Publication

This research tasks, focused on an assessment of systems engineering research needs and workforce development assessment, involved a data collection exercise resulting from 24 site visits (19) and telephone discussions (5). Additionally, we collaborated with INCOSE to run a supporting survey on this topic to all the INCOSE Fellows – worldwide (approximately 30% of all Fellows responded to the survey). Here is the list of these 24 engagements:

1. Sandia National Laboratories – Engagement 1
2. Sandia National Laboratories – Engagement 2
3. Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4. NSWC – Corona Division
5. NSWC – Philadelphia Division
6. Wright Patterson AFB – AFLCMC
7. Naval Air Weapons Station – China Lake
8. AMSAA – Aberdeen Proving Grounds
9. Embedded Systems Institute – Netherlands
10. The Aerospace Corporation
11. The MITRE Corporation
12. AFOTEC – Kirkland AFB
13. NSWC – Carderock
14. NSWC – NUWC
15. NSWC – Dahlgren
16. NAVSEA Headquarters
17. IC Engagement 1
18. IC Engagement 2
19. INCOSE Fellows – Worldwide Survey
20. ARDEC – Picatinny Arsenal
21. NAVSEA – SPAWAR
22. NAVSEA 05T
23. PEO – Aviation
24. AMRDEC – NASA (Marshall) – Joint Visit

The data collected suggests research priorities that broadly align with the following 4 primary research objectives. Sub-categories within each primary research objective are also highlighted:

1. Knowledge, Data and Machine Learning

a) AI/Machine Learning;

b) Data Analytics

c) Data/Complexity

d) Knowledge Management and Document/Requirements

2. Systems Engineering MBSE, Decision Making and Integration.

a) Computational Applications in SE

b) Decision Making

c) Model Based SE

d) System Integration

e) Systems Engineering Modeling and Measurement

3. Management, Culture and Agility

a) Mission Engineering

b) Agile Engineering

4. Security, Trust, Risk and Testing

a) Cyber-security

b) Risk and Uncertainty

c) Security, Reliability and Resilience

d) System Trust

e) System Testing

Python scripts using open source packages for Natural Language Processing was the tool chosen for analyzing the data collected. A script that identifies the important concepts (words) of each sentence in the minutes resulting from the engagements allowed us to identify a total of 139 research objectives across the 24 engagements. A sense for the emphasis within these identified research objectives, down to the resolution of the sub-categories identified above are reflected in Figure 1 (A through D). The data collected from the survey of the INCOSE Fellows was analyzed separately and is included in this report also.