ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - - The list of accolades is long for Jyuji Hewitt -- STEM champion, environmental steward and dedicated mentor. Upon retirement, he will have fulfilled 39 years of service to the Army.
Hewitt, the executive deputy to the commanding general, or EDCG, at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, retires April 27 in an outdoor ceremony in front of the former headquarters of the U.S. Army Ordnance Center & School, which now serves as RDECOM headquarters, where his career began.
Hewitt arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1978 as a freshly minted "butter bar" (2nd Lieutenant) and just graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.
Midway thru Hewitt's career and after review of his performance record and his transcripts, the Army's Office of Personnel Development, or OPD, requested he apply for graduate school. He thought OPD was kidding.
"But they came back, saying, 'We need you to do this.'" Four weeks later, Hewitt was in the Army Advanced Civilian Schooling Program, studying nuclear physics.
"Throughout my military and civilian career, I always felt it necessary to continue as a life-long learner." With the Army's help, Hewitt earned three master's degrees, in systems management, nuclear physics and strategic studies.
Hewitt's military career included assignments as executive director for Support, Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq; deputy commander and executive director for Ammunition, U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command; and Army Material Command deputy chief of staff. He retired from active duty in 2006 as a colonel.
"Working with the civilian corps at AMC (as deputy chief of staff) was beneficial to me. It was the kind of assignment where you learn the breadth of what AMC does."
He said that assignment prepared him for his next assignment as chief of staff for the JMC.
Hewitt was selected for Senior Executive Service in September 2006 and entered civilian service in January 2007.
He became the RDECOM EDCG in July 2013, at the beginning of that year's government furlough. He visited the Army Research Laboratory and the command's six Research, Development and Engineering Centers, or RDECs, to learn about the command, and about RDECOM's mission, strategy and how the command fit in the overall context of the Army.
"How does an Army Research Lab's mission mesh up with the Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center's mission? Where do they connect?" Hewitt asked.
While the RDECs and ARL have operational independence, Hewitt consistently conveyed the bigger picture of what the Army is trying to achieve. He explained that technology development had a faster turnaround time during wartime, but there was still the Army's formal program of record process before a technology could find its way to the field.
Since serving in 2013, he has been the EDCG for three notable RDECOM commanders. Hewitt said every senior leader he served with taught him something new by giving him new tasks and helping him build relationships for the future.
"I've learned, over time, to be flexible. It becomes more of a collaboration and a trusted relationship with everyone," he said, reflecting on his career at RDECOM.
When Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins became the RDECOM commanding general in August 2016, Wins said he relied on Hewitt. He noted that he enjoys their weekly interactions and Hewitt's ability to "bring folks in our command together with his sense of humor during our update briefs."
A hallmark of Hewitt's success is his sincere recognition of the workforce and his wholehearted participation in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, program.
One of his fondest STEM memories is from the 2016 eCYBERMISSION, a nationwide online science fair in which teams of three or four students create science projects that are judged by Army scientists. Last year, a group of young women from Puerto Rico had won their regional competition and Hewitt gave them a call with the good news.
"I had the chance to inform the school that they were regional winners and were to come to the national event, and the scream that came out of that room was the most enthusiastic I'd ever heard! The teachers were proud, and the girls were proud!" Hewitt recalled.
His passion for the STEM program was clearly evident in his work with local schools and weekend events, such as the STEM and Scouting program.
"I was pretty fond of that. The Boy Scouts came in and I said, 'Okay, where's the Girl Scouts?' So the next year, we brought in the Girl Scouts. We've got some bright, bright, kids coming up, and that's always something I'll remember," he said.
While Hewitt championed the Army STEM program, he also believed in the value of mentoring. He mentored several people during his career, including David Grieco, Marc Ritt and Dr. Stephanie M. Piraino who served as Hewitt's executive officers. Both said they gained valuable skills from working for Hewitt, including how to maneuver the complexities of a dynamic command.
"Mr. Hewitt patiently supported my learning and development, and I learned how RDECOM synchs into the Army as a whole," Grieco said.
"He always made sure that I was thinking about the task at hand just as thoroughly as he was. He was a fantastic mentor. The future of the Army was clearly a top priority for him," Ritt added.
"Mr. Hewitt leads by example with an unmatched work ethic that solidly rests on his leadership skills, knowledge of science and engineering, and unparalleled and genuine good nature. His unwavering pursuit of RDECOM's mission in support of the Army and the Soldier served as the noblest example of true leadership. While we celebrate his retirement with him, the Army, AMC and RDECOM bid farewell to a remarkable leader," said Piraino.
While his retirement plans are not definite, Hewitt and his wife, Susan, will continue to live in Peach Bottom, Pa. He intends to continue supporting STEM events, spend time with family, play golf and watch his favorite teams -- the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Hewitt may still be seen on the fairways and greens at Ruggles Golf Course, here at APG, enjoying a round of golf.
"I'm going to leave saying, 'Wow! We did that.' From the scientists working and setting up the experiments, working with academia and fundamental research, RDECOM has tremendous capabilities. How can we get this into the hands of the Soldier?"
"That kind of research, this amazing stuff: I am going to miss all that."
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The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command has the mission to provide innovative research, development and engineering to produce capabilities for 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:
U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center
U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
U.S. Army Army Research Laboratory
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center
U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center
Army Education Outreach Program
U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center
U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
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