Tag: us army
#PeopleOfPrecise: Meet McKenna Pittman
Some stories are shaped by where you go. Others are shaped by those who show up—even when it’s hard.
For McKenna Pittman, it was both.
April is nationally recognized as the Month of the Military Child—a time to recognize the incredible strength, resilience, and everyday sacrifices of military children who stand beside those who serve. Today, we’re proud to spotlight one of our very own.
Growing up as the daughter of a U.S. Army service member, McKenna learned early what sacrifice looks like. With a father who served for 32 years, there were missed birthdays, school events, and everyday moments—but never a question of love or commitment.
Even as a young child, she felt the weight of that sacrifice. At just two years old, after her father deployed to Kuwait, she asked a simple question: “Did Dad go bye-bye?”
What followed were letters—small, heartfelt reminders that distance didn’t change connection.
At home, her mother became the constant.
Holding everything together, supporting McKenna and her sibling through every practice, performance, and milestone—her mother’s strength defined what resilience looked like day in and day out.
“People often overlook the sacrifices military spouses make,” McKenna shares. “My mom was my biggest cheerleader—and whenever he could be, my dad was right there beside her.”
That foundation shaped more than memories—it shaped mindset.
Through years of relocating across the country, McKenna grew up navigating change: new places, new people, new environments. And through it all, she learned how to adapt quickly and grow through it.
Today, that adaptability shows up in everything she does. Grounded in grit, determination, and respect, McKenna approaches her work with purpose—and a deep understanding of the mission behind it.
Because for her, supporting warfighters and their families isn’t just meaningful—it’s personal.
“Our nation’s warfighters make daily sacrifices to keep us safe,” she says. “Being part of something that supports them and their families means everything.”
Her story is a powerful reminder: service doesn’t just belong to those in uniform—it lives in the families who stand behind them.
And when asked what she would tell other military children, her answer is simple:
Write the letter.
Send the message.
Show your support.
Because even the smallest moments of connection can carry the greatest impact.
Thank you to McKenna and all of our nation’s military children for the service, strength, and support you bring to our warfighters. We see you and we salute you—today and every day!
#PeopleOfPrecise: Meet Lindsey Medina
Meet Lindsey Medina – Graphic Designer and Precise Systems’ employee spotlight for August 2025.
Lindsey officially joined our Precise Team in early 2024, when Precise announced its acquisition of JHT. She brought her passion and talent for graphic design with her, excited to contribute to the ever-evolving brand of our organization. Immediately, Lindsey was drawn to the tenacious, collaborative, and adaptable culture of Precise and could not wait to get started.
Her love of graphic design began long before she became a member of the Precise Team, but no matter what, she has always found the rules to be the most interesting part of her work. She explains, “Every project comes with a visual framework or style guide, but it’s the creative problem-solving inside those boundaries that excites me. I love looking at a design challenge as a puzzle: how do I surprise and delight while still meeting expectations?” With each new project, Lindsey is thrilled by the prospect of balancing innovation with consistency – pushing just enough to feel fresh, while still hitting the brief, and knowing that everything has clicked into place, both functionally and aesthetically.
Lindsey has had the chance to work on numerous projects throughout her career and time with Precise, but one that stands out for her is the U.S. Army’s xTech AI Grand Challenge. This effort gave her the chance to flex a wide range of skills, from producing an animated informative video to developing polished final presentation materials. She also collaborated with an incredibly talented team of 2D and 3D artists, whose own strengths pushed Lindsey to elevate her own graphic design and animation work. Speaking about her experience, she says, “It was a challenge to adapt Precise’s brand into the Army’s design standards, but it was also deeply satisfying results. Projects like this remind me why I love what I do: blending creativity with strategy to not only impress the customer but also strengthen our team’s sense of identity and capability.”
It is hard to see Lindsey as anything other than the amazing and superb designer that she is, but if she did not choose a career in graphic design, she would have loved to pursue either medicine or engineering for the same reason she did choose graphic design – they are all about problem solving and improving people’s lives. She is extremely thankful she followed her passion for art and design, but still knows that even if she did not, she still would have wanted to professionally contribute in a way that combines empathy and innovation to find practical, human-centered solutions that make life better for others.
