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By Robert Piper, PM DCGS-A PAO
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (March 10, 2017) — Known for his keen awareness of everything happening under his watch as the Increment 1 (Inc 1) Product Manager (PdM) for Distributed Common Ground System — Army (DCGS-A), and ability to provide superior leadership and counsel, Donald L. Burton has received a promotion to colonel, reflecting his dedication and steadfast belief in the importance of fielding these critical capabilities.
Burton excels at strengthening internal and external stakeholder relationships, constantly interacting with the highest levels of Industry and Army leadership, enhancing their knowledge of DCGS-A products, capabilities, and the benefits they are bringing to the warfighter in every theater.
“Donald Burton’s promotion to colonel is testament to his exemplary acquisition, technical and leadership skills,” said Col. Rob Collins, PM for DCGS-A. “He and the DCGS-A Increment 1 team were instrumental in delivering the Army’s Army Intelligence Community’s central capability, bringing High Side intelligence collection and processing capability to the warfighter.”
No doubt this ability to guide one of the Army’s largest intelligence community programs to the levels of success Inc 1 has enjoyed stems from a family that emphasized strong values and service. Both his step-father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Manning, are retired colonels, not to mention his Uncle and mentor Damon Burton, a retired Master Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran. All but one of his siblings is now in the Army or the Army Reserve/Guard force, carrying forward the tradition of service, self-sacrifice, duty and putting others before themselves.
“It is their selfless service that is an emblem of our nation’s values and the true meaning of service as well as an incredible example of why our Army is so strong,” said Maj. Gen. Kirk Vollmecke, Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors, during Burton’s promotion ceremony. “This is a family heritage of continued service that galvanized generations to emulate.”
Burton manages the New Equipment Training (NET) Teams, Fielding Teams, and System Procurement Teams who support Army intelligence units worldwide, to include all in-theater operations. The DCGS-A is an Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1AM Major Automated Information System (MAIS) program. He also spearheaded the development of the Ground Station Integration Facility (GSIF) tactical field lab to replicate operational architecture and conditions following DCGS-A Developmental Testing. This facility provides links with all relevant communication networks and sensors to conduct Family of Systems (FOS) assessments, which was instrumental to achieving the high level of success achieved at the formal operational test event. The creation of the DCGS-A GSIF provides an enduring capability for assessing and improving capabilities under operationally realistic conditions across all Program Executive Office Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Sensors systems (PEO IEWS) and offers the capability to be the cornerstone for assessment of the future Command Post Computing Environment (CPCE) capabilities.
Burton’s exceptional expertise is well known throughout the PEO as well as the Army, as is his reputation for balancing the completion of all assigned missions with the ability to take care of and lead his workforce, which consists of 300 plus personnel spread across Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Fort Belvoir, VA; and Fort Hood, TX.
“He takes the time to counsel, mentor and train junior acquisition officers, civilian employees and peers, ensuring they are tactically and technically proficient and well prepared for future assignments,” Collins said.
Burton is scheduled to relinquishing the DCGS-A Increment 1 charter in May, before moving to his next assignment as the PM for General Fund Enterprise Business Systems (GFEBS). It is clear that his replacement has big boots to fill and the gaining command has a force multiplier inbound.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]