Outpost Outspoken

Host Mark Schauer talks with Logistics Manager Jonna Pittman about the support that keeps YPG’s test mission moving. Plus, Host Ana Henderson chats with Munitions and Weapons Test Officer Erik Alcala, whose hobby of making stop-motion movies with his young son led him to create his own YouTube channel.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Lead Engineering Technician Hector Vergara about the YPG Systems Test Branch’s reasonability for the firing, maintenance, and repair of everything from 9mm small arms to 120 mm cannons. Plus, Host Ana Henderson interviews new YPG Deputy Garrison Manager Dan Carter, who brings nearly two decades of experience to the position.

Outpost Outspoken Special: Host Ana Henderson talks in-depth with Ben Wallace, YPG Ammunition Recovery Section supervisor, about his section’s critical role in the safe testing of munitions.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Munitions and Weapons Division Test Officer Jonny Clark about his road from agricultural engineering student to two decades of testing complex radar systems and munitions for the Army. Plus, Schauer talks with Equipment Specialist Eddie Pierson, who spent more than a decade supervising the post's motor pool while coaching his daughter's fastpitch softball teams in his spare time.

Host Ana Henderson interviews Combined Maintenance Branch Chief Jaysen Lockett about his more than 30 years of service in various roles at the proving ground. Plus, Host Mark Schauer chats with Optics Group Manager Chris Eliasen about his longstanding hobby serving as a stock car racing pit crew member.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Combat Systems Branch Chief Marco Nixen about the importance of testing military vehicles in a natural environment. Plus, Host Ana Henderson chats with Durred Francher, YPG Explosive Safety Manager, about how his hobby of sewing opened up a world of opportunities.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Combat Automotive Systems Division Team Lead Erick Hurtado about his decade of testing the Army’s most cutting-edge vehicles, and how his example inspired others in his family to also serve the Warfighter. Plus, Schauer chats with Munitions and Weapons Division Test Officer Kevin Irr about his service as president of the Yuma Community Theater’s Board of Directors in his spare time.

Host Ana Henderson talks with engineers Daniela and Maria Villegas, sisters who grew up in Yuma County, Arizona and obtained the entirety of their engineering educations locally prior to working in YPG’s Instrumentation Division. Plus, Host Mark Schauer chats with YPG Airfield Operations Manager Jim Walk about the cross-country bicycle trip he made in his youth.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Jason Swain, Chief of YPG’s Instrumentation Division, about the staggering array of high tech equipment used to record, quantify, and verify performance of the Army’s most cutting edge weapons systems. Plus, Schauer chats with YPG Police Chief Donnie Lucas about the importance of community policing and his time working a security detail for Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf in the early 1990s.

Host Ana Henderson chats with Jonathan Olbert, who served in the U.S. Army, then pulled double duty as an Army reservist while working at YPG. Hear about his time in the Army rebuilding warzones and how it ties into what he does now for YPG's Technology and Investments Directorate. Plus, Henderson talks with Chaplain (Capt.) Ryan Pearse on what YPG's chapel offers for the community-- and how you can get involved.

On the first episode of season three, Host Ana Henderson talks with aviation test officer Charlie Saltz about how her experience as a Navy veteran influences her work on behalf of the warfighter. Plus, Host Mark Schauer visits with Jose Dorame, an award-winning artist who teaches art at YPG's Price Elementary School.

On the season two finale of Outpost Outspoken, host Mark Schauer talks with David Bates, Cross Functional Team Integrator, about YPG’s position at the forefront of Army transformation efforts. Plus, host Ana Henderson chats with IT Specialist Richard Gillmor about his recently-published first novel. Season three of Outpost Outspoken will debut on January 9, 2023.

From the rugged ranges of U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center, host Mark Schauer talks with Allied Trades Lead Sam Porter about the shop’s vital role in keeping the cold weather test mission running and his longtime personal association with local motorsports. Plus, Schauer visits with Vehicle Maintenance Shop Lead David Sutherland, a third-generation Alaskan and farrier renowned for his expertise in big-game hunting. Also, Schauer talks with Meteorologist Dan Wozniczka about the importance of specialized weather data when conducting developmental testing of military equipment.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Sean Franklin of YPG’s Technology and Investments Directorate, who was recently named one of Yuma County, Arizona’s ’20 under 40’ young professionals. Plus, Schauer chats with physical scientist Larry Nelson, a national championship-winning competition shooter and pilot who built his own airplane.

From the punishing jungle of U.S. Army Tropic Regions Test Center (TRTC), host Mark Schauer talks with electronics engineer Julio Villegas about the complexities of information technology during testing in a rugged tropical environment. Plus, Schauer chats with Robert Dunn, one of the test center's newest employees, with a keen appreciation of the facility's lengthy history.

From the rugged ranges of U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center, host Mark Schauer talks with senior test officer Isaac Howell about how his prior service as an active duty infantry officer informs his evaluations of equipment soldiers use. Plus, Schauer chats with range photographer Sebastian Saarloos, whose photos have earned international exposure.

Host Ana Henderson talks with Airborne Test Force Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Minnis about his elite team’s developmental test mission. Plus, Henderson chats with Yuma Test Center Mission Employee of the Third Quarter Marcus Giddings about the testing that earned him that honor.

From the punishing jungle of U.S. Army Tropic Regions Test Center (TRTC), host Mark Schauer talks with Senior Test Officer Rolando Ayala about more than 30 years of tropical testing on behalf of the United States military and private industry. Plus, Schauer chats with Property Administrator Ivett Gutierrez about her unique career path to TRTC and passion for yoga.

