IDGA.org's On Point Podcast Series

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Maj. Caggins and Mr. Galeazzi join us to talk about the important upgrades to the M-24 weapons system. The M24 Sniper Weapons System (SWS) has been in the service of the Army for over 20 years and certain upgrades are due to improve the weapon for the warfighters downrange.

Dave joins us today to talk about how the MRAP is redefining the battlefield. He currently serves as the Principal Civilian Deputy Program Manager, Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Program, out of Marine Corps Systems Command. A joint program office, MRAP is an ACAT ID program, responsible for procuring more than 22,000 life-saving vehicles for all four Services and United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Dave also led the Source Selection for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV)

LTC Geesey joins us again to give an update on how Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care have aided soldiers and service members downrange.

Col. Carlile serves as the Director, U.S. Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence and joins us today to discuss his commands efforts in the UAS spectrum. Col. Carlile is an aviator by trade and brings to the fight his decades of experience in the helo community.

LTC Ascura joins us to discuss the CROWS weapon system. Since January 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Ascura has served as Product Manager, Crew Served Weapons, in the Office of Project Manager Soldier Weapons at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, under PEO Soldier. In this assignment, LTC Ascura manages the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS), light to heavy machine guns, and the research and development of small arms ammunition.

Mr. Gerald A. Darsch is the Director of the Department of Defense (DoD) Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD) at the US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center, in Natick, Massachusetts and the Executive Secretary of the DoD Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Board. The mission of the CFD encompasses the total life cycle of combat rations, as well as field feeding systems for all Military Services. He holds a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Nutrition from Framingham State College and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts. He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and is certified in DOD Acquisition Level III Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering - Systems Engineering. Mr. Darsch is currently the Chairman of NATO Research Task Group 154, “Nutrition Science and Food Standards for Military Operations.”

LTC Lehner has overall responsibility for Individual weapons, from the M9 to the M4, as well as experimental weapons in development such as the XM25. LTC Lehner was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1990. He completed, Air Borne, Air Assault, and Ranger schools, and has served with Special Forces for the majority of his career, which includes four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. LTC Lehner became a member of the Acquisitions Corps in 2000. Andrew Cline has served as division chief for 9 years and has worked in various roles in small arms systems for the past 25 years. He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island and holds a Masters in Management Science from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Jeff Parsons heads up the Army's new Contracting Command based out of Fort Belvoir, VA. Army Contracting Command Soldiers, civilians and contractors support the warfighter worldwide, through the acquisition of goods and services vital to the Soldier's mission and well-being. As the Army's business conduit, ACC offers the contracting expertise of some of the best trained people in the Army, ready to support the warfighter while ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayers' funds. ACC ensures contracting support to the warfighter as mission requirements emerge and as the Army transforms and moves within the Continental United States and throughout the globe. Mr. Parsons will be discussing the functions of ACC and the day to day operations of his command.

CAPT Schreiber is currently assigned as the Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic in Norfolk, VA. Prior to this tour, he was the Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT and EISENHOWER Strike Group embarked in the DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER in support of combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia.

Colonel Tamilio serves as the PM of Soldier Weapons out of Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier). He is responsible in accordance with the Army Acquisition Management Process for weapons which are assigned to all soldiers across the US Army. Col. Tamilio will be talking about the M-4 Carbine which has been fielded mostly Army wide as the primary weapon assigned to Soldiers deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. Cray J. Henry is the Director of the Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP). Cray Henry in this podcast will discuss his office's future projects including the DOD's approach to supercomputing acquisition.

CSM McPherson is the CSM of Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, he entered the Army in November of 1979 and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, AL. During his career, CSM McPherson has worked in a variety of positions to include: Military Policeman, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Section Security NCO, Drill Sergeant, Desk Sergeant, PM Operations Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, Readiness Group Senior Enlisted Adviser, Company Operations Sergeant, First Sergeant, Battalion Operations Sergeant Major, TRADOC Provost Sergeant Major, and Command Sergeant Major. His most recent operational responsibility was as the Command Sergeant Major of the 18th Military Police Bde, Mannheim, Germany which deployed to Iraq during 2007-2008.

Major Taylor serves as the 4th Brigade Combat Teams Public Affairs Officer. He is an Infantry Officer by trade and is serving as his Brigade's Public Affairs Officer during their deployment in Afghanistan supporting combat operations in Operation Enduring Freedom. Major Taylor will be podcasting from his Forward Operating Base near Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel William E. Geesey is the product manager for Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) Product Management Office. With more than 24 years of active, reserve and National Guard service, LTC Geesey has held a variety of management positions in medical logistics and healthcare administration. A distinguished military graduate and first in his class, LTC Geesey was commissioned in the Infantry in May 1989 and assigned as a Scout Platoon Leader, Joint Task Force 6, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California. In 1991, he transferred to the Medical Service Corps and was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. At Fort Bragg, he served as Medical Platoon Leader, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; Executive Officer, C Company, 307th Medical Battalion (Airborne); Division Medical Supply Officer, 82nd Airborne Division; and Battalion Logistics Officer/Property Book Officer, 32nd Medical Battalion, Logistics (Forward).