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Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity hosted two dozen distinguished visitors for a day-long familiarization event April 6, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

Photo by MCTSSA Public Affairs

MCTSSA hosts distinguished visitors

15 Apr 2021 | Amy Forsythe, Public Affairs Officer, MCTSSA Marine Corps Systems Command

Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity hosted two dozen distinguished visitors for a day-long familiarization event April 6, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

Many U.S. Navy and Marine Corps senior leaders in the tech, space and cyber sectors came together to learn more about the mission of MCTSSA, meet engineers and discuss ways to build capacity.

The delegation’s senior member was Jane Rathbun, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Information, Operations and Space, who was impressed with the spectrum of engineering and tests the MCTSSA team are conducting on a regular basis.

MCTSSA engineers and team leads presented the delegation with briefings on a variety of topics that included: Joint All-Domain Command and Control, use of 5G, naval integration, Army interoperability and testing for a new expeditionary 3D printing lab.

“Our MCTSSA workforce proudly showcased our agility and ability to inform and support the program managers and FMF Marines while simultaneously innovating service-level system integration efforts supporting [Marine Corps] Systems Command, the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and Naval Information Warfare Command,” said Lt. Col. Michael Liguori, MCTSSA’s commanding officer.

Brig. Gen. A.J. Pasagian, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, wanted the gathering of leaders and decision makers to serve as an opportunity to learn how each organization can collaborate, add solutions and work as a seamless Navy-Marine Corps team.

Many of the members of the delegation have worked together for many years, but for some, it was the first in-person meeting. In addition to briefings, the group toured a couple labs on the MCTSSA compound and visited the Landing Force Operations Center, which is modeled after what Marines would find on a Navy ship in respect to form, fit and functions unique to shipboard configurations.

“Today’s meeting was important because it demonstrates that the timing is right to build and foster these relationships so our teams can share knowledge, conduct further testing and ensure optimal interoperability,” Liguori added. “We are a naval team focused on solving some of the biggest challenges facing our maritime operations in support of Force Design 2030.”

Distinguished visitors in attendance:

 

- Jane Rathbun, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Information Warfare and Enterprise Services

- Ruth Youngs Lew, program executive officer, Digital and Enterprise Services

- Maj. Gen. Matthew Glavy, commanding general, Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command

- Rear Adm. Douglas Small, commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

- Pete Reddy, executive director at Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic

- Rear Adm. Eric Ruttenberg, chief engineer, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

- Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus, Program Executive Office Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence; Program Executive Office Space Systems, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

- Brig. Gen. Eric Austin, director, Capabilities Development Directorate

- Brig. Gen. Lorna Mahlock, director, Information, Command, Control, Communications and Computers and the Deputy Department of the Navy chief information officer of the Marine Corps

- Brig. Gen. Benjamin Watson, commanding general, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab

- Brig. Gen. A.J. Pasagian, commanding general, Marine Corps Systems Command

- Sgt. Maj. Michael Cato, sergeant major, Marine Corps Systems Command

- Khoi Nguyen, technical director, Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command

- Renata Spinks, cyber technology officer, Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command

MCTSSA, established in 1970, is an elite, full-scale laboratory facility operated by the Marine Corps, is a subordinate command of Marine Corps Systems Command. MCTSSA provides test and evaluation, engineering, and deployed technical support for Marine Corps and joint service command, control, computer, communications and intelligence systems throughout all acquisition life-cycle phases.