SMDC colonel accepts TCM SMD Assumption of Charter

By Jason CutshawJuly 24, 2019

SMDC colonel accepts TCM SMD Assumption of Charter
Col. Douglas J. Waddingham talks about the importance of his new mission after accepting the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's Assumption of Charter for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Capability ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama - One colonel receives a charter to defend the nation.

Col. Douglas J. Waddingham accepted the Assumption of Charter for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Capability Manager for Strategic Missile Defense, or TCM SMD, at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's Redstone Arsenal headquarters July 22.

The USASMDC/ARSTRAT's TCM SMD is responsible for ensuring the integration and synchronization of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policies, or DOTMLPF, requirements for their chartered capability areas and programs.

"Today, to reflect changes in technologies and the operational environment, TCM Ground-Based Missile Defense has been renamed as TCM Strategic Missile Defense," said Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson, SMDC commanding general. "On behalf of the warfighter, Doug will make the connections between the different aspects of our missile defense forces and capabilities, ensuring the requirements, acquisition and operational communities are working in sync to keep the Army ready to fight and win with capability overmatch that guarantees our advantage.

"A TRADOC Capability Manager is a colonel with certain authorities delegated from the commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command," he added. "As the Army's user representative, he will provide a focal point for centrally managing and integrating all aspects of strategic missile defense proponency and capability development."

Dickinson said that with the release of the current Missile Defense Review and the nation's strategic focus being toward revisionist state competitors as the highest priority threats, capabilities are becoming increasingly prominent issues for senior leaders, policy makers and legislators. He added that missile defense forces and capabilities are also vital to the Army's ongoing development of multi-domain operations.

"Col. Waddingham will have the ability to influence everything within the purview of Army strategic missile defense, from force structure and training to requirements, acquisition and much more," Dickinson said. "You are definitely the right officer at the right time to take on this very important responsibility as the TRADOC Capability Manager for Strategic Missile Defense. We look forward to all the great things that are going to continue to happen."

The ceremony officially charged Waddingham as the TCM SMD leader with the duty of planning and implementing the organization's roles and responsibilities.

"I am humbled and honored in your presence," Waddingham said. "The assemblage of talent and expertise we have in the TCM is like no other that I have ever seen. You just give them their right and left limits, point them in the right direction and they do all of the work. It is a great team, but the team is not just the TCM but all of SMDC and every two and three letter organization you can think of."

Waddingham said that in his role as the TCM SMD, he will advocate for strategic missile defense capabilities to provide warning and weapons systems designed to protect the U.S. and coalition forces.

"I read the charter several times this past weekend and one line jumped out at me, 'TCM SMD is the users advocate for all DOTMLPF solutions for strategic missile defense,'" Waddingham said. "I read that to say in front of everyone in this room as my witnesses to hold me accountable. I will be the biggest champion and advocate for the TCM, for our warfighter and our mission.

"Thank you so much for honoring me by being here," he added. "Thank you for this great opportunity because I know how great this opportunity is."

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