Good morning , welcome to all all of
our distinguished visitors , elected
officials , a PG community members and
virtual attendees . Thank you for
joining us for the state of our panel
will be discussing updates on the
latest developments , opportunities and
modernization efforts across the A . P .
G . Centers of Excellence including C
five S are testing about research and
development , Chemical biological
defense , public health sciences as
well as the he Jesus 16 will answer
as many questions . Mhm . Upon
completion of all presentations ,
please submit your questions via the
chat feature . Please use the note
cards handed out so that we can
integrate your questions with those
coming in online will
collect those cards at this time .
Please stand for the posting of the
colors by the Free State Challenge
Academy Color Guard . And please remain
standing for the national anthem .
Mhm
bob
right more .
Okay .
Right ,
right .
Thank you . Pull
what
ready ?
Please give you the Nationals anthem .
Mm hmm .
Yeah .
Right .
Yeah .
Mm hmm .
Yeah . Mm
hmm .
Mhm .
And no to the stage our
distinguished panel members . Major
General robert L . Edmondson the second
Senior Commander Aberdeen proving
ground and Commanding General , US Army
Communications , Electronics command ,
James amato Director U . S . Army test
and evaluate situation . Commander
General David Tribe ula . Deputy
Commanding General U . S . Army combat
capabilities . MS nickel bill
gore . Deputy Leaving Active
Officer . Joint program . Executive
Office . Chemical biological ,
radiological and nuclear Defense
Wilma . Director U . S . Army Public
center johnny sorry ,
Colonel johnny casiano . Commander U .
S Army Garrison Aberdeen proving
grounds
now we'll hand it over to Major General
Edmondson to start the panel sir .
Thank you . Thank you . Mm
hmm . Welcome everyone .
And uh and thank you so much for
joining us this morning . I'd like to ,
I'd like to begin by thanking the panel
for coming out and being a part of you
know , what is , you know , definitely
um , a worthwhile event worthwhile
event for for many And uh we good news
for everyone that's here . Uh , we took
the notes from last last year . We
received the feedback , we thought
about it , our best uh , to to not
speak in military terms alone but that
we want to be able to open open up the
dialogue for for each and everyone to ,
you know , really get a get a good
first hand understanding of , of the
type of work that happens that at
Aberdeen proving ground . But before I
go any further , you know , um yeah ,
thanks to the Free state cadets that
were just up on the table here . Excuse
me on the stage . Okay , Okay .
Alright . Outstanding world class
performance . Your professionalism . Um ,
you know , speaks volumes . Yeah , not
only the instruction that you're
receiving right now but the guy and
quite frankly , I'm sure the panel
would agree we all receive instruction
and guidance for the entire , you know ,
tour of our lives uh but also for the
effort that you're making the effort
that you're making to to um just
uh understand and really value the
importance of you belong because you
absolutely belong . You belong up on
this stage this morning and you belong
wherever your hearts uh and desires
take you . And so with that I would
like to also thank our distinguished
guests for joining us this morning . Um
I really do appreciate you taking time
to be here in our state and local
officials are casa's here , former
commanders are here as well and and
others , we really do appreciate it .
Alright , well look , let's go ahead
and and get started . And what I'm
gonna try to do here is uh as I
mentioned in the very beginning is um
do my best to speak english , do my
best to speak english . So so Aberdeen
proving ground um special place and I
think many people that I've met over my
time in the position here , you know ,
I've had an opportunity to share with
you . Um you know , my first impression ,
which is now my second uh and frankly
my third impression of how special this
place is and again when you think about
the panel that we have here and what's
going to be discussed in just a moment ,
you'll see that we we have a we have a
unique opportunity here . There is a ,
there is an ecosystem of partnership
that is that is most likely second to
none . Um when you think about the
different installations that we have
throughout the United States Army , so
Aberdeen proving ground um we have a
number and I'll talk on the left hand
uh talk down the left hand slide side
of the slide first and then I'll move
over to the right hand slide side . But
when you take a look and you just you
see those core missions that we have
those those centers of excellence um
that that are largely represented right
here on this stage here . You know that
that's key and critical . You know , if
you ask , you know what we are for ,
you know , sometimes , you know ,
people will ask , you know , what are
you for , right ? What you do is one
thing , but what you're for , you know ,
might be something just a little bit
different . And so what are we for ?
What is it that the army believes that
that we are doing here ? Um I'm I'm
going to start at the top work my way
down . Um C five S . Are you hear a lot
about C . Five I . S . R . And I'll
talk about that on subsequent slides .
But if you were when you think of C .
Five I . S . Are all those words right ,
command and control . I'm here to tell
you that a few years ago , not that
long ago , it was only command and
control . And now there's a lot more
that goes into it and I'll talk about ,
you know , the the interconnectedness
of the network that we all realize is
happening around us . Well , it's
happening inside your professional high
end Volunteer army as well . Chemical
biological uh you know , work that is
happening , testing work that is
happening . Uh clearly the research and
development . So when we think about
Aberdeen proving ground , you can you
can think about from the beginning ,
all the way to the end , the thoughts
and the idea that happened right here .
Uh we are all members of a team where
the thoughts and the ideas begin here .
Uh and then sometimes you can take them
all the way through divestment and
moving on to something new . All
happens right here at Aberdeen proving
ground . You can see the space the land
that we have available . Obviously
there's also water , there's a shore
line that's included in all that
Aberdeen proving ground um you know ,
has to offer . Uh and we are making
good use of of all of the different
resources that we have available . And
so when you think a little bit about
where the army is going in the future
and you hear about multi domain
operations , right ? So that's a little
bit of army jargon . But if we were
just to think it's not just land uh
conflict any longer , but there's
there's a there's a land component ,
there's a , there's a space component ,
there's a cyber component uh and there
are different ways in which we as an
army can continue to keep this nation
safe by bringing all of that together
uh to include , you know , the uh
the capabilities that exist when you
have the shore line that's around , we
can't do it alone . We've got a pretty
sizable workforce . We're the sixth
largest employer in the state of
Maryland . You can take a look at the
number of jobs and the revenue that's
bringing that that comes with with all
of the hard work and thought that we
asked the employees to do here . Um ,
but it doesn't stop there . We have to
be able to think about tomorrow . And
so Science , technology , engineering
and math , one of those areas , uh ,
there are others as well . But there's
one of those areas that , that might be
that nucleus of , of what it is that ,
that , that Aberdeen proving ground is
forced . So we've got to make sure that
we're bringing in um , the , the , the
high end talent , this is a , there's a
race for talent that's happening out
there and we need that talent here to
be a part of what it is that the army
believes that Aberdeen proving ground
is for . And so I'm proud to announce
also that are sharp fusion directorate .
So let's back up . That's , that's a um ,
that's an acronym , but sexual
harassment and assault response
prevention , um ,
we in the army expect to have a
healthy workplace environment . And so
one of the ways in which we do our best
to provide a healthy workplace
environment is through combating
something that is a challenge um ,
in many walks of society and with the
army being a cross section of of the
nation , uh we have also um
to work through and to combat into
defeat , um all forms of sexual
harassment and sexual assault . And so
um Aberdeen proving ground is one of
six locations that will stand up its
fusion center . And so now we're gonna
bring in not just the sharp responders ,
not just sharp prevention , but medical
teammates , medical professionals will
also bring in legal experts as well and
will fuse all of those capabilities
together in a way uh that we are
hopeful and expect that number one we
will prevent . Uh and then number two
when we have not prevented , we will
provide world class support to our
victims . Okay , let's move on to the
next slide please . Alright , so I'm
gonna take off . The senior mission
commander had talked a little bit about
C five I . S . Are for just a moment .
Command control , communications ,
computers , cyber intelligence ,
surveillance , and reconnaissance .
