United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

The Combat Capabilities Development Command, (DEVCOM, aka CCDC) (formerly the United States Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)) is a subordinate command of the Transformation and Training Command. RDECOM was tasked with "creating, integrating, and delivering technology-enabled solutions" to the U.S. Army. It is headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
DEVCOM’s distinctive unit insignia
ActiveOctober 2003–present
CountryUnited States
BranchU.S. Army
RoleResearch and development
Part of Transformation and Training Command
Garrison/HQAberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
MottoCum Scientia Commutare ("Through Science We Change.")
WebsiteOfficial website
army.mil profile
Commanders
Current
commander
Brigadier General Robert G. Born
First commanderMajor General Cedric T. Wins
Insignia
DEVCOM logo
RDECOM distinctive unit insignia (Approved on 13 August 2004)

Role and organization

DEVCOM formerly described its role as "the Army's enabling command in the development and delivery of capabilities that empower, unburden and protect the Warfighter." It conducts and sponsors scientific research in areas important to the Army, develops scientific discoveries into new technologies, engineers technologies into new equipment and capabilities, and works with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to help requirements writers define the future needs of the Army.

DEVCOM is headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Before 1 November 2019, Major-General Cedric T. Wins was the commanding general, assisted by Brigadier-General Vincent F. Malone as deputy commanding general and Command Sergeant-Major Jon R. Stanley as command sergeant major. They oversee one laboratory and six major centers:

  • US Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) – formerly Army Research Laboratory
  • US Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) – formerly Edgewood Chemical Biological Center
  • US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC) – formerly Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center
  • US Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle System Center (DEVCOM GVSC) – formerly Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
  • US Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC) – formerly Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center
  • US Army DEVCOM Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC) – formerly Army Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center
  • US Army DEVCOM C5ISR Center (DEVCOM C5ISR Center) – formerly Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center

History

After assuming command of the Army Materiel Command in October 2001, General Paul J. Kern saw the need to streamline how the Army developed technology. At the time, the Army's laboratories and research centers reported through multiple channels, among other problems. Kern argued that the Army had to "figure out how to get technology in the hands of the Warfighters quicker" and that it was "the impression of everyone out there that the laboratories take too long, they do science for science's sake, engineering for engineering's sake". Kern proposed to unite the laboratories and research centers under a single command, and the idea was initiated to senior commanders and civilians. The new command was approved, and was provisionally stood up in October 2002, based at Aberdeen Proving Ground where it replaced and integrated the headquarters element of the Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM). In June 2003, RDECOM assumed operational control of the RDE centers. An organizational ceremony took place in October 2003 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, where SBCCOM officially stood down and the 389th Army Band and the Army Material Command's Acquisition Center were assigned to RDECOM.

RDECOM became a major subordinate command of the Army Material Command in March 2004, with over 17,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at the time. In 2006, the 389th Army Band was designated AMC Band and moved to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. In 2008, the AMC Acquisition Center became part of the new Army Contracting Command, itself a major subordinate of the AMC. From February 2012 to September 2014, RDECOM was led by a civilian commander, Dale Ormond, before returning to military command.

Transfer to Army Futures Command

As of 2018, DEVCOM reports to Army Futures Command, which will reach full operational capability by August 2019. The new command is focused on readiness for future combat with near-peer competitors, in a shift away from the unconventional, counter-insurgency warfare fought in various theatres since 2001.

On 4 June 2018, the Headquarters, Department of the Army published General Order 2018–10, "Establishment of the United States Army Futures Command", formally transferring RDECOM from AMC to the new command effective 1 July 2018. The transition of authority from AMC to AFC took place at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD on 31 January 2019, with a reflagging of the Command and repatching of the commander and CSM.

List of commanding generals

No. Commanding General Term
Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
As U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command
1
Major General
John C. Doesburg
October 2002October 2004~2 years, 0 days
2
Major General
Roger A. Nadeau
October 2004July 2007~2 years, 273 days
3
Major General
Fred D. Robinson Jr.
July 20075 December 2008~1 year, 157 days
4
Major General
Paul S. Izzo
5 December 20084 December 2009364 days
5
Major General
Nick Justice
4 December 200910 February 20122 years, 68 days
6
Dale A. Ormond10 February 201222 September 20142 years, 224 days
7
Major General
John F. Wharton
22 September 20149 August 20161 year, 322 days
8
Major General
Cedric T. Wins
9 August 20163 February 20192 years, 178 days
As U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
1
Major General
Cedric T. Wins
3 February 20191 November 2019271 days
2
Major General
John A. George
1 November 20197 May 20211 year, 187 days
-
John T. Willison
Acting
7 May 20219 July 202163 days
3
Major General
Edmond M. Brown
9 July 20217 September 20232 years, 60 days
4
Major General
John M. Cushing
7 September 202327 June 20251 year, 293 days
5
Brigadier General
Robert G. Born
27 June 2025Incumbent174 days

See also

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