KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The U.S. Space Force's Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO), headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, is leading the charge in innovative defense technology with its Remote Modular Terminal (RMT) program. At the heart of this success is Lt. Col. (sel) Drew Hines, the program’s logistics officer and project manager, who led Space RCO’s most successful program to date.
The RMT is a ground-based electromagnetic warfare system designed to provide low-cost, flexible satellite communications jamming to protect forces from space-enabled attacks. The system’s success is largely due to its simple design, which uses Commercial Off-the-Shelf components, allowing the first four units to be delivered just one year after the contract was awarded.
Hines, a key figure behind the RMT’s success, joined the Space Force in 2022 after a distinguished career in the U.S. Army. Originally from West Virginia, he is a graduate of the Naval War College, where he graduated with distinction. His "can do" attitude was credited with keeping the project on budget and under schedule.
The RMT team also made significant progress by involving operators in the design process from the beginning, which, according to Hines, led to fewer engineering changes later in the program. “A huge win we achieved is that we were the first to own and implement an integrated testing approach,” Hines said.
Hines highlighted how the RMT program’s success was driven by this integrated testing approach, which combined developmental and operational testing to identify and resolve issues early in the process. “This type of testing allows us to fix issues early,” Hines said, resulting in fewer delays and an accelerated fielding timeline.
In April 2024, the Space Training and Readiness Command conducted the first test of the RMT, which demonstrated the system’s operational flexibility. The system was deployed at two geographically separated locations and controlled from a third. The test, overseen by Delta 12’s 4th Test and Evaluation Squadron, assessed performance metrics such as system latency and target engagement accuracy, using scenarios developed by Delta 11’s 25th Space Range Squadron.
In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, praised the RMT program’s success. “The Space Rapid Capabilities Office completed and is in the process of fielding the first 11 of 24 low-cost, transportable terrestrial satellite communications jammers,” he said.
“It’s almost unheard of,” said Hines, referring to how quickly and successfully they were able to complete the project. The timeline from contract award to fielding was about 18 months.
By cutting through bureaucracy and empowering both government and contractor teams to make swift decisions, Hines and his team at Space RCO demonstrated their ability to deliver impactful solutions on budget and under schedule.
When asked for advice to those considering a career in the Space Force, Hines highlighted the unique opportunity the branch offers. “The Space Force allows you to help shape the future of technology,” he said, adding that individuals with technical expertise and a warfighter mindset are exactly the type of guardians that the Space Force needs.