ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: D. Edward Keller Jr. is Director of Contracting for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) and a member of the Senior Executive Service. The Space RCO sees itself as a fast-moving counterpart to the SMC, which handles more traditional military satellites, radars, and other space-related equipment from design to retirement. June 1993January 1995, Assistant Chief, Program and Technical Support Division, Defense Contract Management Command, Orlando, Fla. Located in Washington, D.C., the DAF RCO reports directly to a Board . Alongside the Director, he directs contracting activities executing $6 billion a year for selected study, development and fielding activities involving 40 programs tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff. LaPlante was determined to write a good contract for the B-21 that could adapt to a changing threat, and the fact that the award handily survived a protest from the losing Lockheed Martin-Boeing team could be called one of LaPlantes signature achievements while he was the Air Force SAE. The CROWS team, who already have CFTs . Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper, visited the B-21 Raider design and development headquarters at Northrop Grumman, to witness the progress being made on the nation's most cutting edge dual-capable stealth bomber. Walden had also predicted the first article would fly this summer, but Air Force officials have since walked back that prediction. Theres a lot of different capabilities that were working right now, and in the future, I see that staying about the same number.. Randall G. Walden, head of the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office, where he has directed development of the B-21 bomber and the Advanced Battle Management System, is moving to a new job at the Pentagon to advise the DOD's acquisition and sustainment chief, William A. LaPlante. Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office has been responsible for development and deployment of significant upgrades to the Integrated Air Defense System now operational around the National Capital Region and the launch and experimental operations of the X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle. EDUCATION In December 2018, its mission was expanded and its name changed to the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. 6. 12. "The built-in feature of open systems architecture on the B-21 makes the bomber effective as the . 6. You will never be allowed to go fast.. Space Rapid Capabilities Office > United States Space Force > Fact Sheets Copyright 2023. Delivering space capabilities quickly and effectively requires a strong core culture and mindset. CAREER CHRONOLOGY Robert D. Eidsmoe > Kirtland Air Force Base > Display However, one project will notably stay off the Space RCOs plate: the experimental X-37B spaceplane. 2014 - present, Director and Program Executive Officer, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. 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 . SDA is pursuing a constellation of potentially thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to handle everything from target tracking to missile warning. The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO or DAF RCO) is an office in the United States Department of the Air Force tasked with expediting the development of select technological systems. The Secretary of the Air Force activated the office on April 28, 2003. During her assignment at the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, she served as the Chief of the Offensive Capabilities Branch, where she was responsible for integrating acquisition efforts in support of multiple classified programs valued at over $600M. 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. 19. As with past renderings, this rendering is an artist's interpretation of the B-21 design. Oct. 9, 2019 Specifically, the office: Expedites the development and fielding of select Department of Defense combat support and weapon systems, Leverages defense-wide technology development efforts and existing operational capabilities, Provides integration and technical support to other Service or U.S. Government activities, Conducts independent operational and technical assessments of weapon or combat support system capabilities and vulnerabilities, Takes on new challenges to accelerate operationally-focused capabilities. The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. In 2021, Randall Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said that a first flight in mid-2022 was a "good bet". The Office is . Here's What We Know The Shadowy X-37B Was Up To During Its Record 780 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. Women Achieving Acquisition Excellence January 2002June 2003, High Power Microwave Applications Program Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 1998 Master of Science in Engineering Management, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio said the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director, . 2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence Air Force Achievement Medal MICHAEL W. ROBERTS > Air Force > Biography Display - AF Details About X-37B Payload Adapter Revealed After Record-Setting Mission New Hanscom team developing roadmap for ABMS > Hanscom Air Force Base Walden has reported that six B-21s are in construction at Northrop Grummans Palmdale, Calif., plant and that the first one will likely roll out in 2022. 12. 10. August 1997March 1998, Special Projects Engineer, 28th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. (Current as of March 2023), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. About | The Army RCCTO 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 . 14. . She assisted the Director in overseeing a $4 billion Air Force test infrastructure and the programming and execution of the Air Force test portfolio with an annual budget of $1.9 billion. The deputy or technical director to a SCO may exercise any SCO authority unless restricted in the FAR, as supplemented (e.g., individual authorized to execute a specific authority must be of a certain minimum grade/rank), or as specifically limited by the SCO. The office. Rapid Capabilities Office Pratt & Whitney has developed a fix for F135 engines afflicted with harmonic resonance, which should only take 30 minutes per affected engine to correct, company officials said. [Our approach] is a little bit different, Roberts said. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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 . October 2000January 2002, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. As a. CROWS looks to expand its partnerships. June 2014May 2017, Director of Contracting, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Md. 4. Ive talked to Gen. Raymond about that multiple times, and the Secretary of the Air Force, Walden said. NAVSEA Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal Located in Washington, D.C., the DAF RCO reports directly to a Board . One program that looks to augment existing spacecraft ground control systems isnt quite as under wraps. 