REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (May 22, 2019) -- The office charged with accelerating the development of hypersonics, directed energy, and other technologies for the Army will hold an industry open house on June 12 in Huntsville, Ala.
The one-day event, hosted by the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), will update industry on the Army's planned timeline, structure and opportunities in developing a hypersonics prototype, new directed energy capabilities, and other technologies. Representatives from across the Army modernization community will be on hand to discuss the path forward in expediting the delivery of these critical modernization priorities.
"This new effort in hypersonics, directed energy, and other emerging technologies demands our full attention in order to be successful, and we can't do it alone," said Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood, director of Hypersonics, Directed Energy, Space and Rapid Acquisition. "We have formed unique partnerships across the Army, the Department of Defense and industry that will accelerate delivering these capabilities to Soldiers. Forums such as the RCCTO's open house will ensure we are moving fast, and with a shared understanding of where the Army needs to go."
The event will feature an opening keynote by LTG Thurgood, who will then chair a panel entitled, "Delivering Critical Capabilities at the Speed of Relevance." Panel members will include representatives from the Army Futures Command's Cross Functional Teams, the RCCTO, and members of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology).
The panel will be followed by sessions that will focus on the project offices representing hypersonics and directed energy, as well as a presentation from the RCCTO's Advanced Concepts and Experimentation team (formally the Emerging Technologies Office) and an overview of current RCCTO projects that are transitioning to other Army offices for program of record execution. During these sessions, project managers will give an overview of the office, path forward and possible contract opportunities. Then, one-on-one sessions with the Hypersonics and Directed Energy project offices will round out the day, giving industry the opportunity to address specific issues in closed sessions provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
The RCCTO is chartered to develop rapid prototypes and field residual combat capabilities. Originally launched in 2016 as the Rapid Capabilities Office, the organization received its new name and mission through a new charter signed in December 2018 by Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. LTG Thurgood assumed duties following Senate confirmation in March.
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