On April 2nd, the Chapter presented the second of two lunch-speaker events by hosting Product Group 12 (Communications, Intelligence, & Networking Systems). Product Group Leader Jim Westerholm was our keynote speaker.
Mr. Westerholm provided a 30 minute overview of Product Group 12, which was followed with a question and answer period.
The presentation can be downloaded here: PGD12 Brief
Mr. James Westerholm
JAMES WESTERHOLM
PRODUCT GROUP DIRECTOR
PG 12 – COMMUNICATIONS, INTELLIGENCE & NETWORKING SYSTEMS (CINS)
Mr. James Westerholm serves as the Director, Communications, Intelligence, and Networking Systems of the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), Quantico, Virginia.
Mr. Westerholm began his government career in January 1985 as a mechanical engineering co-op student with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Upon graduation as a mechanical engineer from The Pennsylvania State University in 1987, he became an In-Service Engineering Agent for the Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems at the Naval Sea Combat Engineering Station in Norfolk, Virginia.
In 1989 Mr. Westerholm was reassigned to the Naval Sea Systems Command in Crystal City, Virginia. For the next ten years he held several acquisition management positions of increasing responsibilities within the Program Executive Offices for Undersea Warfare and Submarines. Acquisition programs in which he was involved included Surface Combatant Anti-Submarine Warfare and Combat Systems, Unmanned Undersea Vehicles and Universal Modular Masts for the Virginia and Los Angeles Class Submarines.
In June 1999 Mr. Westerholm moved to Marine Corps acquisition and became the Wideband Systems Manager at the Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia. In August 2002 he became the Program Manager for the USMC High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and remained in this position for the next five years. Mr. Westerholm attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces from August 2007 to June 2008 and returned to MCSC as the Director, Strategic Planning. He took over his current position as Director, Communications, Intelligence and Networking Systems in January 2009.
Mr. Westerholm earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University Senior Acquisition Course, Advanced Program Managers Course and the Program Manager’s Course (PMT 401). Mr. Westerholm is DAWIA Level III-certified in Program Management and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering career fields.
Mr. Westerholm has received several awards throughout his distinguished government career. Highlights include the USMC Certificate of Commendation for Professional Achievement, the USMC’s 2005 Donald Roebling Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence, the MCSC Command Vision and Achievement Award and induction into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara by the United States Field Artillery Association.