Certified Systems Engineer Professional

If you would like to become a Certified Systems Engineering Professional, ATI is here to help you. ATI is now offering a dynamic four-day Instructor-led course that covers all the latest CSEP v5.0 requirements in the July 2023 version of the INCOSE Handbook and covers all the material that might be on the CSEP/ASEP Knowledge […]

If you would like to become a Certified Systems Engineering Professional, ATI is here to help you.

ATI is now offering a dynamic four-day Instructor-led course that covers all the latest CSEP v5.0 requirements in the July 2023 version of the INCOSE Handbook and covers all the material that might be on the CSEP/ASEP Knowledge Exam. The INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) certification is a useful and coveted milestone in the career of a Systems Engineer, demonstrating knowledge, education and experience that is of high value to industry and systems organizations. This Course and certification process requires passing an extensive examination based on the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook v5.0 (July 2023), interactive work, study plans, patented study aids, and sample knowledge examination questions to help you prepare effectively for the exam. Secondarily, this course also covers the major changes in SE terminology, practice, and processes since the last 2015 SE v4.0 handbook revision. Finally, this course covers all the latest industry accepted Systems Engineering processes best practices guaranteed to make you and your company better Systems Engineers … all while working with today’s levels of complexity, ambiguity, volatility, and uncertainty.

ATI combines our proven SEH method and 60+ years of industry experience to ensure that  you will not only pass the exam, but have an in-depth understanding of the entire System Engineering process.  Our instructors are program certified and provide hands-on assistance with your application from beginning to end.  Our program also includes an extensive test bank to ensure that you are prepared for more than just the Knowledge Exam. We are so confident in our method that if you do not receive your certification after taking this course, submitting your Application and taking the Knowledge Exam, our Instructors will meet with you, complete a customized content review and we will immediately enroll you in the next offering at no additional cost.

You Receive as Part of this Course:

Personal copy of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, Rev. 5.

Our patented ATI participant Course Manual, with newly added SE Handbook Rev. 5 materials to the existing highly regarded INCOSE ATI CSEP Rev 4. Student Guide. This manual contains not only a copy of the slides presented during the course, but also a vast amount of Instructor led insights, notes and experience to reinforce specifically what is being taught in the Rev. 5 Handbook.

Instruction and tips on how to fill out your application and reference for success. Personal, Instructor-led, guidance on submitting your INCOSE CSEP Application and Letter of Reference using proven first-pass success techniques. This instruction is provided by ATI Instructors that have served as INCOSE volunteers to review & approve applications, so ATI understands and knows exactly what your INCOSE Application Reviewer is looking for.

Personal self-evaluation questionnaire to provide you laser focus on which areas require additional study and which areas you already understand.

Personalized, Instructor-led, guidance for study planning.

An “After Class Knowledge Exam Preparation” Course module sharing effective & ineffective study and exam taking techniques showing you the existing v5.0 knowledge computer exam format and layout.

Personalized Instructor-led Knowledge Examination test taking strategies from INCOSE CSEP’s that have actually taken the Knowledge Exam and have volunteered with INCOSE to write and approve actual INCOSE Knowledge Exam questions.

Three partial and full-length sample Knowledge Examinations, written by Instructors that are themselves INCOSE CSEP’s that have actually taken the Exam and have volunteered with INCOSE to write and approve actual knowledge exam questions, and how to use each of the Knowledge Exams in your study and knowledge domain preparation to assess your readiness. Note – these ATI Sample Exams are not actual INCOSE CSEP Knowledge Exam questions.

Instructors that are with you through the entire process, including up to, through and after passing the Knowledge Exam. Instructors provide their personal email and mobile phone number and are available after your 4-Day Course through passing the Knowledge Exam … guaranteed!

No pre-course preparation is required to pass the Knowledge Exam, first-time. After you complete this 4-Day Boot-Camp and your personalized Study Play you will be ready to implement your personalized study plan and then to take and pass the CSEP/ACEP Knowledge Exam. This course is available as a private onsite only and ATI guarantees you will pass.

What You Will Learn:

How to pass the CSEP examination!

Details of the INCOSE Handbook, the source for the exam.

Your own strengths and weaknesses, to target your study.

The key processes and definitions in the INCOSE language of the exam.

ATI’s patented complete “Process-On-A-Page” Study Guide to make recalling each of the processes, their inputs and outputs and their controls and enablers easy to remember and recall during the Knowledge Exam.

How to tailor the INCOSE processes.

ATI’s proven Five Rules for Test-Taking.

ATI’s proven rules on How to Prepare and How Not To Prepare.

You will develop a trusted and personal relationship with your individual Instructor that will guide you through preparing for, taking/passing the exam, maintaining your certification through Continuing Education best practices and welcoming you into the coveted certified membership of INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professionals as you grow into your CSEP/ASEP SE role. Equally as important, you will learn the latest SE terminology, practice, and processes to be a better Engineer … GUARANTEED.

OK, Enough of the sales pitch. So, what will your next step be?

If you are ready to enroll in the course, you can go here, and register to attend the CSEP Preparation Class.

If you are not quite sure yet, and you would like to attend a free one-hour webinar to learn more about the course, you can go here, and register to attend the free webinar where you will meet one of the instructors and learn more about the course.  After attending this free session, we think you will be ready to enroll, but feel free to attend even if you don’t plan on taking the course; hopefully you will learn something.

Lastly, if you have any questions about this course, or any other ATI courses, please feel free to reach out to us at the email addresses or phone numbers listed at www.aticourses.com

Modeling and Simulation

Modeling and Simulation can be very complex, or it can be a simple part of everyday life. One can compute the probability of a certain event occurring.  As a simple example, the probability of throwing a die and getting a 1 is computed to be 1/6.   The Law Of Large Numbers says that if you […]

Modeling and Simulation can be very complex, or it can be a simple part of everyday life.

One can compute the probability of a certain event occurring.  As a simple example, the probability of throwing a die and getting a 1 is computed to be 1/6.   The Law Of Large Numbers says that if you conduct a trial a large number of times, perhaps an infinite number of times, you will observe the computed probability of that event; it’s an undisputable fact.  So, if you are a casino dealing with very large numbers of games, you can compute the simple probability of a casino win for each game, and the casino can be 100% assured, given that they host a very large number of games, that they will win that percentage of times, overall.  So, as one might expect, although a player may be gambling, the casino has a sure bet.  If a casino offers a bet, they know they will win it, over time.  Its all in the numbers.

