Q&A: Dr. James T. Blake

Simulation & Training Advocate
Providing Responsive Interoperable Simulation, Training and Testing Solutions



Dr. James T. Blake
Program Executive Officer
U.S. Army PEO STRI

Dr. James T. Blake became the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (STRI) on June 2, 2005. He is responsible for providing materiel solutions and services in modeling, simulation, training and test/instrumentation to support the soldier. Blake is also dual-hatted as the head of contracting activity. PEO STRI annually executes a multi-billion dollar program. More than 900 military, government civilian and industry personnel perform the PEO STRI mission. In addition, PEO STRI’s foreign military sales program supports more than 50 countries. In April 1968, Blake began his service to the nation as a private in the U.S. Army and completed his military career as a colonel on July 1, 1995. He is a dualrated Master Army Aviator. His last military assignment was as the Army’s Senior Uniformed Scientist. During his military career, Blake served in many positions and locations, including aviation operations in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of research, development and acquisition experience in the Army Acquisition Corps, he holds levelthree certifications in five acquisition career fields. Following his military career, Blake held several technical and executive positions in industry before joining academia where he served as a senior research scientist at Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, Blake joined the Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command as the program manager for the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), the internationally recognized university affiliated research center for advanced modeling and simulation. In March 2003, Dr. Blake became a member of the Senior Executive Service. From March 23, 2003 until June 2, 2005, he served as the deputy of PEO STRI. Blake is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Systems Management College, and the U.S. Army War College. His formal education includes a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Tampa, an M.S. degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. degree in computer science from Duke University.

Interview with Dr. James T. Blake conducted by Rodney L. Pringle

Q: What is the mission of the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation [PEO STRI], and what is your job as program executive officer?

A: PEO STRI provides responsive interoperable simulation, training, and testing solutions and acquisition services for the warfighters and the nation. In fact, we recently adopted that as our new mission statement in order to respond to our nation’s service men and women in a more responsive manner. Furthermore, we strive to attain our status as an Army Acquisition Center of Excellence. As the program executive officer, it is my role to ensure that we meet our commitments and quickly respond to the needs of our warfighters. To accomplish that, we expanded our charter to form enhanced partnerships with our sister PEOs and the joint community in order to share resources, knowledge and lessons learned. Simply stated, PEO STRI is dedicated to working as part of the team that puts the power of simulation into the hands of our warfighters!

Q: When you last appeared on the cover of MT2 [November 2005], you had only been on the job a few months as PEO after being named the first civilian leader of PEO STRI. How long ago does that seem and how would you describe your time as PEO for such a renowned office?

A: First of all, it is a privilege to serve at PEO STRI—in any capacity. As the leader of a high-intensity organization like PEO STRI, time goes by at a rapid pace as our undertakings never cease, especially during times such as this when our customers—U.S. soldiers and all American and allied armed forces alike—particularly depend on us to fulfill their training demands. When I look back, I realize just how much we’ve matured as an organization. In December 2006, the Honorable Claude Bolton, the assistant secretary of the Army [Acquisition, Logistics and Technology], designated PEO STRI as the acquisition authority for system Army Training Aids, Devices, Simulators and Simulations [TADSS]. Soon after, PEO STRI received contracting authority for the Army’s simulation, training and instrumentation programs. These actions have helped to further establish the working relationships we have with the other PEOs and the Army Materiel Command [AMC]. Together, I believe we can provide enhanced training and acquisition services to the joint community. Since day one as the PEO, my top priority remains unchanged. To the extent possible, I am committed to working with the other Department of Defense components to ensure our troops are the best trained force in the world by providing unsurpassed training solutions anytime and anywhere.

Q: At that time, you said your vision for PEO STRI’s future was to continue building on the foundation providing innovative training and testing solutions to the warfighter, with a primary focus on supporting soldiers—and all warfighters—as PEO STRI continues to support the global war on terrorism. How has that vision changed over the years, if at all?