There's a lot there , there's a lot
there and we probably at this point in
time I can I can boil all that down ,
distillate into the network and and and
much like our in our civilian
capacities or in a during our private
time our personal time we find
ourselves connected more now than we
ever have found ourselves connected in
the past . That is no different inside
you're all volunteer professional army .
And so we are leveraging
all of the capabilities , all of the
talents that we can uh to figure out
how best uh to decide faster
um and and and maneuver faster
across multiple echelons . And so if
I were to try to just describe C five I .
S . Are to you , there's a lot of
letters there , uh you can read what
some of them actually mean . Uh and
I'll be open for questions a little bit
later but the reality is we are
networking no
army operations in support of National
defense and there are some initiatives
across the bottom uh that that that are
a part I look forward to talking to
talking about those a little bit later .
Should you have questions and you can
see on the bottom right hand portion
this the C five I . S . Our campus uh
that is actually where we are right now .
It is Just over 10 years old so there's
there's a lot of capacity here uh and
it is , you know it is our campus where
we bring together um all of the
developers , the engineers and the
experts to figure out , you know how
best our army should modernize itself
and what we should look like tomorrow
to be better than we are today . Next
slide please . And so the
teammates that are a part of this C
five I . S . Our network uh
life cycle , we're going to use that
word intentionally . Lifecycle . And so
it may seem a bit like a a logistics
term but the reality is we have to be ,
we want to be good stewards of taxpayer
dollars . And so when we think about a
new capability , a new system not only
does dev calm in the very beginning
along with the network CFT work deeply
into what is that idea ? How are we
going to safeguard our country in the
future ? What do we need to look like
tomorrow ? That is different from today .
But we also have to take it all the way
through its life cycle . And you have
life cycle . We have lifecycle partners
here at Aberdeen proving ground and the
network CFT . Uh the the program
executive office that many are familiar
with . Right there are a couple of them
that are out there . C three T I E W s
and there are others , you know ,
throughout throughout our army . But as
far as C five I S . R . Is concerned on
the very left hand slide in the very
beginning we'll have dev calm um , that
that's helping us to think through
tomorrow and and helping us to think
through what we should , what new
capabilities we're going to need and
then all the way to the right . So I'm
going to transition now from my senior
mission commander had more to my my my
centcom commander hat , we've got
communications , electronics command
and uh communications electronics
command . All the thoughts of the ideas ,
what we've , what we've procured that
we've that we've provided to the United
States Army again to the to those world
class volunteers that have come in . We
have to be able to keep it , we have to
be able to sustain it . We have to be
able to continue uh to have that
network performing at the level at
which we believe with the level at
which we believed and expected from the
very beginning . And so what I didn't
know when I joined the team here at
Aberdeen proving ground and sitcom was
that when we procure a capability , uh ,
there's a life cycle , there's a start
and an end to that life cycle right ?
Almost like our our automobiles , um ,
our refrigerators , our computers that
we have at home 70% of the time that
we have that piece of equipment ,
whether it be in our homes , our cars
or for us inside the United States Army
70% of that time . Which is a lot of
years . We could very well find
ourselves 10 2030 years perhaps . Even
with a piece of equipment , we've got
to be able to sustain that and have it
ready to go at a moment's notice . And
so we do that here . And then of course
what we also are a part of is uh
when we make a deliberate decision to
not sustain but to divest so that we
can turn right right around and and and
work with the uh def com uh
and the network cross functional team
on that new capability . We're going to
free up space . We're gonna free up
resources . And so we're going to
divest the capability so that we can
apply those resources to what's new and
emerging and all of that is happening
here inside this life cycle . Next
slide please . I think that may be the
last one . Alright , so with that I'm
going to turn the mic over uh and sir ,
thanks again for joining us and well I
stand , I'll stand by for questions and
ladies and gentlemen . Good good
morning . It's great . It's great to be
here and gentle Emerson , thank you for
the invitation and and thanks for your
continued leadership . Um If I come
across this morning as as a cheerleader
for Aberdeen proving ground , you need
to understand where I come from . So I
was born and raised in Baltimore ,
Right . I went to a local college , was
hired out here at Aberdeen two weeks
before I graduated actually back in
back in 1987 . And so I'm coming up on
uh on 35 years and I'm proud to say
that all but about seven of those years
have have been right here at at
Aberdeen . And so um I can speak from
experience about the about what an
awesome place that this is , this is to
be part of . So I am the the
Deputy Executive Technical director at
the Aberdeen Test and Evaluation
Command . I am the senior civilian
there of of our family of over 8000
soldiers , government civilians and and
contractors on our team . Of course we
are located all over all over the
country . Not all of that is here at a
PG but but but here at Aberdeen we do
have um the headquarters , we do have
our army Evaluation center and of
course we do have our our Aberdeen test
center . So we do have a large
contingent of of the test and
evaluation enterprise here at Aberdeen .
So so when I think of test , I really
try and bend it in my mind into into
three big buckets . Right . The first
thing uh does the weapons system do
what it's supposed to do ? The
helicopter fly as fast and as far as
it's supposed to um does the rifle
shoot as accurately and as as as lethal
as it's supposed to . Does the body
armor protect our soldiers to the
extent that it's supposed to . But then
the second bucket is is it going to
work in the in the intended environment ?
Right . And so we have communication
systems that work very , very well
inside the lab and and in the rolling
plains . But how do those communication
systems work in in dense foliage or in
an urban environment . And then the
third bucket . And and this is probably
the most important piece is when you
give this weapon system to a unit ,
whether it be a company , a squad a
platoon is that unit able to more
effectively accomplish their mission
when they have that piece of equipment ?
Are are they able to conduct their
mission more safely ? Stay out of
harm's way ? Are they able to be more
survivable ? Does it make their life
easier ? Right . Is there less
maintenance ? Is a system more reliable ?
Um Is it easier to train with ? And so
that really that third bucket is really
the one that is kind of the the thing
that we do at the finish line before we
make the decision as to whether or not
we want to give this weapons system um
to to our operational force . And so
the top half of the slide there um is
all about people and you hear that a
lot um , with with people first . And
I'll tell you that really rings true to
us because in the test and evaluation
world we don't build things . We don't ,
we don't bend metal . We don't , we
don't produce software . It is our job
to take a tremendous amount of
information , instrumented data ,
qualitative data , soldier feedback
package all that data together , do the
analytics and turn that data into
information right ? And then figure out
how to communicate that information in
a way that our soldiers on the
battlefield will understand what that
weapons system can do and can't do . Uh
and and just as importantly convey that
information to our senior leaders who
are making investment decisions . So
they understand whether or not it is
good , it is on a good track to keep
investing in this and keep developing
this . Um , for for future use the
bottom half of the chart . Um , so I
know you all tracking the stand up of
army futures command and when they
stood up army futures command , the
army directed that the test and
evaluation command , we would be in
direct support to army futures meaning
that our number one priority is army
modernization . The commanding general
of Army future command sets and
determines our test priorities for us .
And and so every one of those signature
modernization efforts is being touched
by The , by a tech . You may and you
may have heard the chief of staff of
the army talk about the fact that by
the end of 23 , of those signature
efforts will be in the hands of
soldiers . And we have every one of
those systems at our ranges um , or
were being tested or evaluated at home
station by , by a tech personnel . Uh ,
and and so a lot of examples on there .
I'll just give you a couple . Um , the
precision strike missile 300 some miles
shot at White sands missile range and
and hit a target with within within
three ft of the impact point that we
had designated at White sands missile
range pretty good for for 300 some
miles away leader radio man pack .
We operational test down at fort Bragg
north Carolina earlier this year to
verify that this new dual channel radio ,
that's part of our integrated tactical
network is going to provide our
soldiers with the capability they need
in that . And that system was actually
fielded in in in june of this year .