In the example of throwing the die, we know that once every six rolls, on average, we will roll a 1.  Any game of chance, like the roll of die, is essentially a simulation of behavior with a known probability distribution.  The goal of data analysts is to create a simple model to determine the behavior of complex systems.

As data analytics becomes increasingly popular, the use of Modeling and Simulation in Systems Engineering is becoming more important too.  If you want to learn more about how M&S fits into the Systems Engineering process, ATI has a course that will help you.  Consider taking our new offering of Modeling and Simulation in the Systems Engineering Process

This two-day short course provides an overview of the use of Modeling and Simulation in the Systems Engineering process. After an introduction of key M&S terms and processes, the course presents an overview of the types of models and simulations used across the phases of the Systems Engineering life cycle, from system needs analysis through system sustainment.  Examples are given for several types of systems, including systems developed under the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition process.  The course then provides information on advanced M&S and Digital Engineering topics, including the U.S. DoD Digital Engineering Strategy; the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and the Systems Modeling Language (SysML); interoperable and live-virtual-constructive (LVC) simulation; collaborative environments and asset repositories for Digital Engineering; and modeling the natural and man-made environments.

Consider registering for this class.  You can find additional information on the class, and you can register to attend here.  And, as always, you can find a full listing of ATI’s other classes here.

Digital Twins

Lifecycle activities for a project include concept development, and continue with design, construction, operation, maintenance, and conclude with project disposal tasks.  In the past, an individual working on a project might be concerned with only one part of the lifecycle, and then hand off the product or ideas to another person working on the next […]

Lifecycle activities for a project include concept development, and continue with design, construction, operation, maintenance, and conclude with project disposal tasks.  In the past, an individual working on a project might be concerned with only one part of the lifecycle, and then hand off the product or ideas to another person working on the next aspect of the lifecycle.  As projects have become more complex, and as hardware and software are being asked to work together more than ever, it is no longer possible to work on some isolated aspect of a complex project; the project must be handled holistically across all phases of the lifecycle, and this requires a new way of doing business. 

Traditional engineering projects would have addressed requirements, design, verification and validation, and then delivered the project to the customer for construction, and eventually ongoing operation and maintenance.  The new paradigm, Digital Engineering, addresses all of the things that Traditional engineering addressed, but continues to be active and relevant throughout the entire remaining Lifecycle of the project.  Digital Engineering is defined (Steven’s Institute of Technology) as ‘‘an integrated digital approach that uses authoritative sources of systems’ data and models as a continuum across disciplines to support lifecycle activities from concept through disposal.

The first phase of the lifecycle is concept development and design. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) supports these preliminary systems engineering activities; requirements, architecture, design, verification, and validation. Physics based models used by other engineering disciplines would then need to be connected to the model in order to assess and monitor operations during the following phases of the lifecycle.  All of these models used holistically would be a Digital Engineering approach to the project.

Many who work the field of digital engineering give the example of producing two distinct products.  In the past, a building project would result in one product, the building itself.  Using the digital engineering approach, we would end up with two distinct products.  The first product would still be the building, but the second product would be a “digital twin”  of the building.

A modern building can be thought of as a System of Systems.  The building is a System, but it is comprised of many subsystems; climate control system, fire control system, electrical system, just to name a few.  Under traditional engineering methods, if there was a problem with one of the subsystems in the building, maintenance people would need to troubleshoot the problem using tools like voltmeters and sledge hammers, identify the best solution, perhaps tear down drywall to access and fix the culprit system, and perhaps ultimately discover that they were “barking up the wrong tree.”  If that is the case, the troubleshooting would start again, and the repair process would be repeated until the problem is ultimately identified and fixed.  This is a cumbersome and expensive process, but it is how we have done business for many years.

With a “digital twin” which resulted from using the Digital Engineering process, one could troubleshoot the problem from a computer, and test potential solutions to see if the outcome would be favorable.  Additionally, Digital Engineering could utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) with data collected from each subsystem, to alleviate or prevent many problems before they even occur. 

When problem do occur, however, although a solution may solve the immediate problem, it can sometimes cause new problems which need to be addressed.  With the “Digital Twin”, the solution to the problem can be investigated and verified before any repairman grabs his toolbox and starts tearing down walls.  If there are unexpected consequences associate with the repair, it will quickly become evident from the Digital Twin.

The holistic approach of Digital Engineering can have profound impacts on production costs, production schedule, and risk reduction throughout the entire lifecycle of the project.  For these reason, Digital Engineering is rapidly gaining popularity in today’s marketplace.

Anyone wishing to learn more about Digital Engineering should start by learning more about Model Based Systems Engineering.  ATI offers a three-day class that provides an introduction to Model-Based Systems Engineering.  Lectures on proven, state-of-the-art techniques will be reinforced with lessons learned and case studies from the instructor’s own experiences applying MBSE of major DoD acquisition programs, along with in class, live demonstrations using a popular system modeling tool (Cameo Systems Modeler™ by No Magic, Inc.) to create an example model.  The course is valuable to systems engineers, program managers, and anyone else interested in understanding what is required to create a system model, how to use it to support systems engineering activities on a program, and the benefits that can be realized.

To learn more about this the ATI course Model-Based Systems Engineering, and to register for this class, you can go here.  And, as always, to learn more about the other courses available at ATI, go to www.aticourses.com .

ATI Now Offers On-Demand Systems Engineering Training

Today’s complex systems present difficult challenges to develop. From military systems to aircraft to environmental and IT systems, development teams must face the challenges with an arsenal of proven methods. Systems Engineering allows us to take advantage of specialization to help reduce cost and schedule in developing successful systems. So, you know that this is […]

Today’s complex systems present difficult challenges to develop. From military systems to aircraft to environmental and IT systems, development teams must face the challenges with an arsenal of proven methods. Systems Engineering allows us to take advantage of specialization to help reduce cost and schedule in developing successful systems.

So, you know that this is an important skill that you need learn; no question about that. 

But, what can you do if your you or your employer simply can’t afford the time or money to take the full SE Fundamentals course offered by ATI?  Well, ATI now has a solution to that problem that may be of interest to you.

