United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command

The United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, commonly known as RDECOM, was a U.S. Army command responsible for coordinating and carrying out scientific research, technology development, systems engineering, and technical support for Army capabilities. It was established provisionally in October 2002 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, following an effort led by General Paul J. Kern to streamline the Army’s fragmented research and development structure. Before RDECOM, laboratories and engineering centers were connected through several organizational channels, which the Army regarded as an obstacle to moving scientific results and prototypes more quickly into operational use. RDECOM consolidated the Army Materiel Command’s principal research, development, and engineering organizations under a common headquarters. Its work covered basic and applied research, materials and biological sciences, chemical and biological defense, weapons, aviation and missiles, ground vehicles, communications and sensors, and soldier equipment. The command did not function as a commercial product brand or a conventional manufacturer. Instead, it served as a government research-and-technology organization whose laboratories and centers generated knowledge, demonstrated prototypes, supported acquisition programs, and provided engineering expertise to Army organizations and the wider defense establishment. The command began replacing the headquarters element of the former U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command in 2002. It assumed operational control of the relevant research and development centers in June 2003, and an organizational transition at Aberdeen Proving Ground in October 2003 marked the stand-down of the predecessor headquarters arrangement. In March 2004, RDECOM became a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. At that point it had more than 17,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel associated with its activities. RDECOM’s structure included the Army Research Laboratory and major engineering or technology centers responsible for armaments, aviation and missiles, chemical and biological defense, ground vehicles, communications and networked systems, and soldier systems. The command also supported the Army’s acquisition and modernization processes by translating research results into engineering designs, test articles, prototypes, and technical knowledge useful to requirements writers and program managers. Its activities were connected to both long-term scientific discovery and near-term modernization needs. Several organizational changes affected the command during its existence. The 389th Army Band, initially associated with RDECOM, was redesignated as the Army Materiel Command Band and moved to Redstone Arsenal in 2006. The AMC Acquisition Center became part of the newly established U.S. Army Contracting Command in 2008. Dale Ormond served as RDECOM’s civilian commander from February 2012 through September 2014, after which the command returned to military leadership. A major transition occurred during the creation of U.S. Army Futures Command. General Order 2018-10 formally transferred RDECOM from Army Materiel Command to Army Futures Command effective July 1, 2018. The authority transition and reflagging ceremony took place at Aberdeen Proving Ground on January 31, 2019. After the transfer, the command was redesignated as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or CCDC. CCDC subsequently adopted the name Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Futures Command and later rebranded as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, commonly shortened to DEVCOM, in 2021. Accordingly, RDECOM is best understood as a defunct organizational identity whose functions continued under successor commands rather than as an active standalone brand.

RDECOM emerged from the U.S. Army’s effort to reorganize military research and engineering at the beginning of the twenty-first century. After taking command of Army Materiel Command in October 2001, General Paul J. Kern argued that the Army needed a more direct and coordinated route for turning scientific work into useful battlefield technology. Research laboratories and engineering centers were then distributed across several reporting structures, creating duplication and slowing coordination. The proposed solution was to place the principal research and development organizations under one headquarters. The command was established provisionally in October 2002 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Its initial headquarters replaced the relevant headquarters role associated with the Army’s Soldier and Biological Chemical Command. In June 2003, RDECOM assumed operational control of the Army research and development centers. A formal organizational ceremony in October 2003 marked the stand-down of the predecessor headquarters arrangement and the assignment of associated units, including the 389th Army Band and the AMC Acquisition Center. In March 2004, RDECOM became a major subordinate command of Army Materiel Command. Its responsibilities encompassed scientific research, applied technology, engineering, prototype development, and technical support for Army acquisition. The command’s personnel base exceeded 17,000 military, civilian, and contractor employees at that stage. Its constituent organizations worked across armaments, aviation and missiles, chemical and biological defense, ground vehicles, communications and networked systems, Army science, and soldier systems. The organization continued to evolve during the 2000s. The 389th Army Band was redesignated as the Army Materiel Command Band and relocated to Redstone Arsenal in 2006. In 2008, the AMC Acquisition Center moved into the newly created U.S. Army Contracting Command, another Army Materiel Command subordinate organization. From February 2012 to September 2014, RDECOM was led by civilian commander Dale Ormond, after which command returned to a military officer. The creation of Army Futures Command produced the command’s decisive transition. General Order 2018-10 established Army Futures Command and directed the transfer of RDECOM from Army Materiel Command effective July 1, 2018. The physical transition of authority took place at Aberdeen Proving Ground on January 31, 2019, accompanied by reflagging and changes to the command’s insignia and leadership identifiers. RDECOM was then redesignated as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. The successor organization later adopted the DEVCOM name in 2021. RDECOM therefore ceased to exist as a current command identity, while its research, development, and engineering missions continued within successor Army Futures Command structures.

