D R A F T part B Infrastructure of Futures command
United States Army Futures Command | |
---|---|
Founded | 1 July 2018 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army |
Type | Army Command |
Garrison/HQ | Austin, TX |
Motto(s) | "Forge the future" [1] |
Website |
army armyfuturescommand |
Commanders | |
Commanding General [3] | GEN John M. Murray |
Deputy Commanding Generals [3] |
LTG
James M. Richardson LTG Thomas H. Todd [2] |
Command Sergeant Major [3] | CSM Michael A. Crosby |
Insignia | |
Distinctive unit insignia [1] |
United States Army Futures Command (AFC) [4] [5] is a United States Army command aimed at modernizing the Army. [6] [7] [8] It currently focuses on six priorities: [Note 1] 1— long-range precision fires, [9] [10] 2— next-generation combat vehicle, [11] 3— future vertical lift platforms, [12] 4— a mobile & expeditionary Army network, [13] 5— air & missile defense capabilities, [14] and 6— soldier lethality. [15] [16] AFC's cross-functional teams (CFTs) [17] are Futures Command's vehicle for sustainable reform of the acquisition process for the future. [18] [19] [20]
Futures Command (AFC) was established in 2018 as a peer of FORSCOM, TRADOC, and Army Materiel Command (AMC), the other Army commands ( ACOMs—providing forces, training and doctrine, and materiel respectively). [21] [22] The other Army commands focus on their readiness to "Fight tonight" when called upon by the nation. In contrast, AFC is focused on future readiness [23] for competition with near-peers, who have updated their capabilities. [24] [25]
AFC declared its Full Operational Capability (FOC) in July 2019, [26] [27] after an initial one-year period. [28] The FY2020 budget allocated $30 billion for the top six modernization priorities over the next five years. [29] The $30 billion came from $8 billion in cost avoidance and $22 billion in terminations. [29] [30] Over 30 projects [31] [32] are envisioned to become the materiel basis needed for overmatching any potential competitors in the continuum of conflict over the next ten years, [33] [34] in Multi-domain operations ( MDO). [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]
We're moving out and there's no turning back. We've shown the will to act over the last year, and now we have to show the will to follow through.
According to Secretary McCarthy, there will be three elements in Futures Command: [44]
Then-Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper emphasized that the 2018 administrative infrastructure for the Futures and Concepts Center (formerly ARCIC) and United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) (formerly RDECOM) remains in place at their existing locations. [51] What has changed or will change is the layers of command (operational control, or OPCON) [52] needed to make a decision. [51]
You've got to remain open to change, you've got to remain flexible, you've [got] to remain accessible. That is the purpose of this command.
Under Secretary McCarthy characterized a Cross-Functional Team (CFT) as a team of teams, led by a requirements leader, program manager, sustainer and tester. [54] Each CFT must strike a balance for itself amid constraints: the realms of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment. A balance is needed in order for a CFT in order to produce a realizable concept before a competitor achieves it. [17]
CFTs [17] [55] for materiel and capabilities were first structured in a task force, in order to de-layer the Army Commands. Each CFT addresses a capability gap, which the Army must now match for its future: there can be a Capability Development Integration Directorate (CDID), for each CFT. [Note 1] Initially, the CFTs were placed as needed; eventually they might each co-locate at a Center of Excellence ( CoE) listed below. For example, the Aviation CoE at Fort Rucker, in coordination with the Aviation Program Executive Officer (PEO), also contains the Vertical Lift CFT and the Aviation CDID. Modernization reform is the priority for AFC, in order to achieve readiness for the future.