Systems Engineering – Fundamentals ON-DEMAND is a concise and portable pre-recorded series of 6 self-contained modules.  The on-demand class is taught by the same instructor who teaches more conventional SE classes for ATI.  Each module is approximately one hour long and covers the underlying attitudes as well as the process definitions that makeup systems engineering.  The model presented is a research-proven combination of the best existing standards.  

This 6-Module course can be played on any browser and is available 24/7/60:  around the clock for 60 days.   You will be able to ask questions of the instructors via email for 90 days from the date of activation.  Activation will occur during normal business hours ET.   The downloadable course slides are yours to keep.

  To learn more about this exciting new opportunity, or to register for this Course, please visit:

On Demand Courses – ATI Courses

And, as always, you can learn about the full set of courses offered by ATI, including other  Systems Engineering Classes which are not offered on-demand, at www.aticourses.com

System of (System of Systems)

An individual can be very powerful, but when you get many people working together to accomplish a task, the result can be much better than if each person solved the problem independently.  Clearly, the reason that the group is stronger than the sum of the parts is because each person can work on that portion […]

An individual can be very powerful, but when you get many people working together to accomplish a task, the result can be much better than if each person solved the problem independently.  Clearly, the reason that the group is stronger than the sum of the parts is because each person can work on that portion of the problem that they are most suited for, and there can be an efficient division of labor.  Obviously, this group needs to be well organized so it can work together efficiently, and there must be frequent communication between the people. 

This example of people working together on a complicated task is not unlike “Systems of Systems (SoS) Engineering.”

When designing a very simple system, one could imagine doing the job by themselves, with very little need to consult a larger group, or enlist the services of other engineers.  This may not be the case, however, for a very large and complex system.

Although a simple System may be made of individual components, a complex system will likely be made up of a group of individual systems.  Designing a complex system made up of many simpler systems is referred to as SoS Engineering.  In fact, each of the Systems in a SoS may itself be a SoS.  So, as the title of this blog implies, you could actually have an SoSoSoSoS.

For example, we might consider an Air Traffic Control System to be a SoS.  This SoS would be comprised of many smaller systems; airport, airplanes, cars, traffic control systems, etc.  If we look at one of these systems, cars for example, we notice that it is actually a SoS; brake system, motor, chassis, etc.  And, we could even drill down further as each of these systems might actually be a SoS.

To determine if a complex system qualifies as a SoS, it has to have five characteristics; 

-Each of the Systems that comprise the SoS has to have operational independence.  If you removed the system from the SoS, it would still operate as designed.

-Each of the Systems that comprise the SoS has to be managed independently.  Each System has to manage its own operation, but no system should affect the management of the SoS.

-The SoS must perform a task that could not be accomplished alone by any individual system.  When Systems are combined into a SoS, there is an expectation that “Emergent Behaviors” will result, and the SoS will accomplish tasks that could not have been performed by any one of the systems by itself.  Of note, sometimes Emergent Behaviors can be undesired, and when that occurs, the engineer must address that issue.

-Each of the individual systems are geographically distributed

-Each of the systems are being constantly reviewed to ensure upgrades are not required to allow the system to continue to contribute positively to the SoS.

ATI offers a class which will teach you about designing an effective SoS. 

To learn more about our System of Systems Class, you can read about it here.  If you would like to take this class, please let us know so we can schedule an open-enrollment offering.  Or, if you would like ATI to teach this class to a larger group at your facility, please contact us and inquire about our Custom Courses.

Playing Nice in the EMI Sandbox

If you wear a pacemaker, you are probably already aware of the precautions you must take when you are in the vicinity of certain other devises.  For those that may be unaware, there are many devices should never come into contact with the skin above the pacemaker, cordless telephones or electric razors for example.  There […]

If you wear a pacemaker, you are probably already aware of the precautions you must take when you are in the vicinity of certain other devises.  For those that may be unaware, there are many devices should never come into contact with the skin above the pacemaker, cordless telephones or electric razors for example.  There are other devices which should never be within six inches of the pacemaker, Bluetooth emitters for example.  And there are other devices that should never be used in the same room as a pacemaker patient, stun guns for example.  Have you ever wondered why these restrictions exist?

When an electronic device operates, changing electrical currents and voltages cause electromagnetic interference ( EMI ).  This EMI is transmitted into the space around the device, and can cause other proximate devices to malfunction, or to stop functioning all together.  When an engineer designs a device, he must be acutely aware of how much EMI the device will transmit into the surrounding space, and he must also be aware of how much EMI can be present in his own space for his device to operate properly.  The ability to both of these things, is called Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).  In order to go to market and sell a device in the US, the FCC must test your device to confirm its emitted EMI is below the regulated threshold, and it also tests to make sure your device continues to operate in the presence of EMI at that threshold.  Said in another way, they ensure your device is Electromagnetically Compliant.  In other countries, the thresholds may be different, and the Testing Agency will be different, but compliance testing will be encountered in every country.

Since formal Compliance Testing by the FCC is a lengthy and expensive proposition, most engineers will try to monitor and test their Electromagnetic Compliance themselves before they contact the FCC for formal testing.  This informal testing by the engineer is critical to ensure that the device design ultimately stays on time and on budget.

In general, if a device is not Electromagnetically Compliant, the FCC will not allow it to go to market.  In some cases, however, the device is not compliant and can not be designed differently.  If the device is considered medically essential, it will be allowed to go to market, with very clear operating restrictions.  This is the case with Pacemakers.

If you want to learn more about the Formal FCC Compliance Testing, or if you want to learn more about how to informally test your device prior to formal testing, or if you want to learn how to design your circuits so that you will pass informal and formal testing, consider taking the upcoming ATI course EMC PCB Design and Integration.  You can learn more about the course, and register for it here.

And, as always, you can look at our other classes, and our upcoming schedule of offerings at www.aticourses.com

International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

How many of you know about the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) or the various INCOSE Certifications including Associate Systems Engineering Professional ( ASEP ), Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), or Expert Systems Engineering Professional ( ESEP )? The purpose of this Blog post is to enlighten those who are not aware of the […]

How many of you know about the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) or the various INCOSE Certifications including Associate Systems Engineering Professional ( ASEP ), Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), or Expert Systems Engineering Professional ( ESEP )?

The purpose of this Blog post is to enlighten those who are not aware of the INCOSE organization, or the INCOSE certifications.  Both of these are things that most Systems Engineers should already know about, and if you don’t, you may find this informative.

