Leader of Army's second generation network passes its charter

By Amy Walker, PEO C3TJuly 5, 2013

Product Manager for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Robert Collins (left), outgoing product manager (PdM) for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2, was presented with the Army's Meritorious Service Medal by Col. Ed Swanson, project manager for WIN-T, at the WIN-T Increm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Product Manager for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 change of charter
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Robert Collins (left), outgoing product manager (PdM) for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2, relinquished the WIN-T Increment 2 charter to the incoming PdM, Lt. Col. LaMont J. Hall (right), at the program's change o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Product Manager for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 change of charter
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Robert Collins, outgoing product manager (PdM) for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2, addressed the audience at the program's change of charter ceremony on July 2, 2013 at the Myer Auditorium, Aberdeen Proving Groun... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Product Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 change of charter
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. LaMont J. Hall , incoming product manager (PdM) for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2, addressed the audience at the program's change of charter ceremony on July 2, 2013 at the Myer Auditorium, Aberdeen Proving Grou... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (July 3, 2013) -- After nurturing the second generation of the Army's tactical communications network backbone, Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2, from infancy to its first deployment to Afghanistan, its leader fondly passed the charter to new hands.

"This team has been very fortunate to take such a large Department of Defense Acquisition Category 1D program through all the acquisition life cycles -- design and development, testing and securing a major procurement decision -- and this experience has been phenomenal," said Lt. Col. Robert Collins, outgoing product manager (PdM) for WIN-T Increment 2. "We have moved the program forward to finalize operational testing and are now getting ready to deploy WIN-T Increment 2 into the Operation Enduring Freedom theater of operations. It's been a great experience to participate in all phases of its acquisition."

Collins passed the WIN-T Increment 2 charter to the incoming PdM, Lt. Col. LaMont J. Hall, at the WIN-T Increment 2 change of charter ceremony on July 2 at the Myer Auditorium, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. During his tenure as PdM, Collins simultaneously served as the PdM for WIN-T Increment 3 until he relinquished that charter in June 2012. He was recently selected for promotion to colonel and will attend Senior Service College for the 2013-14 academic year.

WIN-T Increment 2 improves upon the network's first increment, which began fielding in 2004, by providing Soldiers with high-speed, high-capacity voice, data and video communications, accessible on-the-move and down to the company level for the first time. It also provides mobile mission command at battalion and above echelons.

WIN-T Increment 2 further increases capability by introducing network radios to the architecture and enhancing Network Operations by providing a suite of integrated monitoring tools used by communications officers to manage the network. It utilizes both satellite and line-of-sight capability for optimum network connectivity and bandwidth efficiency, and its self-healing capability automatically reroutes blocked links so information gets through. WIN-T Increment 3 will build on previous increments, providing advanced capabilities including an air tier that will extend connectivity across the battlefield and improve network availability for "full" networking on-the-move.

"WIN-T Increment 2 will increase the pace at which the Army can move combat operations forward, while significantly decreasing the military decision-making-time cycle," Collins said. "It brings much needed network on-the-move capability and increased bandwidth. The network will transform the way we conduct combat operations and the full spectrum of military operations - fully mobile and deployed down to the lowest echelons."

In May 2012, Collins led the extensive pre-testing, preparation and execution of the WIN-T Increment 2 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E), the largest and most complex networking test event ever undertaken by the Army. As a result of the IOT&E and the Army's implementation of the capability set fielding and Network Integration Evaluation processes, WIN-T Increment 2 has become the cornerstone for Capability Set 13 (CS13), providing enhanced capability over what is currently fielded.

Capability Set 13 is the first of the Army's fully-integrated network fielding efforts that provides network connectivity from the stationary command post to the commander on-the-move in a tactical vehicle to the dismounted Soldier. WIN-T Increment 2 is the tactical communications network backbone that integrates the capability sets together, and it is the centerpiece of Army modernization for current and future capability sets. It enables real-time communications from the division down to separate companies, which increases the pace of combat operations, improves mission command and extends the operational distances units can cover.

Under Collins' direction, fielding and training of WIN-T Increment 2, as part of CS13, has been completed to the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division Headquarters (HQ), the 10th Mountain Division HQ, and two Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) of the 10th Mountain Division. Two BCTs from the 101st will be fielded this year. If and when they are called upon to deploy, these BCTs armed with CS 13 capabilities will serve as Security Forces Advise and Assist Teams, who will work with Afghan National Security Forces to improve their capability and help the Afghans secure their country as coalition forces reduce their presence. The network mobility provided by WIN-T Increment 2 will be an essential element to the success of this mission.

As the leader of WIN-T Increment 2 for the last four years, Collins is known "as the standard for excellence as an acquisition officer and leader," not only across the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical, to which the WIN-T program is assigned, but throughout the Army acquisition and Office of the Secretary of Defense communities, said Col. Ed Swanson, project manager for WIN-T, who hosted the changer of charter ceremony.

"His technical and leadership skills are unmatched and he is always humble, giving credit to others while taking none for himself," Swanson said. "When I reflect on the two years that I have been privileged to work with Rob Collins, I will always be reminded of the phrase, 'excellence without arrogance.'"

Hall said that he is looking forward to working with the program's renowned team. Prior to his new position, Hall spent his last three years working at the Pentagon managing Army advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Science and Technology initiatives and serving as project director for a medical research and blast test manikin development program.

"It is a great honor and privilege to work on the WIN-T Increment 2 program, which is a cornerstone of the Army's modernization strategy," Hall said. "I am looking forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that it is known for."

Related Links:

Faces of the Force: Lt. Col. Collins

PEO C3T website

WIN-T Increment 2 website

WIN-T Increment 3 website

Army's new mobile network to support its Afghan security mission

On the move network is commander's eyes and ears at NIEs

PEO C3T News

PM WIN-T on milWiki (CAC login required)