Classes of 2025 and 2026 inducted into the C5ISR Hall of Fame

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The illustrious careers of ten Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance professionals were celebrated during the C5ISR Hall of Fame joint ceremony of the Classes of 2025 and 2026 at the Myer Auditorium on April 30, 2026.

The C5ISR HoF, established in 2016, includes Soldiers and civilians from Communications-Electronics Command, Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground, Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center, Capability Program Executive Command and Control Information Network, Capability Program Executive for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, and the Command and Control Cross-Functional Team, who have made a significant and enduring contribution to the community and the Army.

Elite professionals

The host of the ceremony, Maj. Gen. James (Jim) D. Turinetti IV, commanding general of CECOM, presented each inductee with a trophy. Turinetti encouraged the young C5ISR professionals in attendance to take inspiration from the memorable careers of each nominee.

“Learn from their insights, foster innovation, grow excellence, as we transform to a faster, more lethal, and agile Army,” he said.

Turinetti said he takes pride in being part of the C5ISR community. He thanked attendees for joining him in honoring this elite group of professionals.

“Throughout their careers, they have demonstrated the power of perseverance and ingenuity, the forward thinking, leaving behind a legacy of visionary thought and inspiration that will continue to motivate future generations to push boundaries and to strive for excellence,” he said.

Class of 2025

Note: Full biographies of inductees are at https://www.cecom.army.mil/Halloffame/Inductees

Mr. Vincent Buonocore

Buonocore retired as the acting chief counsel of CECOM. Serving 26 years in the CECOM Legal Office, Buonocore built CECOM's Procurement Fraud Program and was the Army's "go-to" attorney for significant litigation. Buonocore thanked his family and recognized his former colleagues.

“I started life as a staff judge advocate officer. I was never prouder than the day I put on that uniform and accepted the commission,” he said. “In the ensuing years, I worked with a great number of outstanding professionals, outstanding patriots.”

Retired Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Cole

Retired Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Cole’s Army career included leading the modernization of the Firefinder radars and achieving a milestone decision and contract award for Project Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical.

As Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (now CPE ISW) from 2007-2010, his authority spanned a portfolio of programs over $14B in Program Objective Memorandum and supplemental funding.

“In the end, it is about saving lives,” Cole said about the work the C5ISR community does. The focus is always about serving Soldiers, he added.

Cole thanked the families in attendance for supporting government civilians and the military.

“The family is the foundation, it’s the essence; it is everything that we do,” he said.

Mr. Stephen F. Kovacs

Kovacs was inducted during a small ceremony on Jan. 30, 2026, due to a schedule conflict. Kovacs’ 37-year career as a Department of the Army Civilian spanned digitization from early Tactical Fire Direction System, or TACFIRE, to modern software-intensive systems. He developed Y2K compliance plans for over 165 battlespace systems. Another life-saving technical achievement was the transformation of the CECOM Software Engineering Center (now Army Software & Innovation Center) Army Reprogramming Analysis Team in the critical area of Infrared Countermeasure support. During the ceremony, he said he was fortunate to have good supervisors and good mentors.

“You can’t go wrong if you are doing the right thing,” Kovacs said.

Mr. Henry J. Muller Jr.

Mr. Henry J. Muller Jr. served as director of the C5ISR Center with a workforce of more than 2,000. He led revolutionary advances in communications, electronic warfare, cyber, and sensor technology. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Muller played a crucial role as a leader and member of the CECOM Research, Development, and Engineering Center combined team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel who deployed to the World Trade Center shortly after the attack. Muller and his team assisted in the site search, fielded equipment, and trained interagency personnel.

“As I progressed in my leadership positions, it became glaringly important that nothing is possible without the entire workforce,” he said. I was blessed in all of my positions to work with and lead an incredible team of consummate professionals, laser-focused on the mission at hand, and laser-focused on the Soldier.”