The mobile short range air defense
system . That was one that was done
right here at at Aberdeen test center .
That's a pretty cool story where we had
a couple missiles that were working
really well and wanted to integrate
them onto an existing platform . And
the folks at Aberdeen test center found
two critical problems with that as they
went through and did the integration
Chief of the Staff of the Army as we
were brief and said stop let's take
about three more months for your
testers to figure out characterized the
problem , help us figure out a solution
and so we actually fielded that system
uh an effective system but much more
safe three months later because of the
work that was done right here at at at
Aberdeen test center if I could have
the next line please .
So for us , um what we're seeing as
priorities for the for the next three
years um , is really really
the the challenge that that everybody
faces . How how do you balance the
demand for your work today and what's
happening in army test and evaluation
command today at all of our ranges
While at the same time figuring out how
to modernize for the future . Right so
again I I talked about the chief saying
that we've got these 24 capabilities in
the hands of soldiers by the end of 23 .
We're working those systems today um
and figuring out how to test those .
But we also know that thanks to the
great work of the developmental command ,
We're going to have new technologies
and new capabilities hitting our ranges
in the next 5-7 years if we do not
start investing now in up skilling the
workforce to understand what those new
technologies are to begin developing
the capabilities so that we can test
those than our ranges and our personnel
are not going to be ready when those
new technologies that actually show up .
So what is the right balance then
between the work that you're doing
doing today versus the work that you're
doing uh in in support of of future
technologies . And so we've got a
campaign plan with four lines of effort
um up skilling the workforce . Um
hiring new skill sets . But the big
thing there again is if you're busy ,
you know , you can't do this as an
additional duty . We need to figure out
how to stop doing some of the things
that we're doing today so that we can
actually give time for our workforce to
go to the training um to to pick up new
skills etcetera . We're
we're figuring out what are the new
capabilities that we need ? How are we
going to be testing differently ? How
do we test electrification vehicles
that are that are powered by
electricity ? Right . Um , do they work
the same when you've got a full battery
charge ? As if as when your battery is
down at 10% ? How do we , how do we do
that ? How do we how do we get after
that ? How do you test the system
that's an autonomous system that's
enabled by artificial intelligence
where the system is constantly learning
and changing over time ? How do we
continuously tell the warfighter what
the capabilities are as that system
matures and grows or what the
limitations are . As software changes
over time we have new processes that
we're trying to put in place really ,
um , how can we use um , modeling and
simulation , model based systems
engineering , digital twinning to do
much more virtual testing and really
only do live testing for those boundary
conditions that we that we know we need
to right , so that we can move faster
um , and put equipment into the hands
of soldiers quicker but still provide
the robust characterization of the
equipment that we that we that we know
we need . So , and I'd be happy to ask
questions and then I will say the
enduring partnerships , um , again ,
we know that not all the information is
going to come from what's taking place
on our test ranges . We need academia ,
we need industry , we need to partner
with others so that we can gather this
data from all sources and start to tell
this story to the army about what works
in a weapons system and what doesn't
work next slide please .
So there again the challenges ah
We are in such demand . There's so much
going on in our army right now . We can
spend 100% of our time focusing on the
here and now . Um our ranges are fully
work loaded um and and we've got and
we've got more work than we have
capacity to do . Um but we know that if
we do that , we're mortgaging our
future and we're setting ourselves up
for failure down the pike . And so we
need to figure out how do we , how do
we start turning work away ? How do we ,
how do we start um focusing some
time and attention on those new
technologies and new capabilities that
we know , we're going to ask to be look
at look at 5 to 7 years down the road
that directly support our army
modernization . And and that doesn't
mean that anything that we're doing
today is not important because it all
is but it's not all critical to army
modernization . And so that's been a
difficult thing for a tech in the past .
Um how to how to say no , how to turn
work away , how to really focus efforts
in support of our modernization , but
but army futures command and and our
role to support that has kind of given
us the ability to be able to do that .
And so we're sorting through right now .
What is that balance between working
today versus getting ready for the
future ? Um And I'll just pause there
and turn it over to General Tribunal .
Thank you if I have the
next slide please . So on behalf of
Major General Brown uh the CG of dot
com and command Sergeant , Major brian
barker , I want to thank you all for
joining us today . General Edmonson ,
thank you for putting this together ,
appreciate the leadership as Mr Amato
said Army Futures Command is a new
organization and I say that because
it's important to understand Deb calms
higher headquarters is army futures
Command . An army futures command has
been mandated to um
persistently modernized the army . If
you think about that , that that's a
journey that never ends . And to do
that . We've got to A . F . C .
Organizations here on Aberdeen . We've
got deV calm and we've got the network
CFT uh led by Brigadier General Jeff
Ray and we've got indirect support . As
Mr Amato said , the army test and
evaluation command and then all the
partners that General Edmonson talked
about , which makes us an incredibly
important place for army futures
command and dev calm . Now we say def
com because it takes a lot to say
combat capabilities , development
command . But it's important in what we
miss when we say def com our first
name is combat , We
exist for putting capabilities in the
hands of soldiers and to do that . Uh ,
we are an organization unlike any other
anywhere in the world . Air force ,
Navy marines don't have anything like
us And because of that we're uniquely
positioned for you to partner with us .
And so we look forward to those
opportunities . As you look at the
pictures up there , let me explain what
our mission is . Our mission is to
accelerate technology and deliver next
generation soldier capabilities across
the lifecycle to ensure overmatch for a
lethal army and the vision that that
supports as we fight for the future .
one teammate , 1 idea one
Technology 1 capability at a time .
And what do we cover ? Well , let me
start with A to Z right air launched
effects to autonomous resupply bullets
to bio synthesis , communications to
crew served weapons dozers to data
analysis , engine sta energetic
gPS , the gas masks ,
helicopters to hyper sonics , M . R . E .
S , the missiles , robots , the rockets ,
you kind of get it okay . Everything
that's non medical , non construction
is the research and development that
death camp does from the army and to do
that . We are the home of tens of
thousands of talented military and
civilian professionals who are
dedicated to providing the scientific
and technological foundation for the
modernization enterprise and deliver
the capabilities are soldiers need next
slide please . So over the past year
we've really focused in three areas
innovation and transformation that
mission in that vision I shared with
you are a new focus for us to make sure
that we're not forgetting the soldier
on the battlefield . Both today and in
the future we've reorganized inside of
our headquarters . We have stood up
science and technology integration
directorate to better integrate the
disparate efforts across the enterprise .
We have created a chief operating
officer position and a chief chief
technical chief technological officer
position to help us better focus and
enable on driving towards the future .
We have redefined what we do .
Intermission essential mission
essential tasks , four areas that we're
focused on . Basic research ,
science and technology , Life cycle ,
engineering and analysis And that is
the bread and butter that are 28,000
folks work on every day and at the same
time in terms of innovation and
transformation , we've embraced the
idea of doing sprints that better
ourselves and what we provide to our
partners and to the war fighter . Some
of you may have heard of project
convergence . Um , this past year ,
Army futures command in the army had
project convergence 21 which is the
largest joint exercise over a decade ,
it was really about putting technology
into the hands of war fighters in the
dirt exactly as we expect to do in
combat . But with the addition of
having scientists , engineers and
analysts and supports that we can learn .
We experimented with over 110 complex
material solutions through seven
operational scenarios designed to
stress their interoperability and as a
result achieving notable firsts and
capturing critical insights for the
joint force . Critical component to
making that successful is what we call
the J seal . The Joint Systems
Integration Laboratory right here at
Aberdeen proving ground . That jay sill
was critical because it's how we buy
down risk and ensure that the systems
work together the future work
as we look around . We know that work
isn't just the way it used to be . And
so we've got a pilot that we are
leading for army futures command and
that pilot is expected to go fully
operational in october to explore a
hybrid distributed workforce . It's
enabling our workforce to work in an
effective distract distributed and
impactful teams across geographic
and competency barriers . It's part of
our talent management strategy . It
enables us to solve the army's toughest
technical logical challenges . Next
slide please . So where
are we going ? Well Palm looks like
it's a word but it's an acronym Okay
for those that you know it you will say
it's four letters it's not three . Okay .
