air force rapid capabilities office director air force rapid capabilities office director

She has served as an aerodynamic propulsion analyst at the National Air Intelligence Center where she developed new modeling tools for missile propulsion assessments. It will slow us down. Unit Commendation Medal with three gold stars Rapid Capabilities Office He insisted on an open architecture for the B-21, and while USAF secured a fixed-price contract for the initial aircraft, the development program was a cost-plus arrangement that rewarded Northrop Grumman for hitting milestones early. The 2022 National Defense Strategy and Future Force Structure The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) has accelerated methods for developing, acquiring and fielding critical combat capabilities. 1995 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville MELBOURNE, Fla (AFNS) --. D. Edward Keller Jr., a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Director of Contracting for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. One program that looks to augment existing spacecraft ground control systems isnt quite as under wraps. Director of Contracting, DAF Rapid Capabilities Office and Air Force Special Access Programs (SES) United States Air Force Jun 2019 - Present 3 years 9 months The project found a "place to call home" under Dr. Victoria Coleman, Air Force chief scientist, and Col. Mario Serna Jr., deputy director of innovation and technology integration, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office-Field Support Unit. Board members also include the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The Air Forces current service acquisition executive (SAE), Andrew Hunter, revealed in June that the B-21 is actually under budget. In summer 2021, the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, headquartered in Washington D.C., stood up the ABMS Program Executive Office Integration Team at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., to bring together acquisition directorate personnel to leverage their developed capabilities for use in the ABMS. August 2016May 2017, Chief, Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Integration, Intercontinental Ballistics Systems Division, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah June 2001May 2003, Acquisition Staff Officer, Contracting Division, Directorate of Logistics and Maintenance, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va. Clockwise from left, Randall G. Walden, director and program executive officer at the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Michael W. Roberts, director and PEO at the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and retired USAF Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, director of research at AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, appear in conversation during a Space Power Forum hosted by the think tank on . The office responds to Combat Air and Space Forces and combatant command requirements. 1997 - 1998, Classified Flight Test Squadron Commander, Nellis AFB, Nev. The RCO also says it developed the integrated air defense system installed around the National Capital Region after the 9/11 attacks. The deputy or technical director to a SCO may exercise any SCO authority unless restricted in the FAR, as supplemented (e.g., individual authorized to execute a specific authority must be of a certain minimum grade/rank), or as specifically limited by the SCO. 1997 Advanced Program Manager Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. Rapid Capabilities Office 5mo. . -- In January, the Department of the Air Force's Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems, or CROWS, worked to expand its existing use of Cyber Focus Teams. Your browser is incompatible with this widget. As with past renderings, this rendering is an artist's interpretation of the B-21 design. 9. Most of its portfolio is classified, but ostensibly complements work underway at the Space Forces more traditional Space and Missile Systems Center and the commercial industry-focused Space Development Agency. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. Video: Mitchell Institute on YouTube, That may sound familiar, as the U.S. Space Force thought about what we go after, Roberts said. "The built-in feature of open systems architecture on the B-21 makes the bomber effective as the . He is the senior adviser to the Service Acquisition Executive on acquisition strategy, execution and policy and procedures for classified and SAP contracting. This military aviation article is a stub. March 2015 January 2017, Surface Ships Weapons Duty Major Program Manager, Arlington, Va. Certified Acquisition Professional, Level III, Contracting . The Department of the Air Force's Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems, or CROWS, is working to expand best practices in the field of cyber security by potentially expanding its Cyber Focus Teams to Space Force Program Executive Offices, as well as updating the DAF System Security Engineering Guidebook. A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States. The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. The Space RCO appears to have settled on a slate of initiatives that will keep it occupied. 1992 - 1997, Operations Officer and Flight Test Program Manager, Nellis AFB, Nev. 1999 - 2002, Chief, Special Studies Division, Air Force Red Team, Directorate of Special Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. The Air Staff is one of the Department of the Air Force's two statutorily designated headquarters staffs: the other staff is the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, also known as the Secretariat.The Air Staff is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (currently General Charles Q. Air Force Commendation Medal After leaving MacDill AFB, Colonel Johnson was the Materiel Leader and System Program Director for a highly classified $8B+ DEPSECDEF-directed strategic combat system development, production, and operations and sustainment. Hammett will lead the Space Force organization known as the Space RCO, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Melissa A. Johnson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Director of the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C. Alongside the Director, she directs selected study, development and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense . Back then, a second B-21 Raider bomber was under . The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office . Northrop Grumman is testing a new multimode, open-architecture RF sensor called "EMRIS" which it hopes will allow for quick, less-costly, and more adaptable sensor upgrades in a variety of systems. 