Army selects AMRDEC engineer for Senior Executive Service

By AMRDEC Public AffairsFebruary 19, 2015

Dr. Juanita Harris
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Feb. 19, 2015) -- The U.S. Army selected a new senior executive for weapons development and integration.

The Army's Senior Executive Service welcomes Dr. Juanita M. Harris as director for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center's Weapons Development and Integration Directorate at Redstone Arsenal. Her new role is effective Feb. 22.

Harris currently serves as the deputy director for AMRDEC's Aviation Development Directorate. She is a native of East Saint Louis, Illinois.

"I am very pleased to have Dr. Harris as part of my senior leadership team," said James Lackey, AMRDEC Director. "She has the perfect work experience depth, breadth and balanced strategic approach to lead the people of WDI and promote its technology development and application work critical in support of the Warfighter. Dr. Harris will work well to build enduring coalitions across RDECOM, the Army and the DoD Enterprise. She knows how to tackle key challenges and make things happen.

"As we move forward in a budget constrained environment, I am confident Dr. Harris will prove to be a valued asset not only in terms of leading WDI, but also as part of the AMRDEC Senior Leadership Team," he said.

"I am honored and humbled to be selected as the SES director for the Weapons Development and Integration Directorate. God has shown me much favor and my goal is to successfully serve the organization through my leadership and vision," Harris said. "I am further humbled to be the first black SES member at AMRDEC. My prayer is that my selection will provide a positive influence toward further career opportunities for others of diverse backgrounds within the AMRDEC workforce. I look forward to the challenge to expand my missile and science and technology background and to learn from the WDI workforce as we work together to move the organization forward through successful collaboration and partnering."

Harris earned a bachelor of science in computer engineering from University of Illinois, a master of science in computer resources and information systems management from Webster University and a doctorate of management in organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix. She has worked at AMRDEC since 2012.

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The Aviation and Missile 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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