4. Jan 09 Aug 11, Director, Non-Standard Aircraft Systems, Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing Aircraft, Center for Special Operations Acquisitions and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB FL 11. Two F130s housed in a twin-engine nacelle are mounted on a test stand at Stennis Space Center, Miss., where they will perform crosswind and engine control tests, Rolls program director Scott Ames said.. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director. EDUCATION 1995 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 1998 Master of Science in Engineering Management, University of Dayton, Dayton OH 2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB AL 2007 Air Command and Staff College Non-resident Program 2008 Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington DC 2013 Air War College Non-resident Program 2016 Blue Horizons Fellowship, Maxwell AFB AL ASSIGNMENTS 1. October 2020present, Deputy Director, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. )or https:// means you've safely connected to the .mil website. 10. By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. Program Manager, AFRL Transformational Capabilities Office Dayton, Ohio, United States. OUSD A&S Office News 2021 Robertss team could ask the Air Force RCO to test payloads on the spaceplane that would eventually fly on satellites or other spacecraft. 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 . After working on Capitol Hill, Colonel Johnson served as the Director, Non-Standard Aircraft Systems at the Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing Aircraft, United States Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center (SORDAC), Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB. 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.. September 2018June 2019, Associate Executive Director, Procurement Policy, Systems and Oversight, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. Knausenberger, who became CIO in August 2020, is set to leave in June. 2017 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award Planning for the event began over six months ago with collaboration between the 805th CTS, Secretary of the Air Force's Studies and Analysis team, Headquarters Air Force ABMS Cross-Functional team, Rapid Capabilities Office, Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, 505th Command and Control Wing and industry partners. The Air Force released a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet today. The RCO also says it developed the integrated air defense system installed around the National Capital Region after the 9/11 attacks. will lead the Space Force organization known as the Space RCO, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The Air Staff is one of the Department of the Air Force's two statutorily designated headquarters staffs: the other staff is the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, also known as the Secretariat.The Air Staff is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (currently General Charles Q. 16. Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. February 2019 present, Director, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The multimode sensor can perform radar, communications, and electronic warfare functions simultaneously. He became head of the RCO in 2014. Once you get a feel for the space system you want to go build, then you can start populating with the right folks and get the right contracting officers and program managers.. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office - Wikipedia CFTs look to "bake-in" cyber resiliency into new weapon systems and mitigate vulnerabilities in fielded systems. He is the principle advisor to the Director and senior staff on matters concerning the welfare, effective utilization, training, career progression and organizational performance for a diverse team of acquisition and support personnel. 1. The office responds to Combat Air and Space Forces and combatant command requirements. 12. Michael W. Roberts, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director and Program Executive Officer for The Space Rapid Capabilities Office, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Video: Mitchell Institute on YouTube, That may sound familiar, as the U.S. Space Force thought about what we go after, Roberts said. Former AFRL Official Kelly Hammett Takes Over as Space RCO Director 1. Kendall looks to accelerate appointment of civilian leader to oversee 2022 National Defense Strategy to Prioritize Gray Zone & Hybrid Warfare AWARDS AND HONORS SDA Taps Raytheon for Seven More Missile-Tracking Satellites, Photos: F-22s Deploy to Tinian for First Time as Part of ACE Exercise, In Message to Force, Austin Touts Once-in-a-Generation Investments, Heres What USAFs Science Board Is Studying Now, Were Weird: New Commander Details Life Inside Task Force 99, Top Pentagon Official: Chinas Air Actions Are Dangerous and Destabilizing, Entire F-35 Fleet to Get Fix for Engine Vibration Issue, Service Will Remain at Heart of King Aerospace No Matter How Aviation and Technology Change, US Set Up Afghans for Failure, With a Force Too Complex to Maintain, IG Says, Air Force Separated 610 Airmen For Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine, USAF Selects Boeings E-7A Wedgetail as Successor to AWACS. Aug 11 Jul 15, Materiel Leader, Strategic Combat Systems, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington DC 12. August 2007January 2009, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington, D.C. Mar 96 - Aug 97, Aerodynamic Propulsion Analyst, National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 2. 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. "Nuclear modernization is a department priority . 1998 - 1999, Deputy Chief, Advanced Technology Division, Directorate of Special Programs, Office of the The Directorate directs the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force's 150+ aircraft bomber fleet (B-1, B-2, B-52) and organizes, trains and equips the B-21 program in support of Air Force Global Strike Command and the United States Air Force. -- In January, the Department of the Air Force's Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems, or CROWS, worked to expand its existing use of Cyber Focus Teams. The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. BRIGADIER GENERAL DALE R. WHITE > Air Force Life Cycle Management - AF 17. A U.S. Air Force X-37B space plane, encapsulated ahead of a planned May 16, 2020, launch, the sixth mission for the X-37B program. Prior to her current assignment at MacDill AFB, Colonel Johnson was the Chief of Integration for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program at Hill AFB, where she was responsible for all programmatic integration of the $85B recapitalization of the land-based portion of the nuclear triad. Gen. Dale R. White is the Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency handles similar initiatives that can transition to the Space RCO as well. 20. An artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. Less than 200 personnel assigned to the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office rapidly develop capabilities to outpace and counter the increasing threats of adversaries.