ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Brigadier General John M. Cushing assumed the position of commanding general of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, during a ceremony here September 7.
Lieutenant General Richard R. Coffman, U.S. Army Futures Command deputy commanding general, hosted the ceremony, which featured both in-person and virtual audiences. The ceremony was held in front of DEVCOM headquarters at APG. Major General Edmond ’Miles’ Brown relinquished command of DEVCOM at the ceremony, after serving as the commanding general since July 9, 2021.
During the ceremony, Coffman summarized DEVCOM’s role in the Army’s transformation efforts.
“Anything that is unknown or unproven becomes science and technology. And that’s what this command does – it works on the edge of physics. And, to the left of that bubble where the magic happens is engineering. The global team works with partners and allies so that in 2040, on a future battlefield, we will always prevail and have the best technology and the best equipment, and it starts here,” Coffman said.
During his tenure as DEVCOM’s commanding general, Brown was responsible for executing nearly 80% of the Army’s Science and Technology budget to meet the capabilities of the Army’s future formations. He challenged the command to transform so that it will be better postured to design and deliver integrated combat capabilities that ensure future Soldiers never enter a fair fight.
“DEVCOM’s motto is Pro Futuro, which in Latin means Fight for the Future. It is the future we want, not the future we stumble into. We fight for a future that gives us persistent transformation and wins wars,” Brown said.
Brown’s leadership philosophy centered on leading by example and prioritizing trust across the command. He visited DEVCOM’s global workforce, which comprises eight reporting units and three regionally aligned international elements, to see firsthand their expertise.
He and his wife, Jaime, spearheaded numerous programs for physical and mental wellbeing, work/life balance and esprit de corps that underscore DEVCOM’s commitment to putting people first.
Brown will now serve as the AFC chief of staff.
Cushing came to DEVCOM after serving as deputy commanding general for operations at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, responsible for recruiting our nation’s finest for the Army. People are the Army’s number one priority and the most important component of its modernization efforts.
Cushing, a native of Rochester, Michigan, was commissioned as an armor officer after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served in various assignments stateside, as well as in deployments to Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve; Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom; and two tour tours to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“As part of my transition, I visited the centers where I noticed how passionate, professional, and excited the DEVCOM teams are at all the organizations. It is truly an honor and a privilege to join this great team at DEVCOM and to take part in transforming the Army as part of the Army Futures Command,” Cushing said.
Cushing has served 30 years, following the legacy of his father and grandfather, who also served in the Army.
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The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, is home to thousands of Army scientists, engineers, technicians and analysts working around the globe to leverage cutting-edge technologies and empower the American warfighter with the data and abilities to see, sense, make decisions and act faster than our adversaries – today and in the future.
As part of Army Futures Command, DEVCOM takes calculated risks to find new technological solutions each day. Our experts drive innovation, improve existing technologies and engineer solutions to technical challenges. Our work goes beyond theory to simulation and prototyping. We take potential science and technology solutions from the lab “into the dirt” for experimentation alongside Army Soldiers. DEVCOM prides itself as a global ecosystem of innovators, from world-class universities and large defense contractors, to small, minority-owned businesses and international allies and partners.
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