ASMDA Joins the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce
ASMDA Joins the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce We’re excited to share a recent milestone for ASMDA, our official membership with the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. On April 7, 2026, ASMDA proudly joined the Chamber, marking an important step in strengthening our presence within the Huntsville business community. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to growth, collaboration, and meaningful local engagement. To commemorate the occasion, a plaque presentation was held in recognition of ASMDA’s membership. In the photo, Finis Dodson (right) presents the plaque to ASMDA Vice President Cole Kupec (left), symbolizing the beginning of this new chapter. This moment represents more than just membership—it’s an opportunity to build stronger relationships, support local initiatives, and continue contributing to the economic and professional development of the Huntsville area. We look forward to what’s ahead as part of the Chamber and are proud to stand alongside other organizations working to make a lasting impact.
Passing of Joseph “Joe” Forrest Paschall, Jr.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Joseph “Joe Joe” Forrest Paschall Jr. on December 28, 2024.
ASMDA honors local achievements during luncheon
ASMDA honors local achievements during luncheon March 2024. ASMDA President Bob Strider said that for the past 29 years, ASMDA has brought together government and industry representatives working in these critical areas and allowed a valuable networking source to pull the best and most effective resources together to support the warfighter. He added that in 2023 ASMDA awarded16 space camp scholarships and $25,000 in college scholarships as well as donated to the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering. Strider talk about the importance of the 12 awards recognizing individual and team awards for both government and industry nominees. “These awards recognize the exceptional technical and service accomplishments contributing to the development, test, and deployment of air, space, and missile defense systems,” Strider said. He said Team Redstone is the foundation of the Huntsville area in the air, space and missile defense sector and that Redstone Arsenal brings in billions of dollars annually to the local area that provides critical warfighter needs. He said that Team Redstone – including USASMDC; Program Executive Offices for Aviation and Missiles and Space; Army Material Command; the Aviation and Missile Center; the Rapid Capability and Critical Technologies Office; NASA and all the industry partners located in this area and others – provides what the warfighter needs to make the U.S. military the most powerful in the world. “The ASMDA Luncheon is our annual venue to recognize awardees across the air, space, and missile defense arena,” Strider said. “These awards are very competitive and to receive one is a clear recognition of the work that the team or individual accomplished in the respective area of the award.” Team Redstone awards received: • Rodney “Rod” Clough, Service Excellence Award in the Government Individual Category • Cynthia Doran, Technical Achievement Award in the Government Individual Category • Dana Fristoe, Technical Achievement Award in the Contractor Individual Category • William D. Gwaltney, Technical Achievement Award in the Government Individual Category • Sgt. Maj. Derrick Holmes, Service Excellence Award in the Government Individual Category • Tommy Lum, Service Excellence Awards in the Government Individual Category • Joe Stalinski, Service Excellence Award in the Contractor Individual Category • USASMDC’s Joint Flight Campaign 2 Hypersonic Test Team, Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Team Category • USASMDC’s Distributed Aperture Research Team, Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Team Category • 1st Space Brigade’s 23rd Space Company “Raging Bulls,” Service Excellence Team Awards in the Government Team Category • Missile Defense Agency’s FTX-26 and FTX-49 Test Team, Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Team Category • MDA’s Directorate of Test Infrastructure Support Contract Team, Service Excellence Team Awards in the Government Team Category Corry Cox, USASMDC Technical Center research and technology director, said it was a great honor for the command and Team Redstone to have so many teammates recognized by ASMDA. “To have our civilians, contractors, and Soldiers recognized by an organization that was founded to advance the importance of air, space and missile defense highlights the criticality of the mission we have at SMDC and most importantly, the amazing workforce we have,” Cox said. “I was super proud to see the breadth of recognition today. Once again SMDC was leading the way and our amazing array of scientists, engineers, business professionals and Soldiers were shown to stand out and stand proud for the incredible work they do to ensure our nation’s defense. “ASMDA plays a vital role integrating government, industry and academia here in the Tennessee Valley to highlight the importance of the air, space and missile defense mission,” he added. “This integration effort is critical to ensure focus on a critical mission in defense of our nation.”
