PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- Brig. Gen. Alfred F. Abramson III, relinquished his positions as Picatinny Arsenal Commanding General, and Program Executive Officer Armaments and Ammunition, during a virtual Change of Charter Ceremony announced May 18.
During the taped ceremony, made necessary because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Abramson passed the ceremonial "Keys to the Cannon Gates" to Brig. Gen. Vincent F. Malone II to signify the transfer of leadership. The ceremony can be viewed at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGp5jnDqGTw.
The change of leadership at Picatinny was formally announced to the workforce on Monday through an email from Dr. Bruce Jette, the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition, Logistic and Technology. All Army program executive offices report to Jette in his capacity as Army Acquisition Executive.
“We honor Brigadier General Alfred F. Abramson III for his leadership and significant accomplishments as the Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition. We also welcome Brigadier General Vincent F. Malone II as the new leader,” Jette said during the ceremony.
“Brigadier General Abramson has served with distinction as the JPEO since December 2017, leading the mission to develop and procure conventional and leap-ahead munitions to increase the warfighter’s combat power,” Jette said. “During his tenure, he managed a budget of more than $4 billion, lead a workforce of more than 1,000 military, civilian and contractor professionals, who are responsible for the development, production, fielding, sustainment and improvement of over 400 products.
“Al Abramson has done a superb job strengthening the link and solidifying the trust with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines this JPEO serves, and well as the organic industrial base and partner nations” Jette continued, adding that Abramson has significantly advanced the Army’s modernization efforts.
In his remarks, Abramson said he had mixed emotions at a time to say farewell to all. “It’s been my absolute honor and privilege to work alongside a truly dedicated, professional workforce team,” he said. “It has been extremely rewarding to visit the different spaces on the installation to see first-hand the work you do in support of our warfighters. I was always impressed as well as encouraged that the work you do will provide lethal capability for our service members not only for today, but the service members who will serve well into the future.”
Malone previously served as Deputy Commanding General of the Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), later renamed the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) upon transition of RDECOM into the Army’s Future’s Command in February 2019.
Prior to his CCDC assignment, Malone was assigned as the Military Deputy to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Plans, Program & Resources, OASA (ALT), Washington, D.C., where he served as the co-executive of the Equipping and Sustaining Program Evaluation Groups responsible for overseeing the planning, programming, budgeting and execution of all associated funding.
Malone thanked Abramson for putting the joint program office and Picatinny in a posture for success going forward.
The incoming commander said the nation’s faces threats not only from the COVID-19 pandemic, but also from major powers across the globe. “Our nation requires a more lethal, resilient and rapidly innovating military,” he said. “But we can’t do it alone. We must maintain a robust network of allies and partner nations to ensure the favorable balance of power that safeguards the free and open international order that we enjoy today.
“We have a critical mission in part to play of our nation’s defense,” Malone said. “JPEO Armaments and Ammunition, along with the broader Picatinny team, lead the development, procurement and delivery of lethal armaments and ammunition, providing joint warfighters with overmatch capabilities to defeat current and future threats.”
Malone is a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned as an Infantry officer. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and Senior Service College. He holds a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Colorado, a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, and is a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University Executive Program Manager's Course.
Malone spent his formative years as a Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the 1st Battalion (ABN), 501st Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska. He was assessed into the Acquisition Corps following Company Command at Fort Benning, Georgia, and an assignment as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at West Point.
His acquisition leadership experience includes assignments as Assistant Product Manager for Light Tactical Vehicles, Commander of the Army Cold Regions Test Center and Project Manager for Training Devices. He has also served in a variety of HQDA staff positions as a systems coordinator, legislative liaison, executive officer, and portfolio director.
In addition to his recent acquisition experience, he deployed as the Chief of Plans and Integration, ARCENT Support Element -- Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge and the Ranger Tab.
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