Mr. Raymond E. Santiago

The late Mr. Raymond Santiago was an expert in software management for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems and established the Joint Tactical Integration Facility at APG, providing a critical Systems Integration Lab that supported development, sustainment, and upgrade of many ISR platforms.

Santiago was represented by his wife, Rose Santiago. She praised her husband’s dedication to serving the warfighter and the care he showed for his teammates.

“His legacy lives on in the people he mentored, the colleagues he encouraged, and the community he loved,” she said.

Class of 2026

Retired Lt. Gen. David G. Bassett

Bassett oversaw the development of the Integrated Tactical Network, which delivered incremental updates to the network every two years beginning in 2021. This approach incorporated early Soldier experimentation to refine technical solutions, resulting in the successful fielding of ITN to multiple brigades and division echelons. Bassett’s work laid the foundation for the modernization of the Next Generation Command and Control network.

Bassett thanked the government civilians for the support he received during his military career, “nothing happens without them,” he said.

“I stood on the shoulders of giants because of their service, and because of the teams who supported me,” he said. “Those teams became my work family.”

Mr. Thomas D. Ficklin IV

The late Mr. Thomas D. Ficklin IV served as an Army Civilian for nearly 50 years at APG. His strategic vision and leadership were pivotal during the 2011 consolidation of the Research Development and Engineering Contracting Center and the C5ISR Contracting Center, forming the Army Contracting Command-APG. As commandant of the intern program, he oversaw the graduation of hundreds of interns, significantly impacting the Army’s contracting capabilities.

Ficklin’s wife, Shery Ficklin, spoke on her husband’s behalf. She said the recognition of her husband’s legacy is “deeply appreciated.”

He retired in 2002, and in 2008, he was invited to return to work. She said her husband loved to work. “He was literally over the moon; I have never seen him happier,” she said.

Mr. Frank Fiorilli

The late Mr. Frank Fiorilli is recognized for his nearly 35-year career of significant contributions to major C5ISR initiatives and his enduring legacy as a mentor. Fiorilli’s leadership was pivotal during the 1981 merger of four commands into CECOM, ensuring its successful establishment on schedule. Fiorilli was also instrumental during Base Realignment and Closure actions, managing the relocation and integration of thousands of personnel and resources.

Fiorilli’s son-in-law, Dr. Javier Incla’n, represented Fiorilli. Incla’n said his father-in-law’s greatest legacy is the lives he touched.

“Dad believed deeply that people were the mission, no matter someone’s rank or role, he saw them, respected them, and supported them,” he said.

Retired Maj. Gen. David R. Gust

Retired Maj. Gen. David Gust is recognized for his significant contributions to the development, fielding, and sustainment of critical C5ISR systems during his 33-year career. His military career began with decorated service in Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. This experience shaped his understanding of Soldiers’ needs on the battlefield. As Project Manager for Mobile Subscriber Equipment, Gust oversaw the fielding of a complex digital communications system to more than 30 battalions, providing the Army with its first secure, mobile, and automated voice and data network. At PEO IEW&S, (now CPE ISW) he modernized the Army’s ISR capabilities.

“Thanks again to the C5ISR community for all your help and continuing these recognition ceremonies,” he said.

Retired Maj. Gen. Randy S. Taylor

Taylor is recognized for his distinguished 38-year military career. As commanding general of CECOM and senior commander of APG from April 2017 to June 2019, Taylor led significant modernization initiatives and strengthened community partnerships. He rebranded the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or C4ISR, community to the C5ISR community, emphasizing cyberspace as a pivotal warfighting domain and future-proofing Army readiness.

“The success we shared during my time as commanding general and the senior commander here, could have not been possible without an extraordinary supportive spouse, a rare alignment of a word-class team, or the best deputy…commanders, staff, you are the best that any leader could hope for,” he said.

The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, celebrating CECOM’s 45th birthday May 1.

For all photos from the 2025 & 2026 C5ISR Hall of Fame, visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cecom/albums/72177720333422234