INCOSE is comprised of nearly 20,000 Systems Engineering Professionals.  Their mission, as stated on their web page, is “to address complex societal and technical challenges by enabling, promoting, and advancing Systems Engineering and systems approaches.”  Also from their web page, the goals of INCOSE are to 1) be a focal point for dissemination of systems engineering knowledge, 2) promote international collaboration 3) Assure the establishment of professional standards in systems engineering, 4) improve the professional status of all systems engineers, and 5) encourage governmental and industrial support for Systems Engineering.  There is a wealth of other information on their web page, so anyone interested in INCOSE should visit the INCOSE Web site.

One of the services that INCOSE has provided is a mechanism for Systems Engineers to be certified at some level as a Systems Engineering Professional ( ASEP, CSEP or ESEP ), indicating that they have met all of the standards defined by INCOSE, indicating that the individual is a qualified Systems Engineer.   Earning an INCOSE certification is not easy, but it is something that over 3000 individuals have accomplished to date.

Mark Wilson, from Strategy Bridge and INCOSE recently published a fascinating article where he pontificates on whether or not the INCOSE CSEP certification is worthwhile.   Warning, spoilers coming, leave this page immediately if you don’t want to know how the story ends …….  He concludes that the INCOSE SE certifications ARE worthwhile, both for the individual who earns the certification, and for the organization that employs that individual.

Earning the ASEP certification requires that the individual pass a rigorous exam demonstrating knowledge of Systems Engineering concepts.  CSEP certification also requires that the individual have a demonstrated track record of having worked successfully in a Systems Engineering role.  ESEP certification simply raises the bar and requires more experience.    To prepare for the exam, candidates often take a short-course which reviews many of the concepts that are tested.

Applied Technology Institute offers a 3-day short course called CSEP Preparation which will prepare students for the INCOSE SE exam, applicable to any of the three certification levels.  This course walks through the CSEP requirements and the INCOSE Handbook to cover all topics that might be on the INCOSE exam. Interactive work, study plans, and three sets of sample examination questions help you to prepare effectively for the exam. Participants leave the course with solid knowledge, a hard copy of the INCOSE Handbook, study plans, and a sample examination.

ATI will be offering the next CSEP Prep ( live virtual ) class starting on September 27.  Students may register for this class using the link above.  If you would like to learn more about the CSEP certification prior to registering for the course, ATI will be offering a free short session ( live virtual ) on September 10 where the instructor will provide information about CSEP and CSEP Prep class.  Additional information on this free short session, and link to register, can be found here.

We hope to see you at the CSEP short session, or the CSEP Prep course, in September. 

LEGO”S New Market: Mindfulness for Stressed-out Adults

In a January 16, 2020 Washington Post article, Abha Bhattarai writes about LEGO’s growing demographic of stressed-out adults.  One person’s LEGO time is described as a “kind of guided meditation.”   The author of the LEGO book, Build Yourself Happy: The Joy of Lego Play, calls her LEGO pieces “therapeutic.” LEGO is capitalizing on the growing adult market by […]
In a January 16, 2020 Washington Post article, Abha Bhattarai writes about LEGO’s growing demographic of stressed-out adults.  One person’s LEGO time is described as a “kind of guided meditation.”   The author of the LEGO book, Build Yourself Happy: The Joy of Lego Play, calls her LEGO pieces “therapeutic.” LEGO is capitalizing on the growing adult market by improving their instructions and introducing new lines of models to provide a “joyful creative challenge.” Eric Honour, founder of Honourcode, a Systems Engineering training company now owned by Applied Technology Institute, LLC, has used LEGOs for years in a couple of the training classes.  Students build robots using Mindstorms Robotic Invention System 2.0. Both successes and failures with the final LEGO robots results in great fun and a huge learning experience. ATI courses which incorporate the Mindstorm RIS 2.0 Lego Sets include: Applied Systems Engineering has four different groups building LEGO robots to interact as a whole.  The LEGO exercise demonstrates concept, methods, requirements, system architecting, product design and implementation, integration and test, and leadership and collaboration. Applied Test & Evaluation uses LEGOs in groups for a Test Challenge:  Plan for T&E, build the robot per instructions, then follow their T&E plan. What an amazing toy!  Fun for kids of all ages.  Valuable as a means to relax, to collaborate, to test, and to learn to better work with yourself and others. %MCEPASTEBIN%

What we have here is a failure to communicate ( Systems Engineering )

Although the term “Systems Engineering” dates back to the 1940s, and the concept was practiced even earlier than that, there seems to be a growing emphasis on System Engineering, perhaps because Systems have become more complex in recent times.  During my early years of training and practice as an electrical engineer decades ago, I do […]

Although the term “Systems Engineering” dates back to the 1940s, and the concept was practiced even earlier than that, there seems to be a growing emphasis on System Engineering, perhaps because Systems have become more complex in recent times.  During my early years of training and practice as an electrical engineer decades ago, I do not recall hearing or learning much about Systems Engineering, but it seems to have gotten much more well-deserved attention since then.  Feel free to argue these points if you wish, but this has been my observation.

So, what can go wrong if Systems Engineering principles are ignored?  What could possibly go wrong if you have multiple engineers concentrating on their own aspect of the overall design, and no one paying attention to the overall system?    Take a look at this humorous video and see what can happen…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAP30crsTzk

But seriously, though…..

One of the best descriptions of Systems Engineering that I have seen is from INCOSE ( International Council on Systems Engineering ).  It says “Systems engineers are at the heart of creating successful new systems. They are responsible for the system concept, architecture, and design. They analyze and manage complexity and risk. They decide how to measure whether the deployed system actually works as intended. They are responsible for a myriad of other facets of system creation. Systems engineering is the discipline that makes their success possible – their tools, techniques, methods, knowledge, standards, principles, and concepts. The launch of successful systems can invariably be traced to innovative and effective systems engineering.”

So, how can today’s busy and overworked engineer learn more about Systems Engineering?  Or, even if you think you already know everything about Systems Engineering, how can you refresh your knowledge so it is more relevant to the workplace of 2019? 

Applied Technology Institute may have exactly what you are looking for.  ATI recently merged with Honourcode, Inc., and now offers a full line of Systems Engineering courses being taught by original Honourcode instructors, including Eric Honour.

