The Systems Engineering Research Center

UARC

INCOSE Washington Metro Area Chapter Meeting

August 10, 2010

www.SERCUARC.org

Staś. Tarchalski
SERC Director of Strategy and Outreach
Email: Stas.Tarchalski@stevens.edu
Phone: 301-529-6924
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 Agenda

 The Systems Engineering Profession – a Perspective

 UARCs and the SERC
 Some impactful SERC Research Projects

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 Systems Engineering is at a Cross-Roads

Systems Engineering is on the verge of becoming irrelevant

yet

The need for Systems Engineering has never been greater

3
How is Systems Engineering perceived by
non-Systems Engineers?

4
 The Perceived Role of SE Today

Courtesy Dr. Jon Wade,

Stevens Institute of Technology 5
 The Evolving Role of SE

Courtesy Dr. Jon Wade,

Stevens Institute of Technology 6
 What is driving an evolved SE?

The Systems Engineering Challenge- System Trends

1. Complexity: adaptive & emergent

2. Criticality: essential to day to day life

3. Security: increasingly valuable & vulnerable

4. Time Compression: we’re all on internet time

5. Legacy: unplanned, ill-suited & growing

6. Workforce: great diversity, youth are perhaps best

equipped for change & virtualization

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 Where is the Battle being Fought?
Development
Development takes
takes too
too long.
long.
Change
Change takes
takes too
too long.
long. Self-Adaptive: s to seconds
Replacement
Replacement takes
takes too
too long
long

The
The environment
environment is
is highly
highly
uncertain Software & IDs: days to months
uncertain and
and complex
complex
System
System complexity
complexity is
is growing
growing

Costs
Costs are
are out
out of
of control
control Electronics: 1-5 Years

Mobile Weapons: 5-20+ Years

Infrastructure: 10-25+ Years

Rate of
Change Platforms: 20-50+ Years 8
 Areas of Highest Impact

 Early Systems Engineering Involvement

 Conceptual Engineering – pre MS A&B

 Adaptable Systems
 Systems that are adaptable to future needs

 Agile Systems Engineering

 Systems Engineering that continuously leads complex technology efforts

 Injection and innovation of contemporary technologies

 Apply technologies and best practices from the commercial world

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 Areas of Highest Impact

 Human Friendly Systems

 Systems that respond to the needs of users who may not be technology
sophisticated

 Secure Systems
 Systems that protect critical assets and respond to offensive and
accidental disruptions through resilient restoration of service

 Systems Engineering Talent development

 Building and nurturing STEM and Systems Thinking interest and
capability in our future workforce, accelerating learning

 System of Systems Acquisition and Management

 Integration of legacy capabilities, governance of complex systems

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So what exactly are UARCs and the SERC?

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 DoD’s Commitment to FFRDCs and UARCs

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers

(FFRDCs) and University Affiliated Research Centers
(UARCs) are a unique resource and fulfill a vital role to
the Defense Department
• Operate as a stable and long-term partner for the Department
• Meet special long-term research or development need, which
cannot be met as effectively by existing in-house or contractor
resources
• Provide highly trained workforce that operate in the public
interest with objectivity and independence
• Maintain a strategic relationship with Sponsor and Users

Dr. Ashton B. Carter

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics

Strategic-Level FFRDC and UARC Engagement

Briefing, 2 July, 2010

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 FFRDC and UARC Operating Space
Industry
- Build operational systems
- Deploy and maintain systems

System –of-Systems
System FFRDCs
- Honest broker/assessment
Systems - Engineer interfaces

Prototypes Laboratory FFRDCs

- Prototypes/Testbeds
- Technology risk reduction

Technology

Universities
Testbeds - New knowledge
- High risk, high payoff

Basic Science

Studies FFRDCs
Studies
- Strategic studies
- Program analysis

Near Mid Far

Dr. Ashton B. Carter
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics Time to Fielded Capability
Strategic-Level FFRDC and UARC
Engagement Briefing, 2 July, 2010
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 Mission Statement

The mission of the SERC is to

enhance and enable the DoD's
capability in Systems Engineering
for the successful development,
integration, testing and
sustainability of complex
defense systems, services and
enterprises

We see SERC as synonymous with world-class research and thought leadership in Systems Engineering

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 Vision and Objectives
Vision
DoD and Intelligence Community systems achieving mission
outcomes – enabled by research leading to transformational SE
methods, processes, and tools.

Objectives
The SERC will be the primary engine for defense and intelligence community SE basic research. In
doing so, the SERC will:

1.Transform SE practice throughout the DoD and IC communities by creating innovative methods,
processes, and tools that address critical challenges to meeting mission outcomes (what),

2.Catalyze community growth among SE researchers by enabling collaboration among many SE

research organizations (who),

3.Accelerate SE competency development through rapid transfer of its research to educators and
practitioners (how).

