FORT HUACHUCA, Arizona (December 13, 2017) - Members of the Network Enterprise Technology Command bid farewell to Daniel Q. Bradford, Senior Executive Service, in a Retreat ceremony December 13, in front of Greely Hall on Fort Huachuca. Bradford will depart to take a position at Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
Bradford held multiple roles in the global organization during his past 10-plus years. He served as the Deputy to the Commanding General, Senior Technical Director and Chief Engineer for NETCOM. Bradford, as the command's senior Civilian, also had a direct impact on the health, training and well-being of the Civilian workforce.
But Bradford's forte has been to steer the command's and the Army's network technologies.
"During Dan's time, he's managed enormous portfolios in our budget," said Maj. Gen. John Baker, NETCOM commanding general. "Over this time, that's accumulated to over $11 billion. He has supported over 3,000 contracts across the globe, with $700 million tied to the execution of those contracts almost on an annual basis. I can't overstate the significance of this kind of responsibility and Dan's ability to rise to these challenges."
Baker also specifically mentioned several initiatives Bradford was instrumental in moving from the drawing board into reality. Initiatives included the command's partnering with Carnegie Mellon University and develop the "Gaining Cyber Dominance" training program, and the planning and execution of the extension of the host-based security system, which helps us protect the Army's endpoint devices -- from laptops to VoIP phones and more.
"In 2009, Dan oversaw the stand-up of what is now known as our Advanced Capabilities Engineering Directorate," Baker said. "With an annual budget of over $14 million, Dan has operationalized this part of our staff and their ability to bring us new technologies. I call them our technology incubators. They're our bridge to the corporate entities that code and develop new software and systems."
One of those systems is Tamizar, a $10 million defensive cyber operations program designed to identify malicious activity and bad actors on our networks.
Baker also credited Bradford's wife, Marissa, and his family with much of his success.
"I just want to say 'thank you' to each and every one of you for your support, trust, mentorship, teamwork, and guidance over the years," Bradford said. "I've had a successful career because of my wife, family, and each of you -- success would have been impossible otherwise."
Bradford started his career in the Signal Corps as a second lieutenant in 1980, and his first assignment was at Greely Hall, when the organization was called Army Communications Command.
"When I arrived, we were fielding multi-subscriber equipment and teletype rigs; Morse code was still used for high speed intercept operations and communications, and computers didn't really exist in the form they do today," Bradford said. "Now we are engaged in cyber warfare, carry mobile devices in our pocket that are more powerful than the computers we used for manned spaceflight, and communicate instantly with video, voice, and data anywhere in the world -- and it's expected."
Bradford wrapped up his remarks thanking those in attendance and offering words of inspiration.
"I would tell you that each of you have played a vital part to protect and defend our great Nation, and although the threats, circumstances, and players have changed since I arrived in 1980, what's consistent is the American spirit, innovation, can-do attitude, and our ability to adapt," Bradford said.
"It's what truly makes us Americans. Above all, and what I take with me, is the dedication, intellect, and fellowship that I've seen among our Soldiers and Civilians."
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