PEO IEW&S Declares New Deputy for the Acquisition ‘Marathon’

Photo By John Higgins | Mark Kitz, the new Deputy Program Executive Officer for Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors, gives his first speech in his new position and DPEO on Aberdeen Proving Ground, June 26, 2019. Kitz was raised in New Jersey by families steeped in the tradition of public service with parents serving as policemen and public school teachers. Kitz earned a Master’s Degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, following a Bachelor’s from Lafayette College. In 2015, Kitz became Director for Acquisition and Engineering in PEO IEW&S where he would stay until his promotion not only within the PEO but to the Senior Executive Service. The SES was established in 1978 to ensure that the executive management of the government of the United States is responsive to the institutional needs, policies, and goals of the nation. While there are more than 200,000 civilian positions in the Army .2% of those positions are SES level. Just by sheer numbers, selection is an incredible accomplishment. (U.S. Army Photo/John Higgins)  

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES

06.24.2019

Story by John Higgins 

Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors

By John Higgins PEO IEW&S Public Affairs

“In baseball there is always talk of 5 tool prospects that can hit for average and power, run, throw and field at the highest level. Often times it is overhyped especially if we’re talking about a Yankee.” joked Brig. Gen. Robert Collins, Program Executive Officer for Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S), as he hosted the promotion of Mark Kitz to Deputy PEO.

“Mark is our real-deal 5 tool player here at PEO IEW&S. He has an amazing intellect, superior leadership skills, unique ability to think out of the box, is a tremendous communicator and selfless as he always ensures the team and mission comes first.” said Collins.

Kitz and his wife Erika were both raised in New Jersey by families steeped in the tradition of public service with parents serving as policemen and public school teachers. Kitz earned a Master’s Degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, following a Bachelor’s from Lafayette College.

Kitz first major assignment for the Army was Chief Engineer and Project Lead for TROJAN, a foundation of intelligence platforms still used today.

In 2008, Kitz’ engineering career for the Army took him as far away as Australia, where he served as a Research Engineer for Defense Science and Technology in Edinburgh, Armed Forces Overseas Australia, where he launched collaborative research between the Army and Australian laboratories in the intelligence and electronic warfare domains.
Sometime after that Kitz came to the PEO IEW&S team as the Technical Director for Project Manager Distributed Common Ground Systems–Army (PM DCGS-A).

In 2015, Kitz became Director for Acquisition and Engineering in PEO IEW&S where he would stay until his promotion not only within the PEO but to the Senior Executive Service.

The SES was established in 1978 to ensure that the executive management of the government of the United States is responsive to the institutional needs, policies, and goals of the nation. While there are more than 200,000 civilian positions in the Army .2% of those positions are SES level. Just by shear numbers, selection is an incredible accomplishment.

“He has had the pulse of the organization for some time both as a the Tech Director for DCGS-A coordinating with many of the other PMs and most recently as our Acquisition & Engineering Division Chief, which has given him visibility and insight to the entire PEO portfolio.”

Kitz gave a heartfelt speech thanking everyone from his family and friends who supported him in early life, to those who expanded that network in his professional career.

• Date Taken: 06.24.2019
• Date Posted: 06.28.2019 11:40
• Story ID: 329619
• Location: ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND, US