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 Who We Are

Any U.S. university can be added to the SERC to provide

For Internal SERC Use Only 16
capabilities needed to support SERC mission 16
 SERC Focus Areas

Systems Science

• Dependable Systems
• Evolving Systems
• Self-Adaptive Systems

Agile MPTs
Workforce
Leveraging technology:
Development
• Computation
• Visualization
• Information Integrated, experiential
• Communication learning over entire
lifecycle
Governance

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 SERC Research Focus Areas
1. Enterprise Responsiveness: Explore advancements in SE methods, processes, and
tools that are responsive to enterprise strategic and program-level needs,
enabling agility and responsiveness to change during program conceptualization
and execution as well as strategic choice and assessment.

2. Systems Science and Complexity: Advance systems science and systems thinking
for application to engineering and management of complex systems and
capabilities.

3. Systems Engineering Workforce: Explore future SE workforce competencies and

research approaches to cultivate, educate, and prepare for future SE practices and
technologies.

4. Program Management and SE Integration: Research the alignment, promotion

and integration of SE methods, processes, and tools with program execution
activities.

5. Life Cycle Systems Engineering Processes: Advance systems engineering life cycle
technical and management processes.

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 Research Projects

# Topic Description
Graduate SE Body of Knowledge Create mature SE BoK and graduate reference curriculum with
1
and Reference Curriculum broad community involvement
Modular Reconfigurable
Create way to rapidly publish and maintain currency of SE artifacts
2 Architecture for Tailored and Rapid
and other documents, extensively tailoring them to audience
SE Knowledge Dissemination
Rapid CONOPS Development Develop approach to quickly construct a CONOPS that strongly
3
Environment for Agile SE informs all key stakeholders and can evolve quickly and easily
Create way to educate SE technical leaders rapidly and effectively
4 Develop SE Technical Leaders
using innovative educational technologies
Create MPT for evolutionary SE for acquisition in context of new
5 Evolutionary SE
5000.02 and emphasis on early SE prior to Milestone B
Data Quality and Estimation
Create improved ways to cost complex software-intensive
6 Research In Support of Future
systems, especially systems of systems
Defense Cost Analysis
Agile Methods, Processes, and
7 Explore agile MPTs with focus on those applicable to NSA
Tools
Systems Engineering Create a roadmap of research to transform SE into a much faster,
8
Transformation more responsive discipline

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 Research Projects

# Topic Description

Create a roadmap of research on security SE and begin executing

9 Security Systems Engineering
that roadmap
Explore the equivalent of technology readiness levels, but for
10 System Readiness Level
systems integration and other facets of engineering maturity
Verification, Validation and
Explore ways to perform “built-in” VV&A when creating system
11 Accreditation using Modeling and
models and running system level simulations
Simulation
Early Identification of SE-Related Continue work begun under FY09 project to explore early
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Program Risks Extension identification of SE-related program risks
SE Development Experience Significantly reduce the amount of time it takes for an SE to
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Accelerator become proficient
Develop architectural and other approaches to enable flexible
14 Valuing Flexible Systems
systems
SE Capabilities within Universities Develop teaching capabilities within universities to build
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(STEM) tomorrow’s workforce
Future SE capabilities that enable more efficient platform
16 DoD Systems 2020
development, derivatives (flexibility), and adaptive systems
Modeling of complex system of systems within the FAA NexGen
17 FAA NexGen Governance
environment
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 Systems Engineering - Future State

Document Driven Model Driven

Strategic Tactical Strategic Tactical

Conceive Develop Conceive Develop

Solution Solution
Interactive
Models
Problem Problem
Value Use Value Use

Linear Opportunistic
Sequential Consistent

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 SE Transformation Roadmap

Collaborative Foundation
8. Modeling Environment Infrastructure

1. Prioritization & 3. Architecture & 5. Active System

Tradeoff Analysis Design Analysis Characterization

Model & Data Repository, Simulation & Communication

Physical
Virtual

2. Concept 4. Design & Test 6. Human-System

Engineering Reuse & Synthesis Integration

7. Agile Process Engineering

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 Which is more Intuitive?

Courtesy Dr. Jon Wade,

Stevens Institute of Technology 23
 Or Collaborative?

Courtesy Dr. Jon Wade,

Stevens Institute of Technology 24
 What’s More Effective?
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Courtesy Dr. Jon Wade,

Stevens Institute of Technology 25
 Experience Accelerator
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Courtesy Dr. Jon Wade,

Stevens Institute of Technology 26
 Summary
Systems Engineering is at a transformational cross-roads

 The need has never been greater

 The transformation requires:

 Leadership/social/soft skills
 Governance and technical authority, accountability
 Technology that enables teamwork, leadership, learning
 Early and continuous involvement across the life-cycle, “ilities” trades
 Agility and a mindset that is open to change, adaptability and reuse

The SERC is driving innovations for a transformed Systems Engineering… and it’s
easy to work with 

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Let’s move the needle forward together

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Thank you for your time and
participation

Questions?

