SMDC hosts Change of Charter

By Jason B. Cutshaw, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public AffairsFebruary 19, 2016

SMDC hosts Change of Charter
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command separates its Training and Doctrine Command Capability Manager roles into two lines of effort in a Change of Charter at the command's Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, headquarter... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama -- The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command celebrated a historic event as the command bestowed the authority of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, Capability Managers on two colonels.

Col. Matthew T. Tedesco assumed responsibility as TRADOC Capability Manager, or TCM, for Global Ballistic Missile Defense, or GBMD, and Col. Christopher D. Baker assumed responsibility as TCM for Space and High Altitude, or SHA, during a ceremony Feb. 18.

TCM positions were chartered by TRADOC to coordinate with warfighting organizations to ensure equipment needs are met as well as ensure materiel needs and requirements are met.

James B. Johnson, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Future Warfare Center director thanked the team for what they do on a daily basis and passed on what a general he worked for once told him, "'Who you are is much more important than what you do.'

"These two officers are two of the finest with whom I've had the privilege to serve," he said. "What you do is vitally important to the mission of this command and, frankly, to the Army as a whole."

Johnson talked about FWC's 2015 reorganization and how the TCM Space and Global Missile Defense split into TCM SHA and TCM GBMD.

"Above all, this change allows for greater attention and coverage and is especially important given the improvements in increased operational tempo of both mission areas," Johnson explained.

He said that their roles support TRADOC and perform the force modernization mission within approved TRADOC processes.

"Most of you know SMDC/ARSTRAT is the Army's force modernization proponent for space, high altitude and global missile defense," Johnson said. "We define and integrate solutions to improve the effectiveness of the Army's space and missile defense systems and processes, while also working to meet a long list of operational requirements.

"In their roles as TCMs, Col. Tedesco and Col. Baker maintain a number of unique and important responsibilities," he added. "They are the primary user representatives and requirement document representatives to the Army research and development and acquisition communities for space, high altitude and missile defense requirements."

In 2015, SMDC identified a need to split the TCM position to identify and integrate solutions to support the TRADOC workforce in its modernization mission, Tedesco said.

"The threat is getting more robust and we have to decide what to do in the future," he said. "We do a lot of important efforts to support the Warfighter every day."

The TCM GBMD advocates for global missile defense-enabled capabilities to provide surveillance and warning systems that are developed and fielded to protect the U.S. and its coalition partners.

"TCMs will come and go. The most important thing today is to recognize the folks in the room," Tedesco added. "The most important thing about today is to recognize the team. There are a lot of people who work for the TCMs. There is a lot of great work being done by the Soldiers, by the staff, by the Department of the Army civilians and by the contractors."

Baker made the point that even though TCMs are chartered by TRADOC, part of the command's goal was to be accepted by TRADOC and improve the Army's capabilities.

"We wanted to know if their team would accept us as we move forward, and nothing says acceptance like a tasker from [the TRADOC] three-star general," Baker said. "That tells me, and it should tell you, we are breaking down barriers and we are moving things forward in this community -- not only in TRADOC, but also in Army channels."

The TCM SHA is the single user representative and advocate for space- and high altitude-enabled capabilities. These capabilities and systems are operated in support of combined and joint military operations.

"This is a great opportunity to serve Soldiers; it really means a lot to me," Baker said. "As we move forward, we will continue to serve this command and our Soldiers very well. As we started this path there were some unknowns and I think that we have worked to solve those unknowns and deliver a quality product."

Related Links:

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USASMDC/ARSTRAT Twitter feed

TCM Change of Charter Flickr photo set