by Cheryl Marino
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Aug. 17, 2023)—Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. and NATO support to Ukraine has been immediate and ongoing. As U.S. weapons and supplies are provided to the Ukrainian armed forces, the normal rate of U.S. Army production of these weapons and supplies must increase, not only to field needed equipment to our troops, but to feed the seemingly insatiable need of the war in Ukraine. According to Army AL&T Editor-in-Chief Nelson McCouch III, “Army Acquisition Workforce members are at the forefront of this balancing act, ensuring needed equipment, contracts, supplies and munitions are flowing to the armed forces of Ukraine, while maintaining readiness at home.” This issue focuses on what the Army is doing to support the fight in Ukraine, while continuing all other programs and readiness requirements to ensure our Soldiers are ready.
This special summer edition of Army AL&T will explore what the AAW is doing to keep America the arsenal of democracy. Read how:
- Acquisition professionals provide Ukraine support from America’s Midwest. Learn more in A WORLD AWAY.
- Modernizing information systems with old-fashioned relationship building is beneficial for Army readiness in BUILDING TRUST IN UKRAINE.
- The National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System was procured in record time. Don’t miss DELIVERING AT THE SPEED OF NEED.
- Product Manager Small Caliber Ammunition, part of Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems within the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition, is producing small caliber ammunition for Ukraine at the speed of war. Learn how in GETTING IN THE TRANCHES.
- Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions Project Office programs aid efforts in Ukraine and provide capabilities to the U.S. warfighter in HELP FROM THE GROUND UP.
- Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition program management offices are at the forefront of an evolving mission. Learn more in IT’S ALL IN THE DELIVERY.
- The Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems leads the charge to get precision projectiles to Ukraine. Get the details in WIELDING EXCALIBUR.
- A product office supports efforts in Ukraine through nontraditional sources. Find out how in BULDING AN ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY.
- S. Army Security Assistance Command facilitates multibillion-dollar military air packages to Ukraine at unprecedented speeds, while also fostering organizational change in TRAIN AND AID.
- Actions by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology to support Ukraine exemplify the effort to build capacity at speed and scale. Find out more in SECURITY DETAILS.
- Project Manager Uncrewed Aircraft Systems answers the call for Ukraine urgent requirements. Don’t miss SECURITY ASSISTANCE SYNERGY.
As always, Army AL&T relies on contributions from you, members of the Army Acquisition Workforce, and our stakeholders. For more information on how to publish an article in Army AL&T magazine, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/publications/army-alt-submissions/ to see our writers’ guidelines, upcoming deadlines and themes.
Army AL&T Summer “Special Edition” 2023 Issue
FROM THE AAE
The U.S. Army is playing a vital role in the U.S. government’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We are employing all the authorities and funding from Congress and working closely with our industry partners to increase production rates, while also providing Ukraine with equipment from our stockpiles.
UNITED STATES SUPPORT TO UKRAINE
U.S. Army Contracting Command ‒ Rock Island acquisition professionals are assisting the U.S. Army Sustainment Command and Joint Munitions Command at the speed of need to support Ukraine.
Modernizing information systems with old-fashioned relationship building is beneficial for Army readiness. The Allied Information Technology Product Office team was there for Ukraine from start to finish and beyond.
DELIVERING AT THE SPEED OF NEED
The Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space team is leveraging lessons learned from delivering the first two firing units of National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) capability to Ukraine, to form an acquisition approach for future requirements for other partner nations expressing interest.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Product Manager Small Caliber Ammunition, part of Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems within the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A), has enabled the flow of significant product to its foreign partners.
The Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) Project Office remains dedicated to U.S. Soldiers by developing, fielding and sustaining versatile air- and ground-launched weapon systems that provide a decisive advantage in joint and multidomain operations.
What started out as a call to ship M777 howitzers into Ukraine quickly evolved into using all the expertise and functions the JPEO A&A program management offices were established to provide. JPEO A&A is now looking at how to transition that capability into new partnerships.
FACES OF THE FORCE: BROOKE JONES
Up for the challenge.
Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems within JPEO A&A was pivotal in coordinating with various departments and agencies to assess the feasibility of utilizing the 155 mm M982 Excalibur projectile, providing precision-guided munitions training to the Ukrainian artillery and shipping projectiles and fire control systems to theater.
BUILDING AN ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY
The Product Director for Special Ammunition and Weapon Systems under the Project Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems within JPEO A&A provides a balance of safe, reliable and effective ammunition and small mortar weapons systems, while using nontraditional foreign suppliers to provide a lower-cost production base and surge capacity as needed.
FACES OF THE FORCE: CHARLOTTE MOWCZAN
Ties that bind.
USASAC leads the Army Materiel Command’s security assistance enterprise by developing and managing security assistance programs and foreign military sales cases to build partner capacity, support combatant command engagement strategies and strengthen U.S. global partnerships.
The U.S. and its allies and partners remain steadfast in their commitment to support Ukraine. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and the broader Army enterprise must institutionalize what has been learned; capture the appropriate information in policy and regulations; and recommend statutory changes to ensure it remains strategically and operationally responsive to the needs of our nation.
Project Manager Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS), within the Program Executive Office for Aviation, identified key focus areas that contributed to deliberate and efficient delivery of capability.
FEATURE ARTICLES
Four program executive offices team up with Soldiers from 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team to run the Army’s most modern platform, communications and Soldier data interface programs of record through the PACEs.
By leveraging the power of financial operations (FinOps), the Army can develop more effective methods for tracking and managing cloud computing-related contracts to reduce costs and improve security.
FACES OF THE FORCE: MEAGAN CLAVEL
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
U.S. Army Contracting Command offers new training to get civilians and Soldiers up to speed on contract administration.
The Acoustic Hailing Device allows Soldiers to communicate effectively at distance with local populace.
FACES OF THE FORCE: JACOB SISKO
The golden rule.
The Army is preparing to pilot satellite communications as a managed service to study potential use of commercially leased network equipment and bundled services model.
Experts from the Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications ‒ Tactical explain how the global operational landscape is shaping Army network modernization.
COMMENTARY
The opportunities and risks of advanced language models.
The U.S. Army prepares to receive a new cold weather all-terrain vehicle (CATV) for Arctic operations—but is an armored version needed?
How other transaction authority consortia are delivering for defense acquisition and our warfighters.
WORKFORCE
FROM THE DACM: RANGING IN ACQUISITION
We’re working hard to capture all the lessons learned from current operations so that we can get off to a running start on the next emergency. It all comes down to doing the job with everything you’ve got.
FACES OF THE FORCE: ROBERT ANDERSON
Making it happen.
THE ARMY GOES LOCATION INDEPENDENT
The Army has a “remote” chance of retaining its best talent, by fixing location-based problems with work opportunities that aren’t location-based.
Training With Industry fellows travel to San Francisco to learn a business’s best practices and compare notes at their midpoint meeting.
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