 There is still time to register for our next offering of Applied Systems Engineering, being offered in Columbia, Md starting on September 23, 2019.  This course includes a  hands-on class exercise conducted in small groups. Part A analyzes a system concept and requirements, developing specific test requirements,. Part B creates an effective test program and test procedures for the product system. Part C builds the robotic systems per assembly instructions. Part D implements the test program to evaluate the final robots.  It is a really fun and informative in-class exercise.   Here is a cool video of the System Product built in this class.

Please read more about this opportunity at the following link.

https://aticourses.com/training_classes/applied-systems-engineering-m120/

Bombers and Subs and Missiles, oh my!

Speaking for myself, I always considered the nuclear triad to include bombers, submarines, and missiles, but, I was wrong. Sandra Erwin points out in her Space News article, we really need to remember that these three components of the triad could not be effective without two other complimentary components, a competent work force to operate […]

Speaking for myself, I always considered the nuclear triad to include bombers, submarines, and missiles, but, I was wrong. Sandra Erwin points out in her Space News article, we really need to remember that these three components of the triad could not be effective without two other complimentary components, a competent work force to operate them, and a modern and reliable Nuclear Command, Control and Communications ( NC3 ) network.

Lt. Gen Jack Weinstein, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration recently pointed out that nuclear modernization efforts cannot be strictly focused on subs, bombers, and missiles, but must also be concerned about modernizing the NC3 system, causing him to remark “The Triad also means space capability.” The Nuclear Posture Review reported that many of the components of the current NC3 system are antiquated technology which has not been modernized in almost 30 years. 

Sandra Erwin reports that the Air Force does have programs under way to modernize communications and early-warning satellites, but integration of these new systems will be very complex, and highly trained work force will be needed to build the systems.

Interestingly, Lt. Gen Weinstein has confidence in the military’s ability to train their people to operate these systems, but he expresses concern about educating the civilian workforce which will also need to be involved.

Applied Technology Institute (ATI) can play an important role in preparing the workforce which will support the future nuclear Triad since it offers a diverse collection of courses which cover all of the domains where the Triad will need to operate; air, sea, and space. Please consider looking at the current set of course offerings at ATI and consider taking some of our courses to better position yourself to make significant contributions to solving the complex problems associated with Strategic Deterrence in the future.  

 

The Need for Agile in Government

The Need for Agile in Government It’s a balancing act. We all know what we want, capable and effective systems which meet or exceed all requirements, built on smaller budgets and tighter schedules. But, how do we get there? Government work requires using Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) processes, but that can be […]

The Need for Agile in Government

It’s a balancing act. We all know what we want, capable and effective systems which meet or exceed all requirements, built on smaller budgets and tighter schedules. But, how do we get there?

Government work requires using Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) processes, but that can be slow and cumbersome.   Non-Government work often uses Agile processes which are typically more streamlined and produce results in more timely manner.   So, are JCIDS and Agile processing diametrically opposed, or are they processes that can be used together in order to take advantage of the benefits of each?

Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development, expressed his frustration recently at the annual Directed Energy Summit, co-sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. As reported by Paul McLeary in the Breaking Defense Blog, Mr. Colby said that for the past two decades, Americans have used overpowering might to fight wars, but “the Chinese and the Russians have been working to undermine that model,” Mr. McLeary believes that by spending billions on modernizing their militaries and fielding new technologies like artificial intelligence and hypersonic missiles at a faster clip than the Americans, the two countries have changed the way the United States must approach future conflict.

Mr. McLeary states that Colby underscored the view that Washington has entered an era of “long-term strategic competition” with Moscow and Beijing, and Colby used his remarks to lay down a series of challenges for defense industry types in the audience.

The traditional method of slowly testing and evaluating new technologies for year, or even decades, “ain’t gonna work any more…we need to change,” Colby said. He then went on to say that Chinese and Russian defense officials don’t keep such long development schedules, and the U.S. tech industry has scoffed at working with the Pentagon thanks in part to the cautious, time-consuming schedules so anathema to tech Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Taking decades to field aircraft like the F-35 or Ford-class carriers might provide long-term stability, but “it doesn’t matter if we’re stronger in the global context if we lose in the Pacific or Europe” tomorrow, Colby warned.

To the defense industry, Colby said bluntly, “we’re not interested in something that’s kind of a whiz-bang thing that’s not connected to a plausible deployment or not nestled within operational concepts. We do want to encourage breakthrough and creative, kind of, activity and investment in technology, but it’s got to be something that we can actually use.”

 So, how do we deliver on the challenges proposed by Mr. Colby. This author believes that the JCIDS process is an effective one, and that it should continue to be used.   In fact, such an assertion is essential because there are no signs that the JCIDS process requirements are going anywhere soon.   We must, however, smartly integrate Agile Processes within the JCIDS methods, so that the JCID timeline can be shortened so that we are producing technology for the fleet that “they can actually use.” 

The U.S. Federal TechFAR Handbook highlights six key reasons why government should adopt agile for IT project management and development. They are as follows.

  1. Improvement in investment manageability and budgetary feasibility
  2. Reduction of overall risk
  3. Frequent delivery of usable capabilities that provide value to customers more rapidly
  4. Increased flexibility
  5. Creation of new opportunities for small businesses
  6. Greater visibility into contractor performance 

To learn more about how you might incorporate Agile Processes into your government projects, consider taking ATI courses found at the following link.

Advantages Of LinkedIn For Professionals in Engineering, Science Fields and Technical Training

LinkedIn Overview LinkedIn is a professionally focused social networking service that connects business professionals with their colleagues, clients, suppliers, and others. It is a great place for people of similar or different backgrounds to connect, problem solve, and find jobs. It also serves as a fantastic forum for making new connections with some common interest, […]

LinkedIn Overview

LinkedIn is a professionally focused social networking service that connects business professionals with their colleagues, clients, suppliers, and others. It is a great place for people of similar or different backgrounds to connect, problem solve, and find jobs. It also serves as a fantastic forum for making new connections with some common interest, locally or globally. LinkedIn allows members to create, manage, and share their professional identity online, engage with and build their professional network, access shared knowledge and insights, and find business opportunities. Its platform also provides members with applications and tools to search, connect, and communicate with business contacts, learn about career opportunities, join industry groups, research organizations, and share information. You can use it for free, which works well for most people, or buy an enhanced membership, which is better if you are actively searching for a job or if you are a recruiter. LinkedIn is an excellent source for information on work-related issues and professional development. It is even a convenient way to keep in touch with people that work in your current company or that you know through professional associations or common interest groups. It also provides a convenient way to find websites and blogs that interest you. LinkedIn had its initial public stock offering in May 2011 at $45 per share and its price doubled to $92 on the offering date. It sold for $186 per share (April 2013) and $160 per share in July 2014.. LI’s market cap value of $19.3 Billion (July 2014) certainly is impressive. LI has over 250+ million members and is still growing. The financial results and investor gains are impressive. It is a lot better than my stock index funds have done since May 2011. http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=LNKD LinkedIn Is a valuable tool for engineering and scientific fields, and technical training professionals to meet others in the field, to learn from LinkedIn groups and to optimize a search for job opportunities(even before you are looking for a future job). It is a reference that I use several times per week.

