PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (Oct. 27, 2014)--"What is ARDEC's mission to you?" was the question that John Hedderich proposed Oct. 20 during his first town hall as the acting director of the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center in the Lindner Conference Center.
While the answers from employees in a short video varied from "providing the warfighter with superior armaments" to "being the home of American firepower," one concept dominated throughout: ARDEC serves the warfighter.
"The new warfighter will be lighter, quicker, and more agile," Hedderich explained. "…Anyone who is running around saying 'no one thinks of lethality' and 'no one cares about lethality,' I want you to start looking to what the future force is going to be and how we will provide the armaments so our Soldiers and everyone else comes home alive."
Hedderich encouraged the workforce to always keep the Soldier in mind, work as a team, and be proactive. He also stressed the importance of building positive connections by talking to people inside and outside your organization through face-to-face interaction rather than email.
"Set your sights on something productive, something other than the paycheck," Hedderich said. "Think about what you do here and how we have warfighters coming home alive because of you and what you do. Always look for something like that and focus on it. When things get you down, always remember you're getting items out there for the warfighter."
During the town hall, the recent decision to no longer require vehicle decals also emerged as a popular topic as ARDEC Military Deputy Director Col. Scott Turner explained that the safety and security of the arsenal is always a top priority.
"I didn't make the final decision because it was popular," Turner said. "I will say that I personally had some reservations about the logic of having stickers on our vehicles well before it became an issue.
"But, certainly with the current issue of ISIS and other potential terror organizations--both homegrown and external--it seemed that we were potentially losing in terms of operational security for those of us off the installation, which is almost everyone.
"However, it's still your choice," Turner added. "So, if you want to have the decal stickers on for other installations feel free to do that. We just would ask you to please turn the decals into the police station. Or, if you don't have the sticker anymore, report it to the police station."
In addition, the event marked the final town hall for Barbara Machak, the former acting ARDEC director, who retired Nov. 1.
"I grew up here," Machak said. "Through you all and the people who have since retired, who took me under their wing, you have shown me nothing but trust and respect and kindness. I've learned from you how to do this job.
"But, when it came down the decision [to retire], I had to make it, and I made it for personal reasons," Machak said. "I want to thank you for what you do every day because, as John said, it makes a difference," Machak continued. "And, I want to thank you for everything you will do until you are in the position that I am in, where you can make a personal decision and say 'it's time' and leave, knowing you did something great with your life and your career."
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The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness--technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection and sustainment--to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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