A: The warfighter remains our primary focus; however, with the transformation the organization has undergone, my vision has expanded to include attaining our status as an Acquisition Center of Excellence for the Army. Over the last two years, PEO STRI has seen a revised charter, the designation of the Head of Contracting Activity [HCA], the Systems TADSS policy and many other positive signs. In addition to the former, the increased number of critical and time-sensitive warfighter needs that have been requested to support the Army’s ongoing deployed operations has significantly impacted us. Our continued support of the global war on terrorism includes providing training capabilities to support both system and non-system requirements. More specifically, teaming with the Joint IED Defeat Organization, the Army Training and Doctrine Command, and other Department of the Army collaborators has facilitated our support of critical improvised explosive device [IED] training. Additionally, we have worked alongside our fellow acquisition counterparts, like PEO Combat Support and Combat Service Support and AMC, in collaboration with the Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Command and the Red River Army Depot, on the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer [HEAT] which trains soldiers how to properly egress from a rolled-over vehicle. The list of urgent needs continues to grow each and every day, and we will continue to respond to the warfighter in a timely fashion by working in partnership with other Army organizations and those in the joint arena. With that being said, the soldier remains at the heart of our vision and mission. We have a heightened obligation to support the needs of the Army with the increased authority and responsibility bestowed upon us. Of course, our unremitting support of the nation resides in our commitment to empower all warfighters, especially during this time in our country’s history.

Q: What are your goals and objectives for PEO STRI today?

A: I have a number of goals and objectives for PEO STRI to achieve. First and foremost, we have a responsibility to our armed forces and ourselves to adequately fulfill our commitment to excellence in executing our new mission set. In order to effectively accomplish this task, we have established a number of strategic objectives. In addition to providing simulation, training and testing products and services, we have and will continue to work with our sister PEOs and other project management shops to expand beyond our traditional products and services. To meet the Army’s desired level of readiness, we intend to provide a full range of contracting and acquisition services for effective, efficient and responsive life cycle management. We look to integrate PEO STRI’s solutions into the Army contracting community; develop a live, virtual and constructive [LVC] operational training environment; and support the Army’s Future Combat System. The most significant effort that we will execute over the next year will be the successful establishment of the organization’s HCA. This includes developing the required policies and procedures in accordance with Army contracting regulations and policy and properly training the work force to execute these tasks.

Q: In 2005, the organization transitioned from STRICOM to PEO STRI. How has this change enabled PEO STRI to become more effective within the Army, valuable to the joint community and responsive to the warfighter?

A: The Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command became PEO STRI on October 1, 2002. As a Program Executive Office, we report directly to the Army acquisition executive. It is our responsibility as a PEO to provide overall acquisition direction and integration of assigned programs to ensure effective support to the Department of the Army, joint services, combat developers and support commands’ activities. Furthermore, we optimize system interoperability and exercise executive-level responsibility for program management, technical and quality management, logistics support, and readiness management of all assigned programs. In several cases, we assumed support responsibility for fielded systems from other acquisition agencies. In addition, we work much closer with the system PEOs and their respective PMs to provide support to their platform training requirements.

Q: During our last interview, you said that the number one capability for simulation should be interoperability. How much progress has been made in this area since that time and what do you think are the most important areas in simulation that need attention going forward?

A: We have done much in the way of transitioning to fully interoperable training solutions. The new System TADSS policy that I mentioned earlier will enhance our ability to influence the Army’s LVC training requirements either directly or in coordination with the system project managers. The policy allows us to leverage existing tools like One Semi-Automated Forces [OneSAF] and Synthetic Environment Core [SE Core] for assimilation into the Army and joint community’s training systems. The final result will be the establishment of a training capability across the LVC domains yielding an integrated and interoperable training environment. Furthermore, we recently stood-up an advisory board within the PEO to oversee the integration and interoperability of our programs and systems from a technical and programmatic perspective. Although this is an internal board intended to define the practices and procedures needed to accomplish an integrated and interoperable training environment, we recognize that this initiative will be of great benefit for the entire Army. In reference to the areas of simulation that need attention going forward, we must remain innovative in our approach to training. Our simulations must be interoperable so that our warriors can train as they fight. This means interoperability across the LVC domains, thus allowing leaders to maximize a tool kit of training resources in order to meet their objectives. Simulations should be net-centric and work with operational command and control systems. Most importantly, we are a nation at war, and we must remain responsive to the warfighters’ needs.

Q: What impact has simulation had on soldier training for the U.S. Army? What advancements in simulation for military training do you expect for the future?

