JPEO-CBD Activates New Joint Project Management Office of Medical Countermeasure Systems (MCS)

FORT DETRICK, Md., June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This morning the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD's) Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) hosted an activation ceremony for the Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM-MCS). Col. Russell E. Coleman assumed leadership as he was presented the Joint Project Manager Charter, co-signed by the Honorable Heidi Shyu, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA (ALT)) and Army Acquisition Executive, and Mr. Carmen Spencer, the Joint Program Executive Officer for JPEO-CBD.

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The activation of JPM-MCS stems from the consolidation of three former medical Joint Project Management offices within the JPEO-CBD: Joint Project Managers Chemical Biological Medical Systems (CBMS), Transformational Medical Technologies (TMT), and Medical Countermeasures Advanced Development and Manufacturing (MCM ADM). Their consolidation will streamline the advanced development of medical countermeasures to counter Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, improve life cycle management for multiple products, reduce costs and duplication, and deliver sustainable services to the military and the nation.

"The leaders who worked so hard to make this consolidation happen are to be commended," Spencer said. "We will provide the same robust medical portfolio—yet the delivery to the Services will be much more efficient."

Coleman started his Army career at the department of entomology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research before deploying to Saudi Arabia with the 714th Medical Detachment for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Most recently, he served at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity where he was commander since 2010.

"It is an honor to take command and provide stability during this transition," Coleman said. "Under this new structure, we will maintain our current facilities while implementing new ways to improve medical portfolio coordination and create efficiencies not possible under the former structure."

Product management teams within the new organization will remain at their locations at Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Detrick, Md.; and Frederick, Md. and will continue to manage JPM-MCS' suite of products.

About Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM-MCS)
JPM-MCS, a component of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, aims to provide U.S. military forces and the nation with safe, effective, and innovative medical solutions to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear  threats. JPM-MCS facilitates the advanced development and acquisition of medical countermeasures and systems to enhance our nation's biodefense response capability. For more information, visit www.jpeocbd.osd.mil.

SOURCE Medical Countermeasure Systems