InsIde - PEO STRI - U.S. Army

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Army Ball Awards Recognize PEO STRI’s Top Achievers U.S. Army Photo/Doug Schaub U.S. Army Photo/Doug Schaub U.S. Army Photo/Doug Schaub The Acquisition Person of the Year award was presented to Joe Cabret by Dr. Jim Blake at the 236th Army Birthday Ball June 18. By Megan Jeffers, PEO STRI External Affairs Specialist On behalf of PM Field OPS, the program manager Russ McBride accepts the STAR award for contract execution at the June 18 Army Ball. Lt. Col. Charles Worshim of PM TRADE’s Combat Training Instrumentation Systems accepts the STAR award for project execution during the annual Army Birthday Ball June 18. The annual announcement of PEO STRI’s Acquisition Person of the Year and STAR award recipients routinely draws keen interest from the local Army Birthday Ball attendees. This year’s awards were presented in front of a 1,100-plus crowd by Dr. Jim Blake, PEO STRI’s program executive officer, at the June 18 gala. The event’s co-host, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Sunshine Chapter, recognized Joe Cabret as PEO STRI’s acquisition person of the year. The award represents individuals who have made significant contributions to the U.S. Army through their acquisition responsibilities and duties. This year, it was presented to Cabret who is the lead project director for PM Field OPS’ Soldier Systems Gunnery, Maintenance and Driver TADSS for successfully relocating more than 150 training devices in support of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act. The project required the development of an operational plan that provided detailed instructions to assist the Warfighter FO- CUS contractor in understanding movement procedures of training devices at several Army installations, site walk-throughs, 100 percent government-furnished property inventories, and identification and segregation of key equipment to include disposal, equipment preparation, movement coordination and loading, Cabret said. “I’m honored to be recognized by the PEO STRI leadership,” he continued. “I appreciate the recognition and will continue to do the best I can in support of the PEO STRI mission and the Warfighter.” In addition to the Acquisition Person of the Year award, recognition was given to two PEO STRI STAR teams—one for contract execution and another for project execution. Russ McBride, project manager for PM Field OPS, accepted the award for contract execution on behalf of his team for PM Field OPS’ work on the Afghan National Air Force Pilot Training Source Selection Team. The team was comprised of Elizabeth Owen, Tony Pham, Gloria Bailey and Linda Comfort. As described in the team’s award nomination written by teammate Linda Comfort, the team’s acquisition strategy and source selection approach sought to achieve a comprehensive, bestvalue training package focused on student success of the Afghan military pilots, cost reduction and reduced delivery time. The approach incorporated innovative solutions and delivered a competitive training solution that embraced the tenents of better buying power and will provide the optimal environment for Afghan student pilot performance. The contract award was made for a period of three years with flexibility to train 80 pilots on a compressed, staggered schedule. The unique tailoring of a commercial item to fit the complex requirements and constraints of training Afghan military pilots outside of their native land is noteworthy, the nomination stated. “It’s always nice to have good teamwork recognized,” teammate Elizabeth Owen said. “[This project] demonstrates STRI’s ability to be both creative and proactive when contracting resources are in demand.” The second STAR award for project execution was presented to PM TRADE’s Interim Soldier Tracking System team and accepted by Lt. Col. Charles Worshim. 2 Inside STRI JUly 2011
New Training Device Can Counter Taliban Threat to Army Aviators in Afghanistan By Rick Gregory, APEO Business Operations Support Staff Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) used by mujahedeen fighters in Afghanistan in the 1980s played a crucial role in the defeat of the Soviet forces, according to an article published in the Washington Examiner last October. It is estimated the mujahedeen took down 269 Soviet aircraft during the war. That threat has been renewed, but this time against U.S. aviators, the newspaper reported. “Iranian military advisors have been training Taliban fighters in Afghanistan on the use of surfaceto-air missiles, a potential game changer in the current conflict if insurgents can use such weapons effectively, several current and retired military officials said,” the article stated. Coalition forces are even more dependent on moving troops and supplies through the air than the Red Army was due to the threat posed on the ground by IEDs, experts added. If the old standard that “timing is everything” is true, it certainly applies here. In April, PEO STRI’s PM TRADE awarded a contract for a Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST) that will train rotary wing helicopter pilots on evading surface-to-air missile threats. The MAST system will accurately represent a SAM being fired to include the visual smoke plume it emits. “I am really excited that PEO STRI is procuring this potentially life-saving training device for our Army aviators,” said Dr. Jim Blake, the program executive officer for PEO STRI and a former Army aviator. “It provides aviators the most realistic training they can undergo to help them survive a lethal surface-to-air missile attack.” Weighing less than 35 pounds, the shoulder-fired MAST incorporates a light-emitting diode ultraviolet emitter that replicates the effects of an actual threat. The system will stimulate the aircraft’s common missile warning system and give the aircrew all the indications of a real world surface-to-air missile attack. The MAST can activate the indicators from distances up to more than three miles. When used during live training exercises, the MAST can simulate a SAM engagement sequence including seeker lock (the missile locking onto the target) and break lock (causing the missile to move sharply away from the target aircraft). Additionally, the MAST provides comprehensive after-action video for debriefing crews and providing continuing pilot skills training. After extensive research and evaluation by the Joint Forces Command and PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, in 2009 PEO STRI’s PM TRADE became responsible for the procurement of the MAST system. “We are very pleased to be just months away from getting the MAST to the field to enhance the training of our aviators to increase their survivability during overseas contingency operations,” said Col. Mike Flanagan, project manager for PM TRADE. “From the simulated missile locking onto the aircraft and activating the warning system to the visual effect of the smoke flume, the pilots will feel the same adrenaline rush in training that they will feel during an actual SAM attack. Now that’s a great live training solution to fulfill a critical need for our aviators!” The current MAST fielding plan calls for 100 systems by 2016, with an initial delivery of 32 MASTs in 2012 to Forts Irwin, Hood, Campbell, Polk and Rucker and units in Germany and South Korea. Photo courtesy of AAI Corporation The Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST), which weighs less than 35 pounds, can stimulate an aircraft’s common missile warning system from more than three miles away. U.S. Army Photo Helicopter pilots will learn how to react to surface-to-air missile threats during live training exercises when the Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST) is deployed to the field. Inside STRI JUly 2011 3
Page 1: Inside In this Issue Top Acquisitio
Page 5 and 6: Former Senior Enlisted Advisor Welc
Page 7 and 8: PEO STRI engineer Hugo Carneiro and
Page 9 and 10: STRI Civilian Departs Cushy Desk Jo
Page 11 and 12: Soldier Awarded Medal of Honor By M

InsIde - PEO STRI - U.S. Army

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?