Two CPE ST3 product manager offices merge as part of Army acquisition modernization efforts
The staff of the U.S. Army’s Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training, Test and Threat (CPE ST3), along with industry partners and other invited guests, witnessed the disestablishment of one product manager office and the relinquishment of charter for another during a combined ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on August 3, 2026.
Col. Natashia Coleman, Project Manager Simulation (PM SIM) at CPE ST3, presided over the ceremony, which included the disestablishment of Product Manager Synthetic Warrior Systems (PdM SWS) and a change of leadership for Product Manager Common Synthetic Environment (PdM CSE).
“Today we gather for an important and meaningful moment in our acquisition community,” Coleman said. “This ceremony not only marks a transition in program capability, but also commemorates the dedication, innovation, and steadfast service to our warfighters by Lt. Col. [Mindy] Brown and Lt. Col. [James “Parker”] Staggs.” Coleman told the audience that the sunsetting of PdM SWS is part of the Army’s broader modernization strategy, ensuring that the capabilities developed and refined within the product office continue to serve the warfighter in the evolving training architecture.
“Ceremonies like this are never just administrative milestones, they are a chance to pause, reflect, and honor the people who have shaped the mission, pushed boundaries, solved hard problems, and kept our Soldiers at the center of every decision,” Coleman said. “I am confident that Lt. Col. Brown and Lt. Col. Staggs have done that along with their team, and former teammates who have served alongside them in SWS and CSE, and all the other names that predate SWS and CSE.”
During the ceremony Coleman, along with Brown, outgoing product manager for PdM SWS, placed a black cloth over the PdM SWS logo symbolizing the disestablishment of the product office. Brown then relinquished the product office charter to Coleman in preparation for her upcoming retirement, and the duties and responsibilities of the former PdM SWS were assumed by PdM CSE.
“Over the past several years this team has modernized Army training capabilities, strengthened partnerships across government and industry, delivered capabilities that directly improved Soldier readiness, and successfully navigated one of the most transformative periods in our organization’s history,” said Brown. “We didn’t simply manage program, we built trust, we forged partnerships, we adapted continuously to meet the Army’s evolving needs.”
Brown recognized several members of her team for recent program successes as well as for having a lasting impact on both her and the organization. She also thanked her family for their outstanding support during her time at CPE ST3 and PM SIM.
“Serving as the Product Manager for Synthetic Warrior Systems has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Brown. “I leave with a heart full of gratitude, incredible pride in everything we have accomplished together, and absolute confidence in where this organization is headed.”
For the second part of the ceremony, Staggs, outgoing product manager for PdM CSE, relinquished the product office charter to Coleman in preparation for his upcoming retirement from active duty.The product manager’s duties will be filled in an acting capacity until a new leader on the Army’s centralized selection list arrives next year.
“As I started to think about what I wanted to say today, I really wanted to land on a couple of key words that I thought capture the words I have as I leave,” said Staggs. “Those words are grateful and optimistic. You will hear that theme throughout my comments today.”
Staggs thanked his wife for her support and said he is looking forward to making the transition to retirement and stabilizing their location and focusing on family more.
“I am optimistic about the two teams merging and the combined talents of both organizations really coming together to create a very formidable force with all the right skills, all the right experience, and the right leadership, to take us to the next level,” said Staggs. “I know that as I leave, the organization is in great hands.”
The mission of PdM CSE is to enhance Soldier lethality by converging live, virtual and constructive training capabilities in a single synthetic training environment which replicates the uncertainty, stress and complexity of modern warfare.
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, CPE ST3 is comprised of a highly skilled and diverse workforce of 980 Soldiers, Army civilians and contractors, who work with Army partners to enhance operational readiness and support the Army’s modernization efforts by fielding and sustaining the next generation of multi-domain operations testing, training and information operations capabilities.
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