Lindsey’s creative passion even goes beyond her 9-5! When asked about a skill she has always wanted to learn, she says that she would love to learn how to crochet, saying that there is something magical about a craft that machines still cannot fully replicate. Crocheting feels timeless and deeply human to her and speaks to her inner “Golden Girl” – something that lets her simply sit with yarn and make something cozy!
We are so grateful Lindsey joined our Precise Team and brought her undeniable talent. No matter where you look, you can see Lindsey’s impact and ideas brought to life. Thank you, Lindsey, for scaling our Precise brand each and every day!
Precise Systems Advances to Finals in xTech AI Grand Challenge, Awarded $25,000 Prize
Lexington Park, MD – July 8, 2025 — Precise Systems is proud to announce its advancement to the final phase of the U.S. Army’s xTech AI Grand Challenge, a prestigious innovation competition designed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence technologies in support of national defense initiatives. As a selected finalist, Precise Systems has been awarded a $25,000 prize and will proceed to Part 3: Finals of the competition.
Hosted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), the xTech AI Grand Challenge seeks to identify and elevate top-performing technology solutions that align with the Army’s modernization priorities. Precise Systems’ selection for the finals reflects its steadfast commitment to developing mission-focused, forward-leaning AI capabilities that meet the evolving needs of the Department of Defense.
“We’re honored to be named a finalist in the xTech AI Grand Challenge,” said Michael Schulte, Senior Software Engineer at Precise Systems. “This selection highlights the innovation and technical rigor our team brings to developing scalable AI solutions tailored for complex defense environments. Our approach integrates machine learning, data fusion, and real-time decision support to address critical operational challenges. We look forward to showcasing the capabilities and mission impact of our solution in the final phase of the competition.”
As a finalist, Precise Systems will present its AI concept and demonstrate its solution in the final evaluation phase before a panel of Army and industry leaders. Presentation dates and details will be coordinated by the xTech team in the coming weeks.
For more information on the xTech AI Grand Challenge, visit https://www.xtech.army.mil.
About Precise Systems:
As a solutions-based company, Precise Systems is focused on innovation in support of the warfighters and aligning our expertise to deliver the highest quality of service. Powered by our highly skilled workforces, we provide expert consultation on network and weapons systems acquisition programs, maintenance/modernization programs, and sustainment programs with solutions in Digital Transformation, Advanced Engineering, Physical Sciences Research, Platform Lifecycle Support, Electronic Warfare, Interactive Training & Simulation, and Foreign Military Sales. Since our establishment, we have demonstrated and perfected our ability to manage the customer’s needs, no matter how complex – offering exceptional service and the Precise solution.
#PeopleOfPrecise: Meet Chris Powels
Meet Chris Powels – Toxicology Scientist Technician and Precise Systems’ employee spotlight for June 2025.
Chris joined our Precise organization in the spring of 2023 as part of our Operational Toxicology team, where he works as a Toxicology Scientist Technician. Much of his work centers on characterizing existing and emerging threats to produce human estimates of toxicity, utilizing a variety of in vivo and in vitro assays and techniques. One of his favorite aspects of his role, he says, is the implementation of surgical models and behavioral studies. Chris explains, “I particularly enjoy the precision and focus my work requires, as such during surgical procedures.”
He and the rest of our Operational Toxicology team play a crucial role in protecting our warfighters, as they provide the necessary data that informs protective measures and medical countermeasures for the U.S. Army. Every day, they collectively work towards better understanding the toxic effects of potential chemical threats. Ultimately, their contributions lead to a safer national defense overall by ensuring our personnel are prepared for and protected against a wide range of potential hazards.
All his life, Chris has possessed a natural curiosity that makes him strive to ask questions and seek answers – ultimately leading to the scientific career he has now. He says, “It’s a field that allows me to constantly learn, explore, and always find more ways to ask ‘why’”.
He finds that one of the most impactful ways he can find his answers is through the data he works with on a daily basis. Chris explains that he is especially intrigued to learn more about data science and machine learning and the ease of accessibility these new techniques offer. He believes that applying these techniques would open up a whole new world of insights from the datasets he and the Operational Toxicology team work with, even allowing them to detect subtle distinctions and improve our predictive capabilities. This, he says, would be incredibly useful in early symptom detection and compound differentiation.