ASMDA sends youngsters to Space Camp – 2024
ASMDA sends youngsters to Space Camp HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, UNITED STATES07.03.2024Story by Jason CutshawU.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Twenty future explorers began a journey into the future in the Rocket City. The students, recipients of an Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association scholarship, spent July 1-6 at Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. On July 3, the scholarship winners were treated to lunch by members of the ASMDA board and had a chance to speak with those who made the week possible. Richard P. De Fatta, deputy to the commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, told the students they may someday be the ones leading America on its journey into space. “This is exciting,” De Fatta said. “I want to thank everyone for being here. If you are here now it is because you are interested in space. There are great opportunities and one is to continue your education. Keep this in the back of your minds and remember this week for your futures.” Since 1996, ASMDA has awarded scholarships to children, ages 9-11, of a parent or guardian assigned to the USASMDC, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, Missile and Space Intelligence Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center or the Missile Defense Agency, whether military or government civilian. The 20 Space Camp students this year are from the Huntsville area, Alaska, Colorado, and Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. They include: Owen Abel, Eric Allen, Ryan Allen, Aiyana Anderson, William Ange, Sadie Basinger, Brittany Book, Charlotte Doak, Khariana Faletagaloa, Aubrey Jenkins, Bailey Jenkins, Ethan Karmozyn, Charlise Lene, Caden Mayfield, Elana Parker, Rowen Primeaux, Morgan Roop, Kenzie Spera, Emi Takenami and Jakerra Wilder. Dr. Steve Pierce, USASMDC chief technology officer, talked to the campers and told them how proud everyone was of them for being selected and congratulated them on receiving the scholarships. “Congratulations to all of you Space Campers,” Pierce said. “This takes a lot of courage and fortitude to be able to do something like this. This is a great event because it really does inspire our future leaders, our future astronauts and our future engineers and scientists. I am impressed with your imagination, your descriptions of things we can do, and some of the things we are not able to do today but will be able to do in the future. “Many of your parents are serving or have served with our military defending the nation,” he added. “All of your moms and dads may not be working in aerospace, but they are today’s heroes because they are raising you and they are why we can celebrate Independence Day. And each one of you have the potential to be tomorrow’s heroes.” After the luncheon, some of the campers spoke about what they had learned and how excited they were to be at Space Camp. “Space Camp has been very fun however some parts have been a little scary,” Ange from Colorado Springs said. “I would recommend Space Camp for anyone interested. “On our mission, I was a mission specialist where I helped build an extravehicular activity,” he added. “It was both fun and challenging. They made me wear a space suit that really did not let you move very well.” During the week, the children participated in activities including rocket construction and launch, water activities, a simulated Space Shuttle mission, Mars mission simulators, Manned Maneuvering Unit, Multi-Axis Trainer and an IMAX movie. The students were selected for the scholarship based on an essay, school grades, interest in science and space, and financial need. The scholarship covers one week at Space Camp, travel, a flight suit, clothing package, a calling card and spending money. “I love Space Camp, It is awesome,” Doak from Huntsville said. “We have been to a couple of presentations, which are actually really interesting. Then we had our shuttle mission, and we did awesome. We all loved our jobs and it was super fun. It was challenging, but we did it. I was a mission specialist and got to do an EVA. “I would definitely recommend Space Camp to anyone,” she added. “It’s the best thing ever. You should definitely come here. You won’t regret it at all, and your dreams can come true.”
ASMDA Makes News in ASCTE
ASMDA Makes News in ASCTE
ASMDA, ADAA Scholars Attend Space Camp – 2023
ASMDA, ADAA Scholars Attend Space Camp 07.05.2023 • Story by: Lira Frye, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Sofia Sadowski traveled nearly 7,000 miles to spend a week at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Space Camp. The 9-year-old, whose parents reside at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, is one of 20 9- to 11-year-old students who trained like an astronaut, July 2-7, thanks to Space Camp scholarships. Sofia had a hard time naming her favorite part of the camp. “I liked building rockets and doing cool simulators,” she said. “I also got to do some experiments like making slime.” But the best part she said, was the 1/6th gravity chair where campers got to feel what it is like to walk on the moon. The scholarships, awarded by the Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association and the Air Defense Artillery Association, gave the awardees an opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership skills while applying science, technology, engineering and mathematics. During a lunch on July 5, the students had a chance to hear from Redstone Arsenal and community leaders as well as ASMDA and ADAA members. “Each one of you has the potential to be tomorrow’s heroes,” said Dr. Steve Pierce, chief technology officer, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “Each one of you here has the