FORT BELVOIR, Virginia (Jan. 17, 2018) – The Program Executive Office Soldier workforce, Army Acquisition community members, and Industry witnessed the Change-of-Charter Ceremony Jan. 16 where responsibility for leading the organization transferred from Brig. Gen. Brian P. Cummings to Brig. Gen. Anthony “Tony” Potts.

Presiding over the ceremony was The Honorable Bruce Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) and Army Acquisition Executive. The ceremony took place at Howell Auditorium at Scott Hall at the Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir. Dr. Jette presented BG Potts with his charter, which documents the appointment and describes his roles and responsibilities as Program Executive Officer.

Brig. Gen. Anthony “Tony” Potts receives his Program Executive Officer Charter from the Honorable Bruce Jette, Army Acquisition Executive. General Potts became PEO Soldier during a Change-of-Charter ceremony Jan. 16. (U.S. Army photo by Ron Lee)

During his remarks, Dr. Jette said PEO Soldier showcases the Army’s focus on Soldiers, citing PEO Soldier’s mission to provide everything a Soldier wears, carries or shoots. “Our Soldiers depend on you,” Dr. Jette said.

In recapping General Cummings’ tenure as PEO Soldier, Dr. Jette said the Army and its Soldiers benefited from many new products that improve their lethality and maneuverability. They include the Soldier Protection System, Female Improved Outer Tactical Vest, Operational Camouflage Pattern, the RA-1 Steerable Parachute, Jungle Combat Boots, Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform, the XM17 Modular Handgun System, Enhanced Night Vision Goggles, Family of Weapons Sights–Individual, Nett Warrior, and Joint Effects Targeting System.

“Brian Cummings and his team have done an outstanding job,” Dr. Jette said. “Our job is to ensure Soldier readiness today and in the future.”

Additionally, Dr. Jette said General Potts’ PEO Soldier charter tasks him to take the organization to new places and new challenges.

In his remarks, General Potts said to the PEO Soldier workforce to always keep in perspective who we are and what we do. It’s about fielding the best equipment to the best Soldiers in the world, General Potts added.

Brig. Gen. Anthony “Tony” Potts receives the Program Executive Office Soldier flag from Master Sgt. Eric G. Buggeln, Senior Enlisted Advisor, during a Change-of-Charter ceremony Jan. 16. (U.S. Army photo by Ron Lee)

General Potts comes to PEO Soldier from Natick, Massachusetts, where he was the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command; and the Senior Commander, Natick Soldier Systems Center. Before Natick, General Potts served as acting Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, PEO Missiles and Space; and as Director, Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense and Army/Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance, Sustainment Management Office at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He has served as Deputy Director for Acquisition and System Management, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)); and Director of Resource Integration, (ASA(ALT)), in Washington, D.C. He also served as Project Manager, Aviation Systems, PEO Aviation; Deputy G-3, Aviation & Missile Command; Product Manager, Apache Modernization; Product Manager, Blue Force Tracker–Aviation; and as the Assistant Product Manager for the Army Airborne Command and Control System, at Redstone Arsenal. He also served as Task Force Commander-Balkans Digitization Initiative, the Balkans.

General Cummings leaves PEO Soldier to become the Program Executive Officer for PEO Ground Combat Systems in Warren, Michigan.

By Debi Dawson
Program Executive Office Soldier
Public Affairs Office