The secretive Space Rapid Capabilities Offices workload has taken shape two years after its inception, as the space research and development enterprise changes around it. LaPlante at the time described the choice of putting a major weapon system such as the B-21 under the RCO, rather than in a traditional program office, as a way to use lean management techniques with minimal Pentagon bureaucracy while taking advantage of the RCOs ability to conduct projects in secret. However, one project will notably stay off the Space RCOs plate: the experimental X-37B spaceplane. 7,260 followers. Mr. Keller graduated from East Carolina University in 1989 and was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force the same year. Melissa A. Johnson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Director of the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C. Alongside the Director, she directs selected study, development and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense . July 2010June 2012, Director, Mission Support Team 1, Joint Contingency Acquisition Support Office, Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va. June 2017July 2020, Program Executive Officer, Fixed Wing, Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla. Executive Director, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, U.S. Department of Defense: 2017-2018: Director and Program Executive Officer, Army Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics: 2014-2017: Deputy Director, Test and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force: 2009-2014 Top Secret Spaceplane Lands in Florida After Spending Over 2 - Gizmodo 1 min read. 2006 Masters of Science, Software Engineering, University of Management and Technology, Arlington, Va. . Hammett will lead the Space Force organization known as the Space RCO, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Pentagon leaders and cleared members of Congress alike have lauded the B-21 as a well-run program. Oct 00 - Jan 02, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB NM 5. The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office delivers capabilities at the speed of emerging threats for combat Air and Space Forces and combatant command requirements leveraging streamlined acquisition methods for developing, acquiring and fielding critical capabilities. Additionally, Mr. Keller is Director of Contracting, Air Force Special Access Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. (Current as of January 2023), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. 5. Mr. Robertss career spans 24 years in support of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force as both a veteran and acquisition professional. Lt. Charles Schramka and Sergio Mendoza interact with Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David D. Thompson at the Air Force Research Laboratory's booth during the Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference to discuss National Technology Satellite-3 or NTS-3, the DAF Vanguard program pushing the boundary of today's position, navigation and timing technology via an . Space RCO is a relatively small office filled with people who love what they do in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mar 96 - Aug 97, Aerodynamic Propulsion Analyst, National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 2. The project found a "place to call home" under Dr. Victoria Coleman, Air Force chief scientist, and Col. Mario Serna Jr., deputy director of innovation and technology integration, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office-Field Support Unit. The Department of the Air Force's Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems, or CROWS, is working to expand best practices in the field of cyber security by potentially expanding its Cyber Focus Teams to Space Force Program Executive Offices, as well as updating the DAF System Security Engineering Guidebook. By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. The DAF RCO delivers capabilities at the speed of emerging threats. Mission, Organization In summer 2021, the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, headquartered in Washington D.C., stood up the ABMS Program Executive Office Integration Team here. 17. 6. July 1997June 1998, Chief, Spacecraft Contracts Branch, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles, Calif. The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. Their hard work began to pay off as more people volunteered. A Program Executive Officer may be responsible for a specific program (e.g., the Joint Strike Fighter), or for an entire portfolio of similar programs (e.g., the Air Force PEO for Space, who is responsible for all acquisition programs at the Air Force Space Command Space and . Unit Commendation Medal with three gold stars director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, during a recent interview with Air . We're weird, he said. Walden, who is the director and program executive officer for the RCO, has been named senior executive advisor in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, according to a July 11 announcement from the Air Force. In summer 2021, the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, headquartered in Washington D.C., stood up the ABMS Program Executive Office Integration Team at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., to bring together acquisition directorate personnel to leverage their developed capabilities for use in the ABMS. Here's What We Know The Shadowy X-37B Was Up To During Its Record 780 2009 Masters of Science, Systems Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. 2004 Bachelors of Science, Engineering Technology, Grantham University, Lenexa, Kan. CROWS looks to expand its partnerships > Eglin Air Force Base > Article [Our approach] is a little bit different, Roberts said. Ed Keller - Director of Contracting, DAF Rapid Capabilities Office and June 2009 October 2010, DDG 1000 Combat Systems TD, NAVSEA05H, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. June 2004June 2005, Executive Officer, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters of the Air Force, Arlington, Va. Northrop Grumman Says It's Confident On B-21's Rollout Later This Year She is responsible for developing, producing, testing, modifying, fielding, and supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF)-unique fixed wing aircraft and sub-systems, equating to over 100 programs and projects worth $1.7 billion in 2017. He is the senior adviser to the Service Acquisition Executive on acquisition strategy, execution and policy and procedures for classified and SAP contracting. 1982 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Christopher Newport College, Newport News, Va. 2016 Blue Horizons Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1991 Master of Science, Engineering Management, Florida Institute of Technology, Patuxent River, Md. . Office of Public Affairs . "Nuclear modernization is a department priority . July 1996July 1997, Assistant Chief, Spacecraft Contracts Branch, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles, Calif. GCW: Space Acquisition Forum - GovConWire Events Tanya M. Skeen > U.S. Department of Defense > Biography The Air Force's new ABMS strategy: Buy new capability, now - Defense News He has held various senior Program Manager positions within the Acquisition community. June 1998May 2000, Chief, National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Contracting Branch, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles, Calif. 