ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Oct. 15, 2014) -- Representatives of the Army Research & Technology Protection Center-North visited Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, for three days of protection support and education seminars in September.
Steve Chimchirian, ARTPC-N chief, began a unique presentation speaking in Russian (with English subtitles) in the uniform and persona of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
"Stalin" hailed the virtues of a "game-changing Soviet technology that would dominate the world and destroy America." However, the supposed Soviet advancement was in reality stolen from the U.S. and cloned through precise reverse engineering.
"The lesson is as dramatic as it is painful," Chimchirian said. "Not only was the technology one of the most expensive state-of-the-art military developments in U.S. history, the Russian clone put the Soviets on a level playing field with the U.S. and spawned the Cold War."
Chimchirian, a retired Army colonel and master trainer, said the message is simple, sobering and is as important today as it was then.
"When adversaries steal advanced U.S. technology, we lose our technological overmatch or advantage, and our precious warfighters and national security suffer ominous consequences," he said.
Chimchirian's presentation to Army engineers and support personnel from the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, Program Executive Office Soldier (Program Manager Soldier Weapons) and Program Executive Office Ammunition discussed current insider and foreign threats along with the latest program protection guidance.
"Through direct support of program protection initiatives and educational outreach, the ARTPC is assisting RDA programs at Picatinny and elsewhere in attaining their DOD and Army mandates to protect our technologies and Warfighters from threat exploitation," he said.
Chimchirian explained how his team answered questions about Critical Function Analysis, Critical Program Information and the need for a formal Program Protection Plan.
The ARTPC, with centers at Aberdeen Proving Ground, the National Capital Region and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, provides no-cost support to Research, Development & Acquisition programs in meeting Army and Department of Defense requirements through established policies and best practices.
Naomi Griggs, Technology Protection Officer at ARDEC and PEO Ammunition, organized and coordinated the team's visit, along with ARDEC technology protection engineers Stephen Leong and Andrew Pskowski, and the security teams at the PEO and ARDEC.
"The seminar was unique and well received," Griggs said. "Both security offices received positive feedback from the participants. 'Stalin' captured the attention of all participants."
ARTPC Technology Protection Engineers Damon Kercher and Dan McConnell supported several programs at both organizations in identifying Critical Program Information and the follow-on actions required to support program protection initiatives and plans.
For information or to request ARTPC support, contact your organization's Technology or Program Protection Officer.
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The Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness--technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection and sustainment--to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
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