[Satnews] Leadership recently announced changes to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's senior executive service structure to better align with the command's increasing space and missile defense missions and functions.

The changes, announced on March 7, include restructuring the USASMDC/ARSTRAT Future Warfare Center's Capability Development and Integration Directorate to be led by an SES, and realigning two organizations in the Technical Center under Programs and Technology.

Richard P. DeFatta, who served as the director of the Technical Center's Air and Missile Defense Directorate, is now the director of FWC's CDID—he said, "I anticipate leveraging my experience in the Technical Center and applying lessons learned managing specific technologies to the concept and capability development processes."

The change aligns the FWC CDID with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Center of Excellence structure and positions SMDC on similar footing. As director of the CDID, DeFatta will help the command determine and develop future force capabilities and requirements as well field and sustain space and missile defense programs of record.

"Department of the Army approval for my transfer was the next step proposed in the command's restructuring of the FWC to better align our organization with those already in place at many of TRADOC's Centers of Excellence," DeFatta said. "This demonstrates that the Army recognizes the critical importance of SMDC/ARSTRAT's mission areas as the functional proponent in the areas of space and high altitude and global ballistic missile defense."

Thomas E. Webber, who was the director of Space and Strategic Systems Directorate, became the director of Programs and Technology for the Technical Center. The scope of his duties include his current duties plus those previously performed by DeFatta.

"I think this restructure is something that will benefit the command," Webber said. "I am very appreciative for the opportunity to serve in this new role and look forward to expanding my focus to include the great work being done in the Air and Missile Defense Directorate. With the extremely talented and dedicated workforce across the Technical Center, I'm confident this will be a smooth transition."

SMDC's commanding general, Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, had high praise for both DeFatta and Webber. "Mr. DeFatta and Mr. Webber have the right executive leadership skills and experience to take on these very important positions," Mann said.