Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation

Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation
Name	Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation
Native name	PEO STRI
Formation	1999
Headquarters	Orlando, Florida
Region served	United States Army
Leader title	Program Executive Officer
Parent organization	United States Army Acquisition Executive

Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation is a United States Army organization responsible for the development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of live, virtual, and constructive training systems, training support, and instrumentation. It provides mission-essential capabilities that enable training for Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, and other major Forces Command installations, integrating systems used by Department of Defense components, allied militaries, and interagency partners. PEO STRI supports readiness objectives aligned with Army Futures Command, Army Materiel Command, and acquisition reforms mandated by the Clinger–Cohen Act and Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009.

Overview

PEO STRI oversees a portfolio that spans simulation devices, instrumentation, range systems, collective training systems, and embedded training technologies. The office manages programs that connect training audiences from Fort Campbell to Joint Base Lewis–McChord and interoperates with programs under Naval Sea Systems Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and multinational programs such as NATO Communications and Information Agency. Operational priorities reflect directives from Secretary of the Army, coordination with United States Indo-Pacific Command, and alignment with concepts promoted by Maneuver Center of Excellence. The organization emphasizes life-cycle sustainment in concert with policies from the Government Accountability Office and standards issued by National Institute of Standards and Technology.

History and Development

The office traces origins to consolidation efforts in the late 20th century intended to centralize simulation and instrumentation acquisition. Early antecedents included acquisition elements supporting programs at Aviation Center of Excellence, Armor School, and the Combined Arms Center. After the formation of PEO STRI, milestones involved integration of capabilities from programs such as Blue Force Tracker, Close Combat Tactical Trainer, and the National Training Center instrumentation suites. The office adapted through phases influenced by operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, the reshaping mandated by the Goldwater–Nichols Act cultural shifts, and lessons codified following reviews like those produced by the Rand Corporation.

Organization and Leadership

PEO STRI is led by a civilian Program Executive Officer supported by deputy PEOs, a chief of staff, and principal directors responsible for portfolios aligned to product offices. Leadership interfaces with oversight authorities including the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, and the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. The workforce comprises acquisition professionals credentialed under Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act standards, contracting officers guided by the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and technical staff collaborating with institutions such as Naval Postgraduate School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Georgia Tech Research Institute.

Programs and Major Systems

Major programs include live training instrumentation like the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, constructive training suites such as the OneSAF simulation, virtual training environments exemplified by the AVT Simulation System family, and range modernization initiatives associated with the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and the White Sands Missile Range. PEO STRI manages interoperability efforts tied to Distributed Interactive Simulation, High Level Architecture, and data standards used in programs like Common Mission Training Complex and Synthetic Environment Core. Acquisition packages have encompassed contracts with vendors including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics, and Raytheon Technologies.

Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation

RDT&E activities coordinate with laboratories and centers such as Army Research Laboratory, Combat Capabilities Development Command, CERDEC, and university research consortia funded by Office of Naval Research and Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Test events are conducted under procedures defined by Director, Operational Test and Evaluation and utilize instrumentation from Yuma Proving Ground to evaluate fidelity against doctrine from Training and Doctrine Command. Innovation efforts target artificial intelligence algorithms from collaborations with DARPA, mixed-reality systems developed in partnership with Microsoft research teams, and modeling frameworks consistent with work by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standards committees.

Partnerships and Industry Engagement

PEO STRI engages extensively with industry partners, small businesses supported through the Small Business Innovation Research program, and international allies via cooperative programs with United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, Australian Defence Force, and NATO centers like NATO Joint Warfare Centre. Contracting strategies follow guidance from Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and initiatives such as Other Transaction Authority pilots with consortia involving Palantir Technologies and Leidos. The office also partners with training brigades at National Training Center, interoperability labs at Joint Staff J7, and acquisition oversight from Congressional Armed Services Committees.

Facilities and Training Ranges

PEO STRI operates and supports facilities including simulation centers at Orlando, instrumentation suites at Fort Irwin, range modernization projects at Pohakuloa Training Area, and combined arms training complexes at Fort Polk. These ranges and facilities interface with sensor networks, telemetry systems, and live-fire instrumentation used across testing locations like Aberdeen Proving Ground and China Lake. Infrastructure investments reflect priorities in programs endorsed by the National Defense Authorization Act and are coordinated with regional stakeholders including state authorities in Florida and New Mexico.

Category:United States Army acquisition