Malcolm Ross O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Ross O'Neill was the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
, having been sworn into office by United States Under Secretary of the Army
Joseph W. Westphal
on March 10, 2010, and resigned June 3, 2011 .
, receiving a B.Sc. in Physics
. In 1962, he joined the United States Army
and was commissioned as a Field Artillery
Officer
. Following postings to Fort Sill
, Fort Benning
, Fort Bragg
, Redstone Arsenal
, and the Defense Language Institute
at the Presidio of Monterey
, O'Neill began his first tour of duty during the Vietnam War
beginning in January 1965. There, he was posted at the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
. He spent 1966-67 as an instructor, and then aide-de-camp
at Redstone Arsenal. In 1967-68, O'Neill was a student at the United States Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground
. He then spent 1968-70 completing a master's degree
in Physics at Rice University
. He returned to Vietnam in June 1970, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army Support Command until June 1971. He then spent 1971-72 at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and then returned to Rice University, completing his Ph.D.
in Physics in August 1974.
From 1974 to 1976, he was posted to the United States Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. He then spent 1977 to 1980 at DARPA. After studying at the United States Army War College 1980-81, he spent 1981-83 in Munich
as Deputy Program Manager of the NATO Patriot
Management Office. He then spent the second half of 1983 as Chief of Staff of the United States Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. In 1984, he was project manager for the Multiple Launch Rocket System, posted at Redstone Arsenal. He spent 1985-87 as Director for Kinetic Energy Weapons
in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
.
From 1987 to 1989, O'Neill was commanding general of the United States Army Laboratory Command in Adelphi, Maryland
. He worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition) 1989-90, and was Deputy Director, then Acting Director, of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization 1990-93. From 1993 to 1996, he was Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
. O'Neill retired from the Army in 1996, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant General
.
In 1996, O'Neill joined Lockheed Martin
as Vice President for Operations and Best Practices in the Space and Strategic Missiles Division. In 2000, he became Lockheed Martin's Chief Technical Officer
, a position he held until 2006. He left Lockheed Martin in 2006, becoming Chairman of the United States National Academies
's Board on Army Science and Technology.
President of the United States
Barack Obama
nominated O'Neill to be United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
in 2010, and O'Neill was sworn into office by United States Under Secretary of the Army
Joseph W. Westphal
on March 10, 2010 and resigned effective June 3, 2011.
United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
The Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology is known as OASA...
, having been sworn into office by United States Under Secretary of the Army
United States Under Secretary of the Army
The United States Under Secretary of the Army is the second-highest ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army...
Joseph W. Westphal
Joseph W. Westphal
Joseph W. Westphal is the United States Under Secretary of the Army in the United States Department of the Army.Westphal was born in Santiago, Chile. Joseph Westphal served as Chancellor of the University of Maine System and Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine...
on March 10, 2010, and resigned June 3, 2011 .
Biography
Malcolm Ross O'Neill was educated at DePaul UniversityDePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
, receiving a B.Sc. in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. In 1962, he joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was commissioned as a Field Artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
. Following postings to Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
, and the Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
at the Presidio of Monterey
Presidio of Monterey, California
The Presidio of Monterey, located in Monterey, California, is an active US Army installation with historic ties to the Spanish colonial era. Currently it is the home of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center .-Spanish fort:...
, O'Neill began his first tour of duty during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
beginning in January 1965. There, he was posted at the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, , was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.-History:...
. He spent 1966-67 as an instructor, and then aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
at Redstone Arsenal. In 1967-68, O'Neill was a student at the United States Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. He then spent 1968-70 completing a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Physics at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. He returned to Vietnam in June 1970, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army Support Command until June 1971. He then spent 1971-72 at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and then returned to Rice University, completing his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Physics in August 1974.
From 1974 to 1976, he was posted to the United States Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. He then spent 1977 to 1980 at DARPA. After studying at the United States Army War College 1980-81, he spent 1981-83 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
as Deputy Program Manager of the NATO Patriot
MIM-104 Patriot
The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States. The Patriot System replaced the Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium...
Management Office. He then spent the second half of 1983 as Chief of Staff of the United States Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. In 1984, he was project manager for the Multiple Launch Rocket System, posted at Redstone Arsenal. He spent 1985-87 as Director for Kinetic Energy Weapons
Space weapon
Space weapons are weapons used in space warfare. They include weapons that can attack space systems in orbit , attack targets on the earth from space or disable missiles travelling through space...
in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...
.
From 1987 to 1989, O'Neill was commanding general of the United States Army Laboratory Command in Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
. He worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition) 1989-90, and was Deputy Director, then Acting Director, of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization 1990-93. From 1993 to 1996, he was Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization was an agency of the United States Department of Defense that began on 20 May 1974 with the responsibility for all U.S. ballistic missile defense efforts. It evolved from the SAFEGUARD System Organization. The original mission of BMDO was comparable to...
. O'Neill retired from the Army in 1996, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
.
In 1996, O'Neill joined Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
as Vice President for Operations and Best Practices in the Space and Strategic Missiles Division. In 2000, he became Lockheed Martin's Chief Technical Officer
Chief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
, a position he held until 2006. He left Lockheed Martin in 2006, becoming Chairman of the United States National Academies
United States National Academies
The United States National Academies comprises four organizations:* National Academy of Sciences * National Academy of Engineering * Institute of Medicine * National Research Council...
's Board on Army Science and Technology.
President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated O'Neill to be United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
The Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology is known as OASA...
in 2010, and O'Neill was sworn into office by United States Under Secretary of the Army
United States Under Secretary of the Army
The United States Under Secretary of the Army is the second-highest ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army...
Joseph W. Westphal
Joseph W. Westphal
Joseph W. Westphal is the United States Under Secretary of the Army in the United States Department of the Army.Westphal was born in Santiago, Chile. Joseph Westphal served as Chancellor of the University of Maine System and Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine...
on March 10, 2010 and resigned effective June 3, 2011.
Dates of O'Neill's Promotions
| Rank | Date of Promotion |
|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal... |
June 6, 1962 |
| First Lieutenant First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank... |
December 6, 1963 |
| Captain | November 23, 1965 |
| Major Major (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel... |
September 30, 1968 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay... |
July 4, 1977 |
| Colonel Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general... |
July 10, 1981 |
| Brigadier General Brigadier general (United States) A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed... |
July 1, 1987 |
| Major General Major general (United States) In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general... |
July 1, 1990 |
| Lieutenant General Lieutenant General (United States) In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general... |
December 1, 1993 |