Arsenal team honored

National award cites Redstone-managed missile-defense work

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

By REBECCA SALLEE

For The Times

A team managed at Redstone Arsenal will receive a national defense award Wednesday normally reserved for an individual.

The Ground Based Midcourse Missile Defense Team will receive the John B. Medaris Award from the local chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association. The team, which includes representatives of the Ground Based Missile Defense Joint Program Office, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Space and Missile Defense Command, and Boeing Co. is comprised of hundreds of contractors and government employees.

Boeing is the prime contractor on the project. Peri Widener, the senior executive for Boeing in Alabama, said ground-based midcourse defense "is this country's first missile-defense program against incoming ballistic missiles."

"We're talking about a system that essentially puts a 'blanket' over the United States that will identify any ballistic missiles that were fired at us, and would launch a missile to destroy the one that was coming toward us."

The system also works quickly, "before any harm could be done to our shores," she said.

The program's elements include missiles or interceptors and a complex communications system that translates information to the military, the missile, the staging area and the missile field.

The program is ever-evolving to stay current with changes in the world and technology, Widener said.

"It's really unusual that they're presenting it to an organization, "said Tom Devanney, deputy program director for the GMD Joint Program Office. "Given the number of moving parts that we've got and the number of people who have played key roles in bringing this all together, it's appropriate."

The system will defend the United States "for the first time ever against this kind of threat (incoming ballistic missiles)," Devanney said. "It's so much better to be able to respond defensively rather than offensively."

James Evatt, senior vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems, also lauded the team's accomplishments.

"This team has delivered on a promise to provide the nation with a capability to defend against limited ballistic missile threat," Evatt said. "Through their extensive knowledge and unswerving dedication, they have accomplished what some deemed impossible."

Other local corporations involved in the project include Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon, Teledyne Brown Engineering and Orbital Sciences Corp.

Art Meier, vice president for awards for the NDIA's Tennessee Valley chapter, said the Medaris Award is named for (the late) Maj. Gen. John Bruce Medaris, who "provided brilliant leadership and direction" in the field of missile systems technology.




Arsenal team honored National award cites Redstone-managed missile-defense work Tuesday, October 19, 2004 By REBECCA SALLEE For The Times A team managed at Redstone Arsenal will receive a national defense award Wednesday normally reserved for an individual. The Ground Based Midcourse Missile Defense Team will receive the John B. Medaris Award from the local chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association. The team, which includes representatives of the Ground Based Missile Defense Joint Program Office, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Space and Missile Defense Command, and Boeing Co. is comprised of hundreds of contractors and government employees. Boeing is the prime contractor on the project. Peri Widener, the senior executive for Boeing in Alabama, said ground-based midcourse defense "is this country's first missile-defense program against incoming ballistic missiles." "We're talking about a system that essentially puts a 'blanket' over the United States that will identify any ballistic missiles that were fired at us, and would launch a missile to destroy the one that was coming toward us." The system also works quickly, "before any harm could be done to our shores," she said. The program's elements include missiles or interceptors and a complex communications system that translates information to the military, the missile, the staging area and the missile field. The program is ever-evolving to stay current with changes in the world and technology, Widener said. "It's really unusual that they're presenting it to an organization, "said Tom Devanney, deputy program director for the GMD Joint Program Office. "Given the number of moving parts that we've got and the number of people who have played key roles in bringing this all together, it's appropriate." The system will defend the United States "for the first time ever against this kind of threat (incoming ballistic missiles)," Devanney said. "It's so much better to be able to respond defensively rather than offensively." James Evatt, senior vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems, also lauded the team's accomplishments. "This team has delivered on a promise to provide the nation with a capability to defend against limited ballistic missile threat," Evatt said. "Through their extensive knowledge and unswerving dedication, they have accomplished what some deemed impossible." Other local corporations involved in the project include Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon, Teledyne Brown Engineering and Orbital Sciences Corp. Art Meier, vice president for awards for the NDIA's Tennessee Valley chapter, said the Medaris Award is named for (the late) Maj. Gen. John Bruce Medaris, who "provided brilliant leadership and direction" in the field of missile systems technology. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.