The CFTs will be involved in all three of AFC's elements: Futures and concepts, Combat development, and Combat systems. [56] "We were never above probably a total of eight people" — BG Wally Rugen, Aviation CFT. [57] Four of the eight CFT leads have now shifted from dual-hat jobs to full-time status. Each CFT lead is mentored by a 4-star general. [57]
Although AFC and the CFTs are a top priority of the Department of the Army, as AFC and the CFTs are expected to unify control of the $30 billion-dollar modernization budget, [58] [27] "The new command will not tolerate a zero-defects mentality. 'But if you fail, we'd like you to fail early and fail cheap,' because progress and success often builds on failure." —Ryan McCarthy: [59] Holland notes that prototyping applies to the conceptual realm ('harvestable content') as much as prototyping applies to the hardware realm. [46] [47]
A 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report [60] cautions that lessons learned from the CFT pilot [17] are yet to be applied; Holland notes that this organizational critique applies to prototyping hardware, a different realm than concept refinement ("scientific research is a fundamentally different activity than technology development"). [46] [47]
AFC is actively seeking partners outside the gates of a military reservation, [61] including research funding to over 300 colleges and universities. [27] "We will come to you. You don't have to come to us. — General Mike Murray, 24 August 2018" [28]: minute 6:07 Multiple incubator tech hubs are available in Austin, [62] especially Capital Factory, with offices of Defense Innovation Unit (DIUx) and AFWERX (USAF tech hub). [63] Gen. Murray will stand up an Army Applications Lab [Note 2] there to accelerate acquisition and deployment of materiel to the Soldiers, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) [64] as one acceleration technique; Murray will hire a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for AFC. [65] [66] Gen. Murray, in seeking to globalize AFC, [67] has embedded U.S. military allies into some of the CFTs. [68] [27]
Futures Command will stand up Army Software Factory in August 2021, to immerse Soldiers and Army civilians of all ranks in modern software development, in Austin. [91] [92] Similar in spirit to the Training with industry program, participants are expected to take these practices back with them, to influence other Army people in their future assignments, and to build up the Army's capability in software development. The Al Work Force Development program and this Software Factory will complement the Artificial Intelligence Task Force. [91] [93]
AFC is seeking to design signature systems in a relevant time frame according to priorities [Note 1] of the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA). [56] AFC will partner with other organizations such as Defense Innovation Unit Experimental ( DIUx) as needed. [94] [95] If a team from industry presents a viable program idea to a CFT, that CFT connects to the Army's requirements developers, Secretary Esper said, and the program prototype is then put on a fast track. [96] The Secretary of the Army has approved an Intellectual Property Management Policy, to protect both the Army and the entrepreneur or innovator. [97] [98]
For example, the Network CFT and the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications—Tactical (PEO C3T) hosted a forum on 1 August 2018 for vendors to learn what might function as a testable/deployable [99] in the near future. [100] [101] [102] A few of the hundreds of white papers from the vendors, adjudged to be 'very mature ideas', were passed to the Army's acquisition community, while many others were passed to CERDEC for continuation in the Army's effort to modernize the network for combat. [103] Although some test requirements were inappropriately applied, the Command post computing environment (CPCE) has passed a hurdle. [104]
While seeking information, the Army is especially interested in ideas that accelerate an acquisition program, in for example the Future Vertical Lift Requests for Information (RFIs): "provide a detailed description of tailored, alternative or innovative approaches that streamlines the acquisition process to accelerate the program as much as possible". [105] In January 2020 the current Optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV) solicitation was cancelled when the OMFV's requirements added up to an unobtainable project; [106] In February 2020 Futures command was now soliciting the industry for do-able ideas for an OMFV. [106]
The 2020 xTechSearch top 10 semifinalists (who will each receive $120,000) are: [107]
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the Army to run an xTechsearch Ventilator Challenge; entrants can submit their ideas online for immediate consideration and a possible cash prize to encourage participation for a $100,000 prize and possible Army contract. [108] In 1964 Henrik H. Straub of Harry Diamond Labs, a predecessor to CCDC Army Research Laboratory, invented the Army Emergency Respirator (now termed a 'Ventilator' in current terminology). [109] This ventilator is one application of the fluidic amplifier (a 1957 Harry Diamond Labs invention), which allows the labored breathing of the patient to control the flow from an externally purified air stream, to augment the air flow into a patient's lungs. [109]
