Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Space and Missile Defense Command / U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, and today’s guest speaker Lieutenant General David L. Mann, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command / U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command. The special guests included Ms. Carrie Suggs, representing Senator Shelby; Ms. Lisa Montgomery, representing Senator Sessions, Lieutenant General Joe Cosumano, Lieutenant General Kevin Campbell, Lieutenant General Richard Formica, all former commanders of SMDC; and government Senior Executive Service members.
Outgoing ASMDA President Mr. Al Kemmet
In his opening comments, Mr. Al Kemmet, 2015 ASMDA President, recognized the Association's myriad corporate sponsors and the important role they play in maintaining ASMDA's active role in community support. He also recognized the strategic partners of ASMDA: the National Defense Industrial Association-Tennessee Valley Chapter, and the Air Defense Artillery Association. Many times the challenges are too big for one organization, so during the past several years, the local area trend has been to co-sponsor events and causes. Mr. Kemmet stressed, “It is a real pleasure to work with organizations like the National Defense Industrial Association Tennessee Valley Chapter and the Air Defense Artillery Association.” Mr. Kemmet mentioned, “Many times, the challenges are too big for one organization; so, during the past several years we have co-sponsored several events and causes -- working together to benefit the Tennessee Valley and Team Redstone.”
Mr. Kemmet also stated that as ASMDA completes its 21th year, “we can be very proud of the role that ASMDA plays in advancing a common understanding of the vital importance of space and missile defense systems to our national defense. He explained, “the Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association was formed in 1995, right here in Huntsville, as a non-profit, non-political educational and scientific organization with the mission to promote the security of our Nation by providing programs and support for activities that contribute to advancing the vital importance of air, space, and missile defense systems.” He also mentioned, “our objective is to foster communications and relationships between government activities with responsibilities for, or interests in air, space, and missile defense; local government organizations; and local industries.” He referenced the
Mr. Kemmet also referenced the ASMDA's tremendous 2015 accomplishments:
- Inducted six new members into the Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilians Wall of Honor as part of the Space and Missile Defense Symposium: Dr. Robert S. Becker, Dr. Wernher von Braun, Alex A. McCool Jr., James B. Odom, Robert J. Schwinghamer, and Dr. Emst Stuhlinger.
- Provided sixteen full scholarships (one Space Camp Team) for ages 9-11to attend the USS&RC Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. This year's winners included children from Huntsville, Colorado Springs, Washington DC, Kwajalein Atoll, and Alaska.
- Awarded $20,000 in College Scholarships as part of the Space and Missile Defense Symposium:
- Awarded four $4,000 academic scholarships from the ASMDA "Loretta Spencer" College and University Scholarship Program, and
- Awarded a $4,000 General Dodgen Memorial Academic Scholarship.
- Co-sponsored with NOIA spring and fall Adventures in Engineering to promote personal interest in science and engineering. ASMDA brings local area 11111 graders onto Redstone.
- Arsenal to see the kind of science and engineering work being accomplished on a daily basis. This year, ASMDA hosted 745 students and educators from 37 area high schools from across north Alabama and southern-middle Tennessee.
- Presented thirteen Space and Missile Defense Technical Achievement and Service Excellence Awards at the 2015 ASMDA Annual Membership Luncheon for both government and contractor employees (including team awards) in recognition of exceptional achievement in the development, test, and deployment of air, space, and missile defense systems.
- Tri-sponsored with NOIA and ADA the 15111 Space and Missile Defense Symposium. Theme: "Integrated Air, Space. and Missile Defense in 2025 and Beyond.
- Supported USASMDC/ARSTRAT NCO and Soldier of the Year Program, the Army Birthday Celebration in both Huntsville and Colorado Springs, and USASMDC/ARSTRAT.
- Lunch at the ALISA National Symposium in Washington, DC.
- Provided support to the Huntsville City Schools Summer Cyber Camp.
- Provided over $8,000 in grants to support community veteran efforts to include the Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation (proud sponsor of the Korean War Black Granite Marker and the Coast Guard Flag), Still Serving Veterans, Gold Star Shadow Boxes, Huntsville's Veterans Day Parade band participation, and Wreaths for Veterans.
