WARREN – Two U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center projects -HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer and the HMMWV Monster Garage Program – won 2008 Army Research and Development Achievement (RDA) Awards.
TARDEC engineers from each project include: Kenneth Essig, Michael Krause, Peter Pfister and James Revello, who worked on the HEAT project – and Michal Archer, Starlett Burrell, James Capouellez, and James Soltesz for their work on the HMMWV Monster Garage Program.
“These scientists and engineers distinguished themselves through their proven scientific and technical excellence or leadership,” praised Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research and Technology)/Chief Scientist Dr. Thomas H. Killion. “Their contributions promise to improve the Army’s capability and enhance our national defense.”
HEAT was developed in response to an Operational Needs Statement from the U.S. Army Forces Command, Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). Now required of all Soldiers and a standard for egress training, this development allows Soldiers to learn how to exit a vehicle if it rolls. The only device capable of controllably rotating and stopping in various positions, HEAT helps the warfighter to gain the experience needed in overcoming the natural fear and panic involved with a rollover situation. HEAT has been credited to saving hundreds of warfighters’ lives.
The HMMWV �??Monster Garage’s Program, now referred to as the HMMWV Improvement Program, was implemented when TARDEC was directed by the Office for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology to improve the M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV with a deadline of 180 days. TARDEC developed solutions to increase protection for Soldiers riding in the HMMWV; performance, which had degraded over time; and payload capabilities, which had decreased due to added equipment. The basic request was to improve underbody protection while buying back payload and automotive performance.
To accomplish these goals, TARDEC implemented a Monster Garage -like approach based on the Discovery Channel�?� television show. TARDEC assembled a government and industry Monster Garage’s team of subject matter experts consisting of nearly 100 associates from more than 20 organizations and companies. Ultimately, the team delivered a package of improvements with components that were fully complementary, could be fully integrated with an existing, in-service platform and would significantly enhance that platform’s protection, performance and payload capabilities.
“I am proud of both TARDEC teams for their innovation and their collaborative efforts with other Army organizations on the HEAT and Monster Garage programs,” remarked TARDEC Director Dr. Grace M. Bochenek. “These two programs bring real protection and capability to our Soldiers and are indicative of the systems engineering integration our associates have developed for all the DOD ground combat weapons and vehicle systems we support.”
Bochenek continued, “We understand the sacrifices our Soldiers make every day, and our entire workforce is dedicated to giving them the best equipment and vehicle systems we can deliver so they can return home safely.”
a>>
