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United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

Coordinates: 39°28′24″N 76°08′27″W / 39.473451°N 76.140837°W / 39.473451; -76.140837
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U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
ActiveOctober 2003 – present
CountryUnited States
BranchU.S. Army
RoleR&D
Part ofUnited States Army Futures Command
Garrison/HQAberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Motto(s)Cum Scientia Commutare ("Through Science We Change.")[1]
WebsiteOfficial Website
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Cedric T. Wins [2]

The Combat Capabilities Development Command, (CCDC) (formerly the United States Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)) is a subordinate command of the Combat Development Command, U.S. Army Futures Command. RDECOM was tasked with "creating, integrating, and delivering technology-enabled solutions" to the U.S. Army. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, RDECOM employed more than 13,000 scientists, engineers, researchers, and support personnel working at six major RDE centers and at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, providing nearly all of the Army's basic and applied research and development services, including in collaboration with other branches of the armed forces and through a network of more than a thousand academic, industrial, and international partners.

Speed of delivery and integration with the weapon systems are now needed for CCDC operations.[3] CCDC now includes the Data Analysis Center (formerly AMSAA),[3] and must now align with the top six priorities of Futures Command:

  1. Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF)
  2. Next Generation Combat Vehicles (NGCV)
  3. Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
  4. Army Network
  5. Air & Missile Defense
  6. Soldier Lethality
  • as well as Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). [3]

Role and organization

In the 2019 organization of CCDC, the top six priorities will now refactor into

  1. Data & Analysis Center;
  2. Armaments Center;
  3. Army Research Laboratory;
    1. Aviation and Missile Center;
    2. Chemical Biological Center;
    3. Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center;
    4. Ground Vehicle Systems Center;
    5. and Soldier Center.

    CCDC formerly described its role as "the Army's enabling command in the development and delivery of capabilities that empower, unburden and protect the Warfighter."[4] It conducts and sponsors scientific research in areas important to the Army, develops scientific discoveries into new technologies, engineers technologies into new equipment and capabilities, and works with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to help requirements writers define the future needs of the Army.[5]

    CCDC is headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground. As of December 2024, Major-General Cedric T. Wins is the commanding general, [2] assisted by Brigadier-General Vincent F. Malone as deputy commanding general and Command Sergeant-Major Jon R. Stanley as command sergeant major. They oversee one laboratory and six major centers: the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC or simply Edgewood), the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC or simply Natick), the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), the U.S. Army Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), and the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC).[6]

    History

    After assuming command of the Army Materiel Command in October 2001, General Paul J. Kern saw the need to streamline how the Army developed technology. At the time, the Army's laboratories and research centers reported through multiple channels, among other problems. Kern argued that the Army had to "figure out how to get technology in the hands of the Warfighters quicker" and that it was "the impression of everyone out there that the laboratories take too long, they do science for science's sake, engineering for engineering's sake". Kern proposed to unite the laboratories and research centers under a single command, and the idea was initiated to senior commanders and civilians.[7] The new command was approved, and was provisionally stood up in October 2002, based at Aberdeen Proving Grounds where it replaced and integrated the headquarters element of the Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM). In June 2003, RDECOM assumed operational control of the RDE centers. An organizational ceremony took place in October 2003 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, where SBCCOM officially stood down and the 389th Army Band and the Army Material Command's Acquisition Center were assigned to RDECOM. RDECOM became a major subordinate command of the Army Material Command in March 2004, with over 17,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at the time. In 2006, the 389th Army Band was designated AMC Band and moved to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. In 2008, the AMC Acquisition Center became part of the new Army Contracting Command, itself a major subordinate of the AMC. From February 2012 to September 2014, RDECOM was led by a civilian commander, Dale Ormond, before returning to military command.

    Future

    As of 2018, CCDC reports to Army Futures Command, which will reach full operational capability by August 2019. The new command is focused on readiness for future combat with near-peer competitors, in a shift away from the unconventional, asymmetric warfare fought in various theaters since 2001.

    Transfer to Army Futures Command

    Army Futures Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignia

    On June 4, 2018, the Headquarters, Department of the Army published General Order 2018-10, "Establishment of the United States Army Futures Command," formally transferring RDECOM from AMC to the new command effective July 1, 2018.[8] The transition of authority from AMC to AFC took place at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD on 31 January 2019, with a reflagging of the Command and repatching of the commander and CSM.[3]

    See also

    References

    Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army.

    1. ^ Distinctive Unit Insignia
    2. ^ a b "New Commander Arrives at RDECOM". August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    3. ^ a b c d Argie Sarantinos-Perrin, CCDC HQ Public Affairs (January 31, 2019) RDECOM transitions to Army Futures Command
    4. ^ "RDECOM - About". April 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    5. ^ "RDECOM Fact Sheet" (PDF). U.S. Army. April 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    6. ^ "RDECOM overview". U.S. Army. April 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    7. ^ "Life Cycle Management: Integrating Acquisition and Sustainment". 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
    8. ^ Establishment of the United States Army Futures Command

    39°28′24″N 76°08′27″W / 39.473451°N 76.140837°W / 39.473451; -76.140837

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