Mr. Kemmet mentioned, “ASMDA's impressive accomplishments in 2015 would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of those who served on the ASMDA Board of Directors.” He then stated, “an important part of each annual membership luncheon is the nomination of next year's Board of Directors. In accordance with the ASMDA charter, establishing the Board and Trustees requires a majority vote of the general membership.” The vote was taken and the 2016 ASMDA Board of Directors and Trustees was approved. Ms. Angie McCarter was elected as the 2016 ASMDA Board President. Returning Board Members were Mr. Ronnie Chronister, Mr. Kevin Campbell, Mr. Rick Kretschmer, Ms. Melanie Baker, Mr. Tom Webber, Mr. Larry Becker, Mr. Larry Pigue, Mr. Mike Maloney, Mr. Rick Defatta, Mr. Tim Thornton, Dr. Joe Green, and Mr. Bill Colson. The newly nominated Board Members were Ms. Julie Schumacher, Dr. Jim Davis, Ms. Marcia Holmes, Mr. Cole Kupec, and Mr. Roy Malone. Mr. Steve Kuffner, Mr. Larry Burger, Mr. Bob Pollard, and Mr. Pete Schofield will continue to serve on the 2016 Board of Trustees. Ms. Julie Brown will serve as the ASMDA Secretary. Mr. Garth Bloxham will continue to serve as the ASMDA Treasurer. Both Julie and Garth serve as ex-officio, non-voting Board members.
Mr. Kemmet stated that “my official duties are now complete; and I hereby turn over the remainder of today’s program to Ms. Angie McCarter, our 2016 ASMDA Board President.”
Ms. Angie McCarter, stated to Mr. Kemmet “on behalf of myself, the ASMDA Board of Directors and all our membership, we thank you for your support and hard work during the past twelve months.” Angie then presented Al with a token of appreciation for your leadership to our association and the Board of Directors. Ms. McCarter then stated, “First, let me say “Thank You” for the opportunity to serve our organization. I look forward to working with the board, and our corporate and individual members on the many projects our association executes though out the year.”
Ms. McCarter then went on to state, “I am honored that my first official act as the new ASMDA President is to present the cast aluminum plaques to our newest inductees into the Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilians Wall of Honor. When these six exceptional civilians were inducted on August 11th, 2015 as part of the Space and Missile Defense Symposium, we presented them with an ASMDA certificate identifying them as a Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor recipient. Their permanent plaques are now mounted on the Wall of Honor. To commemorate this moment, we would like to present personal replicas of the Wall of Honor plaques. ASMDA is very proud to sponsor the Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilians Wall of Honor. Over the past 20 years, 51 members have been inducted into the Wall of Honor. The Wall of Honor resides in the Davidson Center at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where the general public can see the contributions of these great individuals to our nation.” Ms. McCarter then invited General Mann to the stage to present the ASMDA awards.
Dr. Robert S. Becker, from the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, considered by most in the ballistic missile defense field to be the Champion of Army Missile Defense Lethality. Dr. Becker’s Wall on Honor plaque was being accepted by Mr. Rick de Fatta.
Mr. Roy Malone, Director of Center Operations at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, accepted the following Wall of Honor plaques of behalf of:
- Dr. Wernher von Braun, recognized for his work on the Jupiter C and Saturn rocket programs.
- Mr. Robert J. Schwinghamer, for his contributions to the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia and Sky Lab programs.
- Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, for his contributions in electric propulsion and payloads and the V2 program.
- Mr. James B. Odom, for his work on the Space Shuttle External Tank Program and the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Mr. Alex A. McCool, Jr., for his work on the Challenger investigation and the Shuttle safety program.
A total of twelve presentations were made in recognition of exceptional achievement contributing significantly to the development, test, and deployment of air, space, and missile defense systems. ASMDA presented awards in four categories: Technical Achievement Award - Government, Technical Achievement Award - Contractor, Service Excellence Award - Government, and Service Excellence Award Contractor. The recipients of the Awards were government members and contractors of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space (M&S), Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC).
Technical Achievement - Government
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Category is awarded to the following individuals:
- MSIC - Ms. Laci Gambill: Electronics Engineer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Missile and Space Intelligence Center.
- SMDC - Mr. Douglas Burdette: Space and Strategic Systems Directorate, Technical Center, U.S. Anny Space and Missile Defense Command/Anny Forces Strategic Command.
- MDA - Mr. Eric Cole: Task Lead, Common Kill Vehicle Technology Program, Missile Defense Agency.
- MDA - Mr. Ryan Schele: Ground Test System Mission Manager, Ground Test Directorate, Missile Defense Agency
- MDA - Mr. William Stewart: Sensors Test Operation Flight Test Lead, SNTO/Missile Defense Agency.
