The bedrock of military success for service men and women in the field is based on teamwork. The same can be said for those who ensure Warfighters have the right equipment to operate. This is clearly reflected by the team that was awarded Product Management Office Team of the Year Award (O-5 Level) during the Assistant Secretary Army (Acquisition, Logistics Technology) 2021 annual Acquisition Awards Ceremony for excellence in leadership on 17 December 2021.

The winning team, Product Manager Terrestrial Warfare (PdM TSW) out of Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, tackled the challenge of fielding urgently needed systems while setting the conditions for the Army’s newest electronic warfare systems.

“This is a high honor, and one for which you can be very proud. The pool of candidates this year was especially competitive, and the fact that you stood out among them demonstrates your truly outstanding accomplishment,” said Karen D. H. Saunders, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), in her congratulatory note.

During the award period, “in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the PdM TSW team not only persevered, but excelled in supporting the Electronic Warfare (EW) community.

PdM TSW developed and fielded the Army’s first EW capability in a generation with the delivery of the Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS) and Tactical Electronic Warfare System Light (TEWL). Warfighters now have the tools to implement electronic protection for their formations, detect and understand enemy activity in the electromagnetic spectrum, and disrupt adversaries through electronic attack effects.

Working closely with Training and Doctrine Command, the team ensured that the Army’s investment in these interim solutions allowed for a “Campaign of Learning” to reduce the risk for a future and enduring program of record, entitled the Terrestrial Layer System – Brigade Combat Team (TLS-BCT).

“PdM TSW distinguished itself by initiating agile and adaptive acquisition approaches that rapidly delivered integrated Signals Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Cyber Operations into one platform required for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO),” said Mark Kitz, Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. “The Product Management team’s accomplishments during this period have significantly contributed toward providing the maneuver commander with electronic attack and offensive cyber warfare solutions to deny, degrade, disrupt, and manipulate enemy signals of interest. “

With approval from the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), TLS is the first Program of Record (PoR) in PEO IEW&S to be executed under the new Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) Authority, enabling timely capability for the Warfighter.

“This award recognizes the tremendous contributions of the dedicated PdM TSW team that are paying dividends for our Soldiers now and into the future,” said Ken Strayer, Project Manager Electronic Warfare & Cyber. “TLS will offer a critical opportunity for commanders to have non-kinetic options and greater awareness of the EW battlespace.”