Colonel Enrique Costas (INVITED)
Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (DCATS)
Project Manager
As the Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (PM DCATS), COL Enrique Costas is responsible for managing strategic satellite and terrestrial communications programs valued at more than $3 billion that support the Army, Joint Services, National Command Authority and combatant commanders.
Colonel Costas is a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He enlisted in 1989 and served as a team leader with the 143rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment (Airborne), Texas Army National Guard. He is a distinguished Military graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant. His operational assignments include Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment (Light), Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Assistant Operations Officer, Battalion S-4, and Rifle Company Commander for 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 4th infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado; and as the 10th Mountain Division's Military Professional Exchange Program Officer assigned to the U.S. Military Group Argentina supporting the Argentinean Army Mountain Warfare School in Bariloche, Argentina.
Following receipt of a master's degree in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University, he transitioned to the Army Acquisition Corps. His acquisition assignments include: Administrative Contracting Officer for the Defense Contract Management Agency -Middle East supporting Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan; Assistant Product Manager - Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Ground Applications Program Office, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Program Executive Office - Special Programs; Assistant Product Manager PEO EIS; Program Analyst, Ground Combat Systems for the Headquarters Department of the Army, G-8; and Program Manager for Sensitive Activities, U.S. Special Operations Command, Mac Dill Air Force Base. He most recently was deployed, serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Forward Director in support of U.S. Central Command area of responsibility operations.
Colonel Costas is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Mortar Leaders Course, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Leaders Course, Army Mountain Warfare Courses, Argentinean Mountain Warfare basic, advanced and instructor courses, Command and General Staff College (Intermediate-Level Education), the Defense Systems Management College's Program Managers and Executive Courses, and the National Defense University's Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy), where he earned a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy. He is member of the Army Acquisition Corps and is certified in program management, information technology and contracting.
COL Costa's awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman, Basic Parachutist and Air Assault badges, the Argentinean Army's Gold Condor Special Mountain Warfare badge, German and Italian Jump Wings, the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with five Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint and Army Commendation Medals, Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, NATO Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation (with one Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Colonel Costas is a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He enlisted in 1989 and served as a team leader with the 143rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment (Airborne), Texas Army National Guard. He is a distinguished Military graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant. His operational assignments include Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment (Light), Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Assistant Operations Officer, Battalion S-4, and Rifle Company Commander for 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 4th infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado; and as the 10th Mountain Division's Military Professional Exchange Program Officer assigned to the U.S. Military Group Argentina supporting the Argentinean Army Mountain Warfare School in Bariloche, Argentina.
Following receipt of a master's degree in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University, he transitioned to the Army Acquisition Corps. His acquisition assignments include: Administrative Contracting Officer for the Defense Contract Management Agency -Middle East supporting Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan; Assistant Product Manager - Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Ground Applications Program Office, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Program Executive Office - Special Programs; Assistant Product Manager PEO EIS; Program Analyst, Ground Combat Systems for the Headquarters Department of the Army, G-8; and Program Manager for Sensitive Activities, U.S. Special Operations Command, Mac Dill Air Force Base. He most recently was deployed, serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Forward Director in support of U.S. Central Command area of responsibility operations.
Colonel Costas is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Mortar Leaders Course, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Leaders Course, Army Mountain Warfare Courses, Argentinean Mountain Warfare basic, advanced and instructor courses, Command and General Staff College (Intermediate-Level Education), the Defense Systems Management College's Program Managers and Executive Courses, and the National Defense University's Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy), where he earned a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy. He is member of the Army Acquisition Corps and is certified in program management, information technology and contracting.
COL Costa's awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman, Basic Parachutist and Air Assault badges, the Argentinean Army's Gold Condor Special Mountain Warfare badge, German and Italian Jump Wings, the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with five Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint and Army Commendation Medals, Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, NATO Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation (with one Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Army Staff Identification Badge.