AMRDEC engineer receives leadership award

By Kathleen Edwards, AMRDEC Public AffairsDecember 20, 2016

Sommer is a test and evaluation team lead and chief developmental tester matrixed to Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- An U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center employee was recently recognized as the Engineering and Systems Integration Professional of the Year.

The annual Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology award ceremony was held Dec. 1 in Springfield, Va. and highlighted talent from across Army acquisition to recognize those who have demonstrated excellence in their field, as well as dedication to service.

Jeannie Sommer was awarded the Honorable Dr. Claude Bolton Jr. Engineering and Systems Integration Professional of the Year Award which remembers and pays tribute to former ASA (ALT) and Army Acquisition Executive, Dr. Claude Bolton Jr. The award was established in 2016 to honor and remember his service, character and sacrifice.

Sommer is a test and evaluation team lead and chief developmental tester matrixed to Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space. She was recognized for her leadership and insight, which were pivotal to the successful demonstration of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 Intercept's end-to-end kill chain via an engineering demonstration. This demonstrated the integration of the Multi-Mission Launcher, Sentinel and Patriot radars culminating in the firing of four different interceptors in a networked environment. She established a test program that saved more than $30 million through the efficient use of test assets and range time. Sommer's contributions established the system's technical readiness to enter the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase.

In announcing the award to the Cruise Missile Defense Systems workforce, Lt. Col Michael Fitzgerald, IFPC Inc. 2-I product director, praised Sommer by saying, "Jeannie, we're incredibly proud of you and this recognition of your leadership, you make a difference."

"Jeannie has been and continues to be a tremendous asset to the Test and Evaluation Division. Since we hired her in 2009, Jeannie has supported both the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Project Office and now the CMDS Project Office and she has absolutely excelled in both roles," said Todd Christiansen, Chief, Test and Evaluation Division. "She assumed the lead T&E job for the IFPC program after moving to CMDS, and, as evident by her award, has done a great job for them. She is just one of those employees that makes everyone around her better and who you are extremely proud to have in your organization."

Sommer has been with AMRDEC for more than six years and she said, "I am very humbled and honored to have received such a prestigious award."

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The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to provide innovative research, development and engineering to produce capabilities that provide decisive overmatch to the Army against the complexities of the current and future operating environments in support of the Joint warfighter and the nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Related Links:

Army.mil: Science and Technology News

U.S. Army Materiel Command

U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command

U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center

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