2008 Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington, D.C. 14. This 1,000 member Directorate executes $16 Billion and delivers combat capability to primarily . Previously, Mr. Keller served as Associate Executive Director for Procurement Policy, Systems and Oversight at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Director of Contracting at the Air Force District of Washington, and as Chief, Contracting Operations Division for the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition (Contracting), the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. 3. 220812-F-NW306-1020. October 2020present, Deputy Director, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. The Air Force Scientific Advisory Boarda group of experts and researchers the department taps for independent advice on key science and technology effortsis undertaking four studies in 2023, including two that will likely inform the services approach to Secretary Frank Kendalls operational imperatives. The past 15 years, his career focus has been on acquisition, combat and weapon system engineering, design, testing, fielding and sustainment. . Mr. Walden retired from active duty in 2002 with more than 20 years of military experience as an acquisition and technical professional. We were pleased to have U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David D. Thompson preside over the assumption of leadership . 10. 9. Air Force Commendation Medal Kelly Hammett, former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, has assumed the role of director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office . Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Space RCO is a relatively small office filled with people who love what they do in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1989 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 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Inherent in the DAF RCOs mission is intent to experiment, within the bounds of statute, to discover and recommend new methods, processes, and techniques for the Air Force, the Space Force, and the Department of Defense to acquire and field capabilities efficiently. 2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. In his previous position as the Director for Development and Integration, PEO Integrated Warfare Systems, he integrated system requirements and resources for combat systems, associated elements and facilitated the execution of effective systems engineering processes for development, integration and developmental test of Navy Surface Combat System capabilities. A Program Executive Officer, or PEO, is one of a few key individuals in the United States military acquisition process. Melissa A. Johnson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Director of the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C. Alongside the Director, she directs selected study, development and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations, the Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. May 2002September 2002, Theater Head of Contracting, NATO Stabilization Forces, NATO Headquarters, Camp Butmir, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1. He is responsible for oversight and support of the Air Force SAP and Classified Contracting portfolio at Headquarters Air Force level valued at greater than $40 billion and senior level advocacy and training for 1,100 military and civilian acquisition professionals. During Waldens 20-year Air Force career as a flight test engineer, he worked at times on classified projects. Additionally, Mr. Keller is Director of Contracting, Air Force Special Access Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. 2. Executive Director, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, U.S. Department of Defense: 2017-2018: Director and Program Executive Officer, Army Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics: 2014-2017: Deputy Director, Test and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force: 2009-2014 The Air Force separated 610 Airmen for declining the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. Oct 00 - Jan 02, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB . Read more at National Defense Magazine. June 2005July 2007, Chief, Offensive Capabilities Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters of the Air Force, Arlington, Va. 2016 Blue Horizons Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala. The Space RCO replaced the ORS office at Congress direction. During her assignment at the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, she served as the Chief of the Offensive Capabilities Branch, where she was responsible for integrating acquisition efforts in support of multiple classified programs valued at over $600M. January 1995June 1996, Assistant Chief, Operations Group, Defense Contract Management Command, Orlando, Fla. Maj. Scott Drerup (left), Space Rapid Capabilities Office program manager, Dr. Kelly Hammett (middle), Space Rapid Capabilities Office director and program and executive officer, and Col. Jason Vattioni (right), 377th Air Base Wing and installation commander, render salutes during the arrival of U.S. Space Force Gen. David T. Thompson, Vice Chief of Space Operations, at . Board members also include the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Specifically, the office: Organization 20. director and program executive officer for the Department of . Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars Mr. Robertss career spans 24 years in support of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force as both a veteran and acquisition professional. Defense Meritorious Service Medal 6. She also served as the Program Executive Officer Chief Engineer at the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office where her responsibilities included technical . 8. 11. OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Brig. In November 2020, the Air Force tapped the Rapid Capabilities Office to manage ABMS procurement and create the effort's acquisition strategy. By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. 2. June 2009 October 2010, DDG 1000 Combat Systems TD, NAVSEA05H, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. Oct 00 - Jan 02, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB NM 5. 8. 2. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director. Randall G. Walden, head of the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office, where he has directed development of the B-21 bomber and the Advanced Battle Management System, is moving to a new job at the Pentagon to advise the DOD's acquisition and sustainment chief, William A. LaPlante. Copyright 2023. Aug 07 Jan 09, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington DC 10. Responsible for the strategy, management and delivery of Team Tempest, a collaborative programme between Government, UK and international industry to develop technology and skills for the defence aerospace sector. Mar 98 - Sep 00, Special Projects Program Manager, 28th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB FL 4. Jun 05 Jul 07, Chief, Offensive Capabilities Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington DC 9. Two F130s housed in a twin-engine nacelle are mounted on a test stand at Stennis Space Center, Miss., where they will perform crosswind and engine control tests, Rolls program director Scott Ames said.. Rolls-Royce has started testing the F130 engine that will replace the B-52's aged TF33, the company announced. Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters He served in a variety of roles, leading contracting operations in support of space and aircraft systems acquisition, installation and specialized support, and contingency operations in three different theaters. Two F130s housed in a twin-engine nacelle are mounted on a test stand at Stennis Space Center, Miss., where they will perform crosswind and engine control tests, Rolls program director Scott Ames said.. LaPlante was determined to write a good contract for the B-21 that could adapt to a changing threat, and the fact that the award handily survived a protest from the losing Lockheed Martin-Boeing team could be called one of LaPlantes signature achievements while he was the Air Force SAE. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 13. NAVSEA Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal Boeing will build a prototype E-7A Wedgetail air battle management aircraft for the U.S. Air Force under a $1.2 billion contract awarded Feb. 28, the service announced. 1991 Master of Science, Engineering Management, Florida Institute of Technology, Patuxent River, Md. Iraq Campaign Medal 13. Current programs under the purview of the organization include the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, a reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Space Force, and the B-21 Raider, a long-range strike bomber for the U.S. Air Force. He also served on multiple headquarters staffs, including Headquarters Air Force. October 2000January 2002, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 1st. June 2014May 2017, Director of Contracting, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Md. June 2000June 2001, Commander, Technology/Advisory Services Acquisition Flight, Air Combat Command Contracting Squadron, Langley AFB, Va. He is the principle advisor to the Director and senior staff on matters concerning the welfare, effective utilization, training, career progression and organizational performance for a diverse team of acquisition and support personnel. The Secretary of the Air Force activated the office on April 28, 2003. That is the central question, said Randy Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. 2013 - 2014, Director, Air Force Test and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 14. Critics argue that defeats the purpose of creating an RCO specifically to handle space projects, echoing larger concerns that the fragmented military space enterprise is simply growing instead of consolidating into something more effective. Key Operating Principles Its not the fault of the commander or anybody else at Space Systems Command, its just because youre adding two to three layers of bureaucracy and decision-making on top of my current organization. . Mission, Organization Afghanistan Campaign Medal CROWS looks to expand its partnerships. Theres a lot of different capabilities that were working right now, and in the future, I see that staying about the same number.. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Jun 03 - Jun 04, Chief, Asymmetric Capabilities Development Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington DC 7. Photo: U.S. Air Force/Released. Oct. 9, 2019 7. September 2005January 2006, Chief, Theater Contracts Division, Principal Assistant Responsible for ContractingForces, Joint Contracting Command - Iraq/Afghanistan, Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq 8. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. 2013 - 2014, Director, Air Force Test and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 13. Meritorious Service Medal 2013 DAWIA Program Management and System Planning, Research, Development and Engineering Level III Certifications The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. Your browser is incompatible with this widget. It is a reusable, uncrewed spacecraft that carries experiments to orbit, then returns them to Earth for evaluation. 