ADELPHI, Md.— The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory welcomed Kimberly Ploskonka as its new acting director June 15.
As leader of the Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory, Ploskonka is responsible for executing globally recognized fundamental research to accelerate delivery of war-winning, disruptive technologies for tomorrow’s Army.
She succeeds Dr. Eric L. Moore, who has returned to his role as the U.S. Army DEVCOM deputy to the commanding general.
Prior to this appointment, Ploskonka served as director of DEVCOM ARL’s Research Business Directorate and was appointed into the Army’s Senior Executive Service November 30.
As acting director, Ploskonka leads highly skilled experts across Army-relevant scientific areas to include biology, materials science, advanced photonics, electronics, quantum sciences, energy sciences, weapons sciences and terminal effects.
Her tenure as acting director comes during a pivotal time of the laboratory aligning its research priorities to ensure the scientific advancements make it into the force at the speed of relevance and support the Army’s transformation.
“To maintain our decisive edge, we must increase our speed, agility and innovation. My goal is to ensure ARL research supports the Army Transformation Initiative so our Soldiers never enter a fair fight," Ploskonka said to the ARL workforce during her first All Hands June 17. “Innovation is occurring at an unprecedented rate across industry, academia, allied partners and other government laboratories. We need to remain connected to that ecosystem, be informed by it and be positioned to lead within it. We must not simply keep pace with change we need to shape it.”
Additional priorities she presented are commitments to ARL’s organizational health and ensuring the scientific workforce at ARL has fewer bureaucratic hurdles to overcome so they can focus on delivering globally recognized, disruptive research.
“As we navigate this period of rapid change, it’s also an opportunity to increase efficiencies, strengthen partnerships, develop our workforce and sharpen our focus on our mission,” she said. “We must reduce unnecessary barriers, improve decision velocity and ensure that our business practices enable rather than constrain innovation and mission delivery.”
She also plans to set ARL in the direction for success by developing an ARL strategy informed by the workforce, stakeholders and partners to ensure the people and mission are supported for sustained momentum to address the Army’s current and future needs.
“Our mission is not simply to conduct research; our mission is to ensure science and technology create true operational advantage for Soldiers and commanders,” she said to the workforce. “I am absolutely honored and privileged to serve alongside each and every one of you to support this imperative mission. I will honor my promises to our incredible workforce, and I look forward to building that future together.”
Additional Bio Background:
Before leading RBD, Ploskonka was principal deputy of the ARL Regional Site Synchronization Office, where she oversaw ARL regional campuses to foster trusted partnerships for the Army S&T enterprise.
Additionally, she served as the acting director of the DEVCOM Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or C5ISR, Center’s Engineering and Systems Integration Directorate. During that time, she also upheld her duties as the principal deputy director.
Ploskonka’s extensive career also includes serving as the deputy director and acting director for the C5ISR Center's Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate and as chief of the Tactical Communications Division.
She is a member of the Association of the United States Army, MG Harry Greene, Aberdeen Chapter. Her awards include the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Superior Civilian Service Medal, Commander’s Award for Civilian Service and the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.
She earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Rutgers College of Engineering, an executive master's degree in technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology and a master's degree in accountancy in governmental accounting from Rutgers Business School.
Ploskonka is a certified practitioner in both engineering and technical management and program management, and she is a member of the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps.
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DEVCOM ARL is the Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory serving as the nexus of science between the military, academia and industry. Operating under U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command and the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, ARL executes globally recognized research to accelerate delivery of war-winning, disruptive technologies for tomorrow’s Army.
For information, visit the Army Research Laboratory website.
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