ATIcourses Contacts

If you find this write-up useful and want to build a network of scientific, engineering, or training contacts on LinkedIn, send an invitation to both Lisa, Val and me. Mention the ATI LI Paper so we know the source of the request. We will accept your invitation. You will jump start your network and gain 2000+ LI second level connections.  

More advantages of LinkedIn (LI) for the technical professionals are listed below.

  • Great Networking Capability:
  • LinkedIn is a business-networking powerhouse. The number of people using it is staggering. LI has over 135 million members in over 200 countries. A new member joins LI approximately every second.
  • Executives from most Fortune 500 companies are LI members.
  • LI works by allowing you to connect with people. LI can search through your Outlook and Gmail email addresses and check whether your existing contacts are on LI and easily invite them all to connect with you.
  • LI can search through your profile details, and match possible contacts that went to University with you, or worked at the same company as you. Their choices are good matches.
  • Most importantly, LI allows you to see who your contacts are connected to, and to ask them to provide a warm introduction to interesting people on their connection lists. This increases your networking capability exponentially. The more direct connections you have, the larger is your network.
  • You Can Seek Information Or Advice On Work-Related Issues:
  • The Questions section on LI enables you to pose questions or seek information that will help you in your business.
  • You can choose to restrict your questions to selected connections, or you can open them up to the wider LI network.
  • Professional Development:
  • LI has many discussion Groups on a wide variety of subjects that you can join. These Groups are a great way of connecting with other professionals and true experts in your area of work or local geographic area, and discussing issues and trends.
  • There are several groups dedicated specifically to Aerospace, Defense, Radar, Sonar, Unmanned Vehicles and Systems Engineering
  • There are groups from professional societies including IEEE, AIAA, ASA, INCOSE , and often subgroups from the local chapters
  • There are groups dedicated to Learning & Educational Professionals, Society for Training & Development, Human Resources Career Networking,
  • You can carry out surveys and polls on LI.
  • Linkedin Is Wonderful For A Job Search:
  • LI is a wonderful source for a job search or even being approached for a new job where you have a great fit.
  • Recruiters heavily use LI to find and make offers to employees who are not actively looking, but who would welcome the right growth opportunity. Over 70% of all vacancies are hidden and are never advertised.
  • Be careful that your resume and LI profile are consistent and support your job aspirations in a professional way.
  • It Allows A Respectful And Intelligent Approach:
  • You can use the LI to research your target company or client, so that you have all the information necessary to craft a respectful and intelligent introductory email.
  • Your prospect’s LI profile may reveal that you have interests in common, helping to break the ice when you do make your first call or have that first meeting. Perhaps you went to the same University, or grew up in the same area? Perhaps you’re both interested in fishing, sky-diving or collecting vintage wine? LI is much more effective than a mailing list or generic Internet research.
  • You Can Create A Compelling Profile That You Control:
  • A compelling profile page on LI helps you to stand out from the competition. It is your face to the online world, and the key to winning work and contacts online.
  • You can control and optimize your profile so that when people search for a job candidate or an expert in your field, your name appears near the top of the list.
  • You can craft your profile in such a way that when people read it, they are encouraged to get in touch.
  • You Can Showcase Your Expertise:
  • First impressions count – you can use the introductory message you send to your prospective connections to position yourself as an expert.
  • You can use your profile to highlight the depth of your knowledge and experience.
  • You can display recommendations from colleagues or clients praising your expertise.
  • You can contribute to the Answers section of LI, where you can demonstrate your expertise by providing answers to questions from other members.
  • You Can Offer Thought Leadership in Groups:
  • LI’s many discussion Groups are perfect for demonstrating knowledge and offering insights into the market. There are some in-depth discussions, with tens of contributors to topics, in the group’s area of specialty.
  • You can initiate discussions, giving your thoughts on areas of interest to you. Members often forward thoughtful comments onto their connections, ‘virally’ raising the profile of the contributor.
  • If there is no Group for your specialist subject, you can start one and invite others to join.
  • You Can Promote Your Personal Or Company Brand:
  • Using any aspect of LI, including the personal profile, discussion Groups and LI Answers, helps to raise your profile and promote your brand.
  • You can create a detailed LI profile for your company, including a description of what your company does, how many employees it has, and where you are located.
  • Your profile can publicize your web and blog pages.
  • This profile can be helpful in establishing an employer or personal online brand.
  • You can promote this profile in a similar way to your personal profile by including the URL in your email signature, on your business cards, or on your blog.
  • You Can Use Linkedin To Run Alumni Programs:
  • Alumni programs allow current and former employees to keep in touch with each other, and are a natural fit with a networking website like LI.
  • Such programs can create a sense of community, improve your employer brand and encourage old employees to keep you in mind when business opportunities come along.
  • You Can Increase Your Internet Presence:
  • Creating a profile on LI will increase your presence on Google, as LI pages generally have a high Google ranking.
  • To get the full benefit from this, select the ‘Full View’ option on your public profile, and also customize its URL to include your name, or your company name for a company profile.
  • You can also use your contributions to Group discussions, or in LI Answers, to drive traffic to your website.
  • It Is Target-Rich:
  • LI can be used to identify potential clients, suppliers, employees, employers, or even the best people to invite to a forthcoming event.
  • You can search for and connect with people in a specific position within a company in the industry that you are interested in – or even in a particular geographic area.
  • It is much easier than using mailing lists, which very quickly become out of date and must be cleaned-up at great expense and time before using them.
  • It Is Cost Effective:
  • Creating an account on LI is free, unless you choose to upgrade to a premium account.
  • It is also very straightforward to create an account and develop your profile.
Caution – Be careful whom you invite to connect on LI. If 5 people reply “I don’t know you (IDK)” LI will require you to already know the email address of all people that you want to contact. There are “LinkedIn Open Networkers” (LIONs) who are happy to connect with a wide range of people and who accept most requests to connect. Some LIONs have 2,000 – 30,000 connections. Connecting with a few LIONs in your industry (including Mark and me) helps you add quality and depth to your network rapidly.