From the rugged ranges of U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center, Host Mark Schauer interviews Mobility Test Complex Manager Russell Hollembaek about the facility's military and private industry test capabilities. Also, Schauer talks with Security Manager Richard Reiser about the second career that brought him to all three of Yuma Proving Ground's natural environment test centers.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Todd Hudson, Director of Yuma Proving Ground's Technology and Investments Directorate, about YPG's efforts to posture for future testing. Plus, Host Ana Henderson chats with Equipment Specialist Karen Mort about being recognized as Yuma Test Center's Employee of the Quarter.

The season two debut of Outpost Outspoken comes from U.S. Army Tropic Regions Test Center in the heart of the Central American jungle. Hear computer science engineer Luisa Wong on her quarter century specializing in exposure testing of military equipment in extreme tropical environments. Also, civil engineer Carlos Mora on his passion for photography at work and in his personal life.

On the season finale of Outpost Outspoken, host Mark Schauer talks with Isaac Rodriguez, Acting Chief of the Range Operations and Training Division, about his lengthy experience conducting developmental testing on ground combat vehicles. Plus, host Brandon Mejia interviews test engineer Riley Sinek about cutting edge counter-unmanned aircraft technology.

Season two of Outpost Outspoken will begin on August 8, 2022.

Host Mark Schauer visits with John Bacon, weapons maintenance test team lead, about the team’s mission and his service as former commander of Yuma’s Naval Sea Cadet squadron. Plus, host Ana Henderson talks with program analyst Michele Dominguez, who heads YPG’s groundbreaking employee wellness program as a collateral duty.

Host Mark Schauer visits with John Bacon, weapons maintenance test team lead, about the team’s mission and his service as former commander of Yuma’s Naval Sea Cadet squadron. Plus, host Ana Henderson talks with program analyst Michele Dominguez, who heads YPG’s groundbreaking employee wellness program as a collateral duty.

Host Ana Henderson talks with Yuma Test Center Employee of the Year Ashley Lochetto about YPG's artillery testing mission. Plus, Host Brandon Mejia visits with longtime YPG employee Bobbye Williamson, whose father was one of the first eight soldiers trained in military free fall at YPG in 1958.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Hi-Sing Silen of YPG's Air Combat Directorate about starting his testing career in the jungles of Tropic Regions Test Center before relocating to Yuma. Plus, Host Ana Henderson chats with Maiko Black, YPG Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Marketing Director, about the high quality of life enjoyed by post residents.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Luis Arroyo, chief of the Training and Exercise Management Office, about how supporting military training activities enhances YPG's testing capabilities. Plus, host Ana Henderson chats with Garrison Safety Director Ron Van Why about his passion for restoring and showing antique vehicles.

Host Mark Schauer visits with Armaments Branch Chief Wayne Schilders about the complexity of being a weapons operator at Yuma Proving Ground. Also, Schauer talks with Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Business Manager Mindy Cordova, who has trained hundreds of local and regional lifeguards in her spare time.

Host Ana Henderson chats with Combat Automotive Team Lead Rob Fillinger about his journey from Motown to Y-Town during the Great Recession of 2008. Plus, host Mark Schauer visits with Ryan Ingham, electronic technician for YPG's meteorology team, about his intense passion for endurance running.

Host Ana Henderson visits with Workforce Development and STEM Outreach Manager Paula Rickleff about her experience as Yuma County's first female West Point appointee and her Army career. Plus, Henderson chats with YPG Firefighter William Session on his extensive charity work. Also, Host Mark Schauer talks with Chaplain (Maj.) Jeffrey Crispin on hearing two callings and the YPG Chapel's importance to community life.

Host Mark Schauer talks with U.S. Army Tropic Regions Test Center Director Ernie Hugh about the importance of testing military equipment in rugged jungle environments. Schauer also visits with James Schremp of YPG's aircraft armament section about his passion for teaching the art of blacksmithing.

Host Ana Henderson talks with YPG Munitions and Weapons Branch Chief Kermit Okamura on how his branch's daily operations supports soldiers. Plus, host Mark Schauer visits with Contract Specialist Erik Reta about his lifelong pursuit of artistic excellence.

Host Mark Schauer talks about the science of geodesy with Ruben Hernandez of YPG's Engineering Support Branch. Schauer also visits with YPG Heritage Center Curator Bill Heidner about the post museum's future.

Host Mark Schauer talks with Yuma Proving Ground Metrology Branch Chief Savanna Silva about the importance of accurate measurement to the post's test mission and her devotion to inspiring the next generation of engineers. Schauer also visits with wildlife biologist Daniel Steward about Yuma Proving Ground's rich ecological diversity.

In this episode, host Mark Schauer talks with Jacob Obradovich, Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team Integrator, about vehicle testing at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground; and Ron Rodriguez, Chief of the Directorate of Operations, about his long-time enthusiasm for kendo, a martial art known as the "way of the sword."

Host Mark Schauer talks with the YPG Range Operations and Training Division Chief Omar Silva about how merging the range planning, range control and the Test and Exercise Management Office helped make support of Project Convergence (PC) more efficient. Silva also shares what kept him in the Yuma community.

Plus, host Ana Henderson talks with YPG Lead Meteorologist Mark Hendrickson about the role YPG’s Meteorology Team serves during Yuma’s annual Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival. Hendrickson also talks about why meteorology information is vital for testing accuracy.

Outpost Outspoken is the official podcast of U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, which conducts natural environment testing of military equipment in Arizona, Alaska, and the tropics.

In this episode:

* U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center Technical Director Jeff Lipscomb discusses cold weather evaluations of the equipment troops rely on.

* Antiterrorism Officer Alfonzo Brown talks about the importance of vigilance in preventing terrorist attacks.

* Contracting Officer Representative Keith Ware on serving on his appointment to a local school board and his family's legacy of service.