Civilian takes reins of fixed wing aircraft product office

By Sofia Bledsoe, Program Executive Office for AviationMay 11, 2015

Civilian takes reins of fixed wing aircraft product office
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - The Program Executive Office for Aviation held its first change of charter in which a Department of the Army civilian assumed responsibility as a centralized selection board civilian product director.

Robert Derek Long took the reins as the product director for the Special Electronic Mission Aircraft during a ceremony April 30. He assumed responsibility from Lt. Col. Brian Forrest whose retirement ceremony was conducted on the same day.

Long served in the Army as an active duty Soldier for more than 24 years before retiring in October 2011. He immediately transitioned back to the Army as a civilian with an initial assignment as the deputy chief of staff for the Program Executive Office for Aviation.

"Over my career, I have sadly witnessed many professional Soldiers and civilians transition to other lines of work due to limited opportunities within the government," Long said. "I applaud the MILDEP (military deputy) for developing this talent management initiative that creates a structured process affording civilian acquisition professionals with greater opportunities for responsibility and advancement of career goals and objectives."

Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and director of Acquisition Career Management, initiated the talent management board, providing an opportunity to select high-performing civilians with leadership potential while building a larger talent pool for future senior leader requirements. The board met Feb. 6 to approve positions for the newly-selected product directors.

Col. Steven Clark, project manager for Fixed Wing Aircraft within PEO Aviation, presided over the ceremony and remarked about the unique strengths within the organization.

"The SEMA product team is truly what I call a rare breed of rapid response acquisition specialists," Clark said. "I have no reservations or hesitations that the SEMA team will continue to progress forward without even a hiccup. Having been a former PM in PEO Missiles and Space, Derek brings proven leadership with a clear passion for team excellence that exceeds his peers. It's like welcoming family."

As the new product director, Long will be responsible for effectively managing the cost, schedule and performance parameters of three assigned Programs of Record and nine Quick Reaction Capability programs that operate in direct support of U.S. forces deployed overseas. These programs provide the Army and other joint customers with a critically important enabling technology that protects U.S. forces and provides tactical commanders with timely intelligence for decision-making.

The majority of SEMA assets belong to the Army's Aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance layer assigned to the Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Long will have the unique responsibility to maintain and advance existing relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders chartered with effectively manning, resourcing, equipping and logistically sustaining the AISR layer.

In addition to PM Fixed Wing, the team consists of representatives from headquarters Department of the Army G-2, G-3, G-8, ASAALT, INSCOM, PM Sensors-Aerial Intelligence, Joint Task Force Observe, Detect, Identify and Neutralize, TRADOC Capability Manager Intel Sensors at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, TCM Lift at Fort Rucker as well as other defense department and government agencies.