Useful LinkedIn Hints

  1. Take the time to 100 % completely fill out your LI profile and add a good picture.
  2. Some good advice is to first connect with people you know well, and then also add a few LIONs so that you can extend your network reach.
  3. Join industry Groups on LI as well, as your college alumni group and other groups that are of interest to you. Join five or six that match your interests or profession.
  4. Search for other web pages that discuss “LinkedIn Profile Optimization” for more advice.
  5. Always personalize your request to connect so that the potential connection understands why you are a good connection for them.
  6. Backup and download your network as a back-up periodically.
Here are a few links that I thought were useful to get started. I hope to expand this list as I am connect to a number of LinkedIn experts. Let me know if you have any questions. I find LinkedIn useful for many professional networking tasks and think that you will also find an extended career network useful in many ways. http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/23454/The-Ultimate-Cheat-Sheet-for-Mastering-LinkedIn.aspx http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/linkedin-profile/ http://internsover40.blogspot.com/2010/01/feeln-like-needle-in-haystack-5-minutes.html http://www.fastcompany.com/3026793/lessons-learned/how-to-nab-a-job-using-linkedins-whos-viewed-your-profile Overall we have found LinkedIn to be a positive way of meeting people and exchanging information. Please feel free to email us with comments or questions. Connect with us on LI or email us directly. Jim Jenkins Jim.Jenkins@ATIcourses.com Jackie Battin Jackie.Battin@ATIcourses.com  

Agile Boot Camp: Practitioner’s Real-World Solutions

Video Clip: Click to Watch Practitioner’s Workshop to Pragmatic Real-World Adoption Iteration Planning, Product Roadmap and Backlog, Estimating Practices, User Story Development and Iteration Execution Presented by the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) While not a silver bullet, Agile Methodologies are quickly becoming the most practical way to create outstanding software. Scrum, Extreme Programming, Lean, Dynamic Systems […]
Agile is a wonderful springboard for team building & learning
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Presented by the Applied Technology Institute (ATI)
While not a silver bullet, Agile Methodologies are quickly becoming the most practical way to create outstanding software. Scrum, Extreme Programming, Lean, Dynamic Systems Development Method, Feature Driven Development and other methods each have their strengths. While there are significant similarities that have brought them together under the Agile umbrella, each method brings unique strengths that can be utilized for your team success. Rarely do organizations adopt one methodology in its pure form. Rather success is achieved by combining the best practices, creating a hybrid approach. The only way to Agile success is practice. Agile is an art more than a science. The art of Agile must be practiced and finely tuned over multiple iterations. In this three-day Agile Boot Camp you will put the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques taught to work. The classroom will be broken up into Agile teams and your expert instructor will drive each team through the Agile process from Vision down to Daily planning and execution. Your instructor will answer questions with real world experience, as all of our instructors have Agile experience “in the trenches.” This three-day class is set up in pods/teams. Each team looks like a real-world development unit in Agile with Project Manager/Scrum Master, Business Analyst, Tester and Development. The teams will work through the Agile process including Iteration planning, Product road mapping and backlogging, estimating, user story development iteration execution, and retrospectives by working off of real work scenarios. Specifically, you will: • Practice how to be and develop a self-organized team • Create and communicate a Product Vision • Understand your customer and develop customer roles and personas • Initiate the requirements process by developing user stories and your product backlog • Put together product themes from your user stories and establish a desired product roadmap • Conduct story point estimating to determine effort needed for user stories to ultimately determine iteration(s) length • Take into consideration assumed team velocity with story point estimates and user story priorities to come up with you release plan • Engage the planning and execution of your iteration(s) • Conduct retrospectives after each iteration • Run a course retrospective to enable an individual plan of execution on how to conduct Agile in your environment Who Should Attend? Because this is an immersion course and the intent is to engage in the practices every Agile team will employ, this course is recommended for all team members responsible for delivering outstanding software. That includes, but is not limited to, the following roles:
Business Analyst, Technical Analyst, Project Manager Software Engineer/Programmer, Development Manager, Product Manager Product Analyst, Tester, QA Engineer, Documentation Specialist
What You Will Learn • Practice and maintain a regular cadence when delivering working software each iteration • Follow the team approach; start as a team, finish as a team • Gain knowledge and understanding of Agile principles with context on why they are so important for each team • Embrace planning from Vision down to Daily level, recognizing the value of continuous planning over following a plan • Build a backlog of prioritized stories that provides emergent requirements for analysis that also fosters customer engagement and understanding • Engage in more effective estimating (story points) and become more accurate by being less precise • Pull together Agile release plans that connect you back to business expectations – including hard date commitments and fixed price models • Apply Agile testing strategies based on unit and acceptance testing, which creates a bottom up confirmation that your software works • Avoid the top mistakes made when rolling out Agile practices and how to craft an adoption strategy that will work in your organizational culture Dates and Locations For the dates and locations of these short courses, please see below: 5/2-4/2012, San Diego, CA 5/9-11/2012, Philadelphia, PA 5/14-16/2023, Phoenix, AZ 5/16-18/2012, Washington, DC 5/23-25/2012, Houston, TX 6/6-8/2012, Cleveland, OH 6/13-15/2012, Chicago, IL 6/18-20/2012, Columbia, MD 6/25-27/2012, Baltimore, MD 6/27-29/2012, Kansas City, MO 7/23-25/2012, Boston, MA 7/30-1/2012, Reston, VA 8/8-10/2012, San Diego, CA 8/27-29/2012, St Louis, MO The Agile Boot Camp is a perfect place for cross functional “teams” to become familiar with Agile methods and learn the basics together. It’s also a wonderful springboard for team building & learning. Bring your project detail to work on in class.

