Hinman Hall, which has been an imposing presence on Sheridan Road for more than 57 years, was rededicated in a formal ceremony here Feb. 29 by its new occupants, the Network Integration Triad.

Brig. Gen. Randal Dragon, who leads the Brigade Modernization Command, hosted the event and welcomed all those who attended. Special guests included Lt. Gen. Keith Walker, the previous BMC commander and current Deputy Commander, Futures, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and director, Army Capabilities Integration Center; Fort Bliss and 1st Armored Division commander Maj. Gen. Dana J. H. Pittard and Fort Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Joseph A. Simonelli Jr.

Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, attached to BMC to test and evaluate new systems for Army modernization, provided static displays of a Stryker and MATV (mine-resistant, ambush-protected, all-terrain vehicle) for the event.

In his remarks, Dragon noted that both of Pittard’s parents had worked in the building in the past. Summarizing the accomplishments of the building’s namesake Brig. Gen. Dale Durkee Hinman, Dragon pointed out that he was considered an innovator in the anti-aircraft artillery field. He said it is appropriate, therefore, that the building’s new occupants are also involved in innovation as part of their mission of Army modernization.

From the time Hinman Hall was occupied in 1954, it served as the home of the Anti-aircraft Artillery School and Guided Missile Center, later called the Air Defense Artillery School, until 2009 when it was relocated to Fort Sill, Okla., as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005. It was also headquarters for Fort Bliss and 1st Armored Division until August 2011, when they were relocated to a new building at East Fort Bliss.

Current residents of Hinman Hall include BMC, elements of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command and elements of the System of Systems Integration Directorate. Previously these organizations were in several offices scattered around the installation, but now they are housed in Hinman Hall, making the critical coordination they must perform on a daily basis much easier and more efficient.

BMC’s mission is to assess network and non-network capabilities during evaluations, including developing and emerging network capabilities, and determining their implications across Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel and Facilities as part of the Army’s brigade modernization program. To accomplish this, the organization uses Soldiers of 2nd BCT, who have been attached on orders, to perform the Army Evaluation Task Force mission. The feedback these Soldiers provide is based on how new systems perform in a field environment during combat scenarios, conducted during semi-annual Network Integration Evaluations.

Triad partner ATEC’s mission is to provide integrated evaluation, supporting full-spectrum testing by overseeing both developmental and operational test events. Its subordinate, the Operational Test Command, with several offices in Hinman Hall, is the Army’s only independent operational tester. It tests and assesses systems in a realistic operational environment using typical Soldiers to determine whether systems are effective, suitable and survivable in varying environments.

Another Triad partner, the System of Systems Integration Directorate, is part of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. It uses the Family of Systems approach to ensure integration and interoperability between Army Programs of Record, current force systems, urgent need systems and other DOTLPF elements to achieve integrated unit capabilities for a full-spectrum force. SoSI provides system engineering, integration and test/evaluation expertise to field fully-integrated and tested capability packages composed of vehicles, network elements, equipment and supporting infrastructure to modernize brigade combat teams to achieve unprecedented joint combat capability in conjunction with the Army Force Generation process.

All three of the Triad organizations work closely with each other to conduct NIEs twice a year. Several phases of NIE 12.2 are now in process, with the field phase scheduled to begin at the end of April and continue through June 8.

After Dragon’s remarks, the newly refurbished building plaque was unveiled by Walker, Pittard, Dragon and representatives from ATEC and SoSI.