SERC Updates – October 2026

Dear Colleagues,

We are eager to gather in Washington in November at the annual SERC Research Review. This year, we will showcase our government-sponsored projects through four panel discussions. We are also pleased to welcome Dr. Nadia Gerspacher of Defense Security Cooperation University as our keynote speaker.

This issue of SERC Updates includes a recap of our recent AI4SE & SE4AI workshop, a report series from AIRC on policy test labs, and video of the latest session of AIRC Insights, focused on preparing for wartime industrial mobilization.

Cheers,
Dinesh Verma
Executive Director

News

AI4SE & SE4AI Workshop Highlights Collaboration and Governance

Read highlights about the workshop that featured two keynote speakers, three panel discussions, 60 technical presentations, and a demo and poster exposition.

New Panel Format for Annual Showcase of SERC Research

The review this year will explore sponsored research within focus areas of digital and data-driven systems, enterprises and systems-of-systems, trusted systems, and defense acquisition innovation.

AIRC Insights Explores Sustained Industrial Mobilization

AIRC Fellow Mike McGrath moderated the fourth session in this series of engaging discussions on defense acquisition, with experts exchanging ideas for preparing the industrial base for wartime.

Research Highlights

Policy Test Labs Report Series

AIRC Deputy Chief Scientist Doug Buettner led a team to explore how test labs can shape defense acquisition policies, producing six linked reports on the AIRC website.

Enterprise Architecture Guide Development Support

This report by SERC Deputy CTO Valerie Sitterle and other SERC leadership explores best practices on enterprise architectures for military systems-of-systems.

Building a Scalable National Security STEM Workforce

Dr. Payuna Uday and AIRC Fellow Karen Thornton wrote an article in RealClear Defense about developing ecosystems to prepare the next generation of government and industrial defense workers.

Events

• SERC Research Review
  November 10, 2026 | Washington, DC
• NTSA Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference
  November 30–December 4, 2026 | Orlando, FL
• Conference on Systems Engineering Research
  April 11-14, 2027 | Huntsville, AL
  CSER submission deadline is November 15.
• NPS Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit May 12–13, 2027:
  May 12–13, 2027 | Monterey, CA

  NPS submission deadline is November 17.

From left to right, SERC Deputy CTO Valerie Sitterle, Dr. Carole Mars of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, Dr. Jerry McGinn of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, AIRC Fellow Mike McGrath, SERC Executive Director Dinesh Verma and AIRC Chief Scientist Phil Antón gathered for the recent session of AIRC Insights. Mars, McGinn and McGrath joined Dr. John Matlik of Northrop Grumman to discuss wartime industrial mobilization. Watch the video below!