Research, Development and Engineering Command

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command
Active	October 2003 – present
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Army
Role	To ensure decisive capabilities for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter, and our Nation now and through 2040.
Part of	United States Army Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Motto(s)	Cum Scientia Commutare (“Through Science We Change.”)
Website	Official Website
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Cedric T. Wins
Notable commanders	Dale A. Ormond (First Civilian Director) Major General Nick Justice Major General Paul S. Izzo Major General Fred D. Robinson Jr. Major General Roger Nadeau Major General John Doesburg

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) is a major subordinate command of the Army Materiel Command (AMC), and is charged with "creating, integrating and delivering technology-enabled solutions to our Soldiers." With its headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, RDECOM scientists, engineers and researchers work at laboratories and research center across the nation and the globe. With more than 14,000 employees, RDECOM performs nearly all of the Army's basic and applied research and technology development.

RDECOM develops technologies at six major research, development and engineering centers and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory across the United States. It also integrates technologies developed in partnership with an extensive network of academic, industry and international partners.

Less than a year after assuming command of the AMC, Gen. Paul J. Kern saw the need to streamline how the Army developed technology for its soldiers. The Army’s laboratories and research, development and engineering centers reported through multiple channels, among other apparent problems.

“Right now, it is the impression of everyone out there that the laboratories take too long, they do science for science’s sake, engineering for engineering’s sake,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out how to get technology in the hands of Warfighters quicker.”

Kern’s solution was to unite all of AMC’s laboratories and RDECs under one command. Kern asked his deputy, Lt. Gen. Roy E. Beauchamp, to meet with senior commanders and civilians within AMC to discuss the concept. Soon the idea for a new major subordinate command called the Research, Development and Engineering Command was initiated.

The purpose of the new command was to ensure that the research, development and engineering components integrate their efforts to develop collaborative solutions for Army programs and science and technology efforts to support a full-spectrum force. Kern’s statement about “getting technology in the hands of Warfighters quicker” became the unofficial mission statement for the new command.

Kern named Maj. Gen. John C. Doesburg, commanding general of the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, as the transition director for the proposed command in August 2002. Doesburg would be dual-hatted and continue in both positions.

The new RDECOM (Provisional) was established October 1, 2002, by AMC Permanent Orders 267-1, dated September 24, 2002.

RDECOM initially consisted of personnel from the AMC Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; AMC Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management; AMC International Cooperation Program Activity; AMC Field Assistance in Science and Technology; Army Research Laboratory; Army Materiel Systems Analysis Agency; and the science and technology elements of the Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command.