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Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Begins New Chapter with New Leader

November 9, 2012

By Michael Clow, PEO CS&CSS Strategic Communications

The Army and Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program formally recognized a new Project Manager November 2, 2012. In a ceremony at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, JLTV management responsibility officially transferred from Col. David Bassett to Col. John Cavedo.

Mr. Kevin Fahey, the Army's Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) officiated the ceremony.

"JLTV is one of the best structured programs I've ever seen," said Fahey. "[JLTV] is critically important to providing our joint force the mix of protection, payload, and performance they need to succeed in full-spectrum operations," he continued, "and I'm glad this is a joint project. The Joint Force fights together, and the more we work on acquisition together, the better off our combat forces will be."

Fahey is no stranger to joint acquisition projects, having led much of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle fielding effort, and he currently oversees a portfolio that includes the Joint Program Offices for both JLTV and MRAP.

Col. Cavedo comes to JLTV from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he served as Deputy TRADOC Capabilities Manager for Mission Command. "I deeply appreciate this opportunity," said Col. Cavedo, "to help field the next generation of tactical vehicles for our Soldiers, Marines, and partners across the Joint Force."

Although the Army serves in the program lead, the Marine Corps' PEO Land Systems is a full partner on the JLTV team. "The program's real success is that we were able to keep costs down without compromising key, Service-specific requirements," said Deputy PEO Land Systems Mr. Dan Pierson, "and that makes this program a real model."

JLTV remains an important element of the Army and Marine Corps' Tactical Wheeled Vehicle strategy and a key Army modernization priority, representing a new generation in automotive technology and networked operations. Speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting last month, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said that the Army's modernization strategy is centered on the "Soldier and the Squad" and entails both "an overarching network architecture," and "network-ready combat and tactical wheeled vehicles designed to maneuver our formations with increased lethality and mobility, while optimizing survivability."

Cavedo replaces Col. David Bassett, whose three year Project Manager tenure included the completion of a competitive JLTV Technology Development phase. That successful effort allowed the Services to reduce the subsequent Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase from 48 to 33 months and the target vehicle cost to $250,000.

Col. Bassett recently accepted a new role as Deputy PEO CS&CSS. He now joins Mr. Fahey in overseeing life-cycle management for more than 350 tactical wheeled vehicle and force projection systems-including JLTV.

"JLTV represents a leap ahead in automotive technology," said Col. Bassett, "improving tactical vehicle fuel economy, mobility, protection, and on-board power in a single vehicle. It promises a platform that can adapt to multiple missions and carry the networked capabilities our Soldiers need in future fights, and I wish the JLTV team well."

Joint Program Office JLTV is currently working with vendors on the EMD phase, for which the Army awarded three, 27 month contracts in August 2012. Following EMD, the government intends to award a single, Low Rate Initial Production contract in the 4th quarter of Fiscal Year 2015. Over the long term, the Army plans to purchase approximately 50,000 JLTVs, and the Marine Corps plans to purchase approximately 5,000.