But Palm is is how the Department of
Defense budgets for the future .
Inside of dev calm why it's the top
priority is how we prioritize and
invest , how do we know what it is ? We
need to put future dollars against to
get those technologies and develop them
and integrate them for future . And so
that's why that's the number one
priority . Inside of dev calm second
priority is transitions you can say
well what type of transitions ? And my
answer is yes . Okay so leadership
transitions , talent transitions ,
knowledge transitions ,
technology transitions transitions with
our joint partners transitions into
sustainment transitions with academia .
The idea is that we want to be able to
take an idea turning into a blueprint ,
make a prototype , demonstrate it
and then scale it so that we can give
it to a soldier and not just a soldier
but a unit and it can give capability
that's needed on the battlefield . We
have created a partnerships division uh
and uh that partnerships division is
designed to make sure that we can reach
out and integrate those uh that want to
help with those transitions that have
those ideas and that website which will
be the front door uh for academia and
industry to work with us will be
announced broadly on social media as
soon as it's ready and it can't be soon
enough trust me . Okay . Um we've
got a ton of our educational
partnership agreements across the
country . Uh but specifically here
we've got formal agreements with Cecil
and Harford Community colleges and
really appreciate the teamwork and
being able to move that forward . I
would ask that you join us uh to
rapidly modernize our forts to reach
out , Call your slate . If you can
raise your hand collier is our
partnership . The he's the guy to
talk to you to make sure we yeah please
come in through that front a match
the you can't get to the
future without taking care of people
and you get to develop the people to be
able to get there . And that's why it
is a command priority to develop our
leaders . We understand we've got to
reach back reach the
opportunities for stamp
the A . P . G . Stem roundtable and
encourages the partnerships that are
out there if you . Yeah .
Pg . Education in Math and Science
Jim's program , the C five S are Math
and Science summer camp . The rise
internships , real world internships
and Science and
Choice Science and Technology
Institute as well as apprenticeships
and internships . We're doing stuff .
Okay . Hi
we need your help and I would ask those
who are working with us . How can we do
more ? Yeah
so that we get into uh and how
can we make this a
work and live here or
speak till to me it just
I owe a center of excellence were just
one of the organizations and go to the
next slide Deputy joint program
from Graham Radiological
Biological . So I really want to
highlight I just really getting all the
services to deliver these capabilities
to the warfighter .
We have changed
as you may recall Dr Ruth was here
previously last year . He's moved on to
ahh new
J . P . O . As of sunday officially .
Um so we welcome him aboard .
It's december . So fully embedded into
to where we're moving forward . I was
really driven our need to look at
integration and how we integrate our
cam biodefense capabilities into
defense as a whole
it up and you'll see turn it up .
Get to really focus on integration
moving forward and I'll get into a
little bit more detail that on the
later next slide as I as I
discussed the J . P . O . Is just one
entity within a cam biodefense Center
of excellence here at a PG
but happy . Sure .
So The
20th chemical biological regular
they are specialized units as they are .
It's deployed across the globe really
to respond well as being out there
looking for threats that may
potentially be an issue .
We're focused on the advanced
development and um delivering those
capabilities to
the threat . Whether it's protective
gear to protect our forces as well as
metal
um to help therapeutics
to the entities to be focused on
chemical cool
neutralize those um you know as
chemical weapons stockpiles .
So that's the army chemical materials
activity and the assembled chemical
weapons alternatives . This without our
R . And D . Mhm
mm . Ri Institute
of Chemical Defense even the acronym
times but really they're the ones that
they're testing our products that we're
developing against the camera
with helping us be innovative
agents , they also play a role
um staff to make sure that they know
how . Mhm . Next slide .
So I would okay
affected by the covid in the last now .
Right . And that has really
I said to figure out how we can work .
Mhm threat environment . It pointed
out that , you know , no matter what
the by where the
state or nature
in that environment
at how we can monetize at half
sensors to be more sensitive um smaller
to detect those things , still
equipment . Um Again again to be
lighter to protect against biological
threats . You know , our measures ,
countermeasures , but how do we develop
our vaccines , therapeutics for
whatever ? Ah it's going to be
coming the world
events right now and that you chemical
weapons could be used . Right . This is
an area that the whole enterprise is
watching very closely um and we are
positioning ourselves to respond if if
opportunities ,
I would say , you know , while covid um
did stop us for a while . We learned a
lot from that experience , a lot of
opportunities to streamline our
processes to move faster with
contracting uh mechanisms to work
closer with our industry partners and
our in their inter agency partners
really it was a lot about partnerships
moving forward and those are all
processes . We're looking to bring into
our core mission and move for
modernization . We've heard a lot today
about modernization and how we move
forward with that . Um You look at some
some of the technologies , the suits
and masks that our soldiers are wearing
in a seabourn environment and they
haven't changed much since World War
Two . So we're really looking to
modernize that , making them lighter
actually , you know , putting oh no ,
just for this . But embedding it into
your normal uniforms and and moving
forward . Taking advantages of
technology , I think we would all agree
that the technology is rapidly changing .
Right ? Um Some can look at that as you
know , that means our adversaries have
advantage over us but we have a real
advantage here as well to take those
technologies and use those to enhance
our capabilities . And those are the
areas that we are focused on as well .
Well ai to do be more
predictive on developing our medical
countermeasures to make the
threats come up as our sensors that we
can can uh take all that information ,
wearable technology with sensors and
put it together to give our command our
commander's decision capability to move
out new technologies in the in
suits and and mass to to again make
those lighter as I indicated . What are
our battlefield is changing to the army ?
Talks about the joint all domain
operations . What does that mean ? That
means we need to be able to work sea ,
land , cyber space , all those
conditions at one time to respond , you
might think how does seabourn , how
would we be impacted by cyber But
keeping in mind all those sensors ,
that data goes up to a satellite that's
trans transmitted to a commander . So
if those if there is a cyber attack or
seabourn , all those things play a
critical role as us moving forward . So
that's why we're really looking at
integration across all the domains ,
the function equipment , ensuring that
I can put together a suite of
capabilities , a suite of sensors that
are all going to work and and provide
information back to the commanders to
make decisions . But another thing that
we're really doing , it's critical that
we get capabilities in the hands of the
warfighter sooner . So looking at
incremental deliveries , um looking at
those requirements , where can we
deliver something sooner , optimize it
and then give them another capability
just to get those in their hands as
soon as possible . Next slide .
So with that I will um just highlight
if you'd like to learn more about the J .
P . O . You can visit our website . Um
We also have great opportunities uh
there for how to contact us if your
industry partner and you'll he'll
probably more about that in the
conference this week . Um new tools to
to come in and talk to us about your
latest technologies . That alternative
you ma'am . Thank you and
thank you all distinguished guests and
thank you Major General Edmonson for
inviting our Republic Health Center to
be part of this uh a ph c the Army
Public Health Center . Uh forgive me if
I feel like a little bit of a dinosaur
on this stage we have In an unbroken
line being an agency here on a pg for
about 80 years . Uh and our focus you
might say is on our nation's oldest
weapons system , which is literally our
soldier . Uh One of my scientists the
other day in a comment about public
health said that water is the fuel for
our most potent weapons system .
So the army Public Health center is the
United States Army's premier strategic
level public health asset . And we'll
talk later in my slides about the fact
that we are in the moment moving to the
defense Health Agency this summer . So
we are about to be part of the
Department of Defense's public Health
process . So that big changes for us .
