Mr. Hatch is currently the Deputy Project Director for Joint Program Executive Office Armaments & Ammunition, Program Director Tactical Artillery Systems (PD TAS). He served as the Acting Program Manager from March 2020 to August 2023. As Acting PM, he was responsible for PM TAS portfolio which includes the M777A2 and M119A3 howitzers and survey systems supporting US Army, US artillery support to Ukraine, an evaluation of mobile howitzer systems to inform Army requirements, and delivery of M777 capability to India during the COVID pandemic.
Mr. Hatch joined PM TAS in 2000 as a United States Marine Corp Production Engineer supporting the Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the M777A2 program. During Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), he assumed the role of M777A2 Quality Assurance Manager and eventually added the role of Production Manager, followed by the role of M777A2 Product Lead during Full Rate Production. In 2011, he was selected to serve as the US Army Deputy Program Manager for PM TAS.
Prior to joining PM TAS, he worked as a design engineer at the Armaments Research Development Engineering Center (ARDEC) from 1988-2000. During that time, he worked on various products including the M119, M198 and M109 howitzers. He played a key role in transitioning M119 production from Royal Ordnance in the United Kingdom to Rock Island Arsenal during the early 1990’s. During the late 1990’s he was part of the design team that integrated Digital Fire Control onto the M198 howitzer, demonstrating that the electronics could survive the harsh environment of a towed howitzer, which lead to the Army decision to purchase the M777A2 howitzer.
Mr. Hatch is a graduate of Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology with a Master of Science Degree in the Management of Technology. He is certified from the Defense Systems Management College in Program Management (level III).
Mr. Hatch is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and has received the St. Barbara, Patron Saint of Artillerymen Award and the Superior Civilian Service Award. Mr. Hatch and his wife Denise have 3 adult children, Molly, John and Thomas. His interests include home improvement projects, photography, and hiking with Denise and dog Zoey.