TRAC makes official move to Futures Command

By Tisha Swart-Entwistle, Combined Arms Center Public AffairsDecember 6, 2018

TRAC Cases Colors
Ceremony narrator, Lt. Col. Matt Jensen, watches as Maj. Ben Halle and TRAC Deputy Director Col. David Tarvin case the colors during the TRAC transition of authority from the Training and Doctrine Command to the Army Futures Command during a ceremony... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The creation of the Army Futures Command was announced in Oct. 2017 and officially stood up in August of this year. Since then, the ranks of the organization that has been tasked with driving the Army into the future have been filling up but the Army hasn't been hiring more civilians or military -- the Army has been reorganizing.

All of the subordinate organizations that will make up AFC already exist. These organizations will all remain at their current locations but will be realigned and restructured.

The first of those organizations, the Training and Doctrine Command Analysis Center, cased its colors and officially transitioned authority from TRADOC to AFC during a ceremony Nov. 29 at the Lewis and Clark Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

TRAC was established in 1986 at Fort Leavenworth. The organization is currently headquartered at Fort Leavenworth and has subordinate centers here, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.; Monterey, Calif.; and Fort Lee, Va.

TRAC currently employs more than 300 people and "conducts research and analysis on current operations and future scenarios to inform the most critical decisions facing Army and defense department leaders," According to Lt. Col. Matt Jensen, operations analyst for TRAC and narrator for the transition of authority ceremony.

"It was a simple ceremony, but I think an important one to mark this transition for our Army," said Gen. Stephen Townsend, TRADOC commanding general. "One thing that you all know is constant about our Army is change -- I believe this is a good change."

Townsend said he didn't know much about TRAC before taking command of TRADOC. He said that TRAC has a well-established brand that is well known in the Department of Defense.

The transfer of authority of TRAC from TRADOC to AFC is part of one of the largest reorganizations the Army has done in 45 years Townsend said.

Through its research, Townsend said, TRAC has a history of helping the Army leaders get the big decisions right.

"And that's not going to change," Townsend said. "Another thing that's not going to change, you're still going to be working on TRADOC work for the Army as well… we will be a customer."

TRAC will also get to keep the acronym that has been part of the identity of the organization for 32 years.

"Today it goes from the TRADOC Analysis Center to The Research and Analysis Center." Said Gen. John Murray, commanding general of Army Futures Command.

Murray said he looks forward to the work TRAC will be doing for AFC and the Army.

"For me this is a tremendously exciting day because I know the quality of the workforce I'm picking up," Murray said. "Your reputation is stellar."

Murray said the analytical work that TRAC will be doing as part of AFC is about the future fight.

"This is about young men and women that will be on the battlefield 20-25 years from now," Murray said. "That they have the right tools, the right concepts, the right underpinnings so they will be successful in battle."

TRAC Director Pamela Blechinger said she was excited and energized to be a part of the biggest reorganization in the Army since 1973.

Blechinger said she wanted to acknowledge the people who work at TRAC here and across the country.

"People are the most critical asset TRAC has," Blechinger said.

Blechinger also recognized 11 TRAC employees who were with the organization when it stood up in 1986, calling them the "TRAC Originals."

"It is with a bit of sadness, a lot of anticipation and a little excitement as I ask you to join me to say goodbye to the TRADOC Analysis Center and hello to The Research and Analysis Center," Blechinger said.