CECOM specializes in communications-electronics systems and equipment, to include setting up headquarters and command and tactical operations centers in remote areas to installing and maintaining communications systems in vehicles and aircraft. CECOM also provides training activities, field support for modifications and upgrades, and logistical expertise.[4][3] The C4ISR Materiel Enterprise is a subset of the Army's Materiel Enterprise; one of four Army Enterprises, which also include: Human Capital, Readiness, and Services and Infrastructure.[5]
History
The history of the Communications-Electronics Command began in 1917, with the establishment of a Signal Corps training facility and radio research and development laboratory at Fort Monmouth, NJ.[6] In 1929, the Signal Corps' Electrical Laboratory of Washington and the Signal Corps Research Laboratory of New York merged with the Radio Laboratories at Fort Monmouth to form the consolidated "Signal Corps Laboratories".
The Signal Corps Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, 1949
In 1949, the Signal Corps Center was established, consolidating many existing signal-related functions, including: the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories, the Signal Corps Board, Signal School, Signal Corps Publications Agency, Signal Corps Intelligence Unit, Pigeon Breeding and Training Center, the Army portion of the Electro Standards Agency, and the Signal Corps troop units.
The forerunner of the Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force had its roots at Fort Monmouth.[further explanation needed] In 1928, the first radio-equipped meteorological balloon soared into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, a forerunner of a weather sounding technique universally used today. In 1938, the first U.S. aircraft detection radar was developed at the Signal Corps Center. In 1946, space communications was proven feasible when the Diana Radar[clarification needed] was used to bounce electronic signals off the Moon.
In 1962, the Army disbanded the technical services and established the Electronics Command (ECOM) at Fort Monmouth. This CECOM predecessor was charged with managing signal research, development, and logistics support. As an element of the newly formed United States Army Materiel Command (AMC), ECOM encompassed the Signal Research and Development Laboratories, the Signal Materiel Support Agency, the Signal Supply Agency (including its various procurement offices), and other Signal Corps logistics support activities.
In January 1978, ECOM was fragmented, per the recommendation of the Army Materiel Acquisition Review Committee (AMARC). Three commands and one activity were formed: the Communications and Electronics Materiel Readiness Command (CERCOM), the Communications Research and Development Command (CORADCOM), the Electronics Research and Development Command (ERADCOM), and the Avionics Research and Development Activity (AVRADA).
Reassessment of the organization shift at Fort Monmouth, begun in August 1980, concluded that while the emphasis on research and development had increased for the better, there was also much duplication of effort. Thus AMC combined CERCOM and CORADCOM to form the new Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), effective 1 May 1981.
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the short-lived U.S. Army Computer Systems Command
On 1 October 1984, the Army established the U.S. Army Information Systems Command (ISC) to consolidate information management under a single command. The U.S. Army Computer Systems Command was transferred to the Information Systems Command as a major subordinate command. In July 1985, the Computer Systems Command was re-designated the U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (ISEC).[7]
On 1 October 1996, the ISEC became a subordinate command under the Communications-Electronics Command.
Relocation to Aberdeen Proving Ground
CECOM headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground, 2010
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission ordered the closure of Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. CECOM was to move to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The CECOM flag was cased at Fort Monmouth on 10 September 2010, and the colors were uncased on 22 October 2010, representing CECOM’s official arrival at APG, occupying the newly completed C5ISR Center of Excellence.
The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), including CERDEC, transferred from Army Materiel Command to the new U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) in 2019. Accordingly, RDECOM was renamed the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC, later DEVCOM), and CERDEC was renamed the DEVCOM C5ISR Center. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and the program executive officers (PEOs) are to coordinate with AFC and its cross-functional team (CFT)'s modernization efforts of materiel.[9]
Famous firsts
1918: Standardization and quality control of vacuum tubes for military radios resulted in a total standard for vacuum tube production for both military and civilian applications.
1928: The first radio-equipped weather balloon was launched in 1928. This was the first major development in the application of electronics to the study of weather, and of conditions in the upper atmosphere.
1938: Aircraft Detection radar was developed at Fort Monmouth, the Evans Signal Laboratories, and at Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook in 1938, providing the first U.S. capability of aircraft detection and early warning. Radar sets, such as the SCR-270, were used in World War II and also later in the civilian aviation industry.
1940: Development of the SCR-300 first portable, hand-held, FM "walkie-talkie" for use in the front lines occurred. This was the first major development in the miniaturization of radio equipment.
1946: On 10 January 1946, Fort Monmouth took the first electronic step into space when the first radar signal was bounced off the Moon using a modified SCR-271. It took the Diana radar 2-1/2 seconds to reach the Moon and return. This proved the feasibility of extraterrestrial radio communications.
1948: The first synthetically produced large quartz crystals were grown by researchers at Fort Monmouth. The crystals were able to be used in the manufacture of electronic components, and made the U.S. largely independent of foreign imports for this critical mineral.
1949: On 28 September, a record height of 140,000 feet was set by a high-altitude balloon of the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories at Fort Monmouth.
1957: COL William Blair finally received his radar patent, U.S. Patent Number 2,803,819. He is remembered as the "father of American radar."
1958: Development of solar cells for satellite power in space. The solar cells developed by Fort Monmouth scientists powered the Vanguard I satellite in space for more than five years.
1958: The first communication satellite, Project SCORE, was developed in 1958. Launched on 18 December, Project SCORE (Signal Communications via Orbiting Relay Experiment) broadcast President Eisenhower's Christmas greeting, proving that voice and code signals could be relayed over vast distances using satellite communication technology developed at Fort Monmouth.
1959: The first Weather Satellite, the Vanguard 2, was launched on 19 February 1959, equipped to map the earth's cloud patterns by a varying infrared scanning device. The electronics for the satellite were developed at Fort Monmouth.
1960: The first televised weather satellite, Tiros-1, was developed under the technical supervision of the Fort Monmouth Laboratories. Tiros-1 sent the first televised weather photographs of the Earth's cloud cover and weather patterns to the giant 60-foot "Space Sentry" antenna at Fort Monmouth.
1960: The first Large Scale Mobile Computer, the Mobile Digital Computer (MOBIDIC), was developed at Fort Monmouth. It was the first computer developed for use at the Field Army and theater levels. This van-mounted computer was the first experiment in automating combat support function in artillery, surveillance, logistics and battlefield administration.
1971: A system test bed first demonstrated the ability from an airborne platform to intercept signals. GUARDRAIL evolved through multiple product improvements to become "the most prolific intelligence system in the field." Its many "firsts" include the first tactical, airborne, remotely controlled COMINT system, the first multiple platform Signals intelligence system, and the first COMINT system that could be controlled through a satellite relay.
1975: Automatic Telephone Central Office: The solid state AN/TTC-38 is smaller and lighter than manual switch systems. It is faster and more easily maintained. It gives the user touch-dialing to anywhere in the worldwide military telephone system.[10]
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