AUVSI recently had to the opportunity to speak with COL Danielle Medaglia, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Project Manager, U.S. Army to learn more about the UAS portfolio.

COL Medaglia manages the Army’s portfolio of UAS including the Gray Eagle; Shadow; the Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS); SUAS Family of Systems (Short, Medium, Long-Range Reconnaissance systems); Launched Effects (LE); Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) programs.   

She works closely with Industry and Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders developing solutions to meet requirements and deliver capabilities required for operations on the future battlefield. 

At XPONENTIAL 2024, COL Medaglia delivered remarks at the Defense Theater on, “Transforming the Future Battlefield.” COL Medaglia provided an update of the Army’s UAS programs to include efforts aligned under the Army’s modernization priorities, including the UVC program, which is significant because: 

AUVSI: First, tell us a bit about your Army path in selection and taking over the Army UAS project management. 

COL Medaglia: In 1999, I entered into the Army and was commissioned as an aviation officer, Blackhawk pilot, with 12th Combat Aviation Brigade in Germany. Later, I was able to switch over to acquisition. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that UAS would be that pacing item in a new conflict in the future and an incredible asset for our soldiers. I feel unbelievably fortunate to work with this amazing team and work with soldiers. 

AUVSI: Tell us a bit about the breadth and scope of your portfolio. 

COL Medaglia: The UAS portfolio is dynamic, fast-paced, and unique in that it works on the cutting edge of technology. The UAS portfolio is across weapon systems, from Group 1 short-range sUAS quadcopters all the way up through division and corps to Group 4 with the Grey Eagle and launched effects. We develop and deliver capabilities as the Army engages across echelons. 

AUVSI: What are your favorite parts of your responsibilities regarding UAS? 

COL Medaglia: Within the UAS ecosystem, whether on the government or industry side, everyone working in this space is excited and pushing the envelope in the development of new technologies. Technology is moving fast, and everyone wants to capture that as quickly as they can.  

We are working with government labs to achieve common goals of delivering UAS in an efficient manner while not compromising capability. U.S. Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps are tremendous teammates. We are successful because of that teamwork and collaboration across the Army and with our industry partners, which has truly been a force multiplier. 

AUVSI: What is your perspective on focusing the industrial base to meet the Army’s needs and timeline? 

COL Medaglia: The more we share with industry regarding requirements, acquisition strategy, and technical approach, the better off we will be. We are seeking to gain industry feedback. 

We are leveraging the MOSA approach because this is such a fast-paced and dynamic environment. There are lot of vendors in this space that can provide incredible capabilities. 

The more open we are about our needs, the better industry can solve and fill capability gaps. Our UAS family architecture and MOSA strategy is our strength moving forward. It’s a win-win for both us and industry to go as quickly as we can. 

We held a Launched Effects Industry Day in February, which was at capacity with 600 attendees, with a limit of 2 attendees per company – which tells you how engaged our industry partners are. The day was incredible collaborative and informative for both industry and the Army. 

AUVSI: Where do you see the biggest mission gaps, and opportunities, from a material developer standpoint to help the Army with systems in Joint All Domain Operations? 

COL Medaglia: The identification of those mission gaps is one of the core competencies of what Army Futures Command (AFC) does. When I receive a requirement document from AFC, my role is to quickly meet those warfighting gaps. AFC has all the modeling and tools to identify, and I quickly iterate and provide material that will close that gap. We have to be completely tied together, and we are tremendously tight teammates.