INCOSE Enchantment: R&D Operations: Systems Engineering at the Z Pulsed Power Facility
INCOSE Enchantment: R&D Operations: Systems Engineering at the Z Pulsed Power Facility
Date: June 11th, 2025
Time: 4:45 PM - 6:00 PM Mountain Time
Venue: Online via ZOOM
Registration: Zoom link is provided in the meeting invitation; contact [email protected] to request the meeting invitation.
Abstract: The Z Pulsed Power Facility can be a complex place to apply traditional systems engineering approaches because it is an R&D operations facility. This kind of facility combines the large, evolving scope of research with the rigor and planning of hazardous operations. In this talk, I describe how my previous field of nonlinear dynamics uses patterns to gain insights into system behavior and discuss the implications of the R&D operations pattern.
Speaker bio: Karen Blaha is a systems engineering supporting operations at the Z Pulsed Power Facility at Sandia National Labs. She has particular interest in work planning & controls, documentation, and using graphics for technical communication. Prior to joining Sandia, she received a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and was a postdoc in the UNM Mechanical Engineering department. Her research at both institutions focused on experimental nonlinear dynamics. In her free time, Karen plays water polo and works on a wide variety of creative pursuits, including writing, illustration, and playing piano.