ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (July 1, 2015) -- The Army of the future will be fueled by innovation according to military leaders in research and development.
"It's up to us to establish the technical vision," said Army Materiel Command Chief Technology Officer Patrick O'Neill. "We've got what it takes to meet the demands of the future. At the center of Force 2025 and Beyond will be the ability to provide technologies for supporting future operations and to streamline operational processes to produce a more adaptable, agile and effective Army."
O'Neill is the featured interview for the July/August 2015 issue of Army Technology Magazine, which focuses on innovation. The magazine is an authorized, unofficial publication published under Army Regulation 360-1, for all members of the Department of Defense and the general public.
The innovation issue of Army Technology Magazine showcases pioneering efforts such as future Army nanosatellites to improve battlefield communications, new video displays for streamlining critical surveillance functions in Army vehicles and the development of revolutionary solar cells, which will eventually power all kinds of equipment, particularly in remote, inaccessible areas.
Science and technology continue to influence the character of warfare in new and innovative ways.
"While the U.S. Army differential advantages over potential enemies will continue to depend in large measure on advanced technology, winning in a complex world requires powerful combinations of leadership, skilled soldiers, well-trained units and technology," said Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, deputy commanding general, Futures, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center. "The Army must integrate new technological capabilities with complementary changes in doctrine, organization, training, leader development, personnel and other elements of combat effectiveness."
One way Army researchers are chasing innovation is through prototyping.
"Innovative research and development leads to advanced prototyping, which enables smart design, which leads to lowering sustainment costs," said Maj. Gen. John F. Wharton, commanding general of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, also known as RDECOM.
RDECOM has six research centers and the Army Research Laboratory, which work with industry and academia on its mission to develop technology and engineering solutions.
"Our efforts incorporate innovative solutions to fill technology gaps and make our Soldiers safer, stronger and more situationally aware of their environments," Wharton said.
Wharton said innovation focuses Army investments while creating options for future leaders.
"The Army needs innovative methods to develop technologies that will optimize the capabilities of smaller units by increasing battlefield intuition, military judgment and decision making," he said.
RDECOM officials announced that this is the final edition of Army Technology Magazine. Since 2013, the bimonthly magazine featured Army research and development focusing on Soldier protection and lethality to robotics and the future of computing.
"As the print publication is at the end of its contract, RDECOM would like to thank our contracting partner, Command Publishing, for two years of support getting the word out about what Army scientists, engineers and researchers are doing to ensure decisive capabilities for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation," said RDECOM spokesman Joseph Ferrare.
RDECOM will continue to publish Army research, development and engineering stories at the Army Technology Live blog and its homepage, he said.
The July/August issue is available as an electronic download from the Army Technology Live blog, or as a print publication available upon request.
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The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Related Documents:
<b>Army Technology Magazine</b> [PDF]
Related Links:
<B>View Online:</b> Army Technology Magazine: Innovation
Army.mil: Science and Technology News
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
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