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PEO EIS Steps into the Future of SATCOM with MET IOC Dedication and Ribbon-Cutting
By Paul L. Tremblay, PM DCATS Public Affairs
Fort Belvoir, Va., June 19, 2014 – Mr. Douglas Wiltsie, Program Executive Officer Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS), will host a ceremony on July 17 at Fort Belvoir, Va., to recognize the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) installation.
The MET program is administered by the Product Manager, Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems (PdM WESS), which falls within the Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems’ (PM DCATS) portfolio of products. The program is replacing aging, bandwidth-limited infrastructure with state-of-the-art satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals that can leverage the vastly increased data throughput capabilities of the Department of Defense (DOD) constellation of Ka-band Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites that began launching in 2007. Simultaneously, MET systems can communicate with legacy military X-band Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) satellites and with commercial satellites, if necessary.
The Belvoir MET installation is comprised of a fixed 12.2-meter antenna reflector assembly and associated SATCOM equipment, including control, monitor and alarm; performance measurement and testing; frequency and time standard; and transmit and receive subsystems. The installation also is hardened to protect against interference produced by High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) threats such as low-yield nuclear explosions.
Across the globe, in addition to the hardened 12.2-meter terminal installations at Ft. Belvoir and underway elsewhere, PdM WESS is fielding non-hardened 12.2-meter terminals, both HEMP and non-HEMP 7.2-meter transportable variations, and a fixed 4.8-meter antenna variant for locations with lower throughput requirements. Each variant is built using a modular design intended to reduce both acquisition and maintenance costs over the full life cycle.
The MET IOC dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by optional tours of the new terminal. The event will occur adjacent to the 596th Signal Company’s earth terminal facility at 8575 John J. Kingman Road, Building 2310, Fort Belvoir, Va., 22060. Mr. Wiltsie will host the event in partnership with COL Clyde E. Richards, Jr., PM DCATS, and LTC Samuel Ancira, PdM WESS.
Mr. Wiltsie, COL Richards and LTC Ancira will speak at the event, and BG John B. Morrison, Jr., Commander, Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM), has been invited to provide remarks. Other invited dignitaries include U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA); U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA); U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA); LTG Robert Ferrell, Army Chief Information Officer (CIO/G6); LTG David Mann, Commander, Army Forces Strategic Command (ARSTRAT); and LTG Michael Williamson, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology [ASA(ALT)].
“Together, MET and WGS are finally putting us ahead of the DOD’s increasing demand for data, voice and video throughput,” says LTC Ancira. “It’s moving us past our reliance on hard to maintain, limited throughput legacy equipment, and our increasing dependence on commercial satellites -- which are also expensive to use, and which are not standardized, not interoperable, and often times not even secure.”
Posted June 24, 2014
I3C2 Changes Charter
By Ellyn Kocher, PEO EIS public affairs
A ceremony was held June 20 at the Defense Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir, Va., to officially recognize the change of charter for the Installation Information Infrastructure – Communications and Capabilities (I3C2). Project Manager COL Debora Theall, who has led I3C2 since June 2011, transitioned leadership to Mr. Michael C. Padden in a ceremony hosted by Mr. Douglas Wiltsie, PEO EIS.
Project Manager I3C2’s overarching mission is to enable and preserve Soldiers’ global connectivity and worldwide presence by designing, building, modernizing and deploying network and infrastructure capabilities to Soldiers, as well as providing the tools and capabilities to plan, coordinate, synchronize and conduct network operations.
“Under COL Theall’s leadership, I3C2 provided critical IT infrastructure to our frontline warfighters in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout Southwest Asia.” Mr. Wiltsie remarked at the change of charter ceremony. “Because of the hard work performed by Deb and her team, thousands of buildings on dozens of Army installations were upgraded, impacting hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. In an environment of rapidly changing requirements and budget challenges, Deb’s team has kept pace and built a solid foundation for the Army’s transition to the Joint Information Environment (JIE).” I3C2 supports the Army CIO/G-6, ARCYBER and NETCOM installation-level activities, and has a presence at every Army camp, post, and station around the globe.