TRX Systems won an xTechsearch award for technology which allows Navigation in a GPS-Denied Environment, an A-PNT priority. The award was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which actually allowed the company more time for business development. [110]
Futures Command partners with the ASA(ALT), [111] [19] who, in the role of the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), [112] has milestone decision authority (MDA) [49] at multiple points in a Materiel development decision (MDD). [113] (Thus, from the perspective of AFC, which seeks to modernize, consolidate the relevant expertise into the relevant CFT. The CFT balances the constraints needed to realize a prototype, beginning with realizable requirements, science and technology, test, etc. before entering the acquisition process (typically the Army prototypes on its own, and currently initiates acquisition at Milestone B, in order to have the Acquisition Executive, with the concurrence of the Army Chief of Staff, decide on production as a program of record at Milestone C). [114] Next, refine the prototype to address the factors needed to pass the Milestone decisions A, B, and C which require Milestone decision authority (MDA) in an acquisition process. [114] This consolidation of expertise thus reduces the risks in a Materiel development decision (MDD), for the Army to admit a prototype into a program of record.) The existing processes (as of April 2018) for a Materiel development decision (MDD) have been updated to clarify their place in the Life Cycle of a program of record: [112] [113] [46] over 1200 programs/projects were reviewed; [115] by October 2019, over 600 programs of record have been moved from the acquisition (development for modernization) phase to the sustainment phase (for mature projects, to continue their manufacture and fielding to the brigades). [115] An additional life cycle management action is underway, to re-examine which of these projects/programs should be divested. [115] (Surplus materiel might well go to the Security Assistance Command, perhaps to Foreign Military Sales.)
The emphasis remains with Futures Command, which selects programs to develop. [115] In order to achieve its mission of achieving overmatch, [116] [117] [45] each Futures Command CFT partners with the acquisition community. [118] This community (the Army acquisition workforce (AAW)) includes an entire Army branch (the Acquisition Corps), [119] [120] [121] [122] [123] U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC), Army Contracting Command, (.. This list is incomplete). [113] The Principal Military Deputy to the ASA(ALT) is also deputy commanding general for Combat Systems, Army Futures Command, [112] and leads the PEOs; he has directed each PEO who does not have a CFT to coordinate with, to immediately form one, at least informally. [124]
The current acquisition system has pieces all throughout the Army. ... There’s chunks of it in TRADOC and chunks of it in AMC and then other pieces. So really all we’re trying to do is get them all lined up under a single command…..from concept, S&T, RDT&E, through the requirements process, through the beginnings of the acquisition system — Milestone A, B, and C — ….aligned under that same commander. ... We will finally achieve… unity of command — Secretary Esper. [44]
The PEOs work closely with their respective CFTs. [118] The list of CFTs and PEOs below is incomplete. [Note 1] Operationally, the CFTs offer "de-layering" (fewer degrees of separation between the echelons of the Army — Rugen estimates two degrees of separation), [57] and provide a point of contact (POC) for Army reformers [45] interested in adding value in the midst of constraints to be balanced while modernizing. [57] "... and if we're really good, we'll continue to adapt. Year over year over year." —Secretary Esper [28]: minute 19:00 [6] (See #Value streams.)
"Our new approach is really to prototype as much as we can to help us identify requirements, so our reach doesn’t exceed our grasp. ... A good example is Future Vertical Lift: The prototyping has been exceptional." —Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. [125] The development process will be cyclic, [126] consisting of prototype, demonstration/testing, and evaluation, [96] in an iterative process designed to unearth unrealistic requirements early, before prematurely including that requirement in a program of record. [27]
AFC activities include at least one Cross-functional team, its Capability development integration directorate (CDID), [127]: Para. 2b and the associated Battle Lab, [127]: Para. 2b for each Center of Excellence ( CoE) respectively. Each CDID and associated Battle Lab work with their CFT [53] to develop operational experiments and prototypes to test.
