Defense modernization
Assess operational needs, frame capability gaps, and connect emerging technologies with Army force development priorities and resourcing decisions.
Operational Experience · Strategic Perspective
Turning experience into mission advantage.
LH6-Services, LLC helps defense organizations and industry connect capabilities to operational needs, turning promising ideas into a practical way ahead.
Veteran-Owned Small Business
Army Operational & Headquarters Experience
HQDA G-8 Force Development
Based in McCormick, South Carolina
01 / Areas of Expertise
Connecting the requirement
to the real world.
Effective solutions begin with understanding the mission. LH6 brings an operator’s perspective and force development experience to the challenges facing defense leaders and industry.
Training & experimentation
Shape pilot concepts, demonstrations, and training approaches that help organizations evaluate capabilities in an operational context.
Strategic engagement
Develop focused engagement plans, sharpen the value proposition, and prepare organizations for productive conversations with defense stakeholders.
Requirements & decision support
Turn complex ideas into clear white papers, senior leader briefings, operational concepts, and actionable recommendations.
02 / Leadership
Thomas A. Balish
Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
President & Owner, LH6-Services, LLC
~30 yrs
Active Army Service
~10 yrs
HQDA G-8 Civilian
Tom Balish brings nearly three decades of active Army service and approximately a decade of civilian experience in HQDA G-8 Force Development.
A former OH-58 scout pilot and cavalry commander, his experience spans operational planning, unit leadership, training, and Army modernization. He served as Chief of Operations & Integration in Force Development, connecting operational priorities with the Army’s broader capability and resourcing decisions.
Experience that informs the work
- 01 Commander, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division
- 02 Chief of Cavalry
- 03 Operational planning and leadership assignments in Bosnia
- 04 HQDA G-8 force development and integration
Education: National War College, Webster University, Ohio University, and Ohio Wesleyan University.
03 / The LH6 Approach
Clear thinking.
Practical next steps.
Direct engagement with an experienced advisor, from the first conversation through the final recommendation.
Define the mission.
Establish the problem, the operational context, and the decision your organization needs to make.
Build the case.
Connect capabilities, requirements, and stakeholder priorities into a clear, credible approach.
Set the way ahead.
Deliver focused recommendations, engagement materials, and a practical sequence of next steps.
04 / Published Articles
Ideas informed
by experience.
Selected writing by COL Thomas A. Balish, U.S. Army (Retired), on modernization, reconnaissance, and Army aviation history.
Army Must Take a Holistic Approach to Modernization
By Col. Thomas Balish and Col. Mike Smith, U.S. Army retired. A case for aligning technology with doctrine, organizations, training, and the full range of force development needs.
Reform Without Purpose Is Just Motion
Why doctrine and operational purpose must guide Army requirements, experimentation, and modernization.
Canceled M10 Booker Holds Lessons for Transformation
Operational relevance, requirements development, and lessons for the next generation of light armor.
Now’s the Time for Army To Revitalize Cavalry Force
A case for rebuilding reconnaissance and security capabilities through modern air-ground teams.
Largest U.S. Army Air Deployment in Europe Since WWII
A historical perspective on the Army aviation deployment supporting IFOR in Bosnia.
05 / Projects & Concept Development
Exploring the
future force.
Selected areas of independent research and concept development. Contact LH6 to discuss the work or request a briefing.
01 / CONCEPT BRIEF
Anchors in the Drone Age
Examining protected maneuver, reconnaissance and security, and the relationship between crewed platforms and unmanned systems in future formations.
02 / CONCEPT BRIEF
Digital Observer / Coach-Trainer Concept
A proposed approach to capturing training observations and organizing evidence for after-action reviews and enterprise learning.
03 / FRAMEWORK
UAS Training & Qualification Frameworks
Concept development for progressive operator training, simulation, qualification standards, and training resource requirements.
These are independent concepts under development; inclusion does not imply an Army program of record or government endorsement.
06 / Discuss Your Mission
Tell Tom about
your project.
Connect with Tom directly to discuss your organization’s needs, request a concept briefing, or explore where LH6-Services can help.
EMAIL TOM
tom@lh6.support
BASED IN
Based in South Carolina, available worldwide for your needs