Col. Terrence Howard will soon be trading in his officer's uniform for the attire of a traveling tourist.
Plans have already been made for a cross-country driving tour that will include several weeks of golfing and camping as Howard makes his way to the west coast with his favorite cousin as his driving partner. Both will be celebrating their retirements from active military service.
"We enlisted together in the Army buddy program," Howard said. "This will be a trip of reflection and relaxation that will take us off the beaten path. We want to see the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore, but we also want to see things that people typically don't see."
Before he can drive off into the sunset, Howard, who serves as the project manager for the Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, has some business to take care of, namely the retirement and change of charter ceremonies that will mark the passage of a fulfilling 31-year Army career. His retirement luncheon will be July 21 at Valley Hill Country Club while the Change of Charter ceremony is set for July 22 at 1 p.m. in the Bob Jones Auditorium.
"I have truly enjoyed this last assignment working with the great professionals at CMDS," Howard said. "We put radars and air defense systems in the hands of warfighters. We are charged with providing enhanced air defense capabilities in the national capital region and to our combatant commanders. It's a unique mission that makes us responsible for materiel capabilities of the Army's radars and air defense capabilities."
Much of the work done today by the CMDS project office ramped up after the 9/11 attacks. Not only did CMDS employees take on the demands of providing air defense for warfighters in theater, but also they assumed a new mission in support of the national capital region.
"Because of 9/11, we have systems in place in the national capital region that are able to respond to potential adversary threats. We are always on guard in providing protection for the area," Howard said. "We also work closely with the Pacific Command, Central Command, Northern Command and European Command to provide air defense capabilities."
The CMDS arsenal of short- and medium-range air defense systems -- including Improved Sentinal Radar, Stinger Based Systems, Avenger, the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) and the Integrated Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC2-I) -- protect U.S. forces and the interests of coalition and NATO partners against the enemy threats of cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, rotary and fixed wing assets, rockets, mortars and artillery projectiles.
"The largest growing threats are unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, and the proliferation of them both," Howard said.
"We address one of the most difficult missile technical challenges there is -- shooting a bullet at a bullet. It requires a precise approach. We want to set conditions where potential enemies can't even put those systems in place to shoot the enemy bullet. Very simply put, we protect people and assets on the ground from bad things that are flying in the sky."
The CMDS mission goes beyond providing air defense technologies.
"We are not only focused on the materiel piece. We also have the training aspect to ensure Soldiers can identify the threat and effectively employ the systems," Howard said.
Providing the overall support of air defense systems for the warfighter in theater appeals to this Desert Storm/Operation Iraqi Freedom war veteran. He served several years as an enlisted Soldier before being commissioned as an air defense officer in 1988 and then joining the Army Acquisition Corps in 1997.
"I joined the Army because I was inspired by the stories that my uncle and other family members told me. I decided one of the best things I could do for myself and for my country was to serve in the military," he said. "Then, I was inspired to become an officer by the leadership of those officers who led me. I was inspired by their stories of how they have made a difference in the organizations where they were serving."
His three years as an enlisted Soldier helped him to understand the sacrifices that Soldiers make every day. He started his officer career as 2nd lieutenant with the Hawk missile system and later commanded a Patriot Battery in Germany as a captain. He deployed to Operation Desert Storm with the Hawk missile system and commanded a Patriot Battery during a Southwest Asia rotation.
"That rotation in Southwest Asia really affected me. I saw how life can be and I grew a stronger appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy on U.S. soil," Howard said. "The biggest take away for me is to not take things for granted. I learned to step back and truly appreciate what we have and the price Soldiers have paid for our freedoms. Those kinds of experiences shape leaders."
Throughout his career, Howard has remained committed to the Army mission.
"I live by the saying often quoted by program executive officer (Missiles and Space) Barry Pike that 'Anything worth doing is worth doing right,'" he said. "When I'm committed, it's 100 percent. I tell my team 'You are going to get the very best out of me and, in turn, I want the very best out of you. But it starts with me.'"
After retirement, Howard plans to commit himself to a second career in support of Soldiers. Once he returns from his travels west, he will settle with his family in Huntsville. His wife Karen, who grew up in a military family, has remained committed to the Army life during her husband's career. They have two sons -- one who is attending Western Kentucky University and the other who is a senior at Huntsville High School.
"I have a love for the community and for the air defense community," Howard said. "My entire career has been about new experiences and new opportunities, and making some friends along the way. I will continue that once I take off this uniform. I have a lot of pride in this uniform and what it stands for. My passion has been wearing this uniform, and representing our nation and doing the nation's business. That will always be with me."
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