Modular Open Systems Approach
January 7, 2019
MOSA Memorandum for Service Acquisition Executives and Program Executive Officers: NAVY, ARMY, AIR FORCE Modular Open Systems Approaches for our Weapons Systems is a Warfighting Imperative.
MOSA Experts at TSOA-ID Atlanta 2020
Randall G. Walden
Member of the Senior Executive Service
Director and Program Executive Officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office
Randall G. Walden, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Director and Program Executive Officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. He directs selected study, development and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Acquisition. The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office has been responsible for development and deployment of significant upgrades to the Integrated Air Defense System now operational around the National Capital Region and the launch and experimental operations of the X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle. Other responsibilities include technical integration of Department of Defense classified activities, and the representation of these activities to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Congress and the White House.
Mr. Walden graduated from Christopher Newport College, Newport News, Virginia, in 1982. He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force the same year and served as a flight test engineer with Air Force Material Command at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland., and Nellis AFB, Nevada. During his tours as a flight test engineer, Mr. Walden participated in the development, ground and flight-testing of numerous aerospace weapon systems. He holds a master non-rated aircrew badge.
Mr. Walden retired from active duty in 2002 with more than 20 years of military experience as an acquisition and technical professional. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2002, serving on the Air Staff as the Director for Information Dominance Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) and Director, Air Force Test and Evaluation, prior to his current position.
EDUCATION
- 1982 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Christopher Newport College, Newport News, Va.
- 1984 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Parks College of St. Louis University, Cahokia, Ill.
- 1987 Flight Test Engineer Course, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- 1989 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- 1991 Master of Science, Engineering Management, Florida Institute of Technology, Patuxent River, Md.
- 1996 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 1997 Advanced Program Manager Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
- 2003 Senior Executive Service Seminar, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
- 1982 – 1984, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Parks College of St. Louis University, Cahokia, Ill.
- 1984 – 1989, flight test engineer, F-16 Combined Test Force, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- 1989 – 1992, lead avionics flight test engineer, V-22 Multi-Service Test Team, Patuxent River NAS, Md.
- 1992 – 1997, operations officer and flight test program manager, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- 1997 – 1998, classified flight test squadron commander, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- 1998 – 1999, Deputy Chief, Advanced Technology Division, Directorate of Special Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
- 1999 – 2002, Chief, Special Studies Division, Air Force Red Team, Directorate of Special Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
- 2002 – 2003, Technical Director, Directorate of Special Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
- 2003 – 2009, Technical Director, Special Programs, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
- 2009 – 2009, Deputy and Technical Director, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- 2009 – 2013, Director, Information Dominance Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
- 2013 – 2014, Director, Air Force Test and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- 2014 – present, Director and Program Executive Officer, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
AWARDS AND HONORS
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- 2007 Meritorious Senior Professional Presidential Rank Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Society of Flight Test Engineers
(Current as of December 2015)
COL Nickolas Kioutas
Project Manager
For Positioning, Navigation, and Timing under PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S)
COL Nick Kioutas serves as Project Manager for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PM PNT) under PEO IEW&S. In this role, he develops PNT-related products as well as enablers that enhance the Warfighter’s PNT capabilities in multi-domain environments. Relying on his recent experience as Chief of Staff for the Army Office of Process Innovation and Integration, and his extensive background in technology development in robotics and unmanned systems, he works to leverage technology quickly to support Army capabilities with open systems.
COL Kioutas began his Army career in the Aviation branch, flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and commanding units in South Korea and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After Company Command at Fort Bragg, and the Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course, he transitioned to the Acquisition Corps, and began his first acquisition assignment as a Combat Developer at the Army Cyber Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia. During this assignment, COL Kioutas began his longtime involvement with robotic and unmanned systems development which spanned the range of acquisition and command activities to include requirements development, science and technology development, program management, testing, sustainment, and operational command. Highlights include assignments as the Deputy Commander for Task Force Observe Detect Identify Neutralize (TF ODIN) in Iraq, the Product Manager Joint Robotics, the Product Manager Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and the Product Manager Unmanned Aircraft Systems Modernization.
CAPT Christopher R. McDowell
Program Manager
Air Combat Electronics (PMA-209)
Captain McDowell graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned via the NROTC program in April 1994. After completing flight training with Training Squadron (VT) 86 at NAS Pensacola, Fla., and Electronic Warfare training at Corry Station, Fla., he reported to the S-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron (VS) 41, at NAS North Island, California. McDowell ultimately reported to the “Black Ravens” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 6 at NAS Cecil Field, Fla., in April 1997. Flying in the ES-3A “Shadow”, he deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 in USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), on the ship’s initial ‘around-the-world’ deployment.
With the pending decommissioning of the ES-3A and associated squadrons, McDowell reported to Special Projects Patrol Squadron (VPU) 2, at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, in April 1999. While with VPU-2, he completed multiple detachments to sites across the EUCOM, CENTCOM and PACOM theatres of operation. In March 2001, McDowell was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md., and subsequently graduated with Class 121 in June 2002. Upon graduation he reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20, as a Test Naval Flight Officer and Project Officer where his acquisition and test projects included the Network Centric Warfare Demonstration P-3 aircraft, air-to-air control of the Aero-Scout and Fire-Scout UAVs, test and evaluation of newly modified EP-3and VPU aircraft, and BUPERS SDC endeavors. While at VX-20, he also completed a Masters in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
In May 2004, McDowell reported to USS Enterprise (CVN 65), as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer, or “Shooter”, in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and Summer Pulse ’04 while deployed to the CENTCOM and EUCOM theatres of operation. McDowell left USS Enterprise in November 2005, completed refresher training at Patrol Squadron (VP) 30 and reported for his Department Head tour with the “Rangers” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2 at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. While at VQ2, he executed and coordinated worldwide nationally tasked reconnaissance missions on a continual basis in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
Following VQ-2, McDowell reported to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., in July 2008, where he worked on Security Force Assistance policy and doctrine development, various Special Forces acquisition projects and deployed as a Joint Task Force Liaison Officer to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. McDowell was subsequently designated as a Joint Qualified Officer and a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.
McDowell served as the Executive Officer of VPU-1 at NAS Jacksonville, Fla., from April 2011 to April 2012, and as the Commanding Officer of VPU-2 at MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii from April 2012 to May 2013. Under his Command as CTGs 57.3, 67.6 and 72.3, the “Wizards” of VPU-2 flew over 4300 mishap-free flight hours, conducting numerous, dynamic national-level operations throughout the CENTCOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM and PACOM AORs, including 406 combat and direct support missions.
From June 2013 to May 2016, McDowell served on the MQ-4C Triton Team in the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-262) at NAS Patuxent River, Md. The Triton Team was collectively responsible for cost, schedule, technical performance and risk management on industry contracts exceeding $2 Billion in total value; the U.S. Navy’s largest investment in Unmanned Aviation Systems to date.
McDowell reported to the Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209) in June 2016 as the Principal Deputy Program Manager, and assumed the role of Program Manager in May 2017. PMA-209 is a collaborative team of proactive acquisition professionals that enable foundational aviation requirements through the development, integration and cradle-to-grave support of common avionics solutions and capabilities.
