White Sands Missile Range said farewell to Norman G. Tyree, who served as the Technical Director at the White Sands Test Center, after 38 years of service.
Jerry Tyree on his time at WSMR
White Sands Missile Range said farewell to Norman G. Tyree, who served as the Technical Director at the White Sands Test Center, after 38 years of service.
Tyree started working at WSMR as an Engineer and Science intern in August 1984.
“In total, 38.5 years with the Army inclusive of 5 years when I worked for ASA(ALT) PEO Integration, but I had an office here at WSMR, and 6 months I worked for ASA(ALT) Systems of Systems Integration in the Pentagon.”
During his time at WSMR Tyree said he had the privilege and honor to witness and be part of numerous outstanding events.
“The mission is so extensive, ranging from missiles, to nuclear, directed energy and space that it is hard to concisely list just a few outstanding events,” Tyree said. “Maybe I will just list a few that are first for our Nation during my time here. WSMR tested the first low energy laser weapon to be fielded in combat, supported the first landing of a man-rated space craft on land with the commercial crew transport system – Starliner, and several range, velocity and altitude records were set here at WSMR with the Hypervelocity Projectile out of a Navy Rail Gun and with the Army Hypervelocity Missile.”
He said WSMR supported testing of the first palletized munitions live fire for the Air Force, and the first high energy laser shoot down of a supersonic cruise missile was conducted at WSMR.
Speaking on some of the major accomplishments and their significance, Tyree said all the accomplishments and events are team accomplishments.
“I will just name a few here but I can tell you I am proud to have been part of and to have witnessed the accomplishments of Team WSMR.”
He said the WSMR team was instrumental in developing a method for Patriot to successfully engage a tactical ballistic missile for which it was not originally designed to do.
“The teams tireless work in proving it out resulted in shoot downs of SCUD missiles during Desert Storm. This saved thousands of lives and over time, led to Patriot Advanced Capabilities protecting lives today.”
“Knowing the complexity of the mission and expanse of talent it takes to do it, missile launches from Fort Wingate never cease to amaze me,” Tyree said. “In one of the more recent events, the team successfully conducted the first long range firing of the Precision Strike Missile over 400 kilometers. This and associated test supported a rapid fielding decision to fill a priority gap in capability. When you look at this holistically with the success of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System tested at WSMR, the significance of it is understandable.”
Tyree said that over the past few years, the WSMR team has successfully accomplished advanced integrated air and missile defense test and evaluation for the Army and Navy integrating with Space and Air Force sensors.
“This work is and continues to be the culmination of numerous WSMR capabilities to execute safely, securely and to collect data in denied environments against realistic threats. This is significant to the advancement of multi-domain operations so critical to future National Defense and one of many missions only Team WSMR can accomplish in earnest.”
Tyree said that Team WSMR also accomplished a series of tests of Air Force munitions hard target sense and avoid and massive ordinance penetrator required for developing advanced threat defeat systems with a direct link to real-world operations.
“In one test case I recall, there was a failure of a fuse device. Team WSMR developed a means to safely recover the device from deep in the earth. Forensics of the device led to a corrective action and immediate deployment to theater, thus resulting in saved lives and a deterrent to adversaries.”
Moving on, Tyree said he accepted an exciting opportunity to work in industry integrating advanced technologies into Department of Defense strategic systems.
“My family and I will remain here in southern New Mexico where I will remote work and travel on occasion for work,” Tyree said. “I will always look back at the time here at WSMR with fond memories of the people, mission, beautiful scenery and with gratification of the accomplishments in support of National Security, the DoD and warfighters that protect it.”
By Miriam Rodriguez
WSMR Public Affairs