APRIL 2025
Dear Colleagues,
This spring edition of the SERC and AIRC Updates offers recently published technical reports exploring data management, data modeling, digital transformation, cognitive assistants, reliability, risk aversion, and several other topics related to systems engineering and defense acquisition.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Valerie Sitterle as our first Deputy CTO. Val has deep familiarity with our collaborator network and research portfolio and will help us address the needs of our DoD sponsors in critical technologies and emerging fields. I also encourage you to respond to our call for submissions for the annual AI4SE & SE4AI Research and Application Workshop. The deadline to submit is June 9, with registration opening later this summer.
Sincerely,
Dinesh Verma
Executive Director
Call for Submissions for AI4SE Workshop
This sixth annual event welcomes paper presentations for traditional speaking slots and a new option for interactive sessions, which may take the form of tutorials or round-table discussions intended to co-create a product.
SERC Adds Dr. Valerie Sitterle as Deputy CTO
The longtime SERC researcher will expand her role as the network’s first Deputy CTO, by which she will “cultivate teams of researchers that can bring an innovative brain trust to bear on increasingly transdisciplinary challenges.”
Workshop Prepares DCTC Scholars for Summer Internships
In the DCTC pilot program, AIRC arranges summer internships for scholars with DoD partners. This blog post shares the excitement of a scholar preparing to serve with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.
Cognitive Assistant for Training Cost Estimators: Phase III
In a project sponsored by the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) office in the DoD, Dr. Daniel Selva of Texas A&M continued his work on developing a cognitive assistant tool for training cost estimators.
Improving Acquisition Decision Making through Data Modeling
Ms. Philomena “Phil” Zimmerman and AIRC Deputy Chief Scientist Doug Buettner led three workshops exploring how acquisition and sustainment can be transformed with improved structuring, access, and use of data.
Characterization of Potting Materials in Military Environments
Dr. Pradeep Lall of Auburn led SERC research on reliability expectations in mission-critical applications to understand survivability, failure mechanisms, and efficacy of supplemental restraints in mitigating the propensity for failure.
Digital Data Management and Analytic Pilots
Dr. Laura Freeman of Virginia Tech and AIRC Chief Scientist Philip S. Antón continued their work developing a data analysis platform called DARCIE (Defense Acquisition Research, Collaboration and Innovation Environment).
Concepts for Driving the Digital Transformation of Defense Acquisition
Dr. Antón, Dr. Freeman, and colleagues from Virginia Tech outlined a strategy, guiding principles, and recommendations for a DoD Innovative, Data-Enabled Acquisition Strategy (IDEAS).
Utilization of Middle Tier of Acquisitions for Production
Dr. Carlo Lipizzi of Stevens Institute of Technology joined Dr. Antón and Dr. Buettner to analyze data and address questions from Congress on the use of Middle Tier Acquisitions and “what is being fielded at a speed of relevance.”
Facilitating New Tech in Defense Systems: Issues and a Way Forward
Dr. Robin Dillon-Merrill of Georgetown and colleagues Dr. Eric Burger and Ms. Erika Heeren-Moon from Virginia Tech collaborated to identify critical issues in the socialization of new technologies from the end-user perspective.
Systemic Factors on Risk Aversion: Piloting Innovation Alliance Program
Dr. Mike Rayo, Dr. Amanda Girth, Dr. Laura Maguire and Ms. Miriam Balkin of Ohio State partnered with the Army Contracting Command to identify systemic pressures on the acquisition workforce that impede innovative behaviors.
Contracting Pilot
Dr. Brian Mayer and colleagues from Virginia Tech and Stevens prototyped AI tools for the Army Contacting Command for tasks such as aligning documents to regulations and alerting admins and contractors of invoice discrepancies.
May 6-8, 2025
AIAA Digital Transformation Summit (Dayton, OH)
May 7-8, 2025
Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Symposium (Virtual)
June 9-11, 2025
CESUN International Engineering Systems Symposium (Arlington, VA)
July 26-31, 2025
INCOSE International Symposium (Ottawa, Canada | Hybrid)
September 17-18, 2025
AI4SE & SE4AI Research and Application Workshop (Washington, DC)
October 27-30, 2025
NDIA Systems and Mission Engineering Conference (Tampa, FL)
We invite collaborators to submit research news to be included in future releases of the SERC Updates.
Resources:
Search SERC Publications
Search AIRC Publications
