Behind the Frontlines: Enabling the Warfighter

Faces of the Force: Sgt. 1st Class China A. Mathews, 918th Contracting Battalion, Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Carson, Colorado, Detachment Sergeant

Charles Harris, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Capability Program Executive Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense General Engineer, Contract Specialist.

As the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), I view the PIT as a proving ground for how the Army can rapidly inject promising technology into the hands of our warfighters, iterate with vendors and scale across the Army through our six Portfolio Acquisition Executives.

The Army is embracing low-code solutions to rapidly develop and deploy applications with minimal hand-coding, resulting in faster time-to-production, lower costs and greater agility in responding to changing mission requirements. This shift streamlines processes, enhances operational efficiency and improves decision-making capabilities. Low-code solutions are a modern approach to software development that allows individuals to create applications with minimal or no traditional programming. These platforms use visual interfaces, drag-and-drop components and pre-built templates to simplify application creation. This enables a wider range of people, not just seasoned developers, to build and deploy apps quickly.

The Army’s Launched Effects (LE) program is accelerating a new era of battlefield reach and responsiveness by pairing cutting-edge uncrewed technology with acquisition approaches designed for speed. Built to deliver decisive effects from standoff distances, these systems are rapidly moving from concept to operational use—demonstrating that smarter acquisition can be just as transformative as the technology itself. Read the full article at https://www.dvidshub.net/news/562169/launched-effects-program-accelerates-battlefield-reach.

The Army’s acquisition reform is beginning to show tangible results, as early actions taken under the new portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) construct translate strategic intent into measurable progress. Within the first 60 days of the Army’s implementation of the new PAE approach, several portfolios are already demonstrating how empowered teams can move quickly to reduce friction, streamline legacy processes and accelerate delivery of capability to the field. For example, the PAE for Command and Control/Counter Command and Control (C2/CC2)—a portfolio that is central to the Army’s transformation by ensuring our forces can achieve decision overmatch—rapidly delivered results across requirements, contracting, resourcing and equipping Soldiers. A closer look at these actions reflects the early benefits of outcome‑driven acquisition, and how emphasizing speed, integration and informed risk will continue to drive change. Read the full article at https://www.dvidshub.net/news/560827/reform-results-early-momentum-army-acquisition-transformation.

Modernization is no longer defined by how quickly an idea is conceived, but by how rapidly and effectively it is delivered to Soldiers in operational environments. As mission demands evolve and technology advances at an unprecedented speed, the Army must bridge the gap between innovation and impact. The Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT) Office was established to do exactly that—serving as the forward edge of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) by embedding innovation with operational units, accelerating the transition of emerging capabilities and creating a disciplined, Soldier‑driven pathway from concept to scale across the force.