potential to make an impact on this world, and an impact outside of this world, possibly in space. Look at those things where you can make a positive impact. “Maybe you don’t want to go into space or missile defense; maybe you don’t want to be an engineer; but start thinking about your dream and what you want to be,” he said. “And don’t ever let anyone tell you that your dream can’t be a reality.” Since 1996, ASMDA has awarded scholarships to children of a parent or guardian, either military or government civilian, assigned to the USASMDC; Program Executive Office Missiles and Space; Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; Aviation and Missile Command; Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center; Missile and Space Intelligence Center; NASA Marshall Space Flight Center; Missile Defense Agency; Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or the Cross Functional Teams for Assured Position, Navigation and Timing and Air and Missile Defense. This year’s campers, who are from Alabama, Alaska, Colorado and Kwajalein Atoll, are Kyrsten Adams, Noah Allan, Zayden Azarraga, William Bryant, Ezekiel Cardillo, Calia Cummings, Abigail Flanary, Jonah Johnson, London Johnson, Autumn Lee, Asher Leman, Rylan Miller, Braden Morris, Brailynn Muntean, Sofia Sadowski, Abby Smallwood, Amelia Tucker, Jason Wilson, Adrion Winkler, and Colson Young. USASMDC and community leaders congratulated the students on receiving the scholarships and encouraged them to reach for their dreams. “Think about what you could do,” said Richard De Fatta, USASMDC deputy to the commander. “You could go into a military service to become an astronaut, a mission specialist. There are a lot of paths you could take to get into a space-related field.” During the week, campers stayed busy with a rocket construction and launch, water activities, a simulated lunar mission, riding the 1/6th gravity chair and the Multi-Axis Trainer, and visiting the USSRC Planetarium. “I enjoyed the simulators, especially the g-force simulator,” said Noah Allen, 9, who hails from Huntsville. “It’s a little scary at first,” he said. “But you’ve got to make friends so you can feel like you’re not alone. It’s been fun, and I’d want to come back again.” Sofia agreed. “It’s fun and you have to pay attention a lot,” she said. “You have to be positive and just have fun.” The students were selected for the scholarship based on an essay, school grades, interest in science and space, and financial need. The scholarship covers one week at Space Camp, travel, a flight suit, clothing package, a calling card and spending money.
Association Honors Space, Missile Defense Achievements
Association Honors Space, Missile Defense Achievements Click here to see photo gallery from event Redstone Rocket – By JASON CUTSHAW Space and Missile Defense Command Public Affairs • Feb 22, 2023 Space and Missile Defense Command and other Redstone members were recognized and honored for their commitment to national defense. The Air, Space and Missile Defense Association presented achievement and service excellence awards to local government and contractor employees in recognition of their achievements in the development, test, and deployment of air, space, and missile defense systems during the ASMDA annual membership luncheon Thursday. “I want to thank the ASMDA board for everything you do for our community,” Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, SMDC commander, said. “When you look at the awards that were presented, it’s just a microcosm of the integration and coordination between ASMDA, SMDC and all the other players in the Huntsville community that have space or missile defense in mission areas and today was an opportunity to recognize that.” ASMDA was formed in 1995 in Huntsville as a nonprofit, nonpolitical educational and scientific organization. Kathleen Smallwood, ASMDA committee chair, said that for the past 28 years, ASMDA has supported community events for veterans, presenting space and missile defense technical achievement and service excellence awards, providing scholarships for science, technology, engineering and math students, as well as, Space Camp scholarships, and exposing students to opportunities on Redstone Arsenal through Adventures in Engineering, all to enhance the workforce and help foster education for the next generation of youth. “Our board and organization is formed by members of the community we serve, so we have a unique understanding of the hard work and amazing accomplishments happening around us daily,” Smallwood said. “ASMDA strives to foster communications and relationships between local government and industry activities responsible for air, space and missile defense and provide an organization that both benefit the industry professional and promote community civic interests and goals. “An integral part of what we do is taking the time to help our community recognize the outstanding achievements of their members that share the same passion.” During the luncheon, ASMDA presented 14 awards to Redstone members. Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Individual Category were presented to NASA’s Gregory Jerman; Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office’s Ben Schmid; U.S. Army Futures Command’s Chief Warrant Officer 5 John Fallin; SMDC’s Mark Rader; and Missile Defense Agency’s Delphine Dal Cengio. “Most of the work I have done is really a reflection of a team effort. I just point the pack in the direction we need to travel,” Rader said. “Being recognized by ASMDA means other people and organizations, not just in my professional area of expertise, find a value in the work I and my multi-organization team do to help the warfighter both in the areas of missile defense and in the protection of the warfighter from improvised threats. “While I am getting the award, the work I have led reflects more on a multi-organization, multi-service team effort building on skills from industrial partners and labs. It takes a multi-disciplinary team with very little ego to build a truly capable weapons technology. We can’t afford white knights in this game. I’m a reasonably bright person, but I miss things. By bringing together a team of other bright people they fill in the holes the others miss.” Technical Achievement Awards in the Government Team Category were presented to MDA’s Project Convergence 22 Team; and Nanosat Testbed Initiative Technology Maturation Team. A Technical Achievement Award in the Contractor Individual Category was presented to RCCTO’s Les Daniel. Service Excellence Awards in the Government Individual Category were presented to MDA’s Michelle Stallings, David Denhard and Shane Rose. A Service Excellence Award in the Contractor Individual Category was presented to RCCTO’s Tom Nguyen. Service Excellence Awards in the Team Category were presented to MDA’s Flight Test THAAD Weapon System-21 Team; and SMDC Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence’s Missile Defense Training Division Sensor Management and Ground-based Midcourse Defense Training Team. “This prestigious Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association award recognizes the outstanding work being accomplished by the Space and Missile Defense School each and every day,” Timothy Bishop, SMDCoE director, said. “The fine people comprising the missile defense training team are exceptional at their jobs. Nothing of consequence will occur if you do not have great people leading the way. I greatly appreciate both our superb team, as well as ASMDA taking the opportunity to recognize this team’s great work.”
Space Defense Professionals Receive Recognition
Space Defense Professionals Receive Recognition By AYUMI DAVIS Space and Missile Defense Command Public Affairs – May 25, 2022 – Redstone Rocket Members of the Space and Missile Defense Command received awards recognizing their work during the Air, Space and Missile Defense Association 27th annual membership luncheon May 13. ASMDA presented achievement and service excellence awards in the air, space and missile defense fields to not only SMDC members, but other local government and contractor employees as well. Jimmy Jenkins, the new ASMDA president, thanked those who attended. “After a difficult pandemic, I am pleased and honored to be in-person and present for our annual awards luncheon,” Jenkins said. “These awards honor both government and industry technical service accomplishments and recognize exceptional achievement contributing to the development, test and deployment of air, space and missile defense.” Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, SMDC commander, was the guest speaker at the ASMDA luncheon and recognized SMDC awardees. “All the SMDC awardees, thanks for what you’re doing. It’s good to see your hard work come to fruition,” Karbler said. ASMDA presented 18 awards, with two being from 2020 due to the pandemic. Five awards went to SMDC members. The Technical Achievement awards in the Government Individual category went to SMDC’s Col. Todd Book and Maj. Jason DeLange. Shanda Robinson with SMDC received the Service Excellence award in the Government Individual category. “It is an absolute honor to receive the ASMDA award,” Robinson, the chief of financial management with the Technical Center, said. “For me, particularly navigating the last couple of years, the ASMDA award came at the most opportune time and was the affirmation I needed to let me know I’m on the right track in my career and doing what is expected supporting Technical Center. This award is also a testament to the Technical Center and command’s commitment to the ‘people first’ mission.” Ed Cotton and Kevin Creekmore, both with SMDC, also received the Service Excellence award in the Government Individual category. “Being recognized for the award was not expected in any way, and I very much appreciate my supervisors considered submitting me for it,” said Cotton, an analyst with the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence. “Receiving the award says more about the quality of the people I have the pleasure to work with than anything I have personally accomplished.” Creekmore, director, Test Directorate, Technical Center, said the award is a great honor. “It was great to be recognized for the outstanding work performed by the SMDC Test Directorate. Providing targets and test execution services for missile defense and advanced hypersonic systems to verify new warfighter capability is always challenging but also very rewarding,” Creekmore said. The Integrated Fires Mission Command Cyber Team received the 2020 Technical Achievement award in the Team category. The 2021 Technical Achievement awards in the Team category went to the Missile Defense Agency’s Targets and Countermeasures Subscale Program Office Team, the Joint Missile Defense Agency and Intelligence Community Modeling Team, and the Defense of Guam Architecture Study Team (multiple agencies). Michael Durham with the Missile Defense Agency, Christopher Sanders with the Missile and Space Intelligence Center and Dan Mitchell with the Marshall Space Flight Center all received the Technical Achievement award in the Government Individual category. The Service Excellence award in the Team category went to the Missile Defense Agency At Sea Demonstration/Formidable Shield Flight Test Team. Bradley Chassee and Alex von Spakovsky with the Missile Defense Agency received the Service Excellence award in the Government Individual category. Emily Cantrell with Headquarters Department of the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office also received the Service Excellence Award in the Government Individual category.
