Project Manager Soldier Systems

Project Manager Soldier Systems
Unit name	Project Manager Soldier Systems
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Garrison	Natick Soldier Systems Center
Role	Soldier systems acquisition
Command structure	Program Executive Office Soldier

Project Manager Soldier Systems

Overview

Project Manager Soldier Systems is an acquisition organization responsible for developing, procuring, and fielding individual soldier-level systems and integrated ensembles for the United States Army and allied forces. It coordinates requirements with stakeholders such as U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, U.S. Army Futures Command, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment while interfacing with research centers including Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, and industry partners like Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and Raytheon Technologies. The office supports programs that span textiles, personal protective equipment, load carriage, and close combat systems, integrating with testing organizations such as the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command and standards bodies like National Institute of Standards and Technology.

History and Development

The office traces lineage to post-World War II efforts at Natick Soldier Systems Center to standardize clothing and shelter, evolving through the Cold War-era programs managed by U.S. Army Materiel Command and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. During the 1990s and early 2000s, modernization initiatives linked to operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom accelerated work on modular body armor, flame-resistant textiles, and mission-adaptable equipment, engaging suppliers including 3M Company and DuPont. Structural reforms under acquisition reform policies and the establishment of Program Executive Office Soldier shaped the current organization, aligning it with joint programs such as the Joint Tactical Radio System and coalition interoperability efforts with partners like NATO.

Organization and Mission

The organization's mission centers on delivering survivability, mobility, and lethality enhancements to the individual warfighter, coordinating with capability developers like U.S. Army Capability Manager Soldier, combat developer organizations at Fort Benning, and doctrine authorities at U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Its structure integrates program managers, contracting officers from the Defense Contract Management Agency, and liaisons to laboratories including Naval Research Laboratory and Air Force Research Laboratory. It engages with international partners such as United Kingdom Ministry of Defence procurement offices and multinational test centers including Allied Command Transformation to ensure interoperability and sustainment across coalition operations.

Programs and Projects

Major portfolios include personal protective equipment programs that delivered systems akin to the Improved Outer Tactical Vest and modern modular protective vests used in operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom; load-carriage and rucksack modernization comparable to suites fielded for Operation Enduring Freedom; and integrated soldier communications reminiscent of programs interfacing with Blue Force Tracker and networked situational awareness systems developed with General Dynamics. The office sponsors research into advanced textiles from firms such as Honeywell and Teijin, sensors and power management worked with Texas Instruments and Northrop Grumman, and night-vision systems historically produced by Exelis. Collaborative projects have aligned with programs like the Future Soldier initiatives of allied nations and multinational capability roadmaps under NATO.

Personnel and Training

Personnel include acquisition professionals certified under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, program managers with backgrounds from United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy alumni, and technical staff recruited from research institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Pennsylvania State University. Training leverages courses from Defense Acquisition University, joint education from National Defense University, and operational feedback collected through unit evaluations with formations like 1st Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 3rd Infantry Division. The organization maintains relationships with soldier test units at installations including Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, and Joint Base Lewis–McChord for user evaluation and iterative design.

Technology and Equipment

The portfolio covers body armor systems using ceramic plates and fiber technologies supplied by companies like Ceradyne and DuPont, helmet systems integrating designs comparable to Advanced Combat Helmet platforms, and integrated load-bearing equipment influenced by legacy systems such as the Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. It supports wearable electronics, power generation and energy storage developed with Duracell-class suppliers, and modular optics and sensor suites cooperating with FLIR Systems and Sagem. Research areas include advanced materials, smart textiles, integrated physiological monitoring analogous to initiatives from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and human systems integration studied with academic centers such as Cornell University and Stanford University.

Acquisitions and Procurement Policies

Acquisition strategies follow frameworks promulgated by the Department of Defense acquisition regulations, employing competitive contracting vehicles such as Other Transaction Authorities used in collaboration with National Security Agency-adjacent programs and multiple-award contracts with industry leaders like Boeing and General Dynamics. Policies emphasize rapid prototyping, spiral development, and user-centered design informed by operational units including U.S. Special Operations Command and advisory councils drawing experts from Association of the United States Army and National Defense Industrial Association. Sustainment strategies coordinate with depot networks under Army Materiel Command and logistics systems interfacing with Defense Logistics Agency to assure lifecycle support and interoperability for coalition partners.

Category:United States Army acquisitions