C4ISR campus' first Product Support Managers appointed

By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, PEO C3TJuly 24, 2014

C4ISR campus' first Product Support Managers appointed
Brig. Gen. Daniel P. Hughes, program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical and Gary Martin, deputy to the Commanding General, Communications-Electronics Command, welcomed in the newest portfolio Product Support Managers duri... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (July 23, 2014) -- With an emphasis on elevating and expanding total lifecycle management, the first portfolio product support managers of Aberdeen Proving Ground's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) campus were appointed at an assumption of charter ceremony on July 21.

Held at the headquarters of the Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), the ceremony assigned Product Support Manager (PSM) charters to Daniel Quinn, with Project Manager (PM) Mission Command, Brent Smith with PM Warfighter Information Network-Tactical and David Harrison with PM Tactical Radios.

"This is incredibly important," said Brig. Gen. Daniel P. Hughes, program executive officer for C3T, during the ceremony. "This will ensure we're making the right moves, long term. The PSMs are critical in helping the project managers make those decisions that will keep our systems viable for the Army and in making sure that every dollar we spend is used wisely."

Acting as a trail boss for lifecycle support, the PSM serves as the lead logistician for the development and implementation of comprehensive portfolio strategies, including modernization, investment and sustainment.

The PSM appointments by PEO C3T will also help to increase cooperation between the acquisition and sustainment communities located on the C4ISR campus. Gary Martin, deputy to the Commanding General, Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), also attended the ceremony and pledged his support.

"We're not simply looking at a product system manager, but more of a portfolio manager who can make the right recommendations for investment decisions across a family of systems," Martin said. "I think this is going to yield significant benefits for the Army and significant benefits for our community."

The new PSM role includes managing the package of product support functions required to maintain the readiness and operational capability of weapon systems, subsystems and their components. This includes development, acquisition, testing, fielding, sustainment, contracting, cost estimating, integration and interoperability.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) issued a memorandum for PSM implementation in 2011, which defined the position while giving flexibility in implementation.

"One of the primary objectives of a portfolio PSM is to leverage enterprise opportunities across programs and Department of Defense components in order to develop and implement the best comprehensive product support strategies at the best value for the Soldier," Quinn said. "The PSM provides weapon system support expertise to the project manager in the execution of the PSM's duties as the total lifecycle manager."

Driving investments that yield the best value in product support is also a primary role of the PSM.

"PEO C3T's implementation of a portfolio PSM shows dedication to producing a supportable product across the equipment suite," Smith said. "It will allow us to leverage similarities in products to enhance the supportability overall. In this fiscally-constrained environment, that synergy is critical to our program success."

Part of the C4ISR campus, PEO C3T guides a workforce of more than 1,600 personnel who develop, deliver and support more than 40 major Army programs that provide Soldiers with the communications networks, radios, satellite systems and other hardware and software they require to communicate on the battlefield.

Designated a lifecycle management command, CECOM provides the critical link to sustaining C4ISR systems, equipment and capabilities.

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