WASHINGTON – Capt. Kevin Smith relieved Rear Adm. Casey Moton as program executive office unmanned and small combatants (PEO USC) during a change of office ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, June 1.
Mr. Jay Stefany, acting assistant secretary of the navy for research, development, acquisition (ASN RDA), served as the principal speaker and expressed his gratitude for the job done by Moton.
“Congratulations on a terrific tour in PEO USC. You are leaving behind an impressive legacy with many major accomplishments," said Stefany. “I will highlight just a few of those here: 13 littoral combat ship commissionings; 15 christenings, including the Navy’s first-ever naming for an unmanned surface vehicle and an extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle (XLUUV); and initial operational capability of the mine countermeasures mission package.”
Stefany also mentioned Moton’s unique role as acquisition executive agent for autonomy for the Navy – a congressional mandate that required ASN RDA to designate the agent.
Moton lauded the PEO USC team for its accomplishments across all eight program offices during his four-year tenure, which included maintaining a rigorous schedule of sea trials and testing for ships and systems through a pandemic, fielding the Navy’s first unmanned surface vehicle, standing up programs for urgent demands in mining, munitions, and expeditionary medicine, sustaining a steady drumbeat of ship deliveries, and focusing on the systems engineering aspect of unmanned maritime systems.
“It has been my supreme honor to lead this team, the sailors and Department of the Navy civilians in the Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants,” Moton said. “This PEO has accomplished so much for our nation, and I know they will keep doing so.”
Smith is reporting to PEO USC after serving as the program manager for the Constellation-class Frigate program office (PMS 515). During his tenure, the Constellation-class program office was awarded the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition award for 2021 as the top program office in the Department of Defense.
The Constellation-class program now has four frigates under contract, with the lead ship, the future USS Constellation (FFG 62), under construction.
“Kevin, today you take on a new role in Navy acquisition – leading PEO USC, one of the most dynamic and cutting-edge program executive offices in the Department.” said Stefany. “Under your leadership, you will to set the course for several programs that, like Frigate, are just waiting to set sail into production and ultimately deliver to our Sailors and Marines. I look forward to seeing the PEO flourish under your watch, hitting key milestones, and providing much-needed capability to our Fleet.”
PEO USC designs, develops, builds, maintains, and modernizes the Navy's unmanned maritime systems; mine warfare systems; special warfare systems; expeditionary warfare systems; and small surface combatants.