Assistant Product Manager, Sensors
Joint Project Manager for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Contamination Avoidance
(JPM-NBC CA)
What inspired you to have a career in the military?
I simply wanted to serve. I’ve been on active duty for 10
years, and also served in the National Guard. After a few years of service, I
knew it was something I wanted to dedicate my life to.
Tell us about your current role with the JPM-NBC CA.
I am an Army Acquisition Corps officer. I help manage the
cost, schedule and performance of various DoD products. Many Soldiers may not
realize the materiel development side of the DoD and the people and processes
that are involved in the acquisition of equipment. Soldiers are known to be
very passionate about what they do, and I believe they would be elated to know
just how passionate the civilians are about their jobs. What they accomplish
here at the JPM gives Warfighters a strategic advantage on the battlefield.
What unique perspective does a Warfighter bring to Team
CBRNE?
I’ve had the chance to speak up about the kinds of equipment
that are being used by Soldiers and what capabilities might be needed. The
exposure to the civilian side of acquisition and the skills I have learned here
will prepare me for the next step in my career.
Is there anything about working in CBRNE that has surprised
you or would be interesting to other Warfighters?
Before this assignment, I didn’t realize all of the chemical
and biological threats that are out there. The civilian workforce―I call them
“quiet professionals”―is actively studying this, looking for ways to fill in
the gaps and getting Soldiers prepared for emerging threats. Communication and
collaboration styles are different on the civilian side, but the enthusiasm for
the mission is definitely there.
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director
U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC)
What inspired you to have a career in the military?
I enlisted because I wanted a secure job and to travel and
learn a skill. I’ve been serving for 22 years now, and these expectations
turned out to be true.
What has your developmental assignment at ECBC been like?
In this role, my goal has been to provide an understanding
of how certain technologies are currently used, or could potentially be used,
by the Soldier. I have been introducing myself around the Center as enlisted
and having field operations experience, so they can use me as a resource. I
have spent time learning about the various capabilities, many of which have
really surprised me―for example, the video gaming and robotics capabilities
that the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Division is using for military
applications.
What unique perspective does a Warfighter bring to Team
CBRNE?
I hope that my perspective gives a practical validation to
the design process and integration of technologies. At a demonstration of
unmanned aerial vehicles with mounted detectors, I provided input about what
the Soldier looks for regarding functionality and supportability. Training on
the Joint Chemical Agent Detector will begin soon, and I will go to Fort
Leonard Wood to be a liaison between ECBC and the Soldiers to help ensure the
most realistic scenarios are demonstrated.
Is there anything about working in CBRNE that has surprised
you or would be interesting to other Warfighters?
I do have experience training Soldiers in CBRN, such as
donning masks and personal protective gear. But learning how the equipment is
tested in laboratories here at ECBC―using live agent―has been eye opening. The
scientists and researchers here are proving the technology well before the
Warfighter has to use it. That would have been great to know as a younger
Soldier.
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