Go ahead . Next slide . Um as with any
public health agency , we have been
eaten by covid Our COVID 19 .
Task force has been stood up for over
720 days at this point . Uh some of the
numbers there are a little stunning the
number of our F . I . S . And I suspect
that some of those numbers are actually
out of date between when I submitted
these slides last week because the
requests for information keep coming in .
Ah We just made all the changes to the
playbook from the CDC is new um
guidance . So we are keeping our army
senior leaders apprised of All of the
cutting edge moments with COVID-19 so
that they can make the most informed
decisions to keep our soldiers ,
sailors , airmen , marine , everybody
on our military basis as safe as
possible from this . The
med com Medical command , civilian
service personnel
award a wolfpack award
routinely throughout the year . Two
teams that are both civilian and
soldier together . A
PRC has received three wolf packs in
the last year . three of them for our
COVID work . Our Covid task force just
received the annual capstone wolfpack
award last week . So we are doing
amazing things on there . We
have 399 social media products ,
15 million users , which , if you know
anything about public health is kind of
Jaw dropping . Nobody's that interested
in public health , not even in the
middle of a pandemic . So our risk
communications people are doing amazing
work with our facebook page and our
website putting out tools and informa
graphics that soldiers are downloading
and using to help them make decisions
about how to handle their day to day in
the middle of a Covid environment . One
of the things that everybody we got to
with Covid was , how do we train ?
The army can't stop ? We , we can't ,
we can send a lot of our civilians home .
We can send a lot of folks in offices
home , but we can't quit recruiting .
We can't quit training soldiers and
what we had to come to was , yes , we
can train , but we're going to do it
differently and we're still even now
assessing some of the downstream
effects from some of those changes we
made in training and how we assess
basic trainees into the army . We found
some of the changes we made for covid
are affecting injury rates on other
types of musculoskeletal injuries . And
so we're going to take all that data
and information and hand that back to
commanders and say , do we want to make
changes on how we assess basic training
based on what we found out from Covid
19 every year
the Army Public Health Center publishes
a Health of the Force report . It's a
large uh , lay down of a
whole host of different things that
affect our greatest weapons system .
Everything from tobacco use to
influence immunizations . We literally
just published last week , the seventh
Health of the Force report . You can go
online to our website and pick that up .
There's some fantastic information in
there . We also , just this last fall
released our very first inaugural
health of the army family because as we
are well aware , most of our soldiers
have a family and the health and well
being of their family affects their
ability to do their job because none of
us come to work and completely turn off
what's going on at home . So we need to
know . And when we talk about
our health functions , the military
treatment facilities are hospitals , we
talk about stewardship . The bulk of
our users of our health care system are
not our soldiers , their their families ,
we have a lot more dependents than we
do . Active duty members in uniform .
So we need to know those numbers . We
need to know how healthy that family is
because every place we can go in and
affect the health of that family . We
affect long term what we can do for
that soldier . Water issues . As I said
earlier , water fuels our most
effective weapon system . And if you've
been listening to some of the news
lately , you saw , we had a huge issue
with water in Hawaii this past december .
The navy had a issue with some fuel
tanks and so they ended up
contaminating our wells at Joint base ,
Pearl Harbor Hickam and Army Public
Health Center put people on airplanes
out to hawaii from water engineers to
risk health communicators so that we
could make certain that our family
members and our personnel that live on
base housing that were exposed to that
water knew what the risks were , knew
how to handle their homes , knew how to
clean things in their homes . We're
confident when they moved back into
their homes that things were safe And
our engineers helped with the flushing
determination of what we needed to test
for , how long we needed to test the
hospital at Fort Bliss recently had a
problem and we put people on an
aircraft to texas . So we are
supporting all that fast . These are
forever chemicals . You may have heard
of them and they are everywhere and our
military bases have long been affected
with those because we used them
extensively in our firefighting foams .
And so now we're discovering where are
they and our commanders want to know
our labs here at Aberdeen proving
ground . Do a great deal of the testing
for not just the army , but actually a
whole Department of Defense . Now it's
becoming more and more common for us to
receive them from all of our joint
bases . And that is a mission that is
rising on a route . Just it's an arc .
My contracting people are having fits
trying to keep up with the number of
water tests that we want . Um ,
something that's near and dear to our
soldiers hearts . We did a great deal
of support for the New Army combat
fitness test . We're changing the way
we evaluate fitness of soldiers for
combat . And when they said , we need
to get rid of the old army physical
fitness test , which everybody agreed
was kind of a good benchmark . But
there was , it wasn't a really combat
reflective . They said , okay , what
can we test ? And they came to a PHC
with 2030 different exercises and said ,
what of these really reflects what we
do in combat , what strengths and
skills do our soldiers need to survive
on the battlefield . And they went
through and they tested all of these
different tests , looking at what will
give commanders the best idea of their
soldiers ability to perform . And so a
lot of the combat fitness test . If you
hate it . My phone number is somewhere
in here , feel free to let us know .
But there was a lot of data that went
into that and a lot of information to
come up with the new six Event combat
fitness test that just went live April
one for us . So next slide
please short term focus area . We have
a new laboratory . A PHC is scattered
in 15 World War One and World War two
era buildings around Edgewood proving
ground and they are building us a brand
new laboratory . Uh
250,000 square feet . We're gonna
collapse nine old buildings and move
into this absolutely fantastic state of
the art . Lead silver facility . So
very , it's got green roofs and big
windows . We use very little lighting .
Uh absolutely fantastic facility .
We're going to run our new COVID-19 lab
out of here which they have done all of
the prep so that we can pivot To
general pandemic preparedness . It's
not a solely focused on COVID-19 . We
can be ready for the next pandemic out
there . So that lab is completely
reconfigurable . This will house our
toxicology labs and our Entomology labs
are acoustics labs . The amount of
equipment uh and expertise that will be
in this building is very impressive .
We should be , we are starting to move
into that with large pieces of
equipment right now , finishing the
security systems . We will have a
ribbon cutting next april during
national public Health week . So we're
very excited about that big big bustle
move for us because it requires we
change timing on a lot of experiments
and things that we're doing And then
the transfer to the Defense Health
Agency should happen October one of
this year that was mandated by Congress
uh as we moved to a defense health
agency , the realization that no matter
what color uniform you're wearing ,
when you come into a hospital , your
healthcare doesn't matter . Army Navy
Air Force . So we are now going to be a
joint Department of Defense Agency and
public health moves over this fall . So
we will be one of three major agencies ,
Navy Marine Corps , Public Health
Center and aspects of Yousaf SAm , the
United States Air Force School of
Aerospace Medicine . That's a mouthful
that we will all be joining together
and building the new era of defense
public health because everybody drinks
water , it doesn't matter what uniform
you wear . So that's uh the new team in
front of the new laboratory working
with our new director will be Rear
Admiral taylor Brandon Taylor who is a
uniform public health service . So he
comes from outside the Department of
Defense completely . So whole new
mindset . So we're excited about that
but we will still be here at Aberdeen
proving ground um that will expand our
reach right now I tell you that I have
scientists in texas in Germany uh
I have a scientist embedded at you at
futures command . We are in the
national capital region , We are about
to be in Ohio and Virginia beach ? Once
we get added to the Air Force and the
navy . So it really is , it's gonna be
a wild ride as we go from
being just army focussed to being
purple that we're excited about . That
next slide .
I love the print on this slide is so
tiny . My apologies . Our challenges
and opportunities . If nothing else .
