Biographies

Major General Charles A. Cartwright
Program Manager, Future Combat Systems (FCS) Brigade Combat Team (BCT), US Army

Major General Cartwright assumed his current duties as Program Manager, Future Combat Systems (FCS) Brigade Combat Team (BCT) on 28 June 2004. MG Cartwright directly reports to the Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology).

Prior to MG Cartwright’s position as Program Manager, FCS BCT, he served as the first Deputy Commanding General for Systems of Systems Integration, United States Research, Development, and Engineering Command in October 2002. In this position he was the principal architect in redesigning the Army’s research, development, and engineering laboratories and centers into a more collaborative virtual organization; supporting both current operational forces and future Army science and technology requirements.

A native of Tennessee, MG Cartwright was commissioned in 1975 through the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Florida Southern College as a Field Artillery Officer. In 1986, he earned a Master Degree in Procurement and Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Army War College.

Major General Cartwright has served in a variety of Field Artillery command and staff positions in the United States and Europe. His first assignment included various battery and battalion staff position in the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. From 1979 through 1982, he commanded Field Artillery Firing and Service Batteries in the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery, Garlstedt, Germany. In 1983, he was assigned as a National Guard Advisor in Huntsville, Alabama.

His first acquisition assignment in 1987 was as a Major Weapons Procurement Officer in AMC at Rock Island, Illinois. From 1990 through 1992, he served as the Joint Armaments Cooperation Manager with the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. In 1992, he served as the Abrams International Officer working with Saudia Arabia and Kuwait. MG Cartwright served as the Product Manager, Paladin/FAASV from 1992 through 1996 and the Project Manager, Crusader from 1998 through 2001. His Pentagon assignments were in 1997 as the Acquisition Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army and in 2001 as the Deputy Assistant for Programs in the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology), Headquarters, Department of the Army.

His awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two oak leaf clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Army Staff Identification Badge.