More Arrows in the Quiver--New class of GMD system operators graduate

By Maj. Laura D. KenneySeptember 11, 2008

GMD Operator Course Graduates
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The six new graduates of the GMD Operators Course smile for the camera. From left to right, top row: Lt. Col. Tracy Patton, Maj. Albert Gorman, 1st Lt.
William Palermo. Bottom row: Lt. Col. Ross Parker, 2nd Lt. William Smith and Capt. Dennis Clanc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Clancey graduates with honors
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Dennis Clancey accepts his framed diploma from Col. Michael Yowell, commander, 100th Missile Defense Bde (Ground-based Midcourse Defense).
Clancey, also of the 100th, was a Distinguished Graduate of the GMD Operators Course, achieving a perfect... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.Aca,!"Six new missile defense system operators graduated Sept. 5 in a ceremony held at the headquarters of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) located here. Each of the six will constitute Aca,!A"another arrow in the quiverAca,!A? for the nationAca,!a,,cs defense, according to brigade commander, Col. Michael Yowell.

The graduation ceremony marks the culmination of seven weeks of training, in which students are held to a strict academic standard allowing no grades below 90 percent, compared to an acceptable 70 percent for most other military classes. The nature of their mission, defense of the homeland, requires that high standard. Two from the class exceeded even that requirement, and achieved 100 percent, earning twin status as Distinguished Graduates.

Lt. Col. Tracy Patton of the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense and Capt. Dennis Clancey of the 100th were the top graduates.

Guest speaker Michael Ragoza, director of Logistics and Support for the GMD system in Huntsville, Ala., put heavy emphasis on the importance of mission training.

Aca,!A"We as a nation were caught by surprise with the terrible attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. We didnAca,!a,,ct expect it. We donAca,!a,,ct know what not to expect in the future, but we know we need to be ready against the very real, very significant danger out there. This system enables us to be ready, which is why itAca,!a,,cs manned 24/7/365.Aca,!A?

Ragoza stressed that the system is in constant development, improving continually due to the feedback from operators such as those who were graduating shortly after his speech.

Aca,!A"We have very smart people in industry, government and the military who are providing coverage for our nation. Feedback from all aspects of that team, but especially the operators, allows us to make the system even more effective.Aca,!A?

The new operators, who also include Lt. Col. Ross Parker , U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command and Maj. Albert Gorman of North American Aerospace Defense Command/Northern Command; and 1st Lt. William Palermo and 2nd Lt. William Smith of the 100th, take their newly learned skills into futures serving as crewmen on the system or as liaison/watch officers in the broader ballistic missile defense field of operations.