CohesionForce, Inc.

MDA marks 20 years of Ground-based Midcourse Defense In support of US Northern Command, members of the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program have carried out the mission of providing the Warfighter with a reliable, cost-effective capability to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic missile threats. In January 2002, the White House issued a National Security Presidential Directive for the Department of Defense to deploy an initial homeland defense capability by the end of 2004. As a result of this directive and in record time, the first Ground-based Interceptor (GBI), constructed in Courtland, AL, was delivered to Fort Greely, AK, June 23, 2004. In September 2004, MDA director Lt. Gen. Trey Obering declared a "limited defensive operations" status for homeland missile defense. At the time, this capability consisted of only five Ground-based Interceptors (GBIs) at Ft. Greely and the upgraded Cobra Dane Radar at Eareckson Air Station in Shemya, AK. This operational emplacement marked the beginning of a new era and provided to the United States the ability to defend itself against long-range ballistic missile attacks. Today, the GMD element of the Missile Defense System continues to provide Combatant Commanders the capability to engage and destroy intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile threats in space to protect the United States. Spanning 15 time zones, GMD and its associated systems consist of 44 interceptors in Alaska and California, seven types of land, sea, and space based sensors and multiple fire control systems. Due to our adversaries continued investment in offensive systems, MDA is investing in improvements to the homeland missile defense architecture to include development of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) and the Long Range Discrimination Radar. Today, MDA and the Department are continuing to upgrade GBIs through the limited and time-bounded Service Life Extension Program while production for NGI ramps up. The strategy includes delivering new capabilities to the Warfighter using a sustainable approach that continues to leverage existing GBI assets. Once fielded, NGI will be capable of defeating expected threat advances into the 2030s and beyond. Of course, the success of our existing and future capabilities depend on the men and women who develop, test, operate, and integrate them in coordination with our allies and partners around the world. These include the Warfighters from the 49th Missile Defense Battalion and the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, as well as the members of the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense. Together, they keep a watchful eye on the skies and stand ready to defend our Homeland at a moment's notice. While the GMD system has provided a protective layer to our way of life for 20 years, the MDA will remain diligent in providing required upgrades and developing new capabilities for the Warfighter to continue protecting our country.

Learn how leadership and a culture of innovation are driving success at CohesionForce in our latest blog post by Eddie Littrell. In 'Leading by Example: How Leadership and a Culture of Innovation Propel Our Company Forward,' we discuss how our commitment to proactive learning and adaptability shapes our company culture. Discover how this foundational approach supports our clients and the warfighters who depend on our advanced solutions. https://lnkd.in/dTg9Tfb2 #Leadership #Innovation #TechIndustry #CohesionForce #ContinuousLearning