PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Stephen J. Bielamowicz assumed responsibility of Terrain Shaping Obstacles (TSO) from Lt. Col. Isaac V. Cuthbertson during a change of charter ceremony held at the Lindner Conference Center on June 1.
Product Manager Terrain Shaping Obstacles (PdM TSO) develops and manages systems and munitions that shape the battlefield by denying the enemy access to key terrain and restricting the enemy's ability to maneuver freely.
The change of charter ceremony was hosted by Col. Russell Hoff, Project Manager Close Combat Systems, who spoke of Cuthbertson’s character and his ability to navigate the difficulties of being a product manager.
“Every program has difficulties--whether design setbacks, schedule slips, test failures, or just not enough funding,” Hoff said. “Through Isaac’s guidance and leadership, and working with our Industry partners, the collective team consistently rebounded from those downturns.”
During his tenure as product manager, Cuthbertson brought the U.S Army’s XM204 Interim Top Attack system from the development phase into production. The XM204 eliminates the legacy method of hand emplacing land mines by allowing operators to target and deter tracked vehicles operated by near-peer adversaries.
Cuthbertson also led the U.S. Army’s XM343 Standoff Activated Volcano Obstacle (SAVO) into production. The SAVO can block, turn, fix, and disrupt enemy formations in accordance with the commander’s ground tactical plan.
“You can just look to the news for the ongoing events in Ukraine over the past year, there are videos that highlight the battlefield effects that landmines are playing to stop Russian tanks,” Hoff added. “These videos and news stories showcase the importance that these future programs will have for the U.S. Army and its international partners.
Cuthbertson thanked God and his family for being by his side during his tenure as product manager. “Without you all I wouldn’t have been able to be here today leading such a fine team,” he said.
As Product Manager Terrain Shaping Obstacles, Bielamowicz will now serve as the total lifecycle systems manager reporting to Project Manager Close Combat Systems, which is part of the larger Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition.
Bielamowicz is no stranger to Picatinny Arsenal, having started his career at the installation in 1999, and most recently served as the acting Deputy Project Director Joint Bombs.
Bielamowicz was board-selected as product manager as part of the U.S. Army’s highly competitive Acquisition Centralized Selection List process.
“This portfolio has a unique mission that brings with it unique challenges,” said Bielamowicz. “I am incredibly excited and humbled by this responsibility, and I am looking forward to learning from each of you and growing together as professionals as we continue to execute this important mission.”
Systems that are part of Product Manager TSO include cutting-edge, Man-In-The-Loop Spider Networked Munition, Close Terrain Shaping Obstacles and legacy mines. The office ensures that Soldiers have the capability to impede enemy movement across the full spectrum of operations, shaping the battlefield and providing force protection, while in compliance with the national policy on landmine use.
Social Sharing