who is majoring in communications and minoring in psychology. “The learning curve in SA is pretty high. There are a lot of systems and procedures to learn. There’s like a thousand different documents that you need to look through that have all the guidelines and regulations. Getting started is probably the hardest part but once you get some traction it gets a lot easier.”
Southwick concurs with Tubbs’ assessment.
“I think the hardest part was just getting used to the different processes and learning how the SA and ammunition enterprise all blended together,” Southwick said.
Tubbs reflects on how his education has equipped him.
“There’s a lot of talk with other departments when you’re working in SA. You have to talk to more than just the people on your team,” Tubbs said. “On the fly, you have to be able to reach out and effectively talk to people that you may not have ever met before. You have to have some knowledge about how to effectively get your message across to people that may not know you very well. You have to make sure nothing is misinterpreted.”
Kent’s adaptability and attention to detail have earned her recognition from mentors and teammates alike, and she’s come to realize the impact she’s had.
“I really like the mission and the work that we do,” Kent said. “I like the people that I’ve been able to work with here, and I feel like it will be hard to leave just because it is such a fun job and I’ve gained a lot of experience from it.”
Valerie Floy, Chief of JMC’s Business Operations and Development Division and the trainees’ supervisor, commends their contributions.
“Together, they are bringing energy, insight, and dedication to the mission of supporting warfighters,” Floy said. “Their diverse strengths and shared commitment to service are helping ensure that the munitions enterprise remains responsive, resilient, and ready.”
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2025 08:53 |
| Story ID: | 550494 |
| Location: | ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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