Ann Arbor, MI., May 4, 2010 – The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) today announced the appointment of Tony Melita to the Robotics Technology Consortium (RTC) Board of Directors. The RTC is administered by NCMS and was formed in 2008 to speed the development and deployment of ground robotics technology for the Department of Defense (DoD).
Tony Melita is an internationally recognized expert in munitions and land warfare systems acquisition. Given a history of over 31- years of service with the U.S. Department of Defense, he has a long track record of shaping successful defense acquisition programs and for developing strong relationships between government and industry.
“We are honored that Tony Melita has agreed to serve as a Director to the RTC” said Rick Jarman, NCMS President & CEO and Chairman of the RTC Board, “His expertise will continue to assist the RTC in speeding the process of getting innovative new technologies to the warfighter in the field.”
Mr. Melita has had various assignments as a civilian with DoD — ranging from hands-on technology development to serving as a Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, and concluding as the Director for Land Warfare and Munitions within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
He has overseen a wide variety of weapons programs from the vertical integration of warheads, explosives, and fuze technologies into munitions systems, to the development and acquisition of all Land Combat systems including Army and Marine Corps tracked and wheeled vehicles and rotary wing aviation systems and programs.
“Mr. Melita has been an advocate of the RTC since its inception” said Helen Greiner, President of the RTC, “His knowledge of the importance and use of ground robotics in the Department of Defense, will help the industry continue to excel in its partnership with the government.”