ASA(ALT), in coordination with AFC, has dotted-line relationships between its PEOs and the CFTs. In particular, the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office of ASA(ALT) has a PEO who is charged with developing experimental prototype 'units of action' for rapid fielding to the Soldiers. The prototypes are currently for Long range hypersonic weapons, High energy laser defense, and Space, as of June 2019, [128] [129] [130] [131] [132] [133] [134] tripling between 2017 and 2019. [135]
Tests are run by JMC and WSMR, which hosts ATEC. [136] As ATEC reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff, [22] the test support level from ATEC [137] is to be specified by the CFT, [53] or PEO. [138] Fort Bliss and WSMR together cover 3.06 million acres, large enough to test every non-nuclear weapon system in the Army inventory. [139]: minute 1:26:00 JMC runs live developmental experiments to test and assess MDO concepts or capabilities that support the Army's six modernization priorities which are then analyzed by The Research and Analysis Center, denoted TRAC based out of Fort Leavenworth, [53] or AMSAA, denoted the Data Analysis Center at APG. CCDC (formerly RDECOM, at APG) includes the several Army research laboratory locations (ARLs), [140] as well as research, development and engineering centers (RDECs) listed: [127] [53] [6]
In internal partnerships, CCDC (formerly RDECOM) has taken Long range precision fires (LRPF) as its focus in aligning its organizations (the six research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL)); as of September 2018, RDECOM's 'concept of operation' is first to support the LRPF CFT, [141] with ARDEC. AMRDEC is looking to improve the energetics and efficiency of projectiles. TARDEC Ground Vehicle Center is working on high-voltage components for Extended range cannon artillery (ERCA) that save on size and weight. [141] Two dedicated RDECOM people support the LRPF CFT, with reachback support from two dozen more at RDECOM. [142] In January 2019 RDECOM was reflagged as CCDC; General Mike Murray noted that CCDC will have to support more Soldier feedback, and that prototyping and testing will have to begin before a project ever becomes a program of record. [143] [6]
Although the Army Research Laboratory has not changed its name, Secretary Esper notes that the CCDC objectives supersede the activities of the Laboratory; [53] [46] [47] the Laboratory remains in its support role for the top-six priorities for modernizing combat capabilities. [Note 1]
Acquisition specialists are being encouraged to accept lateral transfers to the several research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), where their skills are needed: Ground vehicle systems center (formerly TARDEC, at Detroit Arsenal), Aviation and missile center (formerly AMRDEC, at Redstone Arsenal), C5ISR center (formerly CERDEC, at Aberdeen Proving Ground), Soldier center (formerly NSRDEC, Natick, MA), and Armaments center (formerly ARDEC, at Picatinny Arsenal) listed below. [144]
The following activities for Futures Command are at 23 locations. [145] (A ' CoE', or TRADOC Center of Excellence, can be co-located near a CFT, along with the associated CDID —Capability Development Integration Directorate— and Battle Lab)
On 13 July 2018, U.S. Army Secretary Mark Esper said AFC's headquarters would be based in Austin, Texas. [193] AFC spreads across three locations totalling 75,000 square feet; [61] one of the locations in a University of Texas System building at 210 W. Seventh St. in downtown Austin, [194] [195] on the 15th and 19th floors. [196] The UT Regents will not be charging rent to AFC until December 2019. [196] The command began initial operations on 1 July 2018. [197]
On 16 July 2018, Lieutenant General John M. Murray was nominated for a fourth star and appointment as Army Futures Command's first commanding general. [198] [199] His appointment was confirmed 20 August 2018 [200] and he assumed command during the official activation ceremony of AFC on 24 August 2018, in Austin, Texas. [61]
The AFC commander, in a hearing before Congress' House Armed Services Committee, projects that materiel will result from the value stream below, within a two-year time frame, [19] from concept to Soldier. The commanding general is assisted by three deputy commanders.
