In this position, Mr. Roberts serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for the development and fielding of classified critical space capabilities. 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. The office preserves the strength of U.S. ingenuity and innovation without the rigidity of traditional acquisition. The past 15 years, his career focus has been on acquisition, combat and weapon system engineering, design, testing, fielding and sustainment. The Office is . 7. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency handles similar initiatives that can transition to the Space RCO as well. AFRL highlights importance of science and technology at AFA's Air 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. The 2022 National Defense Strategy and Future Force Structure Board members also include the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. 2007 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. EDUCATION June 1993January 1995, Assistant Chief, Program and Technical Support Division, Defense Contract Management Command, Orlando, Fla. The Pentagon has named Chris Shank, a former NASA official, as director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, according to a biography posted to the Defense Department's website. MICHAEL W. ROBERTS. Tanya M. Skeen > U.S. Department of Defense > Biography 8. The Space Rapid Capabilities Office procures commercial and classified technologies for the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Clipboard (Opens in new window). Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office - Wikipedia The Air Force had once projected the first flight of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider would occur in December 2021, . June 2014May 2017, Director of Contracting, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Md. 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. 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. 8. The office. 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 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. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021. Col Jeffrey R. LaFleur, USAF > The Eisenhower School > FacBio There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. 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. 1998 - 1999, Deputy Chief, Advanced Technology Division, Directorate of Special Programs, Office of the MELBOURNE, Fla (AFNS) --. Clockwise from left, Randall G. Walden, director and program executive officer at the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Michael W. Roberts, director and PEO at the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and retired USAF Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, director of research at AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, appear in conversation during a Space Power Forum hosted by the think tank on . Here's What We Know The Shadowy X-37B Was Up To During Its Record 780 Gen. Jeffery Valenzia, who leads the Air Force's ABMS . Jun 04 - Jun 05, Executive Officer, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington DC 8. (Current as of March 2023), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. 5. 4. Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. LaPlante, formerly the Air Forces acquisition executive, put Walden and the RCO in charge of B-21 development in 2015, when the Air Force selected Northrop Grumman to build what was then called the Long-Range Strike Bomber. 19. D. Edward Keller Jr., a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Director of Contracting for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. RCO delivers Department of the Air Force capabilities. Walden said the Air Force RCO will keep the Orbital Test Vehicle in its own portfolio but will continue to collaborate with the Space RCO. The United States Air Force ( USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. . Space RCO Head: Too Soon For Single Acquisition Shop As the SpRCO's senior acquisition officer, Mr. Roberts is responsible for and oversees Space-based research, development and acquisition . 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. 9. EDUCATION Details About X-37B Payload Adapter Revealed After Record-Setting Mission Roberts and SDA Director Derek M. Tournear talk at least once a week about their similar efforts. Critics argue that defeats the purpose of creating an RCO specifically to handle space projects, echoing larger concerns that the fragmented military space enterprise is simply growing instead of consolidating into something more effective. In a statement June 13, Hammett said: Im really excited about the new opportunity and the trust being placed in me to lead the Space RCO team as they deliver new capabilities to the U.S. Space Force that are desperately needed to fill important warfighter gaps., Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. Theres a lot of different capabilities that were working right now, and in the future, I see that staying about the same number.. June 2019present, Director of Contracting, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office / Special Access Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. The decision to make the fix to. 2008 Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington, D.C. January 2017 February 2019, Director, Development and Integration PEO Integrated Warfare Systems, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The Air Force's new ABMS strategy: Buy new capability, now - Defense News July 2008July 2009, Commander, Kabul Regional Contracting Center, Joint Contracting Command - Iraq/Afghanistan, Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan 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. 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 . Mr. Keller graduated from East Carolina University in 1989 and was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force the same year. Clockwise from left, Randall G. Walden, director and program executive officer at the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Michael W. Roberts, director and PEO at the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and retired USAF Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, director of research at AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, appear in conversation during a Space Power Forum hosted by the think tank on Aug. 13, 2020. A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States. 11. October 2000January 2002, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. Air Force Achievement Medal June 2003June 2004, Chief, Asymmetric Capabilities Development Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters of the Air Force, Arlington, Va. Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate - AFLCMC Covering the business and politics of space. Located in Washington, D.C., the DAF RCO reports directly to a Board . 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-37B Orbital Test Vehicle in partnership with NASA.[1][2]. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office Director Randy Walden said the ABMS would connect weapons systems, platforms and command systems in a centralized network and enhance the service's enterprise . 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.. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS 9. Jun 03 - Jun 04, Chief, Asymmetric Capabilities Development Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington DC 7. He is responsible for oversight and support of the Air Force SAP and Classified Contracting portfolio at Headquarters Air Force level valued at greater than $40 billion and senior level advocacy and training for 1,100 military and civilian acquisition professionals. He holds a master non-rated aircrew badge. 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. Technology Acquisition Series #1: Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office The Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO), a direct reporting unit of the U.S. Space Force, has a specialized, restricted and unique mission. Space Rapid Capabilities Office > United States Space Force > Fact Sheets Jan 02 - Jun 03, High Power Microwave Applications Program Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB NM 6. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2002, serving on the Air Staff as the Director for Information Dominance Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) and Director, Air Force Test and Evaluation, prior to his current position. 10 things we know about the secret X-37B space plane Aug 97 - Mar 98, Special Projects Engineer, 28th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB FL 3. Paul Litke - Center for Rapid Innovation Deputy Director - Air Force 1. Tanya M. Skeen - Our People - Purdue Engineering Walden had also predicted the first article would fly this summer, but Air Force officials have since walked back that prediction. The director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, created in 2018 to quickly develop prototypes of satellites and other urgently needed military technology, said the Space Force may not be . Staff photo by Mike Tsukamoto. Colonel LaFleur has served in a variety of acquisition, flight test and staff assignments. Center for Rapid Innovation Deputy Director at Air Force Research Laboratory 2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence Official websites use .mil . Michael W. Roberts > Kirtland Air Force Base > Display Alongside the director, he directs contracting activities executing $4 billion a year for selected study, development, and fielding activities involving 40 programs tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense . Colonel Johnson was an Air Force Legislative Fellow for Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and served as an advisor on defense, foreign policy, and military construction issues. (Current as of January 2023), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. 13. 6. Were working at it as a rapid acquisition program to build some algorithms to help with ground processing, Roberts said. Ed Keller - Director of Contracting, DAF Rapid Capabilities Office and Second B-21 Raider Under Construction As The First One Approaches Roll 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. The SSC will work directly with the Air Force Research Laboratory and other groups like the Rapid Capabilities Office. The RCO also says it developed the integrated air defense system installed around the National Capital Region after the 9/11 attacks. Meritorious Service Medal Secretary of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Award Jez Holmes OBE - Head of the Royal Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIAs National Defense 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. Air Force Commendation Medal Published Aug. 31, 2020. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force the same year and served as a flight test engineer with Air Force Material Command at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, and Nellis AFB, Nevada. Director. 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. 12. The Air Force released a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet today. The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) has accelerated methods for developing, acquiring and fielding critical combat capabilities. June 2012June 2014, Chief, Contracting Operations Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (Contracting), the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. During more than two decades at AFRL, Hammett worked on programs like high-power lasers and high power microwave developments, and oversaw the the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing site known as AMOS. Air Force releases new B-21 Raider artist rendering