Gundars Osvalds, Senior Principal Enterprise Architect
Northrop Grumman
Gundars Osvalds started his lecture explaining how he’s being doing architecture for the past 20 years. But it was out of his frustration with implementing these various architectures that his desire for betters tools was born. He explained the myriad advantages of using Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and using the SysML (a standard developed by Object Modeling Group and INCOSE) to document an architecture. The best part is the ability to simulate the system during the design phase, allowing the stakeholders insight into the implementation concept. He went on to talk about Black Box: Conceptual Model and the White Box: Logical and Visualization (an Northup Grumman addition) Models. SysML also provides requirements traceability and Use Cases in order to provide context to the system being designed. At the end he showed a Visualization video of the program he was working. Very impressive indeed.
Check it out by downloading the presentation slides 
here.
Mr. Osvalds spoke to a packed house with over 42 in the audience, eager to hear what he had to share. The new student chapter added a significant amount to the total. Another successful diner meeting.
At the end of the lecture, Programs Director Don York says thanks to Mr. Osvalds by providing a mug inscribed with an Chesapeake Chapter INCOSE logo and a memory stick.
Gundars Osvalds with members of the newly formed Student INCOSE Chapter
Back Row: Cory Maynard, Felix Mercado, Carl Shek, Trey Jones, Matt Dixon
Front Row: Matthew Alexander, Gundars Osvalds, Jeffrey Banks
Another great dinner amidst dozens of conversations and networking opportunities. The lecture and door prize “give away” rounded out another wonderful meeting.
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August 3, 2010
INCOSE speaks with the Systems Engineers at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
by Erik DeVito
On Tuesday August 3, 2010, The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center held their monthly Systems Engineering Seminar. Two special guests from INCOSE were on hand to speak to the attendees. First, the President Elect of INCOSE John Thomas talked about the organization, its structure and the various benefits that INCOSE provides to the membership. He went on to highlight his goals for elevating the Systems Engineering career field during his term. The incoming president also discussed INCOSE’s certification program and conferred to the audience the various levels of certification that can be pursued.
Following Mr. Thomas was none other than the INCOSE Chesapeake Chapter’s current sitting president George Anderson. George, in his introduction, spoke about his prolific background and the Systems Engineering work he did with the National Traffic Safety Board as a member of the Major Aircraft Accident Investigation Team. The main focus of his brief was to introduce the audience to the Chesapeake Chapter of INCOSE. George discussed many aspects of what the Chesapeake Chapter does for the membership. Including, the monthly dinner lectures, various webinars, training opportunities, as well as the annual holiday dinner. He displayed the current membership stats and talked at length about the monthly newsletter. He furthered that the Chesapeake Chapter had just reached a significant milestone in the formation of the Student Division. This was, he said, accomplished with help from their co-sponsor Johns Hopkins University and the hard work of the student officers. Mr. Anderson closed with a montage of pictures taken from various dinner lecture meetings. There were many happy, smiling members for the crowd to see.
George wrapped up and then Mr. Thomas took the stage once again to close the seminar. The President Elect discussed “The Need for Systems Engineering in Technology Development Programs”. It was an informative and useful presentation that highlighted the need for strong Systems Engineering leadership and effective technology evolution paths for the development of critical systems components. The seminar curator Tom Bagg of NASA (also a Chesapeake Chapter member) thanked the gentleman and presented them with certificates of appreciation for their efforts.
Download John Thomas presentation slides here.
Download George Anderson presentation slides here.
>>Abstract and Bio | Poster (jpg) (pdf) <<
Visit the GSFC SE Seminar Homepage for future Systems Engineering events. GFSFC also has a page dedicated to past presentations. You’ll need to scroll down to the August 3, 2010 entry to see the link to the Videocast Archive.
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