... what I do think you will see is some of the capabilities the cross-functional teams are working will be in production and being delivered and in the hands of soldiers in the next two years" —Gen. John "Mike" Murray (2018). [19]
Army Chief of Staff Milley is looking for AFC to attain full operational capability (FOC) by August 2019. [28] [34] [60]
I think we have been actually executing the mission for the last six to eight months if not longer. [26] —Gen. John "Mike" Murray, 19 July 2019
Commanding General
No. | Commanding General | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |
1 |
General John M. Murray | 1 July 2018 | Incumbent | 6 years, 4 days |
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D R A F T part B Infrastructure of Futures command
United States Army Futures Command | |
---|---|
Founded | 1 July 2018 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army |
Type | Army Command |
Garrison/HQ | Austin, TX |
Motto(s) | "Forge the future" [1] |
Website |
army armyfuturescommand |
Commanders | |
Commanding General [3] | GEN John M. Murray |
Deputy Commanding Generals [3] |
LTG
James M. Richardson LTG Thomas H. Todd [2] |
Command Sergeant Major [3] | CSM Michael A. Crosby |
Insignia | |
Distinctive unit insignia [1] |
United States Army Futures Command (AFC) [4] [5] is a United States Army command aimed at modernizing the Army. [6] [7] [8] It currently focuses on six priorities: [Note 1] 1— long-range precision fires, [9] [10] 2— next-generation combat vehicle, [11] 3— future vertical lift platforms, [12] 4— a mobile & expeditionary Army network, [13] 5— air & missile defense capabilities, [14] and 6— soldier lethality. [15] [16] AFC's cross-functional teams (CFTs) [17] are Futures Command's vehicle for sustainable reform of the acquisition process for the future. [18] [19] [20]
Futures Command (AFC) was established in 2018 as a peer of FORSCOM, TRADOC, and Army Materiel Command (AMC), the other Army commands ( ACOMs—providing forces, training and doctrine, and materiel respectively). [21] [22] The other Army commands focus on their readiness to "Fight tonight" when called upon by the nation. In contrast, AFC is focused on future readiness [23] for competition with near-peers, who have updated their capabilities. [24] [25]
AFC declared its Full Operational Capability (FOC) in July 2019, [26] [27] after an initial one-year period. [28] The FY2020 budget allocated $30 billion for the top six modernization priorities over the next five years. [29] The $30 billion came from $8 billion in cost avoidance and $22 billion in terminations. [29] [30] Over 30 projects [31] [32] are envisioned to become the materiel basis needed for overmatching any potential competitors in the continuum of conflict over the next ten years, [33] [34] in Multi-domain operations ( MDO). [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]
We're moving out and there's no turning back. We've shown the will to act over the last year, and now we have to show the will to follow through.
According to Secretary McCarthy, there will be three elements in Futures Command: [44]
Then-Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper emphasized that the 2018 administrative infrastructure for the Futures and Concepts Center (formerly ARCIC) and United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) (formerly RDECOM) remains in place at their existing locations. [51] What has changed or will change is the layers of command (operational control, or OPCON) [52] needed to make a decision. [51]
You've got to remain open to change, you've got to remain flexible, you've [got] to remain accessible. That is the purpose of this command.
Under Secretary McCarthy characterized a Cross-Functional Team (CFT) as a team of teams, led by a requirements leader, program manager, sustainer and tester. [54] Each CFT must strike a balance for itself amid constraints: the realms of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment. A balance is needed in order for a CFT in order to produce a realizable concept before a competitor achieves it. [17]
CFTs [17] [55] for materiel and capabilities were first structured in a task force, in order to de-layer the Army Commands. Each CFT addresses a capability gap, which the Army must now match for its future: there can be a Capability Development Integration Directorate (CDID), for each CFT. [Note 1] Initially, the CFTs were placed as needed; eventually they might each co-locate at a Center of Excellence ( CoE) listed below. For example, the Aviation CoE at Fort Rucker, in coordination with the Aviation Program Executive Officer (PEO), also contains the Vertical Lift CFT and the Aviation CDID. Modernization reform is the priority for AFC, in order to achieve readiness for the future.
