Army photograph by Rhys Fullerlove
While on her tour of the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center in Illinois, Heidi Shyu, acting assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, compares a titanium M240 rear sight post with Col. James O. Fly Jr., commander RIA-JMTC, who is holding the plastic model of the rear sight post.
Heidi Shyu, acting assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, visited the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, which is the only vertically integrated metal manufacturer in Department of Defense, July 10.
Shyu’s trip to the Arsenal was her first since assuming her position with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology office, or ASA (ALT), and is critical to her ongoing efforts to prioritize the needs of America’s military in combat operations.
Army photograph by Rhys Fullerlove
Col. James O. Fly Jr., commander of the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, shows Heidi Shyu, acting assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, a titanium investment shell casting at RIA-JMTC.
As the senior procurement and acquisition official and proponent for AR 700-90 the Army Industrial Base Process, her visit to Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, or RIA-JMTC, focused on how to find the best ways to utilize the organically owned manufacturing facility.
During her visit, Shyu toured six out of the 28 buildings that make up more than three-million sq. ft. of manufacturing and warehouse space at the Arsenal. She was shown more than 16 capabilities that RIA-JMTC has under one roof to include: assembly, plating, painting, foundry operations, welding, fabrication, small arms repair part manufacturing, heat treating, non-destructive testing and many others.
“I am very impressed with all the capabilities that are at the Rock Island Arsenal,” Shyu said. “This place is making an impact not only to our Army Soldiers, but to some of the other joint services.”
Randl Besse, business development specialist at RIA-JMTC, had lunch with other installation personnel and Shyu.
“It was great that she took time to talk with many people at the working level that have a direct relationship with ASA (ALT),” Besse said. “We were able to get a better understanding of how the Army is working to make sure we can get products to the Soldier faster.”
In February this year, Lt. Gen. William N. Phillips, the principal military deputy to the ASA(ALT) and director, acquisition career management, visited the installation as well.
“It is wonderful that we are getting support from ASA (ALT),” Besse said. “We are the Army’s Arsenal and stand ready to help them with any readiness requirements the soldiers in the field or stationed in garrison need. Just this year we have worked on more than 40 programs for ASA (ALT)”
Army photograph by Rhys Fullerlove
Heidi Shyu, acting assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, views a blast plate for a Navy Aircraft carrier that is produced at the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center in Illinois. Col. James O. Fly Jr., commander of the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (right), explains how large plate is machined in one of 1,000 machines at the arsenal.
