AMRDEC employees honored for acquisition excellence

By AMRDEC Public AffairsDecember 9, 2015

Ms. Shyu presents Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center employee, Dan Bailey with the Science and Technology Professional of the Year award Dec. 1.
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Dr. James Kirsch awarded the Engineering and Systems Integration Professional of the Year at the 2015 AAE's Excellence in Leadership Awards.
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Ms. Shyu presents the team from the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept Product Office and Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center Multi-Mission Launche
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Dec. 9, 2015) -- Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center personnel were honored with three prestigious awards at the 2015 Army Acquisition Executive's Excellence in Leadership Awards ceremony in Orlando, Fla. Dec. 1.

The Army Acquisition Executive and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Hon. Heidi Shyu recognized more than a dozen groups and individuals from the acquisition community as she announced the winners of the AAE awards.

"Since 1989, the Corps has provided an elite cadre of highly-skilled, technically-proficient professionals delivering world-class products to our Soldiers," said Shyu in her opening comments. "Today, more than 36,000 members are keeping our men and women in uniform well-equipped, well-protected and fully prepared for mission success in 140 countries around the globe. The support of our acquisition professionals to the Soldier is truly first rate," she added.

Doubly honored was Dr. James Kirsch, an AMRDEC employee serving as the chief engineer in the Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office for Program executive Office, Missiles and Space. In addition to being named the AAE Engineering and Systems Integration Professional of the Year, last month Kirsch received the Workforce Achievement Award for Engineering by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

Matrixed to PEO, Missiles and Space from AMRDEC, Kirsch is the senior technical authority for all JAMS products including the Hellfire family of missiles, the Hydra family of rockets, and the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile.

Also representing AMRDEC, Aviation Development Directorate's Dan Bailey was recognized as the Science and Technology Professional of the Year. As the program director for the Joint Multi-Role and Future Vertical Lift Aircraft, Bailey developed and implemented a strategic communications plan to underpin all programmatic and technical interactions with industry, the media, and decision authorities including Headquarters Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, and Congressional staff offices.

In a collaborative partnership between AMRDEC and the Cruise Missile Defense System Project Office, the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept and Multi-Mission Launcher development team was named the 2105 05-Level Product Team of the Year. Present to accept the award were AMRDEC's Lt. Col. Chris Whitmark and CMDS's Lt. Col. Michael Fitzgerald.

The combined team received the award for their excellence in Army acquisition, teamwork, innovation, and their advanced approach to providing cutting-edge capability to the Warfighter by designing and producing two prototype IFPC 2-I MMLs.

"The Army Acquisition Corps is the surest means of providing pre-eminent capabilities to our Soldiers, and the talents of our professional workforce ensure the success of our men and women in uniform the world over," added Shyu.

To be eligible for an Individual AAE Excellence in Leadership Award, nominees must occupy an acquisition workforce designated position and be current in their Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certification and continuous learning points.

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The U.S. Army 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 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 Links:

Army.mil: Science and Technology News

U.S. Army Material Command

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command