Logistician's sustainment strategies will keep Soldiers connected

By Meg Carpenter, PEO C3TMay 1, 2013

Logistician's sustainment strategies will keep Soldiers connected
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD. (May 1, 2013) -- Throughout her career, Catherine Wodzisz has supported the efficient fielding and sustainment of state-of-the-art equipment. On May 3, she will retire from a 35-year career in government service, with an esteemed reputation in the logistics community.

"She is an outstanding logistician," said Robert F. Golden, who was the project manager for Tactical Radios Communications Systems (PM TRCS), during Wodzisz's tenure with the organization. "If you wanted to know something about logistics, you went to Cathy."

During recent interviews, Wodzisz's employees and colleagues complimented her program management and leadership abilities.

"When I was a team lead and just getting my bearings in the PEO, Catherine was a 'go to' employee who could provide detailed programmatic updates at a moment's notice," said Jeff Forgach, of his first experiences working with Wodzisz in 1988 at Project Manager, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS). For many years, SINCGARS radios have provided voice and data communications to Soldiers in

ground and air platforms and to those on foot.

Jay Herod was an integrated logistics manager who worked for Wodzisz from 2003-04 while she was the chief of logistics for PM Tactical Radios Communications Systems (TRCS).

"Her overall logistics supervisory responsibilities were instrumental in achieving logistics readiness for the SINCGARS family of radios," said Herod. "She supervised logistics personnel who provided worldwide support for this family of systems. During the early years of Unit Set Fielding (USF), Cathy ensured an entire complement of systems were sustainable and provided to all deploying units supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom."

USF is a synchronized approach to fielding a vast range of capabilities that span Army Team C4ISR.

Wodzisz has served in several logistics positions, including as a Readiness Management Division chief for the now disestablished PM TRCS. Many of PM TRCS' satellite communications and radio capabilities exist today in the portfolios of PMs Warfighter Information Network-Tactical and Tactical Radios. Both organizations are assigned to the Army's Program Executive Office, Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T).

Since October 2010, Wodzisz has been assigned to the PEO C3T's Special Projects Office or SPO (which disbanded in 2012) and served as the senior logistics manager in support of capabilities that have enabled Soldiers and first responders in various terrains to communicate anywhere in the world. She independently developed and integrated a depot level maintenance capability at Ft. Dix, N.J., to repair and upgrade Global Rapid Response Information Package equipment through economical use of cannibalized parts of obsolete equipment.

Wodzisz was instrumental in implementing logistics support that allowed Warfighters to communicate with a single, world-wide Internet Protocol address in austere regions not supported by a network infrastructure. Her service helped advance capabilities to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines throughout the world.

"We'll miss her expertise and knowledge," said Patricia Allocca, program analysis officer and advisor to the PEO C3T Business Management Division, a colleague who also worked for the SPO at Fort Dix, N.J. "She's a team player who works well with people and is an all-around nice person."

The veteran logistician has been referred to as a role model for logisticians.

"Cathy's vision to invest in long term sustainment strategies for radios and other systems will be a lasting legacy to Warfighters and considered a model for the next generation of data radios in the force structure," said Forgach, who is now the readiness management chief, Project Manager, Joint Battle Command-Platform.

"She is one of the most professional, most respected people in her field," said Jerry Harper, Readiness Management Division chief for PM WIN-T. "People from the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) community and Department of the Army call her for logistics advice. She's that good. Her retirement is a big loss for the entire Army community."

Related Links:

PEO C3T Website

Army's synchronized approach to fielding complex C4ISR capabilities takes burden off Soldiers

PEO C3T leader leaves legacy of improved communications capabilities

Army.mil: Science & Technology News

PEO C3T on Facebook

Multifunctional Logistics discussion forum on milBook (government ID CAC required)