WASHINGTON -- The Navy announced today that it is renaming Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ship (PEO LCS) as Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) to better align the course and scope of responsibilities for both manned and unmanned systems to meet combatant commander needs.
The name PEO LCS no longer adequately reflects the breadth of the acquisition office's portfolio nor the full importance of its work. Since the creation of PEO LCS in July 2011, the organization's portfolio has expanded beyond its original focus on developing, procuring and sustaining LCS and its associated mission modules and related systems to also include overseeing the acquisition of mine warfare systems, unmanned maritime systems, the future Frigate (FFG(X)) and the Multi Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC), an LCS variant for international customers.
"The work accomplished by the workforce in PEO LCS on the LCS program has placed us on a stable trajectory to build a Naval Force our Nation Needs," said Rear Adm. John P. Neagley, program executive officer, PEO USC. "This name change codifies the true expanse of our responsibility for accelerating, innovating, and delivering a lethal force to meet the Navy's growing operational demands."
Establishment of a name change to PEO USC is at zero cost. It renames the already established organization of existing program offices -- Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406), LCS Mission Modules (PMS 420), Mine Warfare Systems (PMS 495), Littoral Combat Ships (PMS 501), LCS Fleet Introduction and Sustainment (PMS 505), Frigate (PMS 515) and International Small Combatants (PMS 525). Their continued organization under a single PEO will allow improved program execution, alignment and agility today and into the future.
The Littoral Combat Ship and its mission capabilities remains a critically important shipbuilding program. With the introduction of FFG(X) and MMSC in the near future in addition to a burgeoning fleet of unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles, PEO USC is ideally positioned to play a critical role in the Navy's drive to boost innovation and increase the pace of technological change in the fleet.
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