The last several years have brought
public health to the forefront of
everybody's world . And it is not just
about COVID-19 but it is about the next
emerging public health threat . Ah ,
public health has tackled everything
from pasteurization of milk to
immunization , to smoking campaigns to
seat belts . We are working on these
things as disparate as blast
overpressure studies . All the cool new
equipment that we're developing down
here . When soldiers put that on their
shoulder and fire it . What effect does
that have on them ? Long term ? We know
the helmet protects them . But if they
do that three times a day , over 20
years , What does that look like when
they're 70 years old ? What does
exposure to these chemicals do for them ?
Long term ? What diseases are we
exposing them to ? When we go down
range into areas where things like
leishmaniasis and malaria are prevalent .
These are all things that we are
looking at behavioral health has become
a huge issue as we worry about the
suicide rates in our military . Are
we looking at increased incidents in
Alaska due to seasonal affective
disorder ? What can we do to step in
and affect that ? Um Are mil tec
program . You can , if you're on an
army base and you find a tick on a
soldier , put it in a tube , mail it to
us . We will not only identify what the
tick was , but we'll test it to see if
it had any diseases that are of
interest to the soldier you pulled it
off of ? Uh We have a hue we just
hundreds of ticks that pour into the
lab every summer . There's some parts
of my labs that make your skin crawl a
little bit . Uh and we also are home
for the moment for the army veterinary
corps . So all the food inspection ,
Our military working dog health comes
through us . So there's a lot that
comes through army public health center .
So depending any questions at the end ,
I'll turn this over to Colonel casiano .
Mhm . Good morning . Morning . Do you
hear me ? What is your good ? Okay ,
does it come across ? Okay . It's not .
Can you hear me now ? Okay , wonderful ,
Good . Okay , so I'm really proud to be
an honor to be a part of this cohort of
leaders on the stage today and when you
sit here and listen to everything that
they have to say right , you start to
wonder what is your message , where are
you going to deliver ? Right , because
you start to get a sense for just how
special average improving ground really
is . When you hear about all these
really fantastic things happening right
here , right in our backyard . And we
have really three or four noncontiguous
locations , right ? We have the Blossom
Point research facility down south of D .
C . Uh the Adelphi Laboratory Center
where the principal tenant that
organization is is the A . R . L . The
Army Research laboratory . And then
we've got a pig south , which was the
old edgewood Arsenal about 30 miles to
our south and our west . And you know
right here where you're located today ,
Aberdeen proving ground , you know that
we refer to as Aberdeen north . But
what am I going to talk to you about
today ? Alright . We really are the
chief integrators of all of these
tenants and all these organizations all
across all four of those locations .
Right ? So what is it that we do ? The
United States Army Garrison A PG . We
are the people behind the people .
Alright . We're the organization that
really undergirds all the other
organizations so that they can really
focus intently on their specific
mission . And so I'm gonna talk to you
about a couple of subjects . Let's go
to the next slide please . This is the
only slide that you'll see and I'm
going to bring up three or four pieces
of information really that looks at
what our challenges are and kind of the
way forward over the next really 123
years . Right . And that will transcend
my tenure here and transcend probably a
lot of the leaders up here . Their
tenure here , at least those of us
wearing the uniform . But you've got to
be able to root those things into
existence and build habits so that you
can affect positive change . Right ?
And really what we're looking at is as
we attempt to be cost minded and employ
new policies . Right ? I think we ,
what was mentioned was tele work and
remote work . And what does the future
of the workforce really look like ? Um
and you know , really be the stewards
of the american americans . Um
Environmental policies and and our
administration's environmental policies
were looking at energy conservation and
we're also looking at the
administrative space stewardship .
Right ? So this is really an initiative
that the garrison is taking on
alongside the rest of our our
contemporaries and the tenants that
operate on all those four locations .
Right ? This is voluntary . Uh We're
not necessarily targeting anybody to
say you need to give up space . We're
certainly not going to touch laboratory
space . We're not gonna touch technical
space . You've just listen to what
Alyssa has talked to you about moving
out of nine really old buildings into a
state of the art facility . Right ? So
what we're trying to arrive at is the
stewardship of our space and the
dollars that we receive to continue to
manage that space . Let me let me give
you really to statistics The garrison
has funded really 68 cents on the
dollar . So If 100% will go into
sustaining or srm dollars sustaining in
and restoration and the modernization
of all of our infrastructure across
posts were funded at really 68% .
That's year to year . That's pretty a
pretty good average that you can that
we can really expect . So I'm really
working with all the leadership to
figure out how do we apportion those
monies against the must haves and the
other must have . Right . And so what
we're , what we're proposing is that we
really take a hard look , the
facilities managers and the G four
representatives of all of those
commands work with my master planning
division to figure out what
administrative space out there is
unused or under used . Right ? So that
we're really being able to apportion
that 68 cents on the dollar
appropriately . Right . So uh the the
other interesting stat is that year
over year from fiscal year 22 fiscal
year 21 we're paying about $2.5
million greater right now in uh
utilities . Um And that's that the the
year hasn't it ? Uh you know , fully
elapsed . I know there's probably some
really smart technical folks out there
that are saying , but wait a minute we
buy energy in bulk and we do it over a
three year period , we're not
completely isolated by that project by
that program . It does stave off
macro level or high levels of inflation .
However , that's a block and an index
thing that to consider . Right . So we
we purchased three , we purchase this
energy in about three year blocks .
However , if we go through all that
energy we have to then purchase at the
index rate which is likely more higher
than what it was at that agreed upon
rate that we pay for three years . So ,
these are things that we have to keep
considering . Right ? And so I think
being very proactive in getting all of
the leaders together in one room to
make decisions . Well actually in fact
put this in front of all of the senior
leaders next month at an installation
priorities board which leading up to
that has has really been a series of
working groups that has really dive
down into the details to figure out
what are the implications associated
with giving up some space . Right . So
when there's a need for more space ,
how do we get that space back ? Do we
put that space into a cold status or
maybe a warm status ? What's the cost
implications of that cold or warm warm
status ? Right . So there's a lot of
things that we're looking at that we're
gonna brief that we're gonna solicit
feedback from other leaders who will
potentially affect across these four
noncontiguous installations . That is a
PG . Right ? So again , um we
will work at um figuring
out what the one year and the three
year and the five year mark looks like
with the stewardship of our space ,
right ? Our administrative space and
storage space . So I'll transition a
little bit there and and talk about
something completely different . Um the
Aberdeen proving ground community
exchanges something that that is like
our town halls , but it does maybe just
a little bit more as opposed to a
directional message . It allows for our
on post and off post uh
constituencies end . Those individuals
who need to have information should
have information . Right ? So this is a
quarterly event in our inaugural
Aberdeen proving ground community
exchange happened in february . We did
at the top of the bay . And what we
will continue to do right is over the
course of every three months host a
another ace . Right ? So that's an
acronym but I did define it ahead of
time . So we will continue to have this
ace on a routine basis that allows for
us to better communicate with us .
Right ? So everybody is so completely
inappropriately myopically focused on
what they do day in and day out . We
tend to miss all of those things that
are happening around us . Right ? And
so this is not only for leaders , but
it's for subordinate leaders . It's not
just for commanders , it's for
subordinate commanders , it's for
spouses , it's for uh the F . M . W .
Our team who wants to talk about all
the wonderful resources that they have
here on Aberdeen proving ground . It's
for those new folks who are just
joining us every single summer , we
have this cycle of folks who come in
and if you are looking at the facebook
pages , there's a there's a lot of
concern about what Aberdeen proving
ground has to offer uh in what what
happens in and around Aberdeen proving
ground in the Harford County area and
the Cecil county and the Baltimore
County's and all of those wonderful
places , you know , within about a two
hours drive that you can explore .
