{"id":38059,"date":"2022-06-21T16:29:43","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T16:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/06\/21\/five-questions-for-armys-robert-collins-as-he-moves-to-pentagon-acquisitions-office\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:28:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:28:05","slug":"five-questions-for-armys-robert-collins-as-he-moves-to-pentagon-acquisitions-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2022\/06\/21\/five-questions-for-armys-robert-collins-as-he-moves-to-pentagon-acquisitions-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Five questions for Army\u2019s Robert Collins as he moves to Pentagon acquisitions office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Collins is trading Aberdeen Proving Ground for the Pentagon, after spending a little more than two years working to upgrade the service\u2019s networks and rolling out cutting-edge technology to soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins will leave his post as the program executive officer for command, control and communications-tactical, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/smr\/conference\/2022\/04\/20\/us-army-working-closely-with-allies-amid-push-to-upgrade-networks\/\" target=\"_blank\">PEO C3T<\/a>, on June 22 to take up the mantle of deputy of acquisition and systems management inside the Defense Department\u2019s Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There, he will help oversee hundreds of programs and ensure military acquisition goes smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maj. Gen. Anthony Potts, who leads PEO Soldier at Fort Belvior, will succeed Collins. He will take the reins of an office he is familiar with, one that sports a multibillion-dollar annual budget and a workforce of more than 1,000 people. The leadership changes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks\/2022\/03\/01\/new-boss-headed-to-us-army-networks-office\/\" target=\"_blank\">were announced in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an interview with C4ISRNET, Collins reflected on his time spent at PEO C3T and considered what\u2019s to come. Portions of the conversation below were edited for clarity and brevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks-battlefield-tech\/2020\/07\/24\/how-the-armys-new-peo-c3t-boss-views-network-modernization\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4530289.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">How the Army\u2019s new PEO C3T boss views network modernization<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Brig. Gen. Rob Collins outlines his priorities for the Army&#039;s office in charge of tactical network modernization, having most recently left a job focused on intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>C4ISRNET: Looking back at the priorities you laid out at the beginning of your tenure at PEO C3T, how do you think you and your team performed?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Maj. Gen. Robert Collins:<\/b> What I\u2019d say is, although work continues, I think we\u2019ve made a tremendous amount of momentum. I think we\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/show-reporter\/c4isrnet-conference\/2022\/04\/25\/tremendous-momentum-seen-as-us-army-upgrades-network-tech\/\" target=\"_blank\">made momentum in network readiness<\/a>, improving our posture for readiness, and then really getting our modernization on a sustainable path toward the Army of 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I first got here, I had four basic goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One was making sure that we ensured a degree of acquisition discipline and enforcing the basics of cost, schedule, performance, risk and ensuring a value proposition, the feedback from the soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two, I think, given the fact that we are a network, is really honing in on that very tough task of integration and aligning our organization, ensuring we\u2019re properly integrating networks, data analytics, all things from tactical all the way up to the enterprise for the overall integrated, unified \u2014 what\u2019s become known as the unified network approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think third was, for me, stakeholders and partnerships, whether it\u2019s engagement forums or enduring relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wrapping it all around with my No. 1 priority has been leadership and people, and that\u2019s everything from helping retain, recruit, development, talent management, coaching, all that. So that\u2019s been my goals, and I really think we\u2019ve made a tremendous amount of momentum on all four of those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along the lines of execution, for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks\/2022\/04\/05\/army-networks-office-stays-busy-as-capability-sets-progress\/\" target=\"_blank\">Capability Set \u201821<\/a>, we\u2019re well over three-quarters of the way fielded, and it\u2019s making a difference. In fact, myself and Brig. Gen. Jeth Rey were just over in the European theater and it is over there operationally employed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second, Capability Set \u201823. We got through the preliminary design, we got through the critical design, and we\u2019ve just finished up the ops demo with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment over in Europe. It\u2019s been tremendous. And then we really set the design goals and got science-and-technology transition plans and industry focused on Capability Sets \u201825 and \u201827.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>C4ISRNET: Did your time at PEO C3T reinforce the capability set approach \u2014 compounding tech improvements introduced every two years \u2014 as the right one for critical modernization work?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Collins:<\/b> Yes, I think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iterative and not singular or Big Bang theory is absolutely the way to go, certainly for something that is advancing as quickly as things are related to the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/home\/2022\/05\/10\/why-the-army-cio-wants-data-upgrades-now\/\" target=\"_blank\"> IT or digital arena<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the other things have been not just the iterative aspects, but adhering to an open systems type of an architecture, where we can add to new technologies from smaller, more innovative businesses, leverage commercial, leverage non-developmental. I think open systems has been a key tenet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think the iterative process is only successful as long as we maintain a kind of a soldier-centric design process. We always ask ourselves basic, basic questions: Is it firm requirements, firm concepts? Maturity? Is it affordable? Is it aligned with something that a soldier would employ on the battlefield? So, I think all those things have been good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other thing that we\u2019ve learned through this iterative process is this is a team sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve really got a great group. Gen. Rey with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/land\/2022\/05\/04\/in-new-directive-us-army-reins-in-army-futures-command\/\" target=\"_blank\">Army Futures Command<\/a> is focused on the what. Joe Welch within the C5ISR science and technology, the art of the possible. And then we here, at the PEO, are focusing on the how.