Tommy West – assistant program manager for engineering, Program Manager Engineering Systems – played four years of professional baseball with the Texas Ranger organization before beginning his career as an engineer at Marine Corps Systems Command. Remembering how he played catch in August 2022 with a Marine Corps master sergeant, West said, “I never made it to the big leagues, but thanks to the Marine Corps, I sure made it to the Field of Dreams.” (Courtesy photo by Tommy West) - Tommy West – assistant program manager for engineering, Program Manager Engineering Systems – played four years of professional baseball with the Texas Ranger organization before beginning his career as an engineer at Marine Corps Systems Command. Remembering how he played catch in August 2022 with a Marine Corps master sergeant, West said, “I never made it to the big leagues, but thanks to the Marine Corps, I sure made it to the Field of Dreams.” (Courtesy photo by Tommy West)

Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Combat Development and Integration Lt. Gen. Eric Smith provided keynote remarks during the third annual Marine Corps Acquisition Awards Dinner Aug. 5 in Arlington, Virginia. The event, hosted by the Marine Corps Association, celebrated the accomplishments and achievements of the top performers in Marine Corps acquisitions. Honorees Col. Kirk Mullins, Master Gunnery Sgt. Alfredo Franco, and Deborah Olsen received the Andrew J. Higgins, Eugene M. Stoner and Donald Roebling Awards for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence. The Higgins, Stoner and Roebling Awards are honors bestowed annually to a Marine Corps officer, noncommissioned officer and civilian acquisition professional, respectively. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Morgan Blackstock) - Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Combat Development and Integration Lt. Gen. Eric Smith provided keynote remarks during the third annual Marine Corps Acquisition Awards Dinner Aug. 5 in Arlington, Virginia. The event, hosted by the Marine Corps Association, celebrated the accomplishments and achievements of the top performers in Marine Corps acquisitions. Honorees Col. Kirk Mullins, Master Gunnery Sgt. Alfredo Franco, and Deborah Olsen received the Andrew J. Higgins, Eugene M. Stoner and Donald Roebling Awards for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence. The Higgins, Stoner and Roebling Awards are honors bestowed annually to a Marine Corps officer, noncommissioned officer and civilian acquisition professional, respectively. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Morgan Blackstock)

U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, adjust a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 10, 2020. The G/ATOR provides an air defense and surveillance capability and is used to locate enemy weapon systems. Having these capabilities further enhances Marines’ missions and increases lethality. G/ATOR is one of the Corps’ key capabilities supporting Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Savannah Mesimer) - U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, adjust a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 10, 2020. The G/ATOR provides an air defense and surveillance capability and is used to locate enemy weapon systems. Having these capabilities further enhances Marines’ missions and increases lethality. G/ATOR is one of the Corps’ key capabilities supporting Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Savannah Mesimer)

Annual awards recognize superior performance among Corps’ acquisition workforce - Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. William Faulkner, president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, congratulates recipients of the Higgins, Stoner and Roebling awards during the annual Marine Corps Systems Command Acquisition Excellence Awards, July 28 aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. These three awards are signed by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger and sponsored by MCA&F. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Andrew Reynolds)

181212-M-QK813-008 - A Marine peers through the lens of the Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggles during new equipment training in December 2018 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Marine Corps awarded a contract Sept. 6, 2019, to procure approximately 14,000 systems. The SBNVG is expected to enhance the infantry’s lethality and situational awareness in reduced visibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Joseph Neigh)

Marine Corps acquisition workforce recognized for excellence, innovation in 2018 - Brig. Gen. A.J. Pasagian, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, addresses the crowd during the Acquisition Excellence Awards Aug. 20, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. The event enables Marine Corps senior leaders to recognize individuals for excellence and innovation in equipping the warfighter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Jennifer Napier)

Acquisition Dinner recognizes excellence among workforce - Master Gunnery Sgt. Armando Quintanilla, the project officer for Vehicle Automated Diagnostic Systems at Marine Corps Systems Command, received the Eugene M. Stoner Award, presented to a staff noncommissioned officer, Aug. 15 at the Marine Corps Ground Acquisition Award Dinner in Arlington, Virginia. The event enabled Marine Corps Systems Command to award individuals for their excellence and innovation in the acquisition, fielding and support of systems and equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Matt Gonzales)

Corps announces winners of helmet retention system prize challenge - Seaman Roy Wells, a hospital corpsman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, wears an Enhanced Combat Helmet while holding a position during a hike aboard Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., July 30, 2018. Marine Corps Systems Command completed a prize challenge in April, awarding cash prizes to two teams for submitting innovative ideas to improve the ECH retention system. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Dublinske)