The CFTs will be involved in all three of AFC's elements: Futures and concepts, Combat development, and Combat systems. [56] "We were never above probably a total of eight people" — BG Wally Rugen, Aviation CFT. [57] Four of the eight CFT leads have now shifted from dual-hat jobs to full-time status. Each CFT lead is mentored by a 4-star general. [57]
Although AFC and the CFTs are a top priority of the Department of the Army, as AFC and the CFTs are expected to unify control of the $30 billion-dollar modernization budget, [58] [27] "The new command will not tolerate a zero-defects mentality. 'But if you fail, we'd like you to fail early and fail cheap,' because progress and success often builds on failure." —Ryan McCarthy: [59] Holland notes that prototyping applies to the conceptual realm ('harvestable content') as much as prototyping applies to the hardware realm. [46] [47]
A 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report [60] cautions that lessons learned from the CFT pilot [17] are yet to be applied; Holland notes that this organizational critique applies to prototyping hardware, a different realm than concept refinement ("scientific research is a fundamentally different activity than technology development"). [46] [47]
AFC is actively seeking partners outside the gates of a military reservation, [61] including research funding to over 300 colleges and universities. [27] "We will come to you. You don't have to come to us. — General Mike Murray, 24 August 2018" [28]: minute 6:07 Multiple incubator tech hubs are available in Austin, [62] especially Capital Factory, with offices of Defense Innovation Unit (DIUx) and AFWERX (USAF tech hub). [63] Gen. Murray will stand up an Army Applications Lab [Note 2] there to accelerate acquisition and deployment of materiel to the Soldiers, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) [64] as one acceleration technique; Murray will hire a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for AFC. [65] [66] Gen. Murray, in seeking to globalize AFC, [67] has embedded U.S. military allies into some of the CFTs. [68] [27]
Futures Command will stand up Army Software Factory in August 2021, to immerse Soldiers and Army civilians of all ranks in modern software development, in Austin. [91] [92] Similar in spirit to the Training with industry program, participants are expected to take these practices back with them, to influence other Army people in their future assignments, and to build up the Army's capability in software development. The Al Work Force Development program and this Software Factory will complement the Artificial Intelligence Task Force. [91] [93]
AFC is seeking to design signature systems in a relevant time frame according to priorities [Note 1] of the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA). [56] AFC will partner with other organizations such as Defense Innovation Unit Experimental ( DIUx) as needed. [94] [95] If a team from industry presents a viable program idea to a CFT, that CFT connects to the Army's requirements developers, Secretary Esper said, and the program prototype is then put on a fast track. [96] The Secretary of the Army has approved an Intellectual Property Management Policy, to protect both the Army and the entrepreneur or innovator. [97] [98]
For example, the Network CFT and the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications—Tactical (PEO C3T) hosted a forum on 1 August 2018 for vendors to learn what might function as a testable/deployable [99] in the near future. [100] [101] [102] A few of the hundreds of white papers from the vendors, adjudged to be 'very mature ideas', were passed to the Army's acquisition community, while many others were passed to CERDEC for continuation in the Army's effort to modernize the network for combat. [103] Although some test requirements were inappropriately applied, the Command post computing environment (CPCE) has passed a hurdle. [104]
While seeking information, the Army is especially interested in ideas that accelerate an acquisition program, in for example the Future Vertical Lift Requests for Information (RFIs): "provide a detailed description of tailored, alternative or innovative approaches that streamlines the acquisition process to accelerate the program as much as possible". [105] In January 2020 the current Optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV) solicitation was cancelled when the OMFV's requirements added up to an unobtainable project; [106] In February 2020 Futures command was now soliciting the industry for do-able ideas for an OMFV. [106]
The 2020 xTechSearch top 10 semifinalists (who will each receive $120,000) are: [107]
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the Army to run an xTechsearch Ventilator Challenge; entrants can submit their ideas online for immediate consideration and a possible cash prize to encourage participation for a $100,000 prize and possible Army contract. [108] In 1964 Henrik H. Straub of Harry Diamond Labs, a predecessor to CCDC Army Research Laboratory, invented the Army Emergency Respirator (now termed a 'Ventilator' in current terminology). [109] This ventilator is one application of the fluidic amplifier (a 1957 Harry Diamond Labs invention), which allows the labored breathing of the patient to control the flow from an externally purified air stream, to augment the air flow into a patient's lungs. [109]
