REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, ATEC, and the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center, RTC, presented at the Association of the United States Army’s Global Force Symposium and Exhibition on March 26, 2025 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
The presentation, titled “Transformation in Aviation and Missile Test and Evaluation,” featured ATEC Commanding General Maj. Gen. Patrick Gaydon, ATEC Command Sgt. Maj. Bradford Smith, RTC Commander Col. Joseph Alexander and RTC Technical Director Kenny Chenoweth. Gaydon began by outlining ATEC’s mission: performs test and evaluation to inform Army senior leaders. While the panel discussed ATEC’s overall role, they also emphasized the evolving role of RTC in supporting next-generation military platforms.
“We are part of the Army enterprise that helps ensure our Soldiers have the capabilities they need to fight and win our nation’s wars,” Gaydon said. “When we send Soldiers to war, the equipment works, is effective and is safe for those Soldiers — and that doesn’t happen by accident.”
Gaydon explained that while ATEC is a direct reporting unit to the vice chief of staff of the Army, ATEC also directly supports Army Futures Command, established in 2018. “If we have to deconflict on the ranges, we look at the priorities that Army Futures Command sets for us,” he said.
Smith then detailed the ATEC enterprise, including RTC and other subordinate organizations.
“We have 8,100 people: 5 percent are uniformed service members, 47 percent are Department of the Army Civilians, and 48% are contractors,” Smith explained. “We recruit, retain, train and take care of those people. We conduct 2,300 tests annually, utilize 5.5 million acres — a third of the Army’s land mass, roughly the size of New Jersey.”
The presentation focused on RTC’s continuing shift to support testing next-generation systems, driven by the need for more advanced capabilities as the military integrates new technologies.
While RTC has long supported testing of legacy platforms, the organization is also pivoting to focus on future needs. This transformation was highlighted by Alexander, who noted RTC’s unique reimbursable business model.
“One of the unique things that makes us different, as a developmental test center under ATEC, is we are reimbursable. We don’t receive appropriated dollars; we have to generate work and create value, similar to our industry counterparts,” Alexander said.
Chenoweth, the senior civilian at RTC, has been a test engineer at RTC for more than two decades and discussed how the business model drives innovation.
“We conduct tests earlier in the acquisition cycle,” Chenoweth said. “By getting involved sooner, we can identify issues earlier, leading to faster fixes and better solutions. For example, with the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and [RTC Approach to Persistent Integrated Developmental Testing] systems, we developed tools that digitally trace test requirements to the tests and data verifying those requirements. This process, which used to take weeks, can now be completed in minutes, significantly reducing the time between testing and decision-making.”
RTC is adapting by developing new methodologies, integrating emerging technologies, and expanding its facilities.
The AUSA Global Force Symposium provides a forum for military leaders, industry experts, and academics to discuss military technology. The event is held annually in Huntsville.
RTC, a subordinate command of ATEC, is located on Redstone Arsenal. RTC provides technical expertise, facilities, and capabilities to plan, conduct, analyze, and report tests on missile and aviation systems, sensors, subsystems and components.
By Christy Barnett
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