PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Leadership for the office of the Product Manager for Excalibur changed hands here July 7.
Lt. Col. Joseph Minus handed over responsibility to Lt. Col. Michael Milner during a ceremony officiated by Col. Ole Knudson, project manager for Combat Ammunition Systems.
During the ceremony, Knudson highlighted Minus' time at Excalibur. Minus was the assistant product manager for CAS and the XM982 Excalibur from 2003-2005 and in 2006 was named product manager for Excalibur. The XM982 Excalibur is the world's first precision-guided artillery projectile
During this time, Minus led a diverse team of military, Army civilians and contractors who completed the round's development and fielded. He expertly managed Excalibur increment Ia-1, obtained the milestone C decision, completed the improved Ia-2 projectile and initiated the Excalibur Ib program. Minus' Excalibur team completed a Limited User Test and overcame numerous obstacles in fielding Excalibur to Iraq in support of an Urgent Need Request, Knudson said.
The ceremony also marked the retirement of Minus after 21 years in the military. For his service to the Army, Minus received the Legion of Merit, as well as congratulatory letters from Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army Lt. Gen. N. Ross Thompson and Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command Commanding General Brig. Gen. Larry Wyche. Minus also received a retirement certificate and a certificate of appreciation from President Barack Obama.
Additionally, his wife Maj. Jennifer Minus received a certificate of appreciation and military spouse medal.
Knudson noted that incoming PM Excalibur commander Milner brings a wealth of experience and leadership to PM Excalibur.
"He was an armored cavalry officer serving in numerous command and leadership positions. He most recently was heavily involved in supporting theater operations serving both as a contracting officer at Camp Victory near Bagdad and as the commander of the Defense Contracting Management Agency-Italy supporting the (Central Command area of responsibility)," Knudson said.
"Though the Excalibur charter has changed hands, the charter itself has not changed. We must strive to deliver lethal, accurate capabilities to the warfighter," Milner said. "They count on us and we can't fail them. Though we have taken a quick breather today for this ceremony, the pace will quickly resume."
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