TRX Systems won an xTechsearch award for technology which allows Navigation in a GPS-Denied Environment, an A-PNT priority. The award was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which actually allowed the company more time for business development. [110]
Futures Command partners with the ASA(ALT), [111] [19] who, in the role of the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), [112] has milestone decision authority (MDA) [49] at multiple points in a Materiel development decision (MDD). [113] (Thus, from the perspective of AFC, which seeks to modernize, consolidate the relevant expertise into the relevant CFT. The CFT balances the constraints needed to realize a prototype, beginning with realizable requirements, science and technology, test, etc. before entering the acquisition process (typically the Army prototypes on its own, and currently initiates acquisition at Milestone B, in order to have the Acquisition Executive, with the concurrence of the Army Chief of Staff, decide on production as a program of record at Milestone C). [114] Next, refine the prototype to address the factors needed to pass the Milestone decisions A, B, and C which require Milestone decision authority (MDA) in an acquisition process. [114] This consolidation of expertise thus reduces the risks in a Materiel development decision (MDD), for the Army to admit a prototype into a program of record.) The existing processes (as of April 2018) for a Materiel development decision (MDD) have been updated to clarify their place in the Life Cycle of a program of record: [112] [113] [46] over 1200 programs/projects were reviewed; [115] by October 2019, over 600 programs of record have been moved from the acquisition (development for modernization) phase to the sustainment phase (for mature projects, to continue their manufacture and fielding to the brigades). [115] An additional life cycle management action is underway, to re-examine which of these projects/programs should be divested. [115] (Surplus materiel might well go to the Security Assistance Command, perhaps to Foreign Military Sales.)
The emphasis remains with Futures Command, which selects programs to develop. [115] In order to achieve its mission of achieving overmatch, [116] [117] [45] each Futures Command CFT partners with the acquisition community. [118] This community (the Army acquisition workforce (AAW)) includes an entire Army branch (the Acquisition Corps), [119] [120] [121] [122] [123] U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC), Army Contracting Command, (.. This list is incomplete). [113] The Principal Military Deputy to the ASA(ALT) is also deputy commanding general for Combat Systems, Army Futures Command, [112] and leads the PEOs; he has directed each PEO who does not have a CFT to coordinate with, to immediately form one, at least informally. [124]
The current acquisition system has pieces all throughout the Army. ... There’s chunks of it in TRADOC and chunks of it in AMC and then other pieces. So really all we’re trying to do is get them all lined up under a single command…..from concept, S&T, RDT&E, through the requirements process, through the beginnings of the acquisition system — Milestone A, B, and C — ….aligned under that same commander. ... We will finally achieve… unity of command — Secretary Esper. [44]
The PEOs work closely with their respective CFTs. [118] The list of CFTs and PEOs below is incomplete. [Note 1] Operationally, the CFTs offer "de-layering" (fewer degrees of separation between the echelons of the Army — Rugen estimates two degrees of separation), [57] and provide a point of contact (POC) for Army reformers [45] interested in adding value in the midst of constraints to be balanced while modernizing. [57] "... and if we're really good, we'll continue to adapt. Year over year over year." —Secretary Esper [28]: minute 19:00 [6] (See #Value streams.)
"Our new approach is really to prototype as much as we can to help us identify requirements, so our reach doesn’t exceed our grasp. ... A good example is Future Vertical Lift: The prototyping has been exceptional." —Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. [125] The development process will be cyclic, [126] consisting of prototype, demonstration/testing, and evaluation, [96] in an iterative process designed to unearth unrealistic requirements early, before prematurely including that requirement in a program of record. [27]
AFC activities include at least one Cross-functional team, its Capability development integration directorate (CDID), [127]: Para. 2b and the associated Battle Lab, [127]: Para. 2b for each Center of Excellence ( CoE) respectively. Each CDID and associated Battle Lab work with their CFT [53] to develop operational experiments and prototypes to test.