Right ? So if you're somebody new , you
have no idea what this place has to
offer . But if you're not somebody new ,
you can absolutely be the conduit of
information . This Aberdeen proving
ground Community exchange will serve as
a means for networking for social
interaction . And I think quite frankly ,
we all need that coming out of the
covid measures that we have implemented
and and by the way we are at HP Con
Alpha recently , the senior commander
has navigated the post responsibly into
an HP Con Alpha position uh that
that carries some implications .
Obviously , so we are responsibly
opening up in such a way that allows
for people to experience one another
again face to face without masks in
person . And I think the Aberdeen
proving ground community exchange is
going to be a wonderful event where we
can continue to share information that
people want to know about and continue
to share beyond the reservation
boundaries . Right ? So we'll welcome
those individuals off post to come on
to post and share everything they have
to offer as well . Okay , so shifting
gears slightly , talking a little bit
more about energy stewardship and and
how Aberdeen proving ground is going to
navigate to a place over the course of
the next probably 10 years , but
starting now , um , and that's with the
electric vehicle concept and And how uh
the the entire fleet of all electric
vehicles by 2035 will be just that
electric vehicles , right ? So we're
focusing on in the , in the near term
between now and about 2027 to get all
of the lighter vehicles to a status
that is electric vehicle but that
obviously comes with infrastructure and
infrastructure requirements . And so
the Garrison DPW team is working
closely or right now is in the planning
and preparation process to work very
closely with all of those tenant
organizations on post and we're gonna
solicit some feedback , some
information and we're gonna stop ,
we're not going to stop at what , what
could be possible . Right ? So , um ,
we are reaching out to community
members , we are reaching out to
industry partners , we are reaching out
to the higher headquarters and various
major subordinate commands across the
army that have guidance uh and policies
and laws and regulations that we will
follow , But we will send out a survey
asking the 10ant organizations the
where and how and how , how this is
going to unfold best to suit them and
their needs right as well as us .
Because again , this is the the team a
PG concept as you will continue to see ,
uh , as as has been demonstrated here
on this stage today . Uh , and so as we
graduate into what that infrastructure
looks like , uh , and , and actually
acquiring all of those vehicles , we
expect to be the good stewards of , of
energy conservation . And then finally ,
what I want to talk about is bringing
to light that two years ago ,
Aberdeen proving ground , uh , by , by
direction of the army had halted the
privatization of the water and the
wastewater treatment facility down at
Edgewood . This is , uh , this was kind
of bad for us , but kind of stepping
back and understanding what our senior
leaders were doing . The army put a
pause on this for all the right reasons ,
right ? Um , and so , uh , you know ,
there were some places across the army
where the army and that private
industry were making out and there was
equitable benefit to to all parties and
there were places across the army where
that necessarily wasn't happening right .
And so the army , in many cases over
the years , uh , was , was starting to
be exploited . We were starting to put
money in places where we , we we
couldn't control . And so , uh , we
threw some rigor against this process
by pausing this . So , the implication
associated with that decision , however ,
really put Aberdeen proving ground in
particular Aberdeen proving ground
south or Edgewood uh in a place where
we were kind of hoping and left wanting ,
right ? So we have put this water and
wastewater treatment facility to
compete against all of the other
infrastructure requirements across the
army in the facilities investment
program that happens annually ,
Aberdeen proving ground with that piece
of infrastructure didn't necessarily
compete very well . Uh And so we're
again not going to stop at finding a
solution , Right ? Uh and so , as with
anything , things happen gradually and
gradually and gradually , and all of a
sudden , suddenly , right ? And this
cliff starts to exist where you're not
just putting band AIDS on the problems ,
but it gets to the point where it's
going to fail , right ? So I don't know
if that's four or eight or 12 or 20
years from now , but we want to do
right by ensuring that that cliff isn't
realized by our folks , uh and our team .
So , um we're looking about continuing
to compete this in the FIP annually .
Our DPW team is looking at what are
those uh small dollar amount srm
dollar amount fixes that we can have
year over year , that keeps that cliff
from being realized . And , you know ,
the team , right . These sophisticated
engineers look at this with their data
and analytics and their experience and
they say , look , we can stave this off
for a period of years , but we don't
want to pour a whole host of monies
into a place that we're not going to
get the return on investment . Right ?
So , uh , so what we're looking at
doing , and I've coordinated with the
senior commander here and the and the
team , uh , and have opened up the
opportunity to my headquarters to
govern a rigorous privatization process .
Right ? So we're gonna reintroduce that
to my higher headquarters installation .
Management Command has an opportunity .
Uh , and so our team went from a cold
status . We're at a cold status today
from two years ago . We have to turn
this thing back on over the course of
the next 1 to 3 years . Right ? So
again that 123 year mark before that 48 ,
12 20 year mark where we might
experience the cliff . So , I think
we're in a really good place to do that .
But this really is a conversation and
communication to demonstrate some of
the things that it takes right to run a
city that is Aberdeen proving ground .
And uh , and it's been very rewarding .
I've had a lot of fun doing it . The
team has really motivated to find
purpose and all of these things . Uh ,
and it's uh , it's been an absolute
pleasure . So I'll pause there if there
are any questions . I'm happy to answer
them or stand by for the aggregate
group of questions that may come this
panel's way . Thank you . All right ,
thank you , sir . and thank you to the
entire panel . Uh now we will go
through some questions . I'm going to
pose this to the entire panel . How can
we um team with a PG to receive
information on potential internships
that we can share with high school and
Hartford community college students .
So there are a number of ways and I
know that you know , between some of
the panelists here , we've talked a
little bit about some of our outreach
programs that we have . And so the
direct answer to that question is I'm
gonna ask you to I'm looking to see if
he's in the audience right now , but to
specifically reach to my
deputy who is Mr Larry Mazzello ,
ah I can't see him . There he is right
there . He's he's he's the one smiling
right now because he knew where I was
going with this conversation . But to
bring those requests in and then we can
farm others out across all of a PG to
the different locations to the
different units . But in terms of a
really good answer that I know will get
results based upon . Um the
professional interest . And so the
reason that I'm asking that that
corresponds to come into my deputy is
that um he is an
absolute visionary when it comes to
thinking about that next generation .
Um this is something that through a
number of programs uh he has already
instituted at least inside
communications electronics command uh ,
and different portions of the C . Five
I . S . Our campus . So I'm not hunting
this question uh to someone at the
answer to someone else , I am literally
pointing at the best person that I know
to feel that question and then to give
a response and then also um share
with the other partners , major
organizations , tended organizations
here on Aberdeen proving ground those
opportunities that we have for for
internship programs or internships .
Great , thank you very much sir . Next
question . What is a pG doing to
position itself for future growth ?
So what I'd like to do is I'm gonna I'm
gonna take that question as well . But
let's I see Mr Mazzella would like to
give a response to the last question
about internships and then we'll come
back to positioning for future growth .
Sorry , I don't have a mic , that's why
I couldn't answer that one . So to
General Edmondson's point , there are a
number of internships across all the
organizations run by the leadership on
the stage . Um You know various
internships . What we'll do is take the
question we can then uh you know ,
distributed through what we call our G
ones are human resource offices will be
most prepared to identify what all
those internships are available across
the installation and there's quite a
few though . So just to add to what
General Manson said . Well we'll have
our human resource people kind of work
that accordingly . Thank you . And so
now too to the point about
positioning um for for future growth
um I'd like to to address
the future um in slightly
in a little bit of a different way . Um
So what you hear , what you've heard up
here on the stage for the last period
for for the last uh an hour or so
has been a professional army and and a
professional army that is adapting
itself to tomorrow , a
professional army that is moving in a
direction um through through for
all the right reasons . And so when we
start to talk about growth , I like to
talk about um purpose
um value
um and mission and so A
PG is uniquely postured you know by by
by listening to the panelists here and
and and of course there are you know
many other you know capabilities that
we have here . When we think about what
the future of national defense looks
like , What we think about . You know
when we think about the future of
science , technology , engineering and
math , we think about the future of
chemical , biological , the future of
medical , the future of development ,
the future of the network . Um We have
there is something special here in this
area that if we if we continue to
collaborate the way in which we're
collaborating Um and we continue to
show the value the outcome the
full life cycle of what makes Aberdeen
proving ground so special and the prove
the proving that's been happening for
you know , 100 plus years , any
questions about growth adjustment
changes , they will answer themselves .