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Category is awarded to Ms. Laci Gambill, Electronics Engineer, Defense Intelligence Agency / Missile and Space Intelligence Center. Over the past 5 years, Ms. Gambill's technical expertise of air defense and anti-satellite laser weapon systems, was instrumental in performing rigorous scientific and technical intelligence on foreign directed energy weapon threat systems. Her analysis directly supported intelligence consumers such as OSD, ODNI, and the State Department.
MSIC - Ms. Laci Gambill: Electronics Engineer
Defense Intelligence Agency, Missile and Space Intelligence Center
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Category is awarded to Mr. Douglas E. Burdette, Senior Engineer and Program Manager, Space Division, Space & Strategic Systems Directorate, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Technical Center. Mr. Burdette has over 29 years in leadership and technical roles in program management, test planning, test execution, and systems engineering. Over the last five years, his leadership, commitment and strategic vision have contributed immeasurably to the successful evolution of USASMDC/ARSTRAT’s and the nation’s space superiority capabilities.
SMDC - Mr. Douglas Burdette: Space and Strategic Systems Directorate
Technical Center, USASMDC/ARSTRAT
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Category is awarded to Mr. Eric Cole, Task Lead, Common Kill Vehicle Technology Program, Missile Defense Agency. Mr. Cole took on the complex task of developing and executing a modular open architecture approach that completely changes the way future ballistic missile defense interceptor kinetic kill vehicles will be developed. The kill vehicle modular open architecture approach will afford lower development and production costs and greater reliability.
MDA - Mr. Eric Cole: Task Lead
Common Kill Vehicle Technology Program, Missile Defense Agency
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Category is awarded to Mr. Ryan Schele, Ground Test System Mission Manager, Missile Defense Agency’s Ground Test Directorate. Mr. Schele began his tenure with the Missile Defense Agency’s Ground Test Directorate in March of 2012. The Ground Test Directorate’s mission is to plan and execute Ballistic Missile Defense System ground test events in support of flight test risk reduction and fielding decisions for upgraded system capabilities. Mr. Schele served as the Mission Test Director for two critical recent test events, Integrated Ground Test 04e Part 2 and Distributed Ground Test 04e Part 2.
MDA - Mr. Ryan Schele: Ground Test System Mission Manager
Ground Test Directorate, Missile Defense Agency
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Category is awarded to Mr. William C. Stewart. Sensors Test Operations Flight Test Lead, with the Missile Defense Agency’s Sensors Test Operations. Mr. Stewart successfully led a diverse Ballistic Missile Defense System test team consisting of government civilian, military, and contractor personnel through the planning and execution of six of the most complex flight tests the Missile Defense Agency has executed to date. As a result of his leadership, critical capabilities were tested and fielded resulting in new defensive capabilities for the United States, deployed forces and warfighters.
MDA - Mr. William Stewart: Sensors Test Operation Flight Test Lead
SNTO/Missile Defense Agency.
Technical Achievement - Team
The Technical Achievement Award in the Team Category is awarded to the following Teams:
- SMDC - Kestrel Eye Ground Station Development Team: Mr. Mark Ray is accepting the Award for the Team.
- MDA - C2BMC, Concurrent Test, Training, and Operations (CTTO) Team: Major Tammara Alexander is accepting the award for the Team.
- PEO M&S - Test and Evaluation Directorate, Lower Tier Project Office Team: Mr. Greg Greenmeier is accepting the award for the Team.
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Team Category is awarded to SMDC’s Kestrol Eye Ground Station Development Team, Concept Analysis Lab. The award is being accepted for the team by Mr. Mark Ray. The Team developed the Kestrol Eye Ground Station software for tracking and commanding the Kestrel Eye small imaging satellites. This team is extremely dedicated to the mission of developing nanosatellite ground station software to provide timely imagine to the tactical warfighter which will keep our troops safer and provide a technological advantage over our enemies.
SMDC - Kestrel Eye Ground Station Development Team: Mr. Mark Ray is accepting the Award for the Team.
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Team Category is awarded to MDA’s Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications Concurrent Test, Training, and Operations Team, The award is being accepted for the team by Major Tammara Alexander. The C2BMC Concurrent Test, Training and Operations Team distinguished itself by exceptional performance in warfighter ballistic missile defense training system development, testing, and sustainment. The team worked diligently with the prime C2BMC contractor and the Combatant Commands to identify new capabilities so warfighters could “train as they fight.”
MDA - C2BMC, Concurrent Test, Training, and Operations (CTTO) Team: Major Tammara Alexander is accepting the award for the Team.