A: Simulation has quite an impact on soldier training for the U.S. Army and perhaps that reality is most evident in the number of urgent requests we’ve received for training devices to support the GWOT. For example, there has been a high demand for training in the urban environment, IED defeat, convoy operations and tactical combat casualty care. PEO STRI has fulfilled these needs with devices like the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer [VCCT], Medical Simulation Training Centers [MSTCs], Mobile Military Operations in Urban Terrain and the Training IED. I expect that the advances in simulation for military training will evolve with the threats that our warfighters are up against. I can ensure you that PEO STRI, under the guidance of our acquisition center and in conjunction with our partners in the combat developer community and industry, will effectively respond to the warfighters’ needs as they arise and change.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges to the success of PEO STRI, and how has the office tried to deal with these challenges?

A: The organization has been faced with a number of challenges, and we have made tremendous strides to overcome them. As I mentioned before, we are conquering the Army’s need for interoperability in training. For example, we have leveraged a number of programs, namely OneSAF, SE Core, the Common Gunnery Architecture and the Common Driver Trainer, in support of the Army’s Training Transformation strategy.

Most importantly, we have found a way to be more responsive to our warfighters by receiving autonomous contracting authority and standing up an acquisition center that will allow us to meet urgent requests and respond to a greater number of requirements in a more proactive manner.

Q: Two years ago, you said that you expected to see training headed in the near term and the next decade in the direction of using more and more integrated training systems. You also said you expected to see the military services working more as a team and for training to continue to evolve to integrated solutions for the joint fight. Have you seen this occurring today, and what do you expect to see in training going forward?

A: We collaborate with our service partners to leverage each other’s training system portfolios, and I expect that will continue to grow in the future as we move toward a more integrated LVC training environment. Some of our current joint efforts include working with the U.S. Marine Corps on the VCCT, T-IED and Abrams family of tank gunnery trainers. In addition, we are engaged in a joint effort with the Air Force in VCCT training. Furthermore, we are sorting through the details to work with the Marine Corps to acquire and field a training device for the mine resistant ambush protected [MRAP] vehicle.

Q: Where can industry focus their efforts to better help PEO STRI accomplish its mission?

A: Industry needs to be vigilant in watching ongoing operations in theater. The Army’s senior leaders have requested training enablers across our entire portfolio. At a recent meeting with industry, Major General Robert Mixon, the commanding general for Division West, First Army, and Brigadier General Thomas Maffey, the director of training for HQDA G-3/5/7, defined a need for technology development in domains such as counter-IED training, CREW protection devices, a dismounted immersive soldier capability, live-fire training that replicates the operational environment and training technologies that refine conceptual skill sets required by leaders in the contemporary operating environment. I strongly encourage our industry partners to stay in close contact with PEO STRI to ensure they stay aware of the current priorities in training solutions.

Q: What has PEO STRI implemented through the Army’s lessons learned initiatives to better improve training for its soldiers, particularly for those who have had to fight overseas?

A: PEO STRI has deployed a number of devices as a result of the deployed operations in Southwest Asia. In addition to the IED, convoy and marksmanship trainers that have been utilized to train soldiers for the current conflict, one of our most recent initiatives in response to the GWOT is the HEAT, a product that is truly a team effort as many Army components contributed to the success of this trainer. I am particularly partial to this trainer as it is an Army solution for an Army problem.

Q: What is the future of PEO STRI and what role will it play in helping the U.S. Army accomplish its overall mission?

A: Although it is premature for me to predict what new efforts we may take on, PEO STRI’s first priority is, and will always be, the warfighter. If there is a need to provide support to a soldier or warfighter and we have the expertise to satisfy that need, we will. Our warfighters are the strength of this nation, and it’s our job to provide the training enablers that support them in this complex environment.

Q: What has PEO STRI done to provide direct support to the global war on terrorism?

A: PEO STRI has responded to a large number of operational needs statements. In direct support of the war, we have fielded Medical Simulation Training Centers to teach soldiers basic combat casualty care; the Engagement Skills Trainer which refines marksmanship proficiency; and DARWARS Ambush!, a gaming solution that improves cognitive skills. Moreover, we have deployed the HEAT, VCCT and IED trainers in record time to meet the urgent needs of our warfighters. I believe that we, PEO STRI, in close cooperation with other Army organizations and the joint community, can empower the warfighters with training so that they will maintain their prominence as the strongest military force in the world. Supporting the soldier with training is strong; working in collaboration with others to provide unsurpassed support to the warfighter is Army Strong! ♦

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