PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – The Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) hosted a Change of Charter Ceremony for the Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems (PM CAS) on March 14 at the Lindner Conference Center.
During the ceremony, Col. Leon Rogers transferred management authority of PM CAS to Col. Alicia Johnson. The transition marks a change in leadership for PM CAS, which is responsible for developing and procuring both conventional and precision-guided munitions for the Joint Warfighter.
Reflecting on his tenure, Rogers spoke about the dedication of his team and the impact of their work.
“Leading PM CAS has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career," Rogers said. "This organization is at the heart of the Army’s priorities, ensuring our Warfighters have the lethality they need to win. We have one goal: to deliver lethality. Over the past few years, we have expanded artillery production, strengthened our industrial base, and rapidly fielded cutting-edge munitions to meet the needs of our Army and our allies.”
Under Rogers’ leadership, 155 mm artillery production capacity surged from 14,000 rounds per month in early 2022 to 40,000 per month by December 2024. Beyond increasing production, he drove improvements in contracting and acquisition strategies, overseeing nearly 500 contract actions that directly supported the Joint Warfighter.
By implementing multi-year procurements for munitions—a first for the Army—Rogers cut through bureaucratic red tape, achieving cost savings that will benefit the Army for years to come.
Rogers also spearheaded efforts to modernize procurement processes, capitalizing on legislative changes introduced in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. PM CAS initiatives reduced acquisition timelines by 75 to 90 percent, ensuring the rapid fielding of critical munitions to both the Joint Force and international partners.
One notable achievement was reaching Milestone C on the M1128 High Explosive Base Bleed projectile, the Army’s new ‘go-to-war’ round that surpasses the traditional M795. The M1128 enables brigade combat teams to engage targets at distances of up to 30 kilometers with near-precision accuracy. Coupled with the advanced MOFA II fuze, the round enhances operational effectiveness in contested and degraded environments.
Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, the Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition, commended Rogers for his leadership and impact.
“Under Col. Rogers’ steadfast leadership, PM CAS delivered game-changing lethality to our Warfighters, ensuring our mortars and artillery remain the decisive edge in any fight,” said Reim. “We are deeply grateful for his dedication and commitment to equipping our forces with the most advanced indirect fire ammunition.”
Reim also welcomed Johnson to Picatinny Arsenal, describing her as the right leader at the right time to take PM CAS forward.
“We are thrilled to welcome Col. Johnson as the new leader of this critical portfolio,” he said. “Her proven expertise and vision make her the absolute right person to continue PM CAS efforts into a new era of cutting-edge indirect fire ammunition development.”
In recognition of Rogers' outstanding leadership during a period of transformational growth, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He was also presented with an artillery shell that had been fired in his honor at Picatinny Arsenal.
The Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems is a mission-critical project organization within the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments & Ammunition, responsible for developing, procuring, and fielding a range of conventional and precision-guided munitions for the Joint Warfighter.
Learn More: https://jpeoaa.army.mil/Project-Offices/PM-CAS/Organizations/
Social Sharing