12. The past 15 years, his career focus has been on acquisition, combat and weapon system engineering, design, testing, fielding and sustainment. 11. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. 2017 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award The Space Development Agency has added another batch of missile-tracking satellites to its expansive constellation, awarding Raytheon a $250 million contract March 2 to build seven spacecraft. Meritorious Service Medal Military aviation and technology are ever-changing, from the prevalence of drones to a shift to jets for special mission surveillance, once the province of propeller aircraft. The RCO was activated by the secretary of the Air Force on April 28, 2003, and is currently overseeing the development of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider in partnership with Northrop Grumman, and the X . Its not the fault of the commander or anybody else at Space Systems Command, its just because youre adding two to three layers of bureaucracy and decision-making on top of my current organization. Lt. Col. Joseph Fritschen, the X-37B Program Director at the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, confirmed that "the addition of the service module on OTV-6 allowed us to host . Air Force Commendation Medal Full Report. June 15, 2022. 1992 Master of Business Administration, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville 2013 DAWIA Program Management and System Planning, Research, Development and Engineering Level III Certifications Air Staff (United States) - Wikipedia Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars Michael W. Roberts > Kirtland Air Force Base > Display Defense Meritorious Service Medal Is Space Force moving fast enough for its Rapid Capabilities Office? The Space RCO, which speedily develops cutting-edge technologies at the request of Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Jay Raymond, handles capabilities that go in, from, and to space, with less bureaucracy and more flexibility than typical research programs, Space RCO Director Michael W. Roberts said during a virtual Aug. 13 Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event. 15. August 2011July 2015, Materiel Leader, Strategic Combat Systems, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Deliveries of the engine, which powers the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, resumed Feb. 18 after nearly a two-month hiatus. 13. The office responds to Combat Air and Space Forces and combatant command requirements. Current DAF RCO work includes the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, a reusable, unmanned space test platform for the United States Space Force, and the B-21 Raider, a long-range strike bomber for the United States Air Force. 14. 1987 Flight Test Engineer Course, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Program Manager, AFRL Transformational Capabilities Office Dayton, Ohio, United States. Ukraine, China, technology, and drug trafficking emerge as top issues in House Intelligence Committee hearing with think tank leaders. The Air Force plans to field four pods for an early operational capability by the end of FY22 but could acquire up to 10 pods, said Brig. 420th FLTS Reactivates to Support B-21 Raider Testing. Located in Washington, D.C., the DAF RCO reports directly to a Board of Directors chaired by the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. 5. said the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director, . Background May 1989October 1990, Contract Negotiator, Operational Contracting Division, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Their work is critical to driving competitive . In his previous position as the Director for Development and Integration, PEO Integrated Warfare Systems, he integrated system requirements and resources for combat systems, associated elements and facilitated the execution of effective systems engineering processes for development, integration and developmental test of Navy Surface Combat System capabilities. WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. Military Instructor. Air Force releases new B-21 Raider artist rendering 18. The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, Space Vehicles Directorate held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest space facility, the Rapid Architecture Prototyping and Integration Development, or RAPID, laboratory, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, April 12, 2022, with Col. Eric Felt, director, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, as the presiding official. B-21 Director Walden Leaving RCO to Advise LaPlante at Pentagon 10. Other responsibilities include technical integration of Department of Defense classified activities, and the representation of these activities to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Congress and the White House. CAREER CHRONOLOGY The Space RCO replaced the ORS office at Congress direction. 7. Background The Air Force and Space RCOs will work together as the X-37B offers more insight into new technologies that could shape future space systems. The Air Forces current service acquisition executive (SAE), Andrew Hunter, revealed in June that the B-21 is actually under budget. 5mo. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. May 2002September 2002, Theater Head of Contracting, NATO Stabilization Forces, NATO Headquarters, Camp Butmir, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Current as of March 2023), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Test and Evaluation, Level II APDP MELISSA A. JOHNSON > Air Force > Biography Display - AF Rapid Capabilities Office > Air Force > Fact Sheet Display Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the United States Armed Forces in 1947 with the . Women Achieving Acquisition Excellence In November 2020, the Air Force tapped the Rapid Capabilities Office to manage ABMS procurement and create the effort's acquisition strategy. Theres a lot of interest in reusable space vehicles, and right now, weve gained a lot of information in the decade weve been operating that system.. Specifically, the office: Organization The Air Force released a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet today. 3. Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters The Space Rapid Capabilities Office procures commercial and classified technologies for the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command by Sandra Erwin June 14, 2022 January 23, 2023 Click to share on . October 2010 August 2013, Aegis System Engineering / Baseline Development / Strategic Planning Principle Assistant Program Manager, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. Col Jeffrey R. LaFleur, USAF > The Eisenhower School > FacBio AFRL highlights importance of science and technology at AFA's Air