Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), congratulates Col. Tom Olson, Project Manager for Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (PM FBCB2), who is retiring after 30 y... VIEW ORIGINAL
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., September 21, 2012 -- Four years ago when Col. Tom Olson took over as Project Manager for Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (PM FBCB2), he immediately implemented a strategy he knew well: Establish a battle rhythm.
Used to regulate flow and information sharing, the battle rhythm at FBCB2 quickly established a common operational picture and transparency that allowed the organization to advance an important situational awareness tool used and embraced by today's Soldiers.
"Unity of effort among leaders," Olson said. "That's what we needed. You have to have some repeatability in what you do. So every Friday our team came together and presented a common operational picture. You get the battle rhythm going and everyone begins to trust one another and they get to the point where they can anticipate one another's moves."
Much like Olson's leadership style is focused on an overall picture and transparency within his organization, so too is the capability provided by FBCB2.
The FBCB2/Blue Force Tracking (BFT) system -- and its two-phased upgrade of Joint Capabilities Release (JCR) and Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P) -- is the U.S. Army's friendly force tracking system. Soldiers use FBCB2 for situational awareness to locate their buddies and alert each other to enemies and hazards, as well as a navigation tool and satellite communications lifeline.
When Olson took the helm of PM FBCB2 in 2008, his efforts and high standards advanced the program. Under his leadership, FBCB2 transitioned to JCR, which thus far has been fielded to more than 65 brigade size elements. He also set the next generation friendly force tracking system, JBC-P, up for potential fielding in 2014.
"Soldiers use these capabilities every day, and it is evident when you can go into our network operations center and see the number of people on the network and the number of messages being sent worldwide," said Olson.
Olson's contributions were recognized during a change of charter ceremony on September 21, where he received the Legion of Merit Award for service to the U.S. Army. Olson formally retires in January 2013, but at the ceremony, he passed leadership of the organization to incoming PM, Col. Michael Thurston.
The event also marked the transition of PM FBCB2 to PM JBC-P, assigned to Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) located at the C4ISR Center of Excellence at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). The name change reflects the Army's focus on JBC-P as the Army's future iteration friendly force tracking system.
Primarily used in military vehicles, FBCB2's display screen shows blue and red icons over a geospatial imagery map. It paints a complete picture of the battlefield -- including friendly and enemy forces, as well as terrain hazards -- enabling units to synchronize operations and avoid friendly fire incidents. The system also allows users to communicate through text messages.
With JBC-P, the system will also provide the dismounted Soldier with many of the situational awareness capabilities received in vehicles and command posts. Soldiers will view the whereabouts of their friends and enemies in the palm of their hands. The upgrade brings enhanced data encryption, improved maps, better collaboration tools and more precise location information for vehicles, aircraft and dismounted Soldiers. JBC-P will also provide a more modern user interface with drag-and-drop icons, touch-to-zoom maps, free draw and group chat.
Jeff Forgach, readiness management division chief for FBCB2, said under Olson's leadership, the program strengthened.
"Col. Olson led the design, development, test, integration and fielding of the Army's premier command and control program with over 34,000 major end items fielded during his tenure," said Forgach. "As a leader he never left any ambiguity. He was clear, concise and descriptive. It was a pleasure to work with him and I consider him a true friend."
Olson began his Army career by enlisting in 1983. Following a commission from Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, he quickly took on leadership roles, serving as a HAWK Platoon Leader and later an executive officer at Fort Bliss, Texas. He also served in Operation Desert Storm as a Vulcan Battery Commander.
"My Army track isn't a normal one," he said. "I think when you spend time as an enlisted Soldier your perspective is a little different."
He made the transition to acquisition in 1992, when he served as Operations Officer for the Information Systems Engineering Command, Software Development Center at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. He later served as Operations Officer for the Communications-Electronics Command Software Development Center in Washington, D.C.
Other assignments included working as an executive assistant for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and as the Deputy Director Executive Communications and Control, Office of the Chief of Staff Army. In 2003 he served as the Product Manager, Secure Electronic Transaction Devices, Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems.
Those skills learned early, especially working with two Army software development centers, helped Olson advance the FBCB2 program.
"I had the exposure and appreciation for how complex software development really is," said Olson. "This assignment at FBCB2 deals with software, hardware, the network and information assurance, but I felt very comfortable with the software component here because of those previous assignments."
In addition to seeing JCR fielded, a highlight for Olson while at FBCB2 was leading JBC-P as it passed its Milestone B and C decisions, moving the program to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and then to the Production and Deployment phase.
Also under Olson's leadership, PM FBCB2 transitioned from Fort Monmouth, N.J. to APG. Although a trying time, Olson saw 70 percent of his workforce make the move to APG in order to see the mission through.
"This really has been the best job I've ever had in the Army," said Olson. "I'm thankful for the people I've had the opportunity to work with. They've made me a better officer and consequently I'm a better person."
Just as important as the accomplishments notched under his memorable military career are those made as a husband, father and most recently grandfather. When Olson took the position with FBCB2, first at Fort Monmouth and later at APG, his family remained in Northern Virginia. For the past four years, he has been away from his family, something he's looking forward to changing with retirement.
Olson and his wife have five children and recently welcomed their first grandchild into the family. Although he's currently undecided on his next step professionally, Olson is excited to return home and spend time with his growing family.
Olson said he leaves knowing that collaboration and transparency are mainstays within the organization. That in the end, it isn't about what he did while he led the organization, but what they accomplished as a team.
"Getting everyone in the boat rowing at the same time -- that was all part of the battle rhythm that we tried to establish," said Olson. "Making sure they worked together and they were incentivized to work together. It's very heartening, the level of professionalism around here. They know how important this capability is and they get the job done. I'm going to miss this job. It will be hard to let this go."
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