WEST FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas — Operational Test Command (OTC) will open its new Technology Integration Center here 9 a.m. Aug. 28, aiming to connect its test technology developers and users world-wide with other engineers, analysts, technicians and academia.

The center will also provide an anchor point for OTC to better collaborate with the Army Futures Command, Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) and III Corps, as well as its Central Texas academic, community, and industry partners.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Army Test and Evaluation Command’s (ATEC) Technology Integration Center (ATIC) is an opportunity to educate and inform the community, current and potential partners, on OTC’s mission, capabilities and technology challenges and opportunities, according to Mr. John W. Diem, OTC’s Executive Director.

ATIC dedication will be complemented in the morning by a “Cyber Information Sharing Pledge” charter signing between OTC, Killeen Independent School District, Central Texas College and Texas A&M University-Central Texas and the announcement of a TAMU-CT research park.

That afternoon, TAMU-CT will host a forum on why a Virtual and Physical Research Park make sense to the Central Texas region.

“We will announce a community, university, and Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) partnership,” said Diem.

“The ATIC will allow us to bring other government, industry and academic partners together routinely and expeditiously,” he continued. “We are looking to find the best tools while sharing expertise and technical insights with other organizations to leverage and promote collaboration of technology.”

After the charter signing, events will transition by bus to the TAMU-CT campus for a working lunch and panel discussion with OTC and Army Futures Command with an audience expected to drive ATIC lab and research park activities.

The day-long event will include a ribbon cutting and building dedication to Arthur Roy “Art” Woods III, OTC’s Operational Testers’ Hall of Fame inductee of 2007. The Hall of Fame honors Soldier and Civilian commitment to putting the best possible equipment into the hands of Soldiers.

The new 8,500 square-foot facility cost approximately $4.6 million.

The center will have global connectivity with reconfigurable workspace that is expected to reduce costs while increasing efficiency by finding the best ways to design operational tests using the latest technology and methods, while consolidating a number of buildings into one location.

Designed to be reconfigurable for a wide variety of uses, it will host engineers, data scientists, analysts, testers and soldiers who will be looking at the best ways to design and execute operational tests using the latest technology and methods.

Technology demonstrations by Electronic Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Redstone Test Center, Huntsville, Alabama;  Aberdeen Test Center, Aberdeen, Maryland; and Project Manager Instrumentation, Targets and Threat Simulators, and SOF Training Systems, Orlando, Florida will present static displays manned by Soldiers.

Media wanting to cover the morning events should contact the USAOTC Public Affairs Office, at (254) 288-9110, or email: michael.m.novogradac.civ@mail.mil, no later than Noon Tuesday, Aug. 27.

A public affairs escort will meet the media at the West Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Clarke Road gate at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Media wanting to cover the afternoon event should contact Dr. Karen Clos, Chief Communications & Advancement Officer, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, at (254) 519-5744, or email: karen.clos@tamuct.edu, no later than Noon Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Event timeline:

9 to 9:30 a.m. — Building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony

9:30 to 9:45 a.m. — Transition to adjacent building

9:45 to 10:45 a.m. —Research Park discussion; Virtual Research Park Announcement; Cyber Security presentation; Cyber Academy charter signing ceremony

11:30 a.m. — Events transition to Texas A&M University-Central Texas for working lunch and panel discussion with academia, OTC and Army Futures Command.

12 to 12:45 pm – Attendees arrive at TAMU-CT, lunch service begins

12:45 to 2 pm – Research Park Panel (TAMU System, OTC, Army Futures Command, Deloitte)

2 to 3 pm – Envisioning a Regional Research Park with Stephen Frayser, Association of University Research Parks Board Member

3 to 3:30 pm – Connecting Local Research and the Economy

Media is not required to attend the entire day, but since an escort will be required in the morning, must arrive at the designated time to receive access to the event. Media who are unable to attend all or portions of the day’s events can request photos or submit questions in advance or after the event.

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About the U.S. Army Operational Test Command:

Operational testing began Oct. 1, 1969, and as the Army’s only independent operational tester, OTC is celebrating “50 Years of Operational Testing.” The unit enlists the “Total Army” (Active, National Guard, and Reserve) when testing Army, joint, and multi-service warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using typical Soldiers to determine whether the systems are effective, suitable, and survivable. OTC is required by public law to test major systems before they are fielded to its ultimate customer — the American Soldier.

Video:

The U.S. Army Operational Test Command’s Technology Integration Center grand opening will include a ribbon cutting and building dedication to Arthur Roy “Art” Woods III, OTC’s Operational Testers’ Hall of Fame inductee of 2007. The Hall of Fame honors Soldier and Civilian commitment to putting the best possible equipment into the hands of Soldiers. (U.S. Army video by Pfc. Erin Swisher, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

The U.S. Army Operational Test Command will open its new Technology Integration Center aiming to connect its test technology developers and users world-wide with other engineers, analysts, technicians and academia. The center will also provide an anchor point for OTC to better collaborate with the Army Futures Command, Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) and III Corps, as well as its Central Texas academic, community, and industry partners. (U.S. Army video by Pfc. Erin Swisher, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)