Something a lot of people may not know about Chris is his hobby outside of the lab – playing cello in the Baltimore Gamer Symphony Orchestra! This fantastic group, with over 100 members, exclusively performs music composed for video games. The Orchestra offers free concerts and hosts social events around the Baltimore area, so be sure to check Chris and the rest of these incredible musicians out!
Thank you to Chris and the rest of our Operational Toxicology team for the mission-critical work you do day in and day out. Our warfighters are safer because of you and we are grateful you are part of our organization, contributing to a greater defense every day!
Precise Systems Advances to Part 2 of xTech AI Grand Challenge, Secures $10,000 Prize
Lexington Park, MD – March 19, 2025 – Precise Systems is proud to announce that it has been selected to advance to Part 2: Testing in the prestigious xTech AI Grand Challenge, a competition led by the U.S. Army to accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence technologies. As part of this achievement, Precise has been awarded a $10,000 cash prize for its outstanding concept submission.
The xTech AI Grand Challenge is designed to identify and support groundbreaking AI solutions with the potential to enhance national security and defense capabilities. Advancing to the testing phase places Precise among a select group of innovators moving forward in the competition.
“We are honored to be recognized in this highly competitive challenge,” said Scott Pfister, President and Chief Executive Officer of Precise Systems. “At Precise Systems, we are committed to pioneering AI-driven solutions that drive mission success, and this opportunity allows us to further refine and demonstrate our capabilities.”
In the coming weeks, Precise Systems will participate in the testing round, where its technology will be evaluated based on rigorous performance criteria. The team will also receive feedback from evaluators to enhance and optimize its approach for future stages of the competition.
Precise Systems remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation and looks forward to continuing its journey in the xTech AI Grand Challenge. The company is excited to collaborate with industry experts, government stakeholders, and fellow competitors to advance AI solutions that support national defense initiatives.
About Precise Systems:
As a solutions-based company, Precise Systems is focused on innovation in support of the warfighters and aligning our expertise to deliver the highest quality of service. Powered by our highly skilled workforces, we provide expert consultation on network and weapons systems acquisition programs, maintenance/modernization programs, and sustainment programs with solutions in Digital Transformation, Advanced Engineering, Physical Sciences Research, Platform Lifecycle Support, Electronic Warfare, Interactive Training & Simulation, and Foreign Military Sales. Since our establishment, we have demonstrated and perfected our ability to manage the customer’s needs, no matter how complex – offering exceptional service and the Precise solution.
#PeopleOfPrecise: Desiree Harris
Meet Desiree Harris – Biological Research Scientist and Precise Systems’ Employee Spotlight for August 2024.
When Precise acquired Excet in November 2023 and officially absorbed its employees in August 2024, a number of talented professionals joined our growing Precise Team – one of them being Desiree! She supports our Army customer as a Biological Research Scientist II at the Combat Capabilities Development Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC). She helps further their mission for toxicological assessments of both known and unknown compounds of interest through in vtiro assays, biomarker determination, and cell culture for use in the creation of complex 3D organelle architectures for countermeasures to protect our nation’s warfighters.
Desiree knew she wanted to pursue biological research as her career path during her undergraduate senior year biochemistry course, where she was also researching photo-activated cancer therapeutic compounds in an Organic Chemistry lab. She realized she had a passion for biochemical research and upon graduation, worked as an ORISE postbaccalaureate fellow with the Defense Public Health Center-Aberdeen (formerly U.S. Army Public Health Center) in the Toxicology Directorate investigating cellular toxicology utilizing in vitro assays. She has been hooked ever since!
Outside of work, Desiree loves to relax by catching up on the latest Netflix show. Her go-to show this summer was Young Sheldon, which she considers to be her current favorite binge. She also enjoys other hit movies and TV shows, and when asked who she would choose to play her in a movie about her life, she says, “I would want Marsai Martin from the movie Little and the hit show Black-ish to play me.”
Thank you, Desiree, for bringing your talent, knowledge, and commitment to our Precise Team. We are so thankful to have you and want to extend our sincerest appreciation!