Mr. Craig L. Rettie
Director, Research and Technology Integration
U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, Massachusetts
Mr. Craig L. Rettie is the Director of Research and Technology Integration for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC), where he is responsible for the planning, programming, coordination and external integration of DEVCOM SC’s science and technology programs to ensure America’s warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal. DEVCOM SC supports all of the Army’s Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross-Functional Teams being the DEVCOM SC’s chief areas of focus. The center’s science and engineering expertise is combined with collaborations with industry, DOD, and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035.
Mr. Rettie previously served as the Deputy Director for the DEVCOM Soldier Center. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Associate Director for Science and Engineering. He joined the DEVCOM Soldier Center in 2009 after retiring from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel. He initially served as the Program Integrator for the DoD Combat Feeding Program as a member of the Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD). Following that assignment, he served as the Program Manager for Sustainability/Logistics-Basing Technology Enabled Capability Demonstration (TECD) Program and was then selected to serve as the Director of the Warfighter Directorate.
During his military career, he served in a wide range of assignments. He was commissioned in 1987 as an Infantry Officer through the ROTC program at Old Dominion University where he received a BS in Engineering Technology (Mechanical). His initial duty assignment was with 5th Battalion (L), 21st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (L) at Fort Ord, CA. During his four years at Fort Ord he served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Rifle Company Executive Officer, Battalion Mortar Platoon Leader, and Battalion Adjutant (S-1). In 1989, the Battalion deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause and subsequently deployed again in 1990 for Operation Promote Liberty. After his initial assignment, he transitioned to the Ordnance Corps and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment (Patriot) as the Maintenance Company Commander. The Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1994 during Operation Southern Watch during which time the company provided direct maintenance support to the Battalion from two separate locations.
In 1995, he transitioned to the acquisition career field and attended Pennsylvania State University from 1995-1997 where he earned an MBA with a concentration in manufacturing and industrial engineering. Following graduation, he served as a Combat Developer for ammunition logistics at the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, VA. From 1999-2000 he attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, KS and was then reassigned to Warren, MI. During a 5-year period in Warren, he served as: Assistant Product Manager (APM), M1A1 Abrams Tank System; Program Integrator, Future Combat Systems (FCS); APM, FCS Manned Ground Vehicles Common Subsystems; and Systems Integration Team Leader, FCS Manned Systems Integration.
In 2005, he was reassigned to the Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) and served as the Product Manager, Force Sustainment Systems (FSS) until 2008. His final assignment on active duty was Project Manager-Forward, Force Projection at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Ranger Tab, Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Expert Infantryman’s Badge.
