FORT CAVAZOS, Texas— Maj. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, commanding general of the Communications-Electronics Command and Aberdeen Proving Ground senior commander, presided over a ceremony to case the colors of the Central Technical Support Facility at Fort Cavazos, Texas, April 28. The ceremony marks the formal deactivation of the CECOM major subordinate command that has provided interoperability certification for the Army and other customers for nearly three decades.
The CTSF mission, which included Army Interoperability Certification, integration of mission command systems, and many other testing functions, will now be managed and executed by The Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, or ASA(ALT). CTSF and ASA(ALT) have a long relationship based on mission-focused partnership, which will ensure a smooth handover with no gaps in capability for the Army.
In an exceedingly complex operational environment, interoperability certification is a critical function for the Army, and since its inception, CTSF has been the Army’s primary testing facility. For soldiers, this testing ensures that when new software and equipment is fielded, it can interface with existing technology and function properly on systems and networks. This testing identifies issues early, which ensures new technology is integrated before it reaches the warfighter.
Established in 1996 at what was then Fort Hood, Texas, CTSF was created as a pioneering organization dedicated to bridging the gap between strategic operational demands and technological force multipliers. As the Army continued to pursue digital modernization priorities over the next 29 years, the CTSF mission evolved from spearheading integration of early mission command systems to ultimately being tabbed as the Army’s only official agent charged with the execution of Army Interoperability Certification events. Since its inception, working hand in hand with stakeholders such as the Army Chief of Information, Army G-6, ASA(ALT) and many others, countless critical systems and software upgrades worked their way through rigorous evaluation processes to validate their readiness for inclusion onto the Army’s approved tactical software baseline. More than just a technical campus facility, CTSF’s legacy is one that can claim excellence in meeting and exceeding the Army’s modernization demands for over 29 years.
Rooted in historically significant modernization initiatives and spearheaded by Task Force XXI, a dedicated initiative to digitize and transform the fighting force, the roles and responsibilities bestowed upon the CTSF throughout the years have cemented its legacy as the Army’s premier systems integration evaluation center. Following Desert Storm in 1991, Army senior leaders recognized that although the force could execute overwhelming firepower through combined arms operations and advanced weapons systems, formations were prone to fragmented communication systems that limited information sharing across the spectrum. The demand for increased connectivity, improved situational awareness and more effective decision-making tools in the battlefield cleared the path for Task Force XXI and the establishment of the CTSF, the dedicated facility that would serve as the Army’s hub for innovation, software integration, interoperability compliance testing and system certification.
The CTSF executed these functions as the Army’s digital transformation continued to take shape.
As the Army’s demand for technological superiority evolved from hardware-centric systems and processes, CTSF answered the call to bridge the transition between legacy processes to modern agile initiatives, virtualized environments, and cloud integrated solutions. The CTSF proved to be more than a campus, it was an environment that thrived on embracing technological advancements while maintaining technical rigor and standards for interoperability compliance. CTSF’s establishment at the end of the 20th century coincided with the technological revolution of the time, and CTSF’s critical work enabled the Army to meet the needs of the 21st century warfighter.
The most effective way to judge any organization’s impact is in the support it offers to the warfighter. For the Army, no other metrics are as important as lethality and survivability. In these categories, CTSF’s lasting impression is firmly set as the organization that tested and verified critical software enabled technology prior to making its way to Soldiers’ hands in both times of peace and conflict. Countless service members were able to execute their missions safely with support and testing from CTSF. Since its inception, and in support of Army missions around the globe, CTSF has provided unwavering support to enable units across every operating environment.
The success and impact of CTSF was made possible by the Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, and contractors who dedicated their professional lives to empowering the warfighter. Though the workforce was small in numbers compared to other Army organizations, the expertise and input from a range of different Army organizations has been profound.
As the Army forges ahead into a new digital age defined by automation, cloud computing and data processing, it does so by leveraging the multitude of experiences and lessons learned within the CTSF environment. As we mark our mission complete today, we collectively place our trust and confidence on the processes that are now in place to support our future formations. Although the color casing ceremony marks the closure of this organization, it also represents a transformation for the Army’s interoperability testing. The legacy CTSF leaves behind will play a critical role in how future modernization initiatives take shape.
To all professionals who have had the honor and pleasure of serving under the CTSF banner, stand proud and celebrate your contributions to our fighting force. Effective immediately, with our legacy firmly in place, the mission is now complete. CTSF, stand down with honor.
Army Lt. Col. Edgar Lopez is the Central Technical Support Facility Director
Social Sharing