18th Annual Systems Engineering Conference

Announcement
A major conference focusing on improving acquisition and performance of Defense
programs and systems, including net-centric operations and data/information interoperability, system - of - systems engineering and all aspects of system sustainment, will be convened on October 26-29, 2015 in Springfield, VA. This conference is sponsored bythe National Defense Industrial Association, Systems Engineering Division, with  echnical co-sponsorship by IEEE AES, IEEE Systems Council and the International Council on Systems Engineering, and is supported by the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary Defense for Systems Engineering in the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logisticand Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer.

Background
The Department of Defense continues to seek ways to improve the acquisition of military equipment and capability to assist the warfighter in protecting the U.S. and its allies, and help oppressed nations around the world in a complex environment of ever-changing threats and conditions. The Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA) of 2009 defines Systems Engineering as a key player in helping effect improvements in defense acquisition and program execution, to achieve more effective and affordable military systems. Better Buying Power provided guidance on increasing efficiencies to “do more, without more”. Systems Engineering is the “umbrella” engineering function that serves as the key integrating function for these initiatives and successful program execution and helping maintain the balance between requirements, performance, cost, schedule, and overall effectiveness and affordability. Systems Engineering principles embody strong technical and risk/opportunity management aspects, for the acquiring program office as well as the prime and subcontractors. Strong emphasis on systems engineering throughout  the program, especially in early development planning, is a key enabler of successful programs and fielded defense systems. The Annual Systems Engineering Conference explores the various roles of systems engineering from all aspects and perspectives—pragmatic, practical and academic—and brings key practitioners together to work on effective solutions to achieve a successful warfighting force.

Conference Objectives
This conference seeks to create an interactive forum for Program Managers, Systems Engineers, Chief Scientists, and Engineers and Managers from the Requirements, Design,
Verification, Support, Logistics and Test communities from both Government and Industry. The conference will provide the opportunity to shape policy and procedures by exchanging innovative tactics and lessons learned.

2015 Ferguson Award

The National Defense Industrial Association’s Lt Gen Thomas R. Ferguson, Jr. Systems Engineering Excellence Award was established in 2003 to honor the memory of Lt Gen Thomas R. Ferguson, Jr., USAF, whose leadership embodied the highest ideals in Defense Systems development and deployment.

The award is given to an individual and to a group demonstrating outstanding achievement in the practical application of Systems Engineering principles, promotion of robust systems engineering principles throughout the organization, or effective systems engineering process development. Their systems engineering contributions should have demonstrably helped achieve significant cost savings due to new or enhanced processes procedures and/or concepts, increased mission capabilities, or substantially increased performance.

Nominations are to be submitted to Adrienne White at awhite@ndia.org by July 31, 2015. Selection will be made by a committee from NDIA’s Systems Engineering Division. In the event there should not be a qualified candidate in the opinion of the committee, an award will not be bestowed.