Mr. Michael Padden comes to PEO EIS from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA[ALT]), where he served as the Acting Deputy Executive Director for the Acquisition of Services, and as Director, Services Portfolio Coordination.
“Michael brings an enormous amount of experience and a unique perspective [to PEO EIS],” said Mr. Wiltsie, who in his remarks emphasized the importance of the I3C2 mission and the Army’s commitment to modernizing the network in preparation for JIE. “In his 30 year career as an Army civilian, Michael has built a broad range of acquisition experience, including aviation, ground systems, and electric power. Though COL Theall’s boots will be hard to fill, I’m certain that Mr. Padden will be a tremendous asset to I3C2, PEO EIS and the Army.”
In attendance at the ceremony were MG (Ret.) Nick Justice, former Commander, Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), and Mr. James Sutton, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Services, as well as COL Theall’s and Mr. Padden’s families.
The change of charter ceremony was followed by a retirement luncheon at the Fort Belvoir Officers' Club to honor COL Theall for more than 30 years of service.
Posted June 20, 2014
Army Strong Week recognized by Fairfax County
By Ellyn Kocher, PEO EIS Public Affairs
Ft. Belvoir, Va., June 18, 2014 — In a ceremony yesterday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed this week "Army Strong Week," with a tribute to local Fort Belvoir leaders, Garrison Commander COL Gregory Gadson and Public Affairs Director Mr. Don Carr, on the occasion of their upcoming retirements. The designation of a week honoring the strong Army presence and support in Fairfax County, Va., comes just after the national recognition of the Army's 239th Birthday on June 14. PEO EIS, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, held a cake cutting ceremony honoring Army Birthday June 11, and the Fort Belvoir Garrison held their ceremony on June 13.
The Fairfax Co. Board of Supervisors occasion included performances by The Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps and the Army Color Guard. A video of the ceremony can be found here: http://1.usa.gov/1lzZaa1.
Congratulations to our colleagues, and thanks to Fairfax County for their support to the U.S. Army! HOOAH!
Posted June 19, 2014
PEO EIS Celebrates the Army’s Birthday
By Ellyn Kocher, PEO EIS Public Affairs
Mr. Tom Dunaway, Executive Officer, PEO EIS, narrated the official observance, which included remarks from Mr. Doug Wiltsie, PEO EIS, and an invocation by Mr. Samuel Massenberg, Theater and Logistics Division Chief, Operations and Theater Support Directorate (OTSD).
Mr. Wiltsie highlighted some of the rich history of the Army and the accomplishments of our Soldiers today, while Mr. Dunaway read from the history of the Continental Resolution. As is the tradition for Army Birthday, the first cut to the celebratory cake was made by COL Debra Theall, Project Manager, Installation Information Infrastructure – Communications and Capabilities (PM I3C2) and CPT Eric Terrell, Assistant Product Manager, Power Projection Enablers (P2E), the most senior and the youngest uniformed Soldiers assigned to PEO EIS.
Click to view photos from the day's events:
The cookout and the cake cutting ceremony were both well attended by more than 150 employees and tenant neighbors, raising funds for the PEO EIS Organization Day June 27, and providing an opportunity for the workforce to reflect on the importance of the tradition and history of the United States Army.
As part of the observance campaign, PEO EIS brought back the popular Hooah History fun facts about the Army, focusing on such topics as the Continental Army, the Women’s Army Corps (WACs), celebrities in the Army, and the history of Army Birthday itself. Hooah History was shared via workforce email and on PEO EIS’ Facebook and Twitter pages, which also linked to an informational page on the EIS website about Army Birthday. Other observations throughout the Military District of Washington (MDW) continue through this week in honor of Army Birthday, which is officially marked on June 14 each year.
Happy Birthday, Army – Hooah!
Posted June 12, 2014