DoD Enterprise Architecture Guide Development Support

This task is to support the work of the Joint Architectures for Capabilities and Systems (JACS) Directorate, in coordination with the Department of War (hereafter, Department) Enterprise Engineering and Architectures Community of Practice (COP). Through this task, SERC will provide guidance and recommended best practices on enterprise architectures (EAs) for military Systems of Systems (SoS) for Department practitioners in the field. The goal is to develop an enterprise-wide strategy for systems of systems (SoS) architecting to ensure successful integration and interoperability of the SoS. During the initial planning phases by JACS, the team discovered that systems engineering and architectures across the enterprise lack common terminology, definitions, and methods. Establishing these standards as well as a common framework for requirements will provide the JACS and Department practitioners with the necessary foundations for success in using a common architecture for successful integration and interoperability.

This effort relates to WRT-2504 DoD Systems Engineering Guide for Systems of Systems Revision, 2025-2026 but does not duplicate its work. This effort, WRT-2508 DoD Enterprise Architecture Guide Development Support, is oriented toward enterprise architectures for the SoS. Further, JACS specifically cites the focus of “guidance, strategy, and standards for enterprise-level SoS engineering and architecture.”

The original tasking for support developing a guidebook to provide guidance and recommended best practices on enterprise architectures (EAs) for Systems of Systems (SoS) to Department practitioners in the field has been put on hold. Instead, the OUSD(R&E)/SE&A Joint Architectures for Capabilities and Systems (JACS) Directorate needs to pursue prototype solutions from small business that address persistent technical and procedural challenges encountered by engineering and architecture practitioners supporting acquisition programs, specific to EA for SoS challenges. SERC was asked to identify the highest priority challenges in this space, characterize these challenges in the context of how solutions might be realized, and develop a path forward as a foundation implementable and scalable through a combination of vendor support and additional research development required.

In this effort, the SERC supports the development of the common foundation by reviewing current literature in the field of SoS enterprise architectures to identify (a) general pain points related to the development and use of EAs for SoS, (b) the current state of EA for SoS in the context of military use and how they are being used, (c) the current state of the research in this area the gaps remaining for this context, and (d) how might EAs evolve to become a construct for Government-Contractor co-creation and use. Organizational structures, needs, and foci are dynamic; therefore, precise needs for this task may shift. The SERC and Government will discuss key findings and recommendations in this document to refine and prioritize next steps.