CDCA 2025 Eastern Defense

John Gillette
Project Manager Simulations
PEO STRI


Mr John Gillette currently serves as the Project Manager for Simulations within the U.S. Army Capability Program Executive, Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (CPE STRI), Orlando, Florida. His portfolio includes Common Synthetic Environment (CSE), Next Generation Constructive (NGC), Constructive Simulation Support (CSS), and Synthetic Warrior Systems (SWS). His portfolio provides Live, Virtual, and Constructive training systems covering all warfighting functions to Army and Joint formations worldwide. Mr. Gillette was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in June 1984 at Valley Forge Military Junior College in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Following several field artillery assignments and military career advancements, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1991 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. From May 2001 to June 2003, he served as the Fire Support Battlefield Operating System Chief for the Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq for the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Chief of the Fires and Effects Cell. In May 2003, he assumed Command of the New York City Army Recruiting Battalion. In 2005, Mr. Gillette relinquished this Command and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as the Chief of Effects at the Strategic Operations Center for Multi-National Forces-Iraq. During his tenure in Iraq, he supported the clearance of High Value Targets and established the Tips Hotline for Baghdad. In 2006, he was assigned as the Mounted Maneuver Division Chief for the Army Evaluation Center in Alexandria, Virginia. There, he was responsible for the test and evaluation of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2). Mr. Gillette retired from active service in October of 2008. He served as a Product Officer for Tactical Ground Reporting (TiGR), as the Lead for the Mounted Computing Environment, and as the Deputy for Joint Battle Command – Platform (JBC-P.) From January 2018 to March 2021, he served as the Deputy for Project Manager Tactical Network. Prior to his current position, Mr Gillette served as the Product Manager for Mission Network where he managed and procured expeditionary, resilient, simplified and secure networking technology across tactical formations in the Army. Mr. Gillette holds an Associate of Science Degree from the Valley Forge Military College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Leader Development from Long Island University. He is a 1999 Graduate of the Army Command and General Staff Officers Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and a 2018 graduate of the Defense Acquisition University Senior Service College Fellowship. Mr. Gillette’s Military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Recruiter’s Badge. His Civilian awards include the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, and the Civilian Achievement Award. Mr Gillette has three adult children: Diana, Nicole and Peter, and two Granddaughters: Grace and Emma.

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