Family, friends, colleagues and fellow members of Team Redstone gathered in Bob Jones Auditorium to share in the experience and bear witness as Steve Cornelius, associate director for missile development at Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center, was sworn in as a member of the Senior Executive Service.
Maj. Gen. Jim Myles, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command, who officiated the ceremony, spoke of Cornelius' selection to the SES, and his dedication to Team Redstone and, most important, to the Soldier.
"We got it right with this guy. I've been doing this thing in the Army for about 34 years and every once in a while I know what right looks like. It's about building a team and being able to make things better. It's about what we can do for others. This guy is made of gold. His heart is huge. These are the type of people we want to sustain the great work force that we have now and actually take it to the next level," Myles said.
In his current position Cornelius leads the strategic planning for technology programs and executes efforts directed toward the development of materiel for new or improved Army guided weapons, missiles, free rockets, directed energy weapons, and associated supporting technologies including aero-thermo chemistry, guidance and control sensors and seekers launchers and propulsion and modeling and simulation.
"It's not about how smart you are, it's not about the technology and the engineering that you have -- you must have that to do what you have to do in this business especially if you are an SES, an SES inside of AMRDEC. What it does require that brings you to the next level that has made this guy a no-brainer to come step forward to become an SES is this guy's heart; this guy's leadership," Myles said.
After taking the oath, Cornelius paid tribute to his roots, those who went before him and those who continue to serve the nation and its war fighters.
"If you take time and look around this Arsenal you cannot help but being in awe of the fundamental and groundbreaking work that was done here," Cornelius said. "Some of you in this audience were here from the very beginning when the pioneering and engineering and science work of the United States Army paved the way not only for the development of extremely precise and effective weapons but also led the United States in the peaceful exploration of space.
"Since those early days the words 'Huntsville,' 'Redstone' and 'missile' have been forever and inextricably linked. We have played a part in making the United States Army the most feared, the most adaptable, the most survivable, the most respected and the most capable Army in the world -- of all times. I am proud to be a small part of that ongoing legacy here at Redstone," Cornelius said.
As a native of Huntsville, Cornelius and his family lived the legacy of the Rocket City. His father was a NASA engineer for 36 years and he remembers coming to work with his father on visiting days and seeing all of the rockets and missiles on Redstone Arsenal.
The Senior Executive Service is comprised of the men and women charged with leading the continuing transformation of government. This dedicated corps of executives shares a commitment to public service and a set of democratic values grounded in the fundamental ideals of the Constitution. As the leaders of the federal civilian work force, senior executives strive each day to create a more citizen centered, result oriented government.
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