The Technical Achievement Award in the Government Team Category is awarded to the Test and Evaluation Directorate, Lower Tier Project Office, PEO Missiles and Space. The award is being accepted for the team by Mr. Greg Greenemeier. The Test & Evaluation Directorate demonstrated exceptional performance in the planning and execution of the test and evaluation program for the Lower Tier Project Office over the period from 2011 through 2015. During this time, the team successfully executed over 200 successful PATRIOT firings to demonstrate new capabilities, validating modeling and simulations, and evaluating performance of aging interceptors for both the Army and our international PATRIOT partners.
PEO M&S - Test and Evaluation Directorate, Lower Tier Project Office Team: Mr. Greg Greenmeier is accepting the award for the Team.
Service Excellence - Government
The Service Excellence Award in the Government Category is awarded to the following individuals:
- PEO M&S - Ms. Jamie Ward: Lower Tier Project Office, Chief Acquisition Management Division, Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space.
- MDA - Mr. Frank Stauch: AN/TPY Operations and Sustainment Product Office, Radar Sustainment Office Sensors Directorate, Missile Defense Agency.
The Service Excellence Award in the Government Category is awarded to Ms. Jamie Ward, Chief, Acquisition Management Division, Lower Tier Project Office, PEO Missiles and Space. Ms. Ward provided outstanding acquisition planning and contractual support for the PATRIOT/PAC-3 Weapon System, which allowed mission success and critical support to the warfighter and thirteen PATRIOT international partners. Her extensive knowledge and experience in the acquisition and contracting process enabled Ms. Ward to implement innovative business solutions including streamlined processes and multiple year contracts.
The Service Excellence Award in the Government Category is awarded to Mr. Frank Stauch, Sensors Deployment Lead for AN/TPY-2, Operations and Sustainment Product Office, Radar Sustainment Office, Sensors Directorate, Missile Defense Agency. Mr. Stauch served as the Sensors Deployment Lead for four vital AN/TPY-2 Forward Based Radar deployments as directed by U.S. Presidential Mandates for the extension of the Ballistic Missile Defense System and improved Homeland Defense.
Service Excellence - Contractor
The Service Excellence Award in the Contractor Category is awarded to the following individuals:
- PEO M&S - Mr. John T. Wade: Integrated Air and Missile Defense Project Office/IAMD Battle Command System, Integrated Fire Control Product Office, Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space, SETAC Support to IAMD.
The Service Excellence Award in the Contractor Category awarded to Mr. John T. Wade, Integrated Air and Missile Defense Product Office, IAMD Battle Command System, Integrated Fire Control Product Office. Mr. John Wade’s professionalism, dedication to duty, enthusiasm, and hard work in supporting New Equipment Training for the Integrated Fire Control Product Office Product Office at Tobin Wells, New Mexico contributed greatly to the success of developing training material for the warfighter.
Service Excellence - Government Team
The Service Excellence Award in the Government Team Category is awarded to the following Team:
- MDA Central Property Office: Mr.Rodney D. Felder is accepting the award for the Team.
The Service Excellence Award in the Government Team Category awarded to the Missile Defense Agency Central Property Office, represented by Mr. Rodney Felder. The Missile Defense Agency Central Property Office’s leadership, professionalism, and unparalleled technical excellence in the challenging field of defense property management were the driving forces behind the MDA successfully resolving identified material weaknesses in the areas of property accountability and accountability of government furnished property.
The guest speaker for the ASMDA Annual luncheon was Lieutenant General David Mann. General Mann assumed command of US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and Joint Functional Component Command Integrated Missile Defense in August 2013. Previously, he served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, KY, where he was responsible for more than 13,000 Soldiers and Civilians assigned throughout the United States, Europe and the Far East. Through his depth of assignments and experience, General Mann consistently ensures SMDC maintains a strong warfighter perspective.
Ms. McCarter stated, “General Mann, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us today. On behalf of ASMDA, I would like to extend our thanks for your extraordinary service and dedication to our nation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and vision with us today. Finally, thank you for your support of our Association.”
Ms. McCarter stated, “be sure to join us for the 19th Annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium and Exhibition in August at the Von Braun Center.” She thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the 21st annual ASMDA Membership meeting.
The Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association (ASMDA) is a non-profit organization promoting the defense of our Nation through strong space and missile defense programs. ASMDA's fundamental purpose is to provide programs and support for activities contributing to the advancement of a common understanding of the vital importance of space and missile defense systems lo our national defense. ASMDA qualifies as a tax exempt organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Tax ID#:31T l 466898).
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