HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Redstone Arsenal is growing and thriving.
Redstone Senior Commander Lt. Gen. Ed Daly shared that message at the Redstone Update presented by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, Dec. 4 at the Von Braun Center's North Hall in Huntsville, Ala.
With 44,000 workers and 78 agencies, this Army post has evolved into a Federal Center of Excellence with worldwide impact. Daly said its four core competencies include logistics services; space operations and missile defense; research, development, test and engineering; and intelligence and homeland defense.
"Our nation's leaders look to us to solve complex issues, to discover new ideas, to address threats and, ultimately, to keep our nation safe," Daly said. "Our missions extend way beyond any state or U.S. boundary. We have a worldwide impact."
The Redstone workforce is projected to exceed 50,000 by 2025; and this is without any base realignment and closure action. Currently, Redstone Arsenal has a $22 billion economic impact annually, more than 44,000 employees with indirect employment of 108,000, and more than $2 billion in infrastructure, Daly said.
"Redstone Arsenal is growing, we are thriving and it's absolutely, unequivocally these continuing efforts that make us relevant not only to the Tennessee Valley but also to the nation's defense,"
he said.
Daly reviewed some of the major impacts of Redstone's 78-plus tenants. The installation's senior command -- Army Materiel Command -- has a $50 billion a year budget, and its workforce has grown from 120,000 to 190,000 worldwide as the Army shifts missions to AMC.
"AMC is focused on logistics and sustainment support of Army equipment from the installation all the way to the foxhole," Daly said.
One of AMC's major subordinate commands located at Redstone -- the Security Assistance Command -- is building partner capacity worldwide with a $300 billion portfolio and $18 billion worth of new business annually.
Redstone tenants are making huge contributions to the nation's defense and space strategies, Daly said, including the Space and Missile Defense Command's expanding operational lead in the Army's space programs, Marshall Space Flight Center role in propulsion as well as in space ground systems, Missile Defense Agency's development of the nation's layered missile defense programs, the Future Vertical Lift Cross Development Team's management of a $3 billion investment in Army aviation, and the Missile and Space Intelligence Center's role in defense intelligence. In addition, the FBI is investing nearly $500 million in facilities at Redstone while its Hazardous Devices School continues to lead the agency's bomb technician training efforts, training 20,000 federal, state and local agents since 1971.
Daly credited four ways that the Tennessee Valley supports Redstone's relevance: economic development, the value put on infrastructure investments, the "unequaled" quality of life, and a continued focus on education at all levels that not only provides a qualified workforce today but also sets "skill sets for tomorrow and that allows us to thrive for the next several decades."
Redstone needs employees interested in contracting, engineering, administration, finance, human resources and vocational trades. "As the mission grows, so does the Redstone Arsenal workforce and the skill sets required," Daly said. "We have to be prepared to support the workforce of tomorrow."
Throughout his career, Daly and his family have moved to 18 different locations both within and outside the continental United States.
"Without a doubt Redstone Arsenal is the best place my family and I have been stationed," Daly said. He attributed its excellence to the people.
Regarding partnership, Daly said there is "no daylight between us in terms of the direction we are heading and what we want to achieve tomorrow." Partnerships with the community and support from the community is "revolutionary and game changing, and makes me optimistic and confident about our strategy going forward."
Looking to 2025-30, he said, "We're not settling for a double here. We're looking for a home run on the glide plan and synchronized with the local community.
"Remember that we're much more than an Army installation. We are a federal center of excellence."
During the luncheon with more than 790 attendees, he unveiled the new Redstone Arsenal video and he discussed the "revolutionary and game-changing initiatives taking place on Redstone Arsenal."
"I can tell you we are doing things right," Daly said. "But we're also focused on doing the right things."
He said Redstone Arsenal remains "the Tennessee Valley center of gravity and I look forward to our future partnership together."
The morning program preceding the luncheon included presentations by Redstone organization leaders and a panel discussion. The 350 attendees heard from Brig. Gen. Walter Rugen, director of the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team; Jeri Manley, deputy director of Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Cross Functional Team; James Johnson, deputy commander of the Space and Missile Defense Command; Col. Ian Humphrey, project manager for the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or RCCTO, Hypersonic Project Office; Rob Hamilton, senior executive for FBI Redstone Operations Support; and Jody Singer, director of Marshall Space Flight Center.
"We love Redstone Arsenal," Singer said. "We love where we work and play."
John Nerger served as moderator for a panel discussion on Redstone's four core competencies. The panelists included Maj. Gen. Doug Gabram, director of test for the Missile Defense Agency; Juanita Christensen, executive director of the Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center; Bill Marriott, deputy commander of the Aviation and Missile Command; Special Agent Brice McCracken, division chief for the National Center for Explosives Training and Research, ATF; and Charles Basham, chief of staff for the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space.
After the luncheon, attendee Suzanne Norris shared her thoughts about the Redstone Update. She is vice president of administration for Engenix, a woman owned small business.
"It was incredible, informative and in my mind I just kept thinking there is so much that people that live here do not even realize that's happening, the scope, the depth and the breadth and the impact we have that's everywhere," Norris said. "And it makes me so proud to be part of this community and it inspires me to do my very best and to support the efforts."
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