Army science advisors review technology priorities

By Dan Lafontaine, RDECOM Public AffairsMarch 27, 2015

Army science advisors review technology priorities
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Army science advisors review technology priorities
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Army science advisors review technology priorities
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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (March 26, 2015) -- Army science advisors, from around the world, convened here, March 24-26, to discuss Soldiers' technology needs and priorities.

The Field Assistance in Science and Technology, or FAST, program's 30 advisors, both uniformed officers and Army civilians, are a link between Soldiers in the field and the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, or RDECOM's, thousands of subject matter experts.

Brig. Gen. William Cole, RDECOM deputy commanding general, provided opening remarks for the annual FAST Program Review's three days of briefings and discussions.

"I appreciate you being out there. You are RDECOM's face to the field," Cole said. "There are a lot of folks who don't necessarily know what RDECOM is until they meet one of you.

"We rely on you to represent the command and show what we can offer to the field commanders."

Joe Cowan, with the FAST team at RDECOM headquarters, said the program review's goals are to identify and discuss technology and capability gaps; learn about the latest ideas and efforts from other commands; and network with RDECOM subject matter experts.

FAST's footprint reaches five combatant commands, 10 Army service component commands and major commands, three Corps (I, III, XVIII) and three combat training centers. Science advisors provide supported commanders with access to RDECOM scientists and engineers.

An Army Reserve 20-member detachment augments the full-time FAST advisors during exercises and training rotations.

"We have some enthusiastic Reserve component officers from Detachment 8, who have provided great support to us. We're seeing that in overseas exercises in the Pacific and Atlantic," Cole said. "We can start expecting more Detachment 8 officers at the [combat training center] rotations and [Network Integration Evaluations]."

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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 delivers it.

Related Links:

Army Technology Live

U.S. Army Materiel Command

Army.mil: Science and Technology News

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command