TOBYHANNA, Pa. — The Honorable Michael A. Obadal, Under Secretary of the Army, visited Tobyhanna Army Depot on March 19 to see the depot’s boundless capabilities, modern facilities and dynamic workforce. The under secretary's visit emphasized the organization’s role as the readiness provider of choice for warfighters worldwide.
Obadal was accompanied by Lt. Gen. Gavin Lawrence, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command; Maj. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, commanding general of the Communications-Electronics Command; CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Jay A. High; and Col. Matthew Alexander, director of the Organic Industrial Base Integration Office.
As the 36th under secretary of the Army, Obadal is responsible for oversight of the Army’s business operations, manpower and personnel systems, acquisition strategy and enterprise reform initiatives. He works closely with the secretary and chief of staff of the Army to support warfighter readiness, modernization and talent transformation.
During his visit to Tobyhanna Army Depot, Obadal toured critical mission areas in which the depot's highly-skilled workforce is leading the charge to provide world-class readiness to a ready, modern and prepared generation of warfighters. Aligning directly with the Army Transformation Initiative, Tobyhanna has made significant investments into advanced manufacturing capabilities supporting missions like small uncrewed aircraft systems and microelectronics.
Tobyhanna Army Depot deputy commander Rob Lantka said the modernization investments are directly in line with the modernization plan of its higher headquarters, Army Materiel Command.
“When AMC’s 15-year modernization plan came out, Tobyhanna nested ourselves within that plan to ensure we are prioritizing what the Army needs.”
These trailblazing initiatives highlight Tobyhanna’s leading position as a proactive, innovative readiness provider for the warfighters of today and tomorrow.
Obadal lauded Tobyhanna’s pioneering position in these fields, specifically citing Tobyhanna’s small uncrewed aircraft system assembly area as a “first mover facility in brushless motors,” adding that the visit was eye-opening.
“It is impressive to see the manufacturing and repair power that exists in the organic industrial base,” he said. “It is bolstering to see what goes on in the OIB because it all contributes to the soldier that has to go face-to-face with the enemy.”
Obadal also took the opportunity to recognize several members of Team Tobyhanna for their significant contributions to the U.S. Army. Transformation Office Chief Jonathan Strzelec; Design, Development & Fabrication Division Chief Chase Gardner; and Senior Electronics Engineer Mark Sgobba were all honored for their contributions to Tobyhanna’s rapidly growing advanced manufacturing mission, while Logistics Management Specialist Christopher Howe and Wideband Control Branch Chief Benjamin Mages received recognition from Obadal for their outstanding efforts in support of the global wideband integrated control systems.
Engineering & Cyber Director Nicholas Caprioli also received recognition from Obadal during a discussion about the depot’s radar testing campus expansion — an effort championed by Caprioli. When complete, Tobyhanna’s radar testing campus will be the most modern and capable testing facility in the continental U.S.
Personnel from CECOM showcased their capabilities for Obadal, providing a virtual demonstration of their Artificial Intelligence Assisted Maintenance tool. AIAM provides Soldiers with 24/7 access to expert-level troubleshooting, reducing diagnostic time and accelerating equipment return to service.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is designated as the Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control. TYAD provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support through depot-level repair, systems integration, software and cyber engineering, and field support. A key enabler of operational readiness for Joint and Allied Forces globally, Tobyhanna leverages new and emerging technologies to further expand the Department of War’s organic capabilities for microelectronics, secure communications infrastructure, unmanned aerial systems, Joint All-Domain Command and Control, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, and the Army’s Next Generation Combat Systems. Tobyhanna’s ability to rapidly surge production, deploy field support teams, and scale for contingency or theater-level operations makes it a vital contributor to strategic readiness and operational reach.
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