• 2021

  Successor adopts DEVCOM branding

  [1]United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org

  The successor command adopted the DEVCOM name, completing the transition away from the RDECOM identity.

• 2019

  Redesignation as Combat Capabilities Development Command

  [1]United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org

  The command was reflagged and renamed U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.

• 2018

  Transfer to Army Futures Command

  [1]United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org

  The Department of the Army ordered RDECOM’s transfer from Army Materiel Command to Army Futures Command.

• 2004

  Major subordinate command status

  [1]United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org

  RDECOM became a major subordinate command of Army Materiel Command.

• 2003

  Operational control of research centers

  [1]United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org

  RDECOM assumed operational control of the Army’s relevant research and development centers.

• 2002

  Provisional establishment

  [1]United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org

  RDECOM was established at Aberdeen Proving Ground to consolidate Army research, development, and engineering organizations.

A centralized U.S. Army research and engineering command intended to shorten the path from scientific discovery to deployable military capability.

• Scientific research

  Army Research Laboratory

  The Army’s central laboratory organization conducted foundational and applied research relevant to future military capabilities. Its work supported areas including weapons science, materials, sensors, autonomy, survivability, and other technical disciplines. Under the RDECOM model, laboratory research was connected to engineering centers and acquisition organizations so that discoveries could be assessed for practical Army use.

• Weapons technology

  Armaments research and engineering

  RDECOM’s armaments organizations supported the research, development, testing, and engineering of weapons and munitions-related capabilities. Their activities included technical analysis, prototype work, systems integration, and support for modernization programs rather than consumer-facing product sales.

• Aerospace and missile engineering

  Aviation and missile systems

  Aviation and missile engineering organizations developed and evaluated technologies for Army aircraft, aviation systems, missiles, and related components. The work linked research and engineering with test, acquisition, and sustainment requirements for Army operational formations.

• Military vehicle engineering

  Ground vehicle systems

  Ground vehicle organizations worked on combat and tactical vehicle technologies, including mobility, protection, crew systems, and robotic or optionally manned vehicle concepts. Demonstrations of manned and robotic vehicle teaming illustrated the command’s role in exploring future ground-combat architectures.

• Individual soldier equipment

  Soldier systems

  Soldier-focused research and engineering addressed equipment, clothing, load carriage, human performance, protection, and other technologies used directly by personnel. The objective was to improve soldier effectiveness and survivability through scientifically informed design and field-oriented engineering.

• 2019

  Reflagging as Combat Capabilities Development CommandOther

  Background

  The command’s transfer to Army Futures Command required an organizational realignment and a new identity aligned with the Army’s modernization structure.

  Action taken

  At Aberdeen Proving Ground, the Army completed the transition of authority and redesignated RDECOM as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.

  Aftermath

  RDECOM became a historical name, while its laboratories and technical missions continued under successor organizations later associated with DEVCOM.

  Source

• 2018

  Transfer to Army Futures CommandStrategy

  Background

  The Army created Army Futures Command to focus more directly on future combat readiness, modernization, and competition with technologically capable near-peer adversaries.

  Action taken

  General Order 2018-10 transferred RDECOM from Army Materiel Command to Army Futures Command effective July 1, 2018.

  Aftermath

  The transfer was completed in January 2019, when RDECOM was reflagged as Combat Capabilities Development Command.

  Source

• 2002

  Consolidation of Army research and engineering organizationsStrategy

  Background

  Army leaders believed that laboratories and engineering centers reporting through separate channels slowed the movement of technology into operational use.

  Action taken

  The Army established RDECOM as a common command for major research, development, and engineering organizations.

  Aftermath

  The command became a major subordinate command of Army Materiel Command and provided a unified structure for Army technology work until its later transfer and redesignation.

  Source

1. 1United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Commanden.wikipedia.org
2. 2U.S. Army organizational informationarmy.mil