ASMDA 2019 Scholars Attend Space Camp
ASMDA 2019 Scholars Attend Space Camp HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Sixteen students experience the future of space travel in the Rocket City. The students, recipients of an Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association, or ASMDA, scholarship, spent June 30-July 5 at Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. On July 3, the scholarship winners were treated to lunch by members of the ASMDA board and had a chance to speak with those who made the week possible. “I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say I am looking at tomorrow’s heroes,” said Dr. Steve Pierce, chief technology officer, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. “Each one of you need to realize that you are the future. Don’t focus on promotions and don’t focus on money. Focus on what you can do to make a difference. “There are a lot of people here who have a passion for space, have a passion for missile defense and have a passion for directed energy,” he added. “Each one of you need to develop a passion and think of what you would like to do in the future.” Since 1996, ASMDA has awarded scholarships to children, ages 9-11, of a parent or guardian currently assigned to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command; Program Executive Office Missiles and Space; Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; Missile and Space Intelligence Center; NASA Marshall Space Flight Center; or Missile Defense Agency, whether military or government civilian. The 16 Space Camp students this year are from Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia and Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. They are: Grace Allen, Olivia Campbell, Christopher Deoki, Rachel Deoki, Lonnie Dunbar IV, Iris Haas, Cassidy Hinkle, Sean Kearney, Henry Ledebuhr, Alana Leines, Christopher Phelan, Joshua Pierce, Nathaniel Seipel, Morgan Selzer, Connor Streling and Griffin Taylor. Community leaders also talked to the campers and told them how proud everyone was of them for being selected and congratulated them on receiving the Space Camp scholarships. “As you go through the Space Camp program you learn an awful lot,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “You learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and you learn to do some things you never thought you could do. As you learn these things, you start finding out you can apply that to later life and it is something I hope you can take away from this.” During the week, the children participated in activities including rocket construction and launch; water activities; a simulated Space Shuttle mission; Mars mission simulation; Manned Maneuvering Unit; Multi-Axis Trainer, or MAT; and an IMAX movie. “I enjoy Space Camp a lot,” said Christopher Deoki. “It is amazing and fun. My favorite thing is the MAT because it spins you around.” The students were selected for the scholarship based on an essay, school grades, interest in science and space, and financial need. The scholarship covers one week at Space Camp, travel, a flight suit, clothing package, a calling card and spending money. “I have enjoyed Space Camp; it is awesome,” Hinkle said. “Others should definitely come to Space Camp because it is fun and you get to train on cool stuff. I would come back if I could.”
Gold Star Service Banner Presentation Thank You
Gold Star Service Banner Presentation Thank You October 22, 2020 Today, General Daly presented two families, both from the Vietnam era, a Gold Star Banner in a shadow box on behalf of the Veterans Coalition (NAVFOC). As has been the case for the past 12 years, the shadow boxes were built by R.C. Reville with the support of ASMDA. There is a small plaque on the back of each which reads: “Handcrafted by R.C. Reville, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.) and presented on behalf of ASMDA – 11 November 2020.” An email from one of the Gold Star Banner recipients, Julie Kink, whose brother David was killed in Vietnam on 3 August 1969 is shared below: Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 Subject: Gold Star Service Banner Presentation Thank You To … all … involved in the presentation of the Gold Star Service Banner (please forward if I have missed anyone): What an extraordinary week! . . . The presentation to me of a beautiful shadow box with a Gold Star Service Banner embroidered with my brother David Kink’s name . . . the emotional dedication ceremony for our Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, attended by an estimated 600+ Gold Star families and supporters. My feeling is difficult to describe. It’s the sensation of being lifted up, and at the same time, anchored fast by a community whose devotion to honoring our military members and our precious fallen runs deep. I am especially proud to know that 51 years after losing his life to the war in Vietnam, my 19-year-old brother David is still remembered and honored. The sun has set six times on the Monument that binds all of us who were part of this extraordinary week, in this extraordinary place. There will be more Gold Star families who will find comfort in the Monument, and who will be honored with a Gold Star Service Banner. They will know that those they loved and lost will always be remembered, thanks to your devotion and your kindness. I am so grateful. Never forget. Juliesister of Warrant Officer David Robert KinkC Troop 1/9th Cavalry June to July 1969Killed in Action August 3, 1969
