Ordnance and Explosives chief retires after 33 years federal service

Huntsville Center Public Affairs Office
Published March 28, 2014
Ordnance and Explosives directorate chief Mike hubbard addresses attendees at his March 21 retirement ceremony. With more than 32 years in the federal service and six years at the helm of the Huntsville Center  directorate responsible for safely eliminating or reducing risks from ordnance, explosives and recovered chemical warfare materiel, Hubbard said he never dreamed he would stay that long (in civil service) but he was captivated by the culture.

Ordnance and Explosives directorate chief Mike hubbard addresses attendees at his March 21 retirement ceremony. With more than 32 years in the federal service and six years at the helm of the Huntsville Center directorate responsible for safely eliminating or reducing risks from ordnance, explosives and recovered chemical warfare materiel, Hubbard said he never dreamed he would stay that long (in civil service) but he was captivated by the culture.

After more than 32 years in the federal service, Huntsville native Mike Hubbard is retiring from civil service.

A Johnson High School and University of Alabama-Huntsville graduate, Hubbard used his mechanical engineering degree to secure a career at the U.S. Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., in 1981.

 He finishes his civil service career as director, Ordnance and Explosives Directorate at U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville.

In 2008, Hubbard was hired as director of the Huntsville Center directorate responsible for safely eliminating or reducing risks from ordnance, explosives and recovered chemical warfare materiel. He said he especially enjoyed running the directorate because of the highly specialized mission.

“We provide a critical service to the DOD, Army and especially our war fighters who are sacrificing every day,” he said.  

However,  Hubbard’s career in government service began working entirely within the culture of scientists, engineers and other professionals associated with various missile programs at Redstone Arsenal.

“I never dreamed I would stay that long (in civil service) but I was captivated by the culture,” he said.

Since 1981, Hubbard worked various engineering positions mostly at the U.S. Army Missile Command where he served in the Dynamic Test Division, Facilities Engineering Division, Engineering Division and the Environmental Office.

In 1995, Hubbard became the Director of Public Works and Director of Financial Management at         Missile Command.

In 2000, Hubbard became deputy director of the Ground – Based Midcourse Defense System at the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, and in 2006 he stepped in as deputy project manager for Ballistic Missile Defense System at the Missile Defense Agency.

Hubbard said the most challenging point of his career was at the MDA establishing the nation’s first missile defense capability. 

“In response to the National Security Presidential Directive–23 signed Dec. 16, 2002, we were mandated to field a Limited Defensive Operational capability by Sept. 30, 2004.  The huge challenge was the extremely short time frame allowed to complete the tasks. The Air Force Space Command commander was quoted as saying, ‘It will take nine sequential miracles to pull this (LDO) off’ – It was done (on schedule).”

With a career spanning three decades, more than 25 years were spent working supervisory positions, and that set just fine with Hubbard.

“I was often told that I was crazy for wanting my performance appraisal to be based not on my performance but on my ability to get others to do their job. That is why it was important to have good workers working together,” he said.

He also said he enjoyed working with Huntsville Center’s senior staff.

“They developed and have demonstrated the ‘can-do’ attitude necessary to be successful.”

He said another aspect of the job he enjoyed was working with service support staff. 

“I commend Margaret Simmons, John Mayes and their staffs for working to make the Center the leader. For me, innovative is not a bad word.”