In 1974, the U.S. Army recognized the need for new training technologies in the face of the advancing Soviet threat in Europe and established the Project Manager for Training Devices (PM TRADE). In 1976, the Army consolidated PM TRADE with the Army Training Device Agency. During the late 1980s, PM TRADE moved from the Naval Training Center Orlando to Central Florida’s Research Park. The Army proved the importance of simulation and training in 1991 with a swift victory in Operation Desert Storm. The U.S. Army’s Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command was activated on August 1, 1992, in Orlando, FL. Then in 2003, Brigadier General Stephen Seay became the first Program Executive Officer for PEO STRI. On June 2, 2005, Dr. James T. Blake was named the organization’s first civilian leader. The partnerships that have been established and nurtured over the years have produced a thriving and responsive simulation industry that is proudly referred to as the center of excellence for simulation and training.

PEO STRI is the U.S. Army’s acquisition and contracting center of excellence for simulation, training and testing capabilities. PEO STRI annually executes programs valued at more than $2.7 billion with a workforce of 1,300 military, civilian and contractor personnel. Acquisition programs cover 1650 contracts valued at more than $20.4 billion and support 5,500 training systems at 415 sites in 18 countries worldwide. In addition, PEO STRI’s Foreign Military Sales program supports 51 countries. Headquartered in Central Florida’s Research Park, the organization also has geographically separated offices in Redstone Arsenal, AL, Fort Bliss, TX, and Fort Huachuca, AZ.

Among many recent achievements, PEO STRI proudly fielded the first Soldier Tracking System to Fort Bragg, NC, to assist in the tracking and safety of Special Operations Soldiers during the land navigation qualification course. PM TRADE’s Homestation Instrumentation Training System was reconfigured in less than a month to become an interim solution for tracking Soldiers during the qualification course. The Soldier Tracking System proved to be highly successful its first time in use, so useful that three injured Soldiers used the panic button to call for help. In addition to Special Operation Soldiers at Fort Benning, GA, Soldiers all across the Army are benefitting from the work PEO STRI is doing. The Common Driver Trainer program is one example. The trainer, originally designed to teach tank and HMMWV driving, has been modified to teach Soldiers to drive MRAPs, the highest-sought mode of transportation in the combat zone. The program is also an example of PEO STRI’s longtime effort to increase acquisition efficiencies. Another example of efficiency is the retention rate of interns in PEO STRI’s Acquisition Academy. More than 96% of the 73 interns from all five classes are still with the organization. Additionally, 18 of those graduates have been promoted to Journeymen.