[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]On February 9, the Field Artillery Association (FAA) once again lit up the sky as the organization hosted its second annual induction event at Aberdeen Proving Ground to include welcoming a group of new award recipients into the Order of Saint Barbara as a part of the event at the Top of the Bay Club.

During the ceremony hosted by Brig. Gen. Daniel Hughes, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), who is the Senior Officer of Ballistics on APG, approximately 300 guests came together to celebrate Saint Barbara’s Day and the legacy and contributions of the Field Artillery community and its members known as “Redlegs”. Saint Barbara is recognized as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and explosions. As a part of the ceremony six new members from the APG community were inducted into the Honorable Order of St Barbara and one longtime member was raised into the Ancient Order of St Barbara.

The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character; displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence; served the Army or Marine Corps Field Artillery with selfless¬ness; and contributed to the promo¬tion of the Field Artillery in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates and peers alike.

The following group of Soldiers, government civilians and contractors were recognized with the Order of Saint Barbara:[/vc_column_text][unordered_list style=”circle” animate=”no”]

• Gary Martin, Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). He was recognized for his contributions to the success of the Field Artillery’s mission and Force Protection for Warfighters by providing superior leadership and technical support throughout 28 years with the United States Army to include four years as an active duty Signals Officer and 24 years civil service in various positions within the acquisition community supporting and directing research, development, engineering, program management and sustainment of numerous weapon systems and programs.
• Lt. Col. Dean Hoffman, Product Manager for Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Surveillance Systems. He began his service to the Field Artillery as a Battalion Fire Support Officer in Korea with subsequent assignments in Special Forces and the Acquisition Corps. He has continued his contributions to the artillery community which is reflected in the role he played in assisting to establish the local FAA chapter at APG where he is currently serving as President.
• Sgt. 1st Class Donnie Key, Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDTE) NCO for the Fires Evaluation Directorate. He entered active service in 1998 and went on to become an Air Defense Artillery non-commissioned officer. Throughout his career he has deployed to Kosovo, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Most recently he provided force protection for the air fields at Kandahar and Bagram. He continues contributing to the success of the Field Artillery Mission within the Army Evaluation Center providing vital information and operational knowledge to Air Defense Artillery programs that are currently under test.
• Sean Buck, Army Test and Evaluation Center lead for the Air and Missile Defense (AMD) Task Force. He began his service to the Air Defense Artillery Branch AS the ATEC Chair and Lead Evaluator for the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Elevated Netted Sensor (JLENS) and Sentinel Radar systems. Buck went on to become the ATEC Chair and Lead Evaluator for the Counter-Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) rapid acquisition initiative. In his current role at AMD, his team is providing testing support for the Air Defense Artillery Branch.
• Daniel Culkin, From the Syracuse Research Corporation. He was recognized for his role as the lead system engineer on the prototype Lightweight Counter-Mortar radar through the spiral development and urgent fielding of the AN/TPQ–48, –48A, and –49 LCMR systems. Culkin is also the inventor, lead system architect, and was the lead system integrator for the LCMR Live Fire Test Simulator support commitment to furthering the Field Artillery mission continues through his contributions on the AN/TPQ50, AN/TPQ53, Omni-Directional Weapon Location (OWL) radar system, and numerous other Army technology initiatives.
• Paul Rescorl, He began his service to the Field Artillery in 2006 as the Lead Fielding Manager for the Project Management, Intelligence and Effects. The programs under his purview are the Pocket-Sized Forward Entry Device, the Lightweight Forward Entry Device, the Gun Display Unit–replacement, Centaur, and the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). These systems are all used to conduct digital missions on the Fire Support Network and effectively digitize the whole fire support chain from the Forward Observer to the guns.In addition to the six neophytes honored with the Order of St Barbara, one previously-inducted recipient was raised up into the Ancient Order of St Barbara.The specific criteria for accession into the Ancient Order is to have performed conspicuous, long-term service for or on behalf of the United States Army Field Artillery or Marine Corps Field Artillery. The Ancient Order is reserved for an elite few whose careers have embodied the spirit, dignity and sense of sacrifice and commitment epitomized by Saint Barbara.

[/unordered_list][vc_column_text]Stephen Kreider, Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S), was recognized for his long-term service to the U.S. Army Field Artillery which encompasses a career that has spanned 36 years, first on active duty as an officer and then as a leader in Army Acquisition. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1980, he assumed numerous Field Artillery positions in the 3rd and 7th Infantry Divisions, Subsequently serving as a Project Director in Harry Diamond Laboratory, as the Department of the Army System Coordinator for the Multiple Launch Rocket System in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition), Product Manager Multiple Launch Rocket System Improved Launcher and Deputy for Ballistic Missile Defense in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics). He also served as the Commander of Yuma Proving Ground where he was responsible for Field Artillery and other major system testing. He continued contributing as the Acting Director and Deputy Director of the Future Combat System Combined Test Organization, Director Combined Test Organization PM Future Combat System (BCT). In his current role of PEO for IEW&S, Kreider has been responsible for the Firefinder Radars (prior to their transition to PEO Missiles & Space) as well as the Profiler system and other platforms in support of Field Artillery.

This event also served as an opportunity to highlight the recent establishment of the APG chapter of FAA. For information on joining the local chapter, contact FAA Secretary, Jeffrey Weiss at (443) 345-0011. All Redlegs are encouraged to mark their calendars for next year’s celebration which will be held on February 8.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]