SMDC welcomes new capabilities manager

By Jason Cutshaw, USASMDCJuly 17, 2024

SMDC welcomes new capabilities manager
Col. Thomas V. Petrini, right, accepts the Army Capabilities Manager for Strategic Missile Defense charter from Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command commanding general, during a Change of Charter, July 16, at the command’s Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, headquarters. Petrini assumed responsibility for the organization from Col. Thomas M. Noble. (U.S. Army photo by Carrie David Campbell) (Photo Credit: Carrie David Campbell) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – One U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command leader assumed a new position to serves as the Army’s centralized manager for capability development associated with strategic missile defense.

Col. Thomas V. Petrini accepted the position as the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence’s Army Capabilities Manager for Strategic Missile Defense from Col. Tom M. Noble during a Change of Charter at the command’s Redstone Arsenal headquarters, July 16.

“Passing the charter is the same as changing out a brigade, and we have two of our finest officers here today,” said Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general.

“Tom Petrini has a very rich background in air defense and all the right jobs in air defense leading up to this position,” Gainey said. “He is very familiar with capabilities and a great addition. We are excited to get you on the team.”

Gainey said the things ACM SMD works with on a day-to-day basis include the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System that protects the homeland; the AN/TPY-2 radars that are critical to the regional defense, and the integration of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, among others.

“Tom Noble has enabled the integration of an advanced battle management system to the national region’s integrated air defense system, significantly improving the architecture already in place,” Gainey said. “Tom has done a lot for our Army, and he has excelled at it. Thank you for all you have done for SMDC.”

ACM SMD’s scope of responsibility includes centralized management for current and future strategic missile defense capabilities with a focus on Army equities regarding the weapons, sensors and battle management systems constituting the global strategic missile defense architecture.

Petrini said he looked forward to working with the team, and he was humbled by the great group of leaders and friends who joined the ceremony to support him.

“Thank you for being here today and thanks for the warm welcome and the confidence as I join this great SMDC team,” Petrini said. “This is the number one place to work in the Army in one of the best cities in the country. I am humbled by this opportunity and truly excited to be here.

“Being a part of this ACM is both special and sobering to me,” he added. “This great group of professionals is the team that manages capabilities that support the Soldiers who protect my family, our families and our way of life every single day. What an important mission, and I can’t wait for the challenge.”

Noble said the great people who worked with him in ACM SMD were experts who made the mission successful.

“I could not have done any of this without all of you,” Noble said. “This job has been really eye-opening for me. I came here not knowing exactly what I was going to do as an ACM and I could not be more grateful to the team of winners who I have worked with here.”

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/armysmdc/albums/72177720318865374