Calendar

CDR. Cech first entered Naval service in 1968 as a Seaman Recruit. In 1972, while deployed during the Viet Nam conflict onboard USS Glennon DD840, he was selected for the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education program. He earned his line commission upon graduation from Purdue University in 1975.

During his active service, CDR Cech served continuously in weapons assignments onboard 7 ships of the line. CDR Cech concluded his active Naval service in 1990 while attached to Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command as Fleet Introduction Officer, MK 41 VLS and Program Manager, Vertical Launch Sparrow Program. CDR Cech holds a Bachelor’s in Engineering Science, from Purdue University, a Master’s in Combat Systems Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA., and is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA. Mr Cech is the recipient of the 2023 Admiral Dave Altwegg Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the National Fire Control Symposium.

After retirement from Naval service, Mr. Cech remained active in the development and acquisition of advanced science and technology supporting the surface Navy combat system community. He served as the Senior Associate for Combat Systems Engineering, Booz-Allen & Hamilton; Program Manager, Arsenal Ship, Hughes Naval & Maritime Systems; and as Technical Director DD 21, Raytheon Systems Company. Mr. Cech became the Executive Associate for Combat Systems Engineering, CACI Inc., and was tasked to support the Program Executive for Integrated Warfare Systems PEO(IWS), as the Systems Engineering Branch Head, Future Theater Air and Missile Defense. In this role, Mr. Cech was responsible for implementing lessons learned in “Requirements” based programs in support of “Transitioning” the Naval Service into Capabilities-based acquisition. Mr. Cech then served as the Technical Director, of Naval Integrated Fire Control – Counter Air (NIFC-CA) and was directly responsible for performance documentation, engineering development, integration, test, and fleet introduction of this capability and the subject of his talk today.