By Allison Weissert | 

The C5ISR Hall of Fame again opened its doors to induct several members of the C5ISR community to include a pioneering member of Program Executive Officer for Intelligence and Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S).

Andrew R. D’Angelo, Air Force veteran, technical innovator, acquisition professional, program executive officer, and decorated civil servant was inducted was recognized for his 35 years of service.

During the ceremony, D’Angelo’s sons, Dean and Drew, and daughter Devi accepted the honor on their father’s behalf who passed away earlier this year.

D’Angelo served as the deputy and then as the second Program Executive Officer for Intelligence and Electronic Warfare (PEO IEW), which later became PEO IEW&S. He began his lengthy career in service with the Air Force after which he joined the Federal Aviation Administration and then the Army Communications-Electronics Command, CECOM, at Fort Monmouth. D’Angelo initially held technical positions focusing on maintainability and reliability engineering. In 1967 he was selected to lead an advanced radar research and development project that would become an early version of the radar capability called Firefinder, which was the first attempt to handle multiple rounds, artillery and mortars being fired in a high clutter environment.  This led to his appointment as the technical director and deputy project manager for the Army Weapons Locating Radar Program, known as Firefinder.

As the Cold War was beginning and the Soviet’s substantial artillery capabilities were a growing threat, it became a high priority to develop a system that could handle mortar fire more efficiently and effectively as the US was outnumbered in actual ammunition compared to the Soviets. Firefinder successfully reduced false location rates to low levels that reinforced user confidence and ensured efficient and effective counterfire operations. The resulting world-class counterfire radar is still in service to the Army today.

D’Angelo was skilled as a technical professional as well as an acquisition professional, just as the program manager career path was being initiated within the Army. In 1980, he was selected as Director of Product Assurance and Test for CECOM, where he provided executive direction to a large staff of engineers and specialists in the development and execution of reliability, maintainability, quality assurance and testing programs. Under his direction, the Product Assurance Directorate supported the entire CECOM portfolio of systems to include command, control, communications and sensor systems. He became a Senior Executive Service member in 1984 and in 1985 was selected by the White House as a Presidential Exchange Executive working on manufacturing and quality improvement.

Next, D’Angelo served as the Deputy PEO IEW. He led a portfolio of high priority intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems including Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Ground Station, Night Vision Equipment, Airborne Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Counterfire Radars and Artillery Meteorology Systems. His leadership provided rapid fieldings and sustainment efforts that were critical systems in support of successful Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations.

The JSTARS radar provided real-time situational awareness and targeting data in support of maneuver operations. A superior night vision capability enabled the Coalition Forces to “Own the Night”.

Charles Christianson, former colleague to D’Angelo with Firefinder and C5ISR Hall of Fame Class of 2022 inductee, wrote the nomination package for D’Angelo’s Hall of Fame induction. He said of D’Angelo, “He was a people manager. He was very good at identifying people who had certain skill set as in putting together a team that you know maximized the output of the overall skill set from engineering, financial, programmatic and legal folks. From a personal point of view, he was a great guy to be around, very personable and always checking on the people who worked for him.”

D’Angelo went on to retire from civilian service and became a contractor in 1997, retiring for good in 2006. He received multiple awards throughout his career, including the Secretary of the Army Award for Outstanding achievement in Material Acquisition, the Department of the Army Commanders Award, the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, and the Exceptional Civilian Service Medal. He holds the Honorable and Ancient Order of St. Barbara (Field Artillery), The Order of Mercury (Signal Corps), and is the recipient of the Knowlton Award (Military Intelligence). In 2019, he was inducted into the InfoAge Wall of Honor.

D’Angelo’s contributions to the nation as a Veteran, an Army Civilian, innovator and businessman are far reaching. Many of his accomplishments are relevant today as he helped shape the technologies that led to today’s PEO IEW&S.