ASA(ALT), in coordination with AFC, has dotted-line relationships between its PEOs and the CFTs. In particular, the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office of ASA(ALT) has a PEO who is charged with developing experimental prototype 'units of action' for rapid fielding to the Soldiers. The prototypes are currently for Long range hypersonic weapons, High energy laser defense, and Space, as of June 2019, [128] [129] [130] [131] [132] [133] [134] tripling between 2017 and 2019. [135]
Tests are run by JMC and WSMR, which hosts ATEC. [136] As ATEC reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff, [22] the test support level from ATEC [137] is to be specified by the CFT, [53] or PEO. [138] Fort Bliss and WSMR together cover 3.06 million acres, large enough to test every non-nuclear weapon system in the Army inventory. [139]: minute 1:26:00 JMC runs live developmental experiments to test and assess MDO concepts or capabilities that support the Army's six modernization priorities which are then analyzed by The Research and Analysis Center, denoted TRAC based out of Fort Leavenworth, [53] or AMSAA, denoted the Data Analysis Center at APG. CCDC (formerly RDECOM, at APG) includes the several Army research laboratory locations (ARLs), [140] as well as research, development and engineering centers (RDECs) listed: [127] [53] [6]
In internal partnerships, CCDC (formerly RDECOM) has taken Long range precision fires (LRPF) as its focus in aligning its organizations (the six research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL)); as of September 2018, RDECOM's 'concept of operation' is first to support the LRPF CFT, [141] with ARDEC. AMRDEC is looking to improve the energetics and efficiency of projectiles. TARDEC Ground Vehicle Center is working on high-voltage components for Extended range cannon artillery (ERCA) that save on size and weight. [141] Two dedicated RDECOM people support the LRPF CFT, with reachback support from two dozen more at RDECOM. [142] In January 2019 RDECOM was reflagged as CCDC; General Mike Murray noted that CCDC will have to support more Soldier feedback, and that prototyping and testing will have to begin before a project ever becomes a program of record. [143] [6]
Although the Army Research Laboratory has not changed its name, Secretary Esper notes that the CCDC objectives supersede the activities of the Laboratory; [53] [46] [47] the Laboratory remains in its support role for the top-six priorities for modernizing combat capabilities. [Note 1]
Acquisition specialists are being encouraged to accept lateral transfers to the several research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), where their skills are needed: Ground vehicle systems center (formerly TARDEC, at Detroit Arsenal), Aviation and missile center (formerly AMRDEC, at Redstone Arsenal), C5ISR center (formerly CERDEC, at Aberdeen Proving Ground), Soldier center (formerly NSRDEC, Natick, MA), and Armaments center (formerly ARDEC, at Picatinny Arsenal) listed below. [144]
The following activities for Futures Command are at 23 locations. [145] (A ' CoE', or TRADOC Center of Excellence, can be co-located near a CFT, along with the associated CDID —Capability Development Integration Directorate— and Battle Lab)
On 13 July 2018, U.S. Army Secretary Mark Esper said AFC's headquarters would be based in Austin, Texas. [193] AFC spreads across three locations totalling 75,000 square feet; [61] one of the locations in a University of Texas System building at 210 W. Seventh St. in downtown Austin, [194] [195] on the 15th and 19th floors. [196] The UT Regents will not be charging rent to AFC until December 2019. [196] The command began initial operations on 1 July 2018. [197]
On 16 July 2018, Lieutenant General John M. Murray was nominated for a fourth star and appointment as Army Futures Command's first commanding general. [198] [199] His appointment was confirmed 20 August 2018 [200] and he assumed command during the official activation ceremony of AFC on 24 August 2018, in Austin, Texas. [61]
The AFC commander, in a hearing before Congress' House Armed Services Committee, projects that materiel will result from the value stream below, within a two-year time frame, [19] from concept to Soldier. The commanding general is assisted by three deputy commanders.
... what I do think you will see is some of the capabilities the cross-functional teams are working will be in production and being delivered and in the hands of soldiers in the next two years" —Gen. John "Mike" Murray (2018). [19]
Army Chief of Staff Milley is looking for AFC to attain full operational capability (FOC) by August 2019. [28] [34] [60]
I think we have been actually executing the mission for the last six to eight months if not longer. [26] —Gen. John "Mike" Murray, 19 July 2019
Commanding General
No. | Commanding General | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |
1 |
General John M. Murray | 1 July 2018 | Incumbent | 6 years, 4 days |
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