Redstone Arsenal in Alabama welcomed a new leader as Col. Aaron Kia took command of the Redstone Test Center during a ceremony attended by approximately 400 people. The event marked the transition of leadership from Col. Joe Alexander, who retired after 26 years of service in the Army.

Leadership Transition

Col. Kia, originally from Hawaii, brings a wealth of aviation and acquisition expertise to his new role. His career began with a commission through ROTC in 2004, following his graduation with a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in engineering systems from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 2016.

In 2013, Kia transitioned to the Army acquisition corps and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. His previous roles at Redstone Test Center included serving as a flight test division chief and experimental test pilot, where he contributed to the developmental testing of the AH-64 Apache, MQ-1 Gray Eagle, and RQ-7 Shadow.

Future Vision

During the ceremony, Kia expressed enthusiasm for his new position, stating, “There’s a lot of great things already happening here at RTC. We are prime to deliver capabilities to the Soldier with speed.” His recent work as a product lead at the Utility Helicopters Project Office involved focusing on modernization and sustainment plans for the UH-60M Black Hawk.

Col. Alexander, who led the center since March 2023, was honored with the Legion of Merit by Maj. Gen. Patrick Gaydon, commander of the Army Test and Evaluation Command, in recognition of his dedicated service. Reflecting on his career, Alexander remarked, “For over 26 years I’ve had the privilege to wear this uniform.”

The Redstone Test Center remains a pivotal hub for the development and testing of Army capabilities, and under Kia’s leadership, it aims to continue its mission of delivering advanced solutions to soldiers efficiently.

Original reporting: Rocket City Now (Huntsville) — read the source article.