Dr. James Kirsch was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2019. He serves as the Director for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center. Dr. Kirsch leads a workforce of more than 11,000 engineers, scientists, researchers and support staff in delivering life cycle engineering and advanced technologies as required by the Army’s strategic priorities and support to its Cross-Functional Teams and the Aviation and Missile materiel development enterprise.
Under Dr. Kirsch’s direction, AvMC is responsible for delivering collaborative and innovative aviation and missile capabilities for responsive and cost-effective research, development and life cycle engineering solutions. Many Department of Defense and federal agencies, as well as academic, corporate and industrial researchers and developers, seek AvMC’s science, technology, and engineering expertise, which is characterized by its talented and technically proficient workforce and unique test bed capabilities.
Prior to his detail as acting director, Dr. Kirsch was the Director for the DEVCOM AvMC Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate (S3I).
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
- April 2023 – Present, Acting Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center
- February 2020 – April 2023: Director, Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center
- July – October 2022, Acting Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center
- July 2019 – February 2020: Director, Systems Simulation, Software and Integration, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center
- February 2019 – June 2019: Deputy Director (A), Systems Simulation, Software and Integration
- May 2018 – February 2019: Deputy Director, Weapons Development and Integration Directorate (WDI), U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC)
- November 2017 – May 2018: Acting Director, WDI
- October 2016 – November 2017: Deputy Director, WDI
- April 2016 – October 2016: Division Chief, Missile Technical Management Division, Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army AMRDEC, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- September 2009 – April 2016: Director, Systems Engineering Directorate and Chief Engineer, Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office, Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- October 2008 – September 2009: Deputy Director, Systems Engineering Directorate, Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office, Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- August 2007 – October 2008: Assistant Project Manager for Technology Insertion, Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- January 2000 – August 2007: Lead Engineer, Weapons Sciences Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- March 1987 – July 2000: Research Electronics Engineer, Weapons Sciences Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
COLLEGE:
- Ph.D., Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 2004
- M.S., Electronics Engineering, University of
- Alabama in Huntsville, 1991
- B.S., Electronics Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 1987
CERTIFICATIONS:
- DAWIA Level III, Engineering (formerly System Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering)
- DAWIA Level II, SPRDE Program Systems Engineer
- Army Acquisition Corps
- INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional with DoD Acquisition Specialty
AWARDS AND HONORS:
- Superior Civilian Service Award, April 2016
- 2015 Defense Acquisition Workforce Achievement Award for Engineering
- 2015 AAE Excellence in Leadership Award: Engineering and Systems Integration Professional of the Year
- Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, July 2012
- Army Research, Development, & Engineering Achievement Award, 1991 and 2000
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS:
- Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
- Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA)
MAJOR PUBLICATIONS:
- Optical Engineering
- Applied Optics