Army Names Getter to Lead UAS Office, Emphasizes Rapid Fielding

The U.S. Army has appointed Col. Christopher C. Getter to lead its Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Office, succeeding Col. Danielle R. Medaglia, who is concluding her Army career. The leadership transition comes as the Army continues to emphasize the shift from legacy uncrewed aircraft systems to next-generation capabilities. Getter’s stated priorities include fielding those systems “at speed and scale,” underscoring an acquisition focus on moving suitable capabilities into operational use rather than relying solely on incremental modernization of existing platforms.

For government contractors, the announcement is a strategic signal about Army demand—not a procurement notice. It identifies modernization and rapid fielding as priorities for the office responsible for uncrewed aircraft systems, giving industry a basis to assess whether its products, integration services, and delivery approaches align with the Army’s direction. The announcement does not include a new solicitation, contract award, funding commitment, or proposal deadline, so vendors should not interpret it as an open opportunity or newly available contract vehicle.

The Army’s UAS Marketplace is a significant part of the procurement context. The service says the marketplace has directed more than $800 million cumulatively to the industrial base, establishing an existing channel through which capabilities have reached military users. Outgoing Project Manager Col. Danielle R. Medaglia described the result this way: “Over $800 million has flowed directly through the marketplace and into our industrial base, getting critical capabilities to the warfighter faster than ever.” The figure is cumulative marketplace activity, not a newly announced award associated with Getter’s appointment.

The transition is relevant to companies seeking to position offerings for Army modernization, especially those able to demonstrate operational relevance and support timely fielding at scale. Contractors should track subsequent updates from the project office and the Army’s acquisition organizations for concrete requirements, eligibility rules, or solicitations. In the near term, the practical takeaway is to understand how the UAS Marketplace has been used, monitor how the new leadership translates stated priorities into acquisition activity, and avoid treating the leadership announcement or cumulative spending figure as a current bid opportunity.

• Col. Christopher C. Getter has been appointed to lead the Army’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Office, succeeding Col. Danielle R. Medaglia.
• Getter’s stated priorities are transitioning from legacy systems to next-generation capabilities and fielding systems at speed and scale.
• The Army’s UAS Marketplace has directed more than $800 million cumulatively to the industrial base.
• Medaglia said marketplace activity has helped get “critical capabilities to the warfighter faster than ever.”
• The $800 million-plus figure reflects cumulative marketplace activity; it is not a new award announced with the leadership change.
• The announcement includes no new solicitation, contract award, funding commitment, or proposal deadline.
• Vendors can assess whether their UAS products and services align with Army modernization and rapid-fielding priorities.
• Contractors should monitor the project office and Army acquisition channels for future requirements rather than treating this news as an open solicitation.
• Related Army organizations named in the announcement include the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Air and Program Executive Office Soldier.