RDECOM commanding general visits Natick

By Jane Benson, NSRDEC Public AffairsFebruary 17, 2015

RDECOM CG Visit
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Major General John F. Wharton, commanding general of the Research, Development and Engineering Command, and Brigadier General William E. Cole, deputy commanding general of RDECOM, examine a helmet during Wharton's visit to the Natick Soldier Research... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
RDECOM CG Visit
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NATICK, Mass. (Feb. 17, 2015) -- Senior leaders from the Army's science and technology community gathered Feb. 11-12 here.

Major General John F. Wharton, commanding general of the Research, Development and Engineering Command, visited the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center. The center is part of RDECOM, which serves the joint warfighter through integrated research, development and engineering solutions. Wharton's leadership extends to more than 14,000 researchers, engineers and support personnel command-wide.

Dr. Patrick Baker, NSRDEC's acting technical director, hosted the visit. NSRDEC subject matter experts briefed the commanding general on Natick's cutting-edge products and technologies in the areas of food, clothing, shelters and aerial delivery.

Wharton toured NSRDEC's world-class laboratories and testing facilities. He also witnessed a live demonstration of the Cargo Pocket Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or CP-ISR. The center developed the pocket-sized, aerial surveillance device for Soldiers and small units operating in challenging ground environments.

"The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center has proven itself indispensible to the Soldier and the Joint Warfighter over the years by doing great things for Soldiers every day," Wharton said. "The work going on here now shows that it will continue to be a national treasure."

Having lunch in the dining facility with Soldiers stationed at NSRDEC was another important part of Wharton's visit. Wharton and the Soldiers discussed everything from the snowy weather to the importance of finding out more about sleep deprivation and nutrition, which are two factors that greatly influence human performance.

Throughout the visit, Wharton asked many nuanced questions about NSRDEC's products, projects and ongoing research and development, leading to detailed and enthusiastic discussions.

"Today, I was given the opportunity to brief Major General Wharton on Natick's High Performance Fiber and Textile Facility, including its capabilities, our previous and ongoing projects utilizing the facility, as well as our plans moving forward," said Megan Hoey, an NSRDEC research chemical engineer. "Major General Wharton was an especially engaged visitor, and his enthusiasm for and interest in our work was refreshing and exciting to experience. It was an honor to share with him our successes to date and future goals for the HPFTF in addressing warfighter needs."

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The U.S. Army Natick Soldier 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.

Related Links:

Army Technology Live

U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center

U.S. Army Materiel Command

Army.mil: Science and Technology News

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command

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