David Randall, the associate director for systems engineering at CERDEC’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, has spent more than three decades supporting U.S. Army Soldiers. (U.S. Army CERDEC NVESD Photo)

David Randall, the associate director for systems engineering at CERDEC’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, has spent more than three decades supporting U.S. Army Soldiers. (U.S. Army CERDEC NVESD Photo)

FORT BELVOIR, Va. (July 21, 2016) - David Randall has spent more than three decades with the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) in the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC). But his work is so much more than being a researcher in a lab coat running tests.

“I think what surprises most people about my job is how much interaction with Soldiers we have on the science and technology (S&T) side of the Army Acquisition Workforce," Randall said. "To truly understand the technology and how it will work within the Army system is to understand the Soldiers and their tasks. So, to that end, we have specific training that we refer to as a 'greening' course."

The course puts scientists and engineers in the environment where Soldiers have to live and operate, he explained, including marching with equipment, firing weapons, navigating over land and other Soldier activities. Officers and non­com missioned officers assigned to the organization provide input to the engineers as they develop technology. The group also consults with the training and doctrine organizations responsible for requirements development.

The upshot? “All of this helps us to better understand what the Soldiers will do with our technology and how best to design equipment to meet their needs.”

Q: What do you do in your position, and why is it important to the Army or the warfighter?

As the associate director for systems engineering, I primarily focus on ensuring that the technologies that CERDEC NVESD develops are mature and engineered for transition to the program executive offices (PEOs). Since CERDEC NVESD's core competencies cover a large breadth of technologies ­ including intelligence and surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting, Soldier sensors, and improvised explosive device, mine and minefield detection and defeat - we have working relationships with most of the Army's PEOs. I also serve as the CERDEC Soldier portfolio lead and am responsible for coordinating all CERDEC technologies and programs that will transition to PEO Soldier, which includes technologies for communication, mission command and power.

Since the Army is relying on more information for planning and tactical decisions, we must have a network and sensors to provide the data to make better decisions. The technologies that we develop are very important for ensuring that the network is robust and that the targeting and intelligence data are reliable and accurate.

Q: How did you become part of the Army Acquisition Workforce, and why?

I worked in the summer hire program for an Army research and development laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, while in college and saw the technology that could help our Soldiers perform better. One of my college classmates served in the military and then came to work at CERDEC NVESD. He recommended that this would be a great place to work and help Soldiers. I have been with the CERDEC NVESD for more than 31 years, and I have seen organizations become PEOs from the inception.

Q: What do you see as the most important points in your career with the Army Acquisition Workforce, and why?

I have had many opportunities within the Army Acquisition Workforce, but one in particular stands out. While taking the six-month program manager course at Defense Systems Management College (now part of Defense Acquisition University), I was exposed to training opportunities that included congressional fellowships. The instructor provided me with additional information on one in particular: the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Commerce Science and Technology (ComSci) fellowship. This is a congressionally approved fellowship focused on the S&T aspects of the military industrial complex. I was assigned to Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma and was part of his congressional staff for the 105th Congress. This fellowship helped me to understand the entire authorization and appropriations process of budgeting for DOD, and it has been very important and useful for my career in support of the workforce, specifically the PEOs.

Q: Can you name a particular mentor or mentors who helped you in your career? How did they help you?

I would like to identify Col. Marty Michlik and Martin Weaver. Col. Michlik was the project manager for the Night Vision Electro-Optics Program, which evolved into the project manager for night vision, reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (PM NV/RSTA); that was during my first assignment as an engineer working in a program management office on a program of record. He supported me in my activities and encouraged me to pursue acquisition workforce training. Martin Weaver served as my first-line supervisor on the NVESD Soldier Sensors Branch, and approved my Level III training in multiple career fields and the ComSci fellowship program. He also paved my way to get my first supervisory position as the Soldier Sensors Branch chief.

Q: What’s the greatest satisfaction you have in being a part of the Army Acquisition Workforce?

As I look back over my career, I see two particular contributions to mission success that bring me great satisfaction. Early on, I worked on the first eyesafe laser rangefinder to be fielded in the Army. Before this system, there were only one or two places in the world where Soldiers could train with a laser rangefinder. After we developed and fielded the Mini­Eyesafe Laser Infrared Observation Set, Soldiers could train at any Army training installation worldwide with the same equipment they would deploy with. This improved the readiness level considerably for the Army. It was so significant that Col. Michlik received the first PM of the Year Award in 1991.

The second contribution was when I was a branch chief and managed the program to upgrade the sensor technology for the Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS) through PM Soldier, Sensors and Lasers under PEO Soldier. The original TWS was a cooled, scanned, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor using a linear infrared detector that scanned in one direction to create an image. We introduced a new sensor design for an uncooled, staring FLIR that uses a two-dimensional infrared detector, eliminating the need to scan and allowing us to remove some moving parts. The revised design increased reliability and lowered the cost while maintaining performance. We reduced the size and power requirements by 50 percent.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who aspires to a career or position like yours?

Seize every opportunity that is presented for training and certification in multiple career fields. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the job we are doing, and we're not always aware of the openings or positions that would be available with additional training. Knowledge of multiple career fields allows you to understand how the Army works from a lifecycle management perspective. The Army is responsible for so many different aspects of the acquisition system that to fully understand it, you need to have many different perspectives, and you can only obtain these perspectives by living them. So seize the opportunity!

This article originally appeared in the July-September 2016 issue of U.S. Army AL&T Magazine.