National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) Appoints Anthony Melita to Serve as Executive Director
Internationally Recognized Expert in Land Warfare Systems to Lead Expanded Consortium
Ann Arbor, MICH August 19, 2014
The National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) announced today that they have hired Mr. Anthony Melita as Executive Director of the manned and unmanned ground vehicle focused consortium.
Mr. Melita has over 31-years experience with U.S. Department of Defense as a civilian ranging from hands-on technology development to serving as a Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, and concluding as the Director for Land Warfare and Munitions within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
"Tonys reputation for fairness and integrity as well as his successful career within the Department of Defense made him our top choice for Executive Director of the new NAMC consortium," stated Andy Dallas, President of NAMC.
In July, the Robotics Technology Consortium (RTC) expanded to become NAMC after entering into a section 845 Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. The new OTA greatly expands upon the scope and scale of the OTA that the RTC was awarded in May 2008 for ground robotics technology. The new OTA covers the entire range of ground systems technologies for manned and unmanned vehicle and robotics systems.
"I look forward to leading this new consortium as Executive Director," said Anthony Melita, "I am very proud of my involvement in the creation of the robotics consortium while at the U.S. Department of Defense and this expanded OTA is an enormous step for them. It is my pleasure to serve on behalf of the board of directors, the members and military partners of NAMC."
The NAMC and the OTA is available to be utilized by each of the services and will be administered on the Government side by the newly created Vehicle and Robotics Program Office (VRA PO) at TARDEC in Warren, MI. Mr. Melita will begin his tenure as Executive Director on September 1st, 2014.
Featured Product
Piab's Kenos KCS Gripper
Piab's Kenos KCS gripper enables a collaborative robot to handle just about anything at any time. Combining Piab's proprietary air-driven COAX vacuum technology with an easily replaceable technical foam that molds itself around any surface or shape, the gripper can be used to safely grip, lift and handle any object. Standard interface (ISO) adapters enable the whole unit to be attached to any cobot type on the market with a body made in a lightweight 3D printed material. Approved by Universal Robots as a UR+ end effector.