Getter takes reins of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems; Medaglia concludes Army career
BY COLIN BREWER, PM UAS
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — A new chapter began for the Army’s Uncrewed Aircraft System’s Project Office (PM UAS) as Col. Christopher C. Getter accepted leadership from Col. Danielle R. Medaglia during a dual ceremony marking both the transfer of responsibility and Medaglia’s military retirement.
The Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Maneuver Air’s PM UAS develops, produces, and sustains unmanned platforms and associated technologies, ensuring interoperability with Army, Joint, and Coalition partners. The project office, composed of five specialized product offices, ensures joint and coalition interoperability while extending operational reach for critical missions like reconnaissance, target acquisition, and battle damage assessment.
Mr. Rodney A. Davis, Portfolio Management Executive for Aviation, hosted the formal proceedings, highlighting how the leadership transition marks a critical shift in modern warfare. Commending the strategic foresight of both Col. Medaglia and Col. Getter, Davis emphasized the vital role of next-generation technology in securing the future battlefield.
“As we reach this next inflection point—moving from the Global War on Terror to a focus on large-scale combat operations and drone dominance—there is no better person to take the reins from Danielle than Chris. Drones are only growing in importance, and this leadership transition is critical as we pivot from legacy systems to the next generation of unmanned aircraft systems."
Stepping into command of the UAS portfolio, Getter brings hands-on institutional familiarity to the role, having previously directed the Endurance Uncrewed Aircraft System Product Office within the same enterprise. Speaking directly to civilian developers, defense contractors, and military colleagues gathered for the event, Getter laid out an urgent, outcome-driven vision.
“Industry partners, this is a team sport, we are America, we are here to win,” Getter declared. “We save lives and enable commanders to win. Our only metric is fielded lethal kit at speed and scale and enabling American drone dominance.”
Getter’s military journey started when he enrolled in Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Oregon State University on Sept. 11, 2000, ultimately commissioning into Army Aviation. Following graduation from Fort Rucker flight training in 2004, he completed operational flying assignments with the 18th Aviation Brigade, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and the National Training Center’s Operations Group, deploying three times across Iraq and Afghanistan.
His subsequent transition into acquisition leadership saw him steering night-vision and cockpit sensor development at Fort Belvoir’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), managing body armor and protective systems within Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, leading the Gray Eagle Product Office, and directing the Acquisition Management Branch at Human Resources Command. A rated aviator in the TH-67, OH-58 A/C, CH-47D, and CH-47F, Getter holds master’s degrees from Missouri University of Science & Technology, Webster University, and the Air War College. He and his wife reside in Madison, Alabama, with their three children.
Medaglia Caps Decorated Military Career
Following the ceremonial transfer of authority, attention turned to celebrating Medaglia’s retirement after 27 years in uniform.
A Philadelphia native commissioned from Temple University in 1999, Medaglia spent her early career flying UH-60 Black Hawks with the 1st Cavalry Division as an air assault platoon leader and battalion planner in Iraq. She later deployed to Baghdad as commander of Charlie Company (“Storm Riders”), 3-158th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Entering the Army Acquisition Corps in 2009, she qualified on the CH-47F Chinook, directed the CH-47F Helicopter Product Office, attended the Air War College, and served as Executive Officer to the Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) before taking the helm of PM UAS.
Brigadier General David C. Phillips, Special Assistant to the Director of the Army Staff, commended her steadfast leadership and problem-solving abilities.
“As you look back on the various pathways Danielle has taken to get to this point today—nearly three decades of waking up every day, putting on the boots, and coming to work with a positive attitude to do great things for our Army and our nation—she sets an example for all of us," Phillips said. "Even when facing incredibly difficult challenges, Danielle came into the office with a positive attitude, working alongside her team to find a way to solve whatever wicked problem was in front of them.”
During her remarks, Medaglia reflected on the rapid evolution of modern UAS requirements driven by Army transformation initiatives. Recognizing that front-line commanders needed agile, immediate procurement options, Medaglia and her team pioneered the UAS Marketplace (https://drones.mil) an innovative acquisition mechanism connecting industry capabilities directly to military units.an innovative acquisition mechanism connecting industry capabilities directly to military units.
“Where we were four years ago compared to now is simply not comparable,” Medaglia said. “We realized commanders were using their own operating funds to purchase UAS because they didn't know what to buy. To solve this, our team devised the UAS Marketplace. Over $800 million has flowed directly through the marketplace and into our industrial base, getting critical capabilities to the warfighter faster than ever.”
Medaglia concluded by thanking her husband and their three sons, underscoring that collaboration was the cornerstone of her career.
“If you asked me my secret sauce, it’s about relationships,” Medaglia said. “Relationships built across the department, the units we field and train, and the folks across the services.”
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