ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The 2025 Commander’s Conference brought together leadership from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command’s headquarters and subordinate commands to discuss the Army and CECOM in transition Feb. 5-6, 2025.
The event, hosted by CECOM Commanding General Maj. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, also focused on aligning the command with the up-to-date Army Materiel Command’s lines of effort.
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The first day of the conference kicked off with a fireside chat, giving senior leaders from Army Futures Command an opportunity to provide context on several topics that directly or indirectly support transformation efforts.
The panel discussion included Brig. Gen. Marne L. Sutten, the director of Network Command, Control, Cyber Communications Systems Integration Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6; Technical Director Col. Michael Kaloostian, U.S. Army Futures Command; and Director Commanders Action Group Col. Brian North, AFC.
Topics of discussion included Army senior leadership priorities, Army focus areas, and modernization priorities. Other topics included Next Generation Command and Control, an initiative by the Army aimed at enhancing command and control systems, and the C2 Fix initiative, which aims to streamline and modernize the communications networks of a division and its assigned brigade combat teams. Another highlight of the fireside chat included an engaging rapid question-and-answer session.
Highlighting transformation efforts to meet the needs of the Army
The second day of the conference kicked off with a presentation from Andrew Rehkop, director of CECOM Transformation. Rehkop explained that continuous transformation is the way the Army remains dominant against evolving and emerging threats in an era of rapid change in the character of war.
Rehkop said that commanders execute continuous transformation by capitalizing on windows of opportunity, innovating with organizational change, injecting and experimenting with new materials, and taking prudent risks to achieve Army objectives within available resources, structure, and budget.
After Rehkop’s presentation, commanders gave briefings on how their organization is involved in Army transformation efforts. Leadership shared accomplishments, best practices, and challenges with one another and strategically planned how CECOM will take on any new transformation efforts in FY25.
During the CECOM Monday Morning Address on Feb. 10, 2025, Turinetti said his key takeaway from the conference is that the Army is moving quickly, and there is a sense of great urgency for our modernizing Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Medical equipment. CECOM must transform to meet the needs of the Army. Turinetti said, “we have some work to do” to adjust to that fight.
“No one is going to solve that problem for us, so it is incumbent upon us to make sure we interject ourselves into these programs and make sure we understand how to sustain the Army of the future,” Turinetti said. “Which is exactly why we stood up the CECOM Transformation team with Drew and his small cohort.”
Col. Reginald M. “Garrette” Harris, director of plans and operations and assistant chief of staff G3/G5 for CECOM, described the cross-dialogue during the conference as “resounding and effective.”
“We received positive feedback and comments across the command for an excellent showcase of talented leaders during the fireside chat and the conference itself,” he said. “I believe the CECOM leadership and participants were well pleased by the outpouring of support and dialogue from all participants.”
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