Pentagon officials tour Picatinny, aim to maintain its status as the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Two top Pentagon officials visited Picatinny Arsenal on March 1 to learn about mission, initiatives, and lines of effort in support of the Army's priorities of people, readiness, and modernization.

The visitors were Young Bang, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (AL&T), and Paul W. Farnan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army. They were initially briefed by Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Picatinny Arsenal Commanding General and Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO AA), and Lt. Col. Alexander D. Burgos, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander, before heading out on a tour where they were briefed by key installation officials.

The presentations showcased Picatinny's efforts in leading the research, development, and engineering of critical military technologies, and described as a testament to the Army's commitment to providing the latest technology and equipment to support the warfighter.

The two visitors, members of the Senior Executive Service, took a firsthand look at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center's 155mm Soft Catch Gun also known as the SCat gun before observing a live fire at the Ballistic Evaluation Center.

From there the two Army leaders went their separate ways, each receiving more detailed briefings that fell into their purview.

"Always super excited to see our team driving capabilities, scale, and production to ensure we maintain our status as the 'Arsenal of Democracy'!!" Bang said in an email message after his visit.

As the Principal Deputy, Bang advises the Assistant Secretary for AL&T and Army leadership on all matters relating to Army acquisition. He leads efforts to improve the way the Army develops, procures, and updates software, uses data, and employs artificial intelligence.

Organizations at Picatinny use unique laboratories, special facilities, and various performance measures to evaluate prototype designs, thus reducing development cycle time. The scope of work at Picatinny includes improvised explosive device (IED) defeat technologies, drones, small, medium, and large caliber conventional ammunition, precision-guided munitions, mortars, fire control systems, small-arms weapon systems, howitzers, gunner protection armor, warheads, fuzes, and insensitive munitions.

"These are historic times as we rebuild the Arsenal of Democracy and meet our nation's expectations as the DoD Center of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition," said Reim. We also remain laser focused on recruiting and retaining top talent here at the Arsenal.

"Through implementation of strategic plans and accompanying lines of effort, Picatinny has dedicated initiatives to invigorate the workforce, manage positions and personnel by talent rather than necessity, and develop cohesive teams to best support our men and women in uniform," said Elizabeth Phillips, a JPEO AA contractor working as a program coordinator supporting the Defense Acquisition University's Senior Service College Fellowship (DAU-SSCF).

"We consistently analyze data collection and feedback to better understand to what extent our efforts are making a difference, and as we accomplish near term goals, we evaluate lessons-learned, reassess, and highlight next steps to be taken for continued growth and success of workforce members and the organization," Phillips added.

Picatinny Arsenal is one of the top three employers in Morris County, New Jersey, according to the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation, and supports the Army priorities of people, readiness, and modernization. The installation's capabilities are unique and vital to the nation, as the workforce leads the advance of armament technologies and engineering innovation for the U.S. military.

To maintain a world-class facility, the quality-of-life services made readily available to Picatinny employees, residents, and guests, include an award-winning aquatic park, 18-hole golf course, banquet and dining facilities, child and youth services, recreational lodging, and more, making Picatinny Arsenal "one of the best kept secrets" in the Army.

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