Jason Nelson
JSC Human Resources Development

There are a number of activities underway at JSC in
Systems Engineering Development.
• JSC Space Systems Engineering Development
Program (SSEDP)
• Centerwide Curriculum Strategy/APPEL Systems
Engineering Training
• Academia/University Activities
• JSC Engineering Academy
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• 18 month development program beginning in October 2008
• 26 students competitively selected from Engineering, Program Offices, and
Project Offices. Target audience is employees who are 1-2 years from serving in a lead systems engineering role on a major project (Orion, EVA, etc.)
• Curriculum partnership with Stevens Institute of Technology
• Surveyed and benchmarked other Centers’ SE development programs
- Goddard Spaceflight Center – Systems Engineering Education
Development (SEED)
- Glenn Research Center – Space Mission Excellence Program (SMEP)
- Ames Research Center – Ames Project Excellence Program (APEX)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Systems Engineering Advancement (SEA)
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JSC Systems Engineering Curriculum
Proficiency Level Systems Engineering Curriculum Supplemental Classes
Technical Engineer or Project Member Core
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Lifecycle, Processes, & Systems Engineering
Fundamentals of Systems Engineering
Introduction to Aerospace
Communication/Personal Effectiveness
 Technical Writing for Engineers
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Team Membership
 Communication Skills for the Technical Professional
Subsystem Lead
Project Systems Engineer
Core
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Applied Space Systems Engineering
NPR 7123.1A Overview
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NASA Systems Engineering Handbook ‡
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In-Depth
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Requirements Development and Management
Risk Management†
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Space Launch & Transportation Systems
Continuous Risk Management
Developing a Systems Engineering
Management Plan
Space System Verification & Validation
Transition, Product Delivery, and Mission
Operations
Decision Analysis
Concept Exploration & System Architecting
Exploration Systems and Space Operations
Innovative Engineering Design
Core
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Advanced Systems Engineering
In-Depth
 Innovative Design for Engineering Applications
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Leadership
 Team Leadership
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Situational Leadership
Assessing Your Leadership Skills
Crossing Department Lines
Crossroads
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Project Management
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Introduction to Project Management
Art of Project Management
Project Planning, Analysis, and Control
Communication/Personal Effectiveness
 Communicating Technical Issues†
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Dynamics of Daily Negotiations
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Leadership
 Management of Space Technology Programs†
Influencing Others: The Leader’s Toolkit
Leading Through Influence
 Seminar in Leadership
Project Management
 Leading Complex Projects†
Communication/Personal Effectiveness
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Leadership Skills for Managing Crucial Conversations
Leadership
 Leading Through Influence
Project Management
 Advanced Project Management
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Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL)
• APPEL provides core and in-depth systems engineering training for JSC and other Centers.
• In FY ‘08, JSC conducted 8 APPEL Systems Engineering courses with total participation of 183 employees
• Anticipated APPEL Systems Engineering courses for FY ‘09:
Decision Analysis
- Requirements Development & Management
- Fundamentals of Systems Engineering
- Developing & Implementing a Systems Engineering Management Plan
- Space Launch and Transportation Systems
- Transition, Product Delivery, and Mission Operations
- Space System Verification & Validation
- Concept Exploration and System Architecting
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Academia/Universities
• Stevens Institute of Technology Pilot (2007-2008)
• Participated in Space Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate and Masters
Programs targeted for space systems applications
(8 participants)
• Very well received for a number of factors including quality of instructors with real-world experience and expertise in space domain, curriculum content and format, and APPLICATION of classroom training to on-the-job projects.
• University of Texas
• Providing input into curriculum for Master’s in System Design
• Systems Engineering capability needs assessment underway to determine SE skills needed to be incorporated into graduate and undergraduate programs in Systems
Engineering (i.e. University of Houston, UT)
• Other Academic Pilot Programs
• Participated in pilot program at University of Southern California
(15 participants)
• Participated in pilot program at California Institute of Technology
(24 participants)
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Discipline
Knowledge
Multidisciplinary
Authority
Authority in the Field
Engineering
Mentoring &
Knowledge
Sharing
Mastery of
Specialty
Area
Professional
Knowledge
System
Engineering
Program
SE&I
Leader
Large
Project
SE&I
Leader
Major
Subsystem or Project
SE&I
Leader
Small
Project
SE&I Team
Member
Project
Management
Program
Manager
Large
Project
Manager
Major
Subsystem or Project
Manager
Small
Project
Team
Member
Leadership
Senior
Leader
Manager
First Line
Supervisor
Influence
Leader
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• Four Divisions of Engineering participated in an SE
Capabilities Needs Assessment
Critical capability needs identified included application of knowledge in:
- System Environments
- System Architecture
- Technical Requirements Definition
- Product Implementation
- Product Integration
- Product Verification
- Product Validation
- Operations
- Requirements Management
- Interface Management
- Configuration Management
- Technical Data Management
- Technical Assessment
- Leadership
- Communication
• Developing a Just-In-Time training curriculum for Systems
Engineering/Project Management
• Knowledge Management through continuous learning
• Brown Bag Lunch and Learns/Technical Talks – learn from the experts
• Case Studies - under consideration 12