New YPG commander believes in teamwork, readiness
Having spent his early years in Minnesota, Col. Ross Poppenberger moved with his family to Flagstaff, Ariz., in his pre-teens where he completed junior high, high school and moved on to college. He grew to love the state and considers it his home today.
“I can tell you unequivocally,” Poppenberger said, “Arizona — and Yuma — is exactly where I want to be. The stars truly aligned in giving me the opportunity to serve here.”
Officers of his rank are provided a “dream sheet” prior to entering a new assignment where they are offered the opportunity to make choices from various selections. The command of U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground was one of the 25 selections on Poppenberger’s dream sheet, and it immediately became his number one choice.
“Who ends up getting their first choice?” he said with a laugh. “Well, I did, and I’m ecstatic about it.”
Poppenberger began his military career in 1989 when he enlisted in the Arizona National Guard as an artilleryman. Commissioned as an officer after graduating from college, he has served in a number of places and variety of positions, including 10 years as a project manager, and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As proving ground commander, he is responsible, literally, for everything that does or doesn’t happen at YPG. It’s a daunting responsibility he takes seriously, but he is fortunate in the team around him.
“The reputation of YPG for excellence long predates me,” he said. “I’ve heard YPG testing being praised in circles throughout the Army Acquisition Corps for years. My mission is to continue to build on the legacy of the past.”
Poppenberger feels the managers and leaders at YPG are doing a good job and does not see any need for micro-managing or interfering with details of what they do on his part. He feels YPG personnel work there because they “want” to, rather than “have” to. He has been deeply impressed with the dedication he has seen.
“Of course, there will always be accountability for accomplishing YPG’s daily mission and providing quality test data, but I intend to focus on making sure we are well positioned to meet future testing challenges,” he said. “Plus, I want to become fully involved with the Yuma community.”
The Army Chief of Staff has frequently spoken about the importance of military readiness across the Army, and it’s a concept Poppenberger has taken to heart.
“This is the real deal,” he said. “Now is the time to prepare for the future — to invest in it, to configure ourselves properly, to prepare to conduct testing on items that don’t even exist yet.”
This is a daunting challenge, but he says it can be accomplished by being connected with product managers, conducting thoughtful research, remaining aware, working with the outside community, and making good decisions. The goal, he says, is for YPG to conduct quality testing that will lead to equipment and munitions that give our soldiers a decisive advantage over any enemy.
On a personal level, Poppenberger considers himself a “morning” person who is a big believer in the “team” concept. He doesn’t like to see apathy in others, people not performing up to their capabilities, or seeing or doing things that are a waste of time.
He believes mistakes happen and the best way to handle them is simply to own up and fix the situation. “Bad news does not get better with time,” he said.
Regarding what he likes doing during off-hours, Poppenberger enjoys getting outdoors to camp, bicycle, hunt, and ski. “I like both hockey and rodeos, which kind of explains the Minnesota-Arizona connection,” he said with a laugh.
Throughout his 28 year military career, Poppenberger has used Army equipment and munitions that proved its worthiness at the three YPG test centers — Yuma Test Center, Cold Regions Test Center and Tropic Regions Test Center.
“YPG testing has helped ensure that our Army is the best and most capable in the world,” he said. “It is an honor for me to serve with an outstanding workforce that has, and will continue, to accomplish the daily mission and build for the future.”
Chuck Wullenjohn is the public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground. He can be reached at charles.c.wullenjohn.civ@mail.mil.