WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (February 26, 2025) - On Feb. 10, the Army Test and Evaluation Command Commanding General, Major General Patrick L. Gaydon and Command Sergeant Major Bradford L. Smith visited White Sands Missile Range and the White Sands Test Center as part of an initiative within the ATEC Next campaign plan. This plan supports efforts to better understand the unique capabilities at each ATEC installation and to recognize the excellence of employees across the formation.
During his visit Gaydon presented Commander's Coins to WSTC Program Analyst Nancy A. Perrigin, WSTC General Engineer Josh Jiron, WSTC Materials Engineer Manuel J. Berumen, WSTC Meteorologist Blaine C. Thomas and WSTC Electronics Technician Fabian Rosales for their best practices and contributions to the installation and testing capabilities.
Perrigin developed a Power Business Intelligence dashboard that enables users to track statuses and ratings of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, work order requests, and service order requests. This has provided a one stop shop to track these data elements from cradle to grave.
"My experience working on WSMR is better summed up by a quote from Benjamin Franklin, 'Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn'," said Perrigin.
Jiron was recognized for his 18 years of dedicated service and outstanding contributions to WSMR. As the Radiation Test Facility's counterpart, Jiron plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of all operations. His meticulous attention to detail has enabled him to excel in the field of radiation testing. Additionally, he demonstrated exceptional leadership by providing training and oversight to personnel on temporary assignment at the RTF, helping to maintain the high standards of the facility.
"It is appreciated that our implementation of radiation and explosive safety is being recognized as a best practice within WSTC and at the ATEC level," said Jiron.
Berumen was recognized for his outstanding contributions and dedication to the organization. With 19 years of service, Berumen established himself as a subject matter expert and leader in his field. Since assuming the role of facility lead in 2010, he has ensured the safety of all personnel involved in radiation testing, demonstrating his commitment to excellence and accountability. Berumen provided expert support to various programs, including those for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and NASA. His expertise and leadership have been instrumental in the success of WSTC and the regional area.
"The nature of our mission at WSTC involves inherent risks. It is encouraging to see that our efforts in risk mitigation to ensure a safe and successful inspection program are being recognized, " said Berumen.
Blaine and Rosales created an internal tracking system of Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment assets for the meteorology branch which allows their team to update status and locations as well as prioritize these TMDE assets based off mission. This tracking system has enabled the team to go from a delinquency rate in the double digits to compliance with Army standard of a delinquency rate of two percent and below.
"It has been an honor to serve White Sands Missile Range with meteorological support for almost two decades. The unique blend of weather forecasting, mission event consultation, applied research, and field work has been a perfect fit for my interests. The WSTC Meteorology Branch strives to provide high-quality atmospheric data to range customers in evaluating systems under test and to decision makers protecting assets and personnel on the range. A key component in providing excellent data is tracking sensor performance and calibration. Tracking tools that we have developed and maintained over the last several years have allowed Meteorology Branch staff to quickly assess system status and effectively plan for site visits around a busy range schedule," said Blaine.
Driving modernization on the range are the 1,500 civilian physicists, engineers, mathematicians and scientists just like these employees that were honored by Gaydon during his visit. These civilians are responsible for radar tracking, optics instrumentation, nuclear reactor operations, telemetry tracking, network data collection and communications, data analytics, long range corridors, infrastructure, and missile assembly for the largest Army installation in the United States.