But what but what I really would like
for you to make sure that that we all
really do understand is that there is a
level of synergy , there's a level of
cooperation um on post and off
post that allows us to have the
workforce that we need because we can't
do this alone . This is not uniform
soldier business alone , this is a
partnership . And so this area
here uh in the with in the surround and
the surrounding counties um is uniquely ,
in my in my opinion is uniquely
positioned uh to continue to
uh bring in um and
attract and rate retain the best
talent um known to this army that will
allow us to continue to develop in all
of the areas that have been discussed
here on the stage that then over the
course of time um I believe that the
answers will , will come quite clear to
all of us as to what the future you
know ought to look like . Thank you
very much sir . We now have a question
for Colonel Wilma with the PHC
alignment under D . H . A . R . Their
anticipated growth or positions at a PG
if so any anticipated need for
additional resources .
So as of this
moment there is no anticipated
growth for army public health center .
Um De A . J . Is still figuring out its
budgetary constraints and how that's
going to work and right now the big
line in the sand has been , they're not
making us any smaller . But obviously
congress would like to see savings
from the consolidation into D . H . A .
And civilian pay is oftentimes one of
our biggest pieces . So our size is
being looked at . But at the moment ,
Dhe has made a commitment to not
cutting our size . I do not see
a clear signal that we would be getting
bigger . That does not mean that we
would not be undergoing mission changes .
Uh the next public health challenge may
look different than the current public
health challenges And as we treat
certain types of scientific knowledge
through retirements and such , we may
not be hiring back that same . We may
be hiring something new and different .
So I don't see growth for army Public
Health center at this point , but I do
see change . Great , thank you very
much ma'am . Our next question that
will post all with the understanding
that a PG is thankfully back at HP Con
Alpha and organizations are authorized
to bring back up to 100% of their
workforce . Do you anticipate any
economic impact to our region that
remote work or increased telework
programs may have in the long term ?
I want to ,
I'll jump in first . And so um
you know , as we move to HP Con Alpha
that affords an opportunity for , you
know , up to 100% Of the workforce to
be on site that is at the discretion of
the supervisor . And there's obviously
there's still a maximum workbooks you
the workplace flexibilities that are uh
in effect through 30 September of this
year , through OPM . Um and again , you
know , as I mentioned , supervisory
authorities now , specifically with
regard to you know , economics
associated with uh tele work and
economics associated with remote work ,
I can speak to tele work where uh as we
take a look at some of the capabilities
or some of the resources that are made
available on post , uh you know , I
think we've all kind of watched , you
know , some of the uh some of the
challenges take place , you know off
post with regard to some of the
companies or some of the small
businesses . And so now as we increase
or we are at a HP Con alpha Uh
status , you know , at this time ,
again , up to 100% of the workforce can
be um with proper notification can be
brought into the workplace . And I'm
sorry , the proper notification was
ensuring that we're communicating with
our employees and ensuring that we're
communicating you know with with the
with the Union officials appropriately .
Um it stands to reason that the more
individuals that we have that are
coming on post , the more that will
then , you know , leverage some of the
some of the food establishments and
some of the mW our capabilities and
some of the other capable , you know ,
other capabilities that , you know , or
resources or opportunities , you know ,
that we just haven't had a chance to
use over the last couple of years . So
I fully anticipate a little bit of a
startup , uh you know , we've got to as
more individuals come on posts , we we
need to realize that we have the right
number of security officials at the
front gates , we have the right uh type
of um we've got food , that's lunch
opportunities , you know , for our
employees . Um We need to also , you
know , take a look at our physical
fitness facilities , are , you know ,
to have that healthy workplace to have
the healthy employees that are here in
a happy workplace . All of that . I
believe we're going to see an increase
in that it that will have an
economic benefit if you will , you know ,
back to , back to the local economy
now with regard to remote work . Um we
at this point are not looking at at
least inside communications electronics
command . We are not right now in
position to look at , you know , deeply
the remote work aspect right now ,
what we want to be able to do is we
want to be able to get the tele work
piece right . We want to we want to be
able to align um the right positions
to the tele work environment . And so
we're working very hard uh to to
uh to identify what are the positions .
Not not the faces . And this is where
it sometimes can become a little bit
difficult . Uh This is not about the
faces that are in position today . This
is about the long term position and
what are those positions that are most
suited for teleworking and one
of those positions that are not most
suited for tele work . Not at all based
upon today's faces but really just
broadly speaking . You know how is it
that you can you know continue to uh
you know be the best all volunteer army
in the world . Great . Thank you very
much sir . Alright . Our next question
is posted to to anyone on the panel .
If you were king for the day and could
designate a mission or ordered to move
to a Pg what would you like to see
happen ?
I'd love to I'd love to haul some of D .
H . A . Public health up here just just
because I I kind of want to put army
public health at front and center for D .
H . A . Public health . And I know that
when they came up and walked around
they looked at our space and our land
and rent in the D . C . Area and I
think we were interesting . So but if I
were king for a day I'd love to tempt
them to come up and have our higher
headquarters up here as well with us .
If I could add I mean part of what
makes every improving ground so
fantastic is you've got the whole life
cycle of the C . Five I . S . Are
everything from research and
development to testing to actually
fielding with the POS to then
sustainment and and then um
what happens next ? The same thing is
true with chemical , biological . Um
And so anything that touches those
things and touches anything as a
natural uh natural extension of what's
already here at every I think would be
fantastic . My only
my only addition to what's already been
said is and it almost ties back a
little bit to the previous question
about tele work , the tele work
environment there . There's
a as as colonel Woman's pointed out
there there's a tremendous medical
capability being constructed down at uh
A PG South at Edward and there is an
awesome existing C . Five I . S . R .
Capability here on a PG .
And so as we take a look at what that
future on site workforce ought
to look like , what is , you know what
does right look like ? There may be
some opportunities there to leverage
the infrastructure that's already being
built in ways that we just didn't think
about when we initially broke ground 10
12 years ago at least on the C . Five I .
S . Our campus . Thank you very much
sir . Okay we have one final question
before we have to wrap up and that is
will there be a replacement food
establish establishment in the P . X .
There were plans for a sandwich shop
prior to Covid . No one better to
answer that question than I . Um So
yeah going forward with food
establishments right yet you have to
have the foot traffic right ? The folks
who are willing to come out there and
and purchase food . There are those
individuals who desire to have
different various types of food . Um We
are moving towards uh some food trucks ,
we are moving towards actually putting
a an established um
I believe it's a yogurt shop right now ,
so not like a comprehensive food but
yogurt and juice juices , um juice
drinks , I don't recall . I'm not
certain that we have the actual name of
the organization that's going in there
right now , but there will be um a food
shop that comes into the P . X . Area
very soon . But yes we want to navigate
to a place where we have more options
other than what we currently have ,
which is pretty limited . And we
recognize that again this goes back to
uh the increased number of folks
otherwise patrons of of these places
on to post . And so we're hopeful as we
see uh the opening up of Aberdeen
proving ground and those organizations
who will welcome some of their
workforce back that there will be an
opportunity to bring about some
additional the food locations on post .
Thank you very much sir . Okay , we
want to thank the panel for a great
discussion . Uh this brings us to the
conclusion , and we'd like to thank all
of our attendees for coming here , so
thank you and have a wonderful day .
Okay . Mhm .