The Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), part of the Joint Munition and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command (JM&L LCMC), welcomed its new Project Manager, COL Raymond H. Nulk, in a ceremony held on June 11, 2007. BG William Phillips, Commander of JM&L LCMC and Program Executive Officer of Ammunition, presided over the ceremony, while Patricia L. Felth, Deputy Project Manager of PM CCS, presented COL Nulk with the office charter.

Prior to assuming the office of PM CCS, COL Nulk was the Project Manager for the Close Combat Weapon Systems (CCWS) Project Management Office, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, located at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Over the course of his impressive career, he has received numerous awards and citations, including the Parachutist Badge, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal and seven awards of the Army Meritorious Service Medal. He is authorized to wear the Army Staff Identification Badge.

The new PM will oversee the management and evolution of PM CCS, an office committed to helping our Soldiers maintain freedom to move on the battlefield by developing and supporting a wide spectrum of technologically advanced systems, including: Networked Munitions, the Intelligent Munitions System, Countermine and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment, Counter IED equipment, Demolitions, Non-Lethal equipment and Special Projects, Grenades, Pyrotechnics and Shoulder Launched Munitions.

“I am proud to join the team responsible for developing a broad set of capabilities that allow the Warfighter to deal with and quickly adapt to the full spectrum of challenges he will face,” said COL Nulk. “It is PM CCS’ goal to help make our forces more powerful, more flexible, and more deployable.”

Established in 1961 as Project Manager for Mines, Countermine and Demolitions, PM CCS was renamed in 2002 as part of the newly established PEO Ammunition. The organization assumed responsibility for the lifecycle management of several new product lines in addition to munitions already under management.

One of PM CCS’ major areas of concentration include the development of new technology to aid the Soldier, supporting the Program Manager Future Combat Systems in their mission to provide Warfighters and leaders with leading-edge technologies and capabilities that allow them to dominate in complex environments.

Another way PM CCS supports the Soldier is through the rapid fielding of commercially available capabilities. By acquiring off-the-shelf systems, PM CCS is able to expedite the materiel release process and rush these items to the Warfighters who need them most.

PM CCS also has an aggressive in-stride modernization strategy that applies acquisition reform and product modernization principals to its management of newly assigned legacy munitions, some decades old. Using performance specifications, best value competition and active partnering between government and contractor personnel on Integrated Product Teams, PM CCS is qualifying updated ammunition designs, materials and production technologies while maintaining timely munitions delivery to multi-service customers.

Under the tenure of outgoing PM COL John (Jack) L. Koster, PM CCS grew exponentially. During his three-year term, COL Koster oversaw the establishment of three new Product Management offices to assist in managing nearly 200 systems and one billion dollars of acquisition program funding, representing significant growth from 420 million dollars managed in FY04.

“COL Nulk comes to us with a wealth of experience in both acquisition and management,” said COL Koster. “I have no doubt that he will do an excellent job in leading PM CCS in its mission to equip soldiers with networked assured mobility, force protection and close battle systems for the Army’s Current, Stryker and Future Forces.”

Project Manager Close Combat Systems equips Soldiers with a full range of systems and capability in support of the Army’s Transformation. PMCCS managers nearly 200 programs that contribute and provide mobility and counter mobility support to the full spectrum of Army forces as currently organized and envisioned for the next twenty years.