1992 Master of Business Administration, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville 10. March 1996August 1997, Aerodynamic Propulsion Analyst, National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Were working at it as a rapid acquisition program to build some algorithms to help with ground processing, Roberts said. 297 followers . Jul 15 Jul 16, Blue Horizons Fellow, Air University, Maxwell AFB AL 13. 3. September 2018June 2019, Associate Executive Director, Procurement Policy, Systems and Oversight, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. 2017 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award The Air Force has disclosed relatively few other products of the RCO, but one noteworthy program was the X-37B mini-space plane, one of which broke its own on-orbit record July 6. The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) has accelerated methods for developing, acquiring, and fielding critical combat capabilities. 2003 Senior Executive Service Seminar, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. Current DAF RCO work includes the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, a reusable, unmanned space test platform for the United States Space Force, and the B-21 Raider, a long-range strike bomber for the United States Air Force. Mr. Roberts was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2017. Walden, who is the director and program executive officer for the RCO, has been named senior executive advisor in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, according to a July 11 announcement from the Air Force. (Current as of March 2023), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. LaPlante, formerly the Air Forces acquisition executive, put Walden and the RCO in charge of B-21 development in 2015, when the Air Force selected Northrop Grumman to build what was then called the Long-Range Strike Bomber. Colonel Melissa A. Johnson is the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Fixed Wing Programs, HQ US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill AFB, FL. Once you get a feel for the space system you want to go build, then you can start populating with the right folks and get the right contracting officers and program managers.. Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Program Manager, AFRL Transformational Capabilities Office Dayton, Ohio, United States. Key operating principles of the DAF RCO include a short and narrow chain of command, early and prominent war-fighter involvement, and funding stability. Their work is critical to driving competitive . 4. Those satellites will join the already-planned 28 satellites in the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer of SDAs Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. 2. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, during a recent interview with Air . An artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The office responds to Combat Air and Space Forces and combatant command requirements. Michael W. Roberts, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director and Program Executive Officer (PEO) for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO), Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. More by Sandra Erwin. 1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Mission Jan 09 Aug 11, Director, Non-Standard Aircraft Systems, Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing Aircraft, Center for Special Operations Acquisitions and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB FL 11. The office procures space technologies and manages classified programs for the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command. 1984 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Parks College of St. Louis University, Cahokia, Ill. Their hard work began to pay off as more people volunteered. The Pentagon has named Chris Shank, a former NASA official, as director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, according to a biography posted to the Defense Department's website. . 2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence While assigned to the 28th Test Squadron, she was a special projects engineer and program manager for classified electronic warfare and command and control test activities. With a successful landing today, the X-37B completed its longest flight to date and successfully completed all mission objectives," Randy Walden, the director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities . RCO delivers Department of the Air Force capabilities. The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. October 1990June 1993, Contracting Officer, F-15 System Program Office, Robins AFB, Ga. In March 2021, the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office presented a brief to GAO that further defined these roles, and established responsibilities of their office. The Space Rapid Capabilities Office procures commercial and classified technologies for the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command by Sandra Erwin June 14, 2022 January 23, 2023 Click to share on . 2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence Center for Rapid Innovation Deputy Director at Air Force Research Laboratory May 2005 June 2009, Software Certification Senior Systems Engineer, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Tewksbury, Mass. Defense Acquisition Corps However, one project will notably stay off the Space RCOs plate: the experimental X-37B spaceplane. [Our approach] is a little bit different, Roberts said. As the SpRCO's senior acquisition officer, Mr. Roberts is responsible for and oversees Space-based research, development and acquisition . Staff photo by Mike Tsukamoto. 3. Delivering space capabilities quickly and effectively requires a strong core culture and mindset. Alongside the director, he directs contracting activities executing $4 billion a year for . Shank "brings many years of military, government, and commercial industry experience to SCO," the bio states. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency handles similar initiatives that can transition to the Space RCO as well. The DAF RCO is staffed with a collaborative, multidisciplinary team. 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