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks-battlefield-tech\/2022\/04\/28\/us-army-wraps-review-of-future-battlespace-network-tools\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MG-Collins.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US Army wraps review of \u2018future battlespace\u2019 network tools<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">\u201cIn previous wars, the difference between a good decision and a bad decision may be minutes,\u201d the general said. \u201cIn the future battlespace, that difference between a good decision and a bad decision may be seconds or milliseconds.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>C4ISRNET: What, in your eyes, is that next big leap forward for network modernization? What is that next big \u201cwow\u201d that will make a difference for soldiers or the military, broadly?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Collins: <\/b>There are already some things that we\u2019re laying the foundation for the \u201cwow.\u201d And I think it\u2019s certainly starting, because, again, this will not necessarily be a Big Bang theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the things that I\u2019m excited about are really in this arena of transporting our data, being transport agnostic, leveraging the multitude of space, air tier, ground. Even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/06\/16\/space-force-seeks-a-bigger-voice-in-military-operations\/\" target=\"_blank\">within space<\/a>, there\u2019s low-Earth orbit, mid-Earth orbit or the high orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So to be able to access all that for assured communications and have that be able to route intuitively, and automatically, without any interface for the soldier I think is going to be pretty exciting and a leap ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think, second, we\u2019re going to get away from this permissive network environment, where we go from allow all, deny by exception to deny all, allow by exception, what we call zero trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, certainly all of our focus on the data itself. How do we persist it? How do we ingress and egress it, secure it, make it available? And then do so not only at the enterprise, but do it more in a mesh, hybrid environment down at the tactical environment, and then take advantage of cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are certainly other things as we harness the data. Artificial intelligence <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/artificial-intelligence\/2022\/06\/14\/air-force-using-ai-to-improve-weather-models-for-military-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\">has a lot to offer<\/a>, whether it\u2019s aiding the decision cycle, whether it\u2019s nominating course of actions or course of action recommendations, military decision making, intelligence, battlefield surveillance. I think for artificial intelligence, there\u2019s an unlimited set of opportunities. And then there\u2019s a lot going on in software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would say there\u2019s a lot of leap-ahead. There\u2019s a lot of \u201cwow.\u201d Some of it\u2019s already happening now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>C4ISRNET: What\u2019s one piece of advice, or maybe a heads-up, you\u2019d leave behind for your successor?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Collins: <\/b>I\u2019ve been in the Army 30-plus years, and I always think that the Army does a phenomenal job at selecting the right person at the right time for the right job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maj. Gen. Potts is truly a strategic and critical thinker, a team builder. He comes from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peosoldier.army.mil\/\" target=\"_blank\">PEO Soldier<\/a>; he understands the modernization instrument and how it runs, and he certainly understands that the centerpiece of our modernization is our soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I would just continue the momentum building on relationships, partnerships and all of the focus on people for recruiting and retention to maintain our high-quality workforce. But Gen. Potts is going to do phenomenally well, and I look forward to watching this organization continue to thrive and deliver much-needed capability out to our Army.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link smg-interstitial-link--fallback wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/battlefield-tech\/c2-comms\/2022\/05\/11\/war-in-ukraine-reinforces-need-for-us-army-network-upgrades-officials-say\/?contentFeatureId=f0fmoahPVC2AbfL-2-1-8&#038;contentQuery=%7B%22section%22%3A%22%2Fhome%22%2C%22exclude%22%3A%22%2Fnews%2Fyour-army%22%2C%22from%22%3A5%2C%22size%22%3A10%7D\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__fallback-link\">War in Ukraine reinforces need for US Army network upgrades, generals say<\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>C4ISRNET: You\u2019re headed to the Pentagon as the deputy of acquisition and systems management. What are your plans? What are you hoping to accomplish?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Collins: <\/b>So, the Collins family is thankful and very excited and very humbled to continue serving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/cyber\/2022\/06\/13\/us-army-to-double-cyber-corps-strength-as-focus-shifts-from-counterinsurgency\/\" target=\"_blank\">in the U.S. Army<\/a>. I\u2019ve been doing this for 30 years, and any time the coach puts you back in for a couple more plays on the playing field, I\u2019ll tell you, that gives you a lot of energy. That\u2019s point No. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secondly, I am looking forward to being a contributing member of a very high-caliber ASALT force that Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Doug Bush has put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think some of the things that I\u2019ll be focusing on is, one, helping him as we execute our timely and responsive acquisition. Two, embracing some of our new acquisition approaches. Three, we\u2019re trying to enhance the security aspects of our programs, making sure that we protect technology, we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/cyber\/2022\/06\/17\/prolonged-war-may-make-russia-more-cyber-aggressive-us-official-says\/\" target=\"_blank\">cyber harden<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve already mentioned four: our partnerships and teamwork across the broader enterprise. And then certainly, most importantly, our people, maintaining positive climate, developing, mentoring, coaching, and just making sure that we not only recruit, but that we retain world class talent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve been doing this for 30 years,&#8221; the general said, &#8220;and any time the coach puts you back in for a couple more plays on the playing field, I&#8217;ll tell you, that gives you a lot of energy.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":69583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[160,33,14,36,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3503],"class_list":["post-38059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-land","category-newsletters","category-pentagon"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"LJFXUNITNRDNNN6CU6ETJMTWYU","arc_canonical_url":"\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks\/2022\/06\/21\/five-questions-for-armys-robert-collins-as-he-moves-to-pentagon-acquisitions-office\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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