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BACKUP

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 Milestones

Tenth research project

Work on first two
launched Annual Research
research projects
(EM and MPT) Review held
begins Naval Postgraduate
Contract award School joins SERC Purdue
joins SERC

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER MAY JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER DECEMBER FEBRUARY
2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010

Regular collaborator Inaugural Fifth research Georgia Tech

net meetings begin Ceremony project launched joins SERC
EM and MPT research
projects successfully
completed

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 What is a UARC?

University Affiliated Research Center

1. UARC designation is established by Congress and administered by DDR&E.
2. There are 14 UARCs, each sponsored by a DoD component and governed
by the DoD UARC Management Plan.
3. UARCs perform research in specific mission areas. By design, no two UARCs
have the same mission.
4. UARCs are “not-for-profit, private sector organizations affiliated with, or
part of, universities or colleges that maintain essential research,
development and engineering capabilities needed by sponsoring DoD
components.”
5. They maintain long-term, strategic relationships with sponsoring DoD
components in specific core areas and operate in the public interest, free
from real or perceived conflicts of interest.

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 More About UARCs

1. UARCs are financed through long-term, non-competitive contracts

awarded by sponsoring DoD components for specific core work.
2. Operate under authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3)(B) which allows DoD to
use non-competitive procedures in order to establish or maintain an
essential engineering, research, and/or development capability
3. Receives a minimum of $2M funding annually
4. Long-term relationship is characterized by:
• Responsiveness to evolving sponsor requirements
• Comprehensive knowledge of sponsor requirements and problems
• Broad access to information, including proprietary data
• Broad corporate knowledge
• Independence and objectivity
• Quick response capability
• Current operational experience
• Freedom from real and/or perceived conflicts of interest

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University
Georgia Tech [Army]
Johns Hopkins [Navy]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
[Army]
Penn State University [Navy]
University of California Santa Barbara
[Army]
University of California Santa Cruz
[NASA]
University of Hawaii [Navy]
University of Maryland [NSA]
University of Southern California [Army]
University of Texas, Austin (2) [Army]
[Navy]
University of Washington [Navy]
Utah State University [MDA]
Other UARCs
UARC Name and Focus
Georgia Tech Research Institute – applied research and development working on complex
technical problems in full-spectrum sensing, information technology, test and evaluation, and
systems engineering .
Applied Physics Lab - solves complex research, engineering, and analytical problems
Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies - nanotechnology research to dramatically improve the
survival of the soldier of the future.
Applied Research Laboratory – focus on naval issues in the following research areas: acoustics,
guidance and control, thermal energy systems, hydrodynamics, hydroacoustics, propulsion,
materials & manufacturing, navigation & GPS, communications & information, and education
Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies - transforms biological inspiration into technological
innovation
NASA Ames Research Center - Information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology,
computer science, aerospace operations, astrobiology and fundamental biology
Applied Research Laboratory - Oceanography and environmental research,
astronomical research, advanced electro optical systems, laser, lidar and remote sensing
detection systems, and research in various engineering programs to support sensors,
communications, and information technology
Centre for Advanced Study of Language
Institute for Creative Technologies - the advancement of the state-of-the-art in artificial
intelligence, graphics and immersive environment with the creative talents of Hollywood and
the video game industry
Institute for Advanced Technology - developing human and material resources to counter
biological and chemical threats.
Applied Research Laboratory - improving our national security through applications of acoustics,
electromagnetics, and information sciences
Applied Physics Laboratory – acoustic and oceanographic studies
Space Dynamics Laboratory - the development of sensors and supporting technologies 34
 The SERC

1. In 2008, the DoD released a full and open competitive RFP for a UARC on
systems engineering research.
2. Stevens led a team that brought together much of the best systems
engineering research talent in the nation to form a stable and enduring
collaboration to the benefit of the DoD.
3. Stevens was awarded the UARC (SERC) in September 2008.
4. UARC “status” is vested in Stevens through a 5 year renewable task-order
IDIQ contract with DoD.
5. Any federal entity can MIPR funding to the SERC for work within the
defined core areas, subject to the agreement of the SERC sponsor.
6. Other federal agencies can establish their own sole source contract with
Stevens consistent with the defined core areas and the DoD UARC
Management Plan.

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 SERC Core Competencies
Ability to leverage developments in systems architecting, complex
systems theory, systems thinking, systems science, knowledge
management and SwE to perform research to advance the design
and development of complex systems across all DoD domains,
including
• System and open systems architecture/analysis
• SE in complex SoS and FoS environments
• Enterprise SE
• SW-unique extensions and modern SW-development
technology
• Flexible SE environment
• Knowledge management
• Undergraduate/Graduate SE education needs

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 SERC Core Competencies
Ability to leverage developments in open systems standards,
organizational theory, program management, SE management,
and IT to provide needed integration of program/technical
management MPTs, including
• Integrate TPMs with EVM
• Maturity reviews
• SE team structures, etc. for improvement
• Improved SE information sharing
• Rationale and way ahead for standards
• Toolsets throughout the life cycle
• Analyzing SE costs, accounts, and ROI
• SE metrics and leading indicators

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