The Army's PEO C3T changes leadership

By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, PEO C3T staff writerJune 19, 2015

The Army's PEO C3T changes leadership
Maj. Gen. Daniel P. Hughes (left), Program Executive Officer Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), passed the organization's charter to the new PEO, Gary Martin (right), on June 19. The ceremony, held at Aberdeen Proving Ground's My... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (June 19, 2015) -- The Army organization charged with delivering the tactical communications network to current and future Soldiers ushered in a new era.

On June 19, the Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) officially changed hands when outgoing Program Executive Officer Maj. Gen. Daniel P. Hughes passed the organization's charter to the new PEO, Gary Martin.

Held at Aberdeen Proving Ground's Myer Auditorium and hosted by the Honorable Heidi Shyu, Army Acquisition Executive and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology [ASA(ALT)], the change of charter ceremony marked the official transition of leadership.

During the ceremony, Shyu thanked the PEO C3T workforce and its out-going leader.

"Together, you have done an absolutely incredible job strengthening the link and solidifying the trust between our Soldiers and the information dominance they need for mission success," Shyu said.

PEO C3T guides a workforce of more than 1,600 personnel who develop, deliver and support 22 major Army programs that provide Soldiers with the communications networks, radios, satellite systems and other hardware and software they require to communicate on the battlefield.

Hughes, who assumed leadership of PEO C3T in September 2013, will transition to the Deputy Commanding General for Support, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

Prior to taking the reins at PEO C3T, Hughes completed a dual assignment as Commanding General of Natick Soldier Systems Center and Deputy Commanding General of the Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command. He was a key contributor to the Army's network modernization progress during his previous assignment as Director of System of Systems Integration for ASA(ALT).

"I'm very proud of the work we accomplished together at PEO C3T," Hughes said. "A robust tactical communications network is essential in supporting the Army's transformation to a globally responsive and expeditionary force. But it must be intuitive. Together, we worked to advance critical capabilities while at the same time making simplification of the network a key priority."

PEO C3T is fielding the Army's and Army National Guard's network communications backbone for expeditionary and regionally aligned operations. The newest communications equipment, fielded as capability sets, provides mobile satellite and robust radio capability so commanders and Soldiers can take the network with them in vehicles or when dismounted.

Martin assumes his new assignment at an important time as the PEO continues to field advanced network capability to more than 75 units per year, including capability sets to the 10th Mountain Division, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Infantry Division, and 1st Armored Division. These units and others have employed their tactical network equipment in overseas operations, including Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation United Assistance, Operation Atlantic Resolve and Pacific operations.

"It's an honor to be a part of this great team," Martin said. "The Army has entrusted some of its most critical modernization programs to this organization. I am excited to return to the PEO C3T community and to work with you in continuing the very critical mission of fielding the Army's tactical network."

Martin takes lead of PEO C3T following his assignment as the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command deputy to the commanding general where he focused on the day-to-day missions of the command, which is responsible for the life-cycle management of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.

A former Signal Corps Officer, Martin comes to PEO C3T with broad experience, having served as the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command executive director to the commanding general; the technical director for the Communications-Electronics, Research Development and Engineering Center; and as deputy project manager and acting project manager for the Army's tactical radio systems.

"I look forward to carrying on the important mission that Maj. Gen. Hughes put in place of extending a Soldier's 'digital reach' while also working to simplify these systems," Martin said. "As we continue to transition to a more expeditionary force, these communications capabilities will provide our Soldiers with the right information at the point of need."

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