Agile Project Management Certification Workshop (PMI-ACP)

Video Clip: Click to Watch More than a Methodology Agile Project Management Embraces a Set of Principles AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP (PMI-ACP) Prepare for your Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification while learning to lead Agile software projects that adapt to change, drive innovation and deliver on-time business value in this Agile PM training course Agile […]
You Need a Very Different Set of Tools to Manage Your IT Projects
Video Clip: Click to Watch
More than a Methodology Agile Project Management Embraces a Set of Principles
Prepare for your Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification while learning to lead Agile software projects that adapt to change, drive innovation and deliver on-time business value in this Agile PM training course Agile has made its way into the mainstream — it’s no longer a grassroots movement to change software development. Today, more organizations and companies are adopting this approach over a more traditional waterfall methodology, and more are working every day to make the transition. To stay relevant in the competitive, changing world of project management, it’s increasingly important that project management professionals can demonstrate true leadership ability on today’s software projects. The Project Management Institute’s Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification clearly illustrates to colleagues, organizations or even potential employers that you’re ready and able to lead in this new age of product development, management and delivery. This class not only prepares you to lead your next Agile project effort, but ensures that you’re prepared to pass the PMI-ACP certification exam. Acquiring this certification now will make you one of the first software professionals to achieve this valuable industry designation from PMI. Who Should Attend: This Agile project management training course is designed for anyone who is considering the use of an Agile methodology for software development, including:
Project Managers, Analysts, Developers, Programmers, Testers IT Managers/Directors, Software Engineers, Software Architects Software Managers, Testing Managers, Team Leaders, Customers.
What You Will Learn: • Embrace a model of continuous planning over simply following a plan • Transform your Agile project management style from “command and control” to “empower and inspire” with your team • Create a cadence for the team and eliminate process distractions for a dramatic boost in efficiency • Establish credible and achievable estimates using Agile project management estimating techniques • Communicate more transparently and reduce interruptions to your team • Rapidly build trust with your customers through frequent and effective collaboration Dates and Locations For the dates and locations of this course, please see below: 5/2/2012-4/2012 Milwaukee, WI 5/9/2012-11/2012 Tampa, FL 5/9/2012-11/2012 Tampa, FL 5/22/2012-25/2012 VIRTUAL TRAINING 5/23/2012-25/2012 Columbia, MD 5/30/2012-1/2012 Raleigh, NC 6/6/2012-8/2012 Boston, MA 6/13/2012-15/2012 Washington, DC 6/18/2012-20/2012 Houston, TX 6/20/2012-22/2012 Denver, CO 6/27/2012-29/2012 Sacramento, CA 7/16/2012-18/2012 Baltimore, MD 7/18/2012-20/2012 St Louis, MO 7/24/2012-27/2012 VIRTUAL TRAINING 7/25/2012-27/2012 Oklahoma City, OK 7/25/2012-27/2012 Philadelphia, PA 7/30/2012-1/2012 Chicago, IL 8/6/2012-8/2012 Washington, DC 8/8/2012-10/2012 Kansas City, MO 8/20/2012-22/2012 Dallas, TX 8/27/2012-29/2012 Minneapolis, MN 8/29/2012-31/2012 Boston, MA 9/5/2012-7/2012 Vancouver, British Columbia 9/19/2012-21/2012 Toronto, Ontario 10/10/2012-12/2012 Calgary, Alberta 10/17/2012-19/2012 Toronto, Ontario 11/14/2012-16/2012 Toronto, Ontario 11/27/2012-29/2012 Vancouver British, Columbia 12/12/2012-14/2012 Toronto, Ontario


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GEN-YS NEED SPECIAL HANDLING WHEN FIRST ENTERING THE WORKFORCE – PART 1

If your company is hiring Gen-Ys (aka Millennials) fresh out of college, you will be eager to get them folded into your operation and feeling part of the team. But you will need to handle this cohort of youngsters differently than any other generations entering the Western workforce. At first glance, you might ask “So […]
If your company is hiring Gen-Ys (aka Millennials) fresh out of college, you will be eager to get them folded into your operation and feeling part of the team. But you will need to handle this cohort of youngsters differently than any other generations entering the Western workforce. At first glance, you might ask “So what is different? After all, Gen-Ys are doing the same thing other generations have done before them: Leaving college friends and lovers, settling into new job and meeting new people.” And that is true and the typical corporate socialization techniques designed to ease the transition of new employees from college to work – – – social mixers, assignment of mentors, integrated product teams, etc. – – – will also be useful for incorporating Gen-Ys into your organization. But it will not be enough because there are other, much more complex dynamics at work in the recently-employed Gen Y community. We know this because we teach courses in Project Management and we have had some eye-popping, private conversations with Gen Y attendees about their job environment, their stress levels, their egos, expectations and fears. Gen-Ys have an additional layer of issues affecting their mindsets and, hence, their job performance. More than any previous generation, Gen-Ys: – Have grown up with iPods and near-constant music. This is the first 100% iPod â„¢ generation and music has been a near-constant companion for them while driving, walking, jogging and even while studying or working. – Are accustomed to very frequent social contact with friends via texting, IM and Skype. Boomers snicker at the typical Gen-Y texting with friends every few minutes and are amazed when they first see Gen-Ys on their phones while watching movies and sporting events. Tweeting their remote friends about the movie or ballgame, and even Tweeting with friends right there in the crowd with them, is commonplace for Gen Ys. – Believe in a “flat” equalitarian culture, where levels of organization do not exist. As a freshman in college a Gen Y could email (or call or visit) the President of the university, on almost any subject, and the President would discuss the subject, and thank the student for being straightforward and for bringing the problem to light. “Chain of Command” is usually an alien concept to any Gen Ys who are at their first jobs and who lack military experience. – Have developed comparatively fragile egos and rely on frequent feedback on how they are doing in each class and with their friendships. So the next time a Gen Y, new to your workplace, behaves strangely or does something you as a Gen-X or Baby Boomer might consider odd put yourself in their shoes: – The comfortable, predictable college world they have known for 4+ years is completely gone. Professors with whom they could negotiate grades and arrange for “extra credit” work when needed have been replaced by a boss who is part of an entirely different culture, and embedded in a more rigid hierarchy of departments/divisions run by anonymous bureaucrats. – The social fabric that held their lives together is missing. The face-to-face contact with college friends and professors is gone; only a poor electronic substitute is now available to them remotely through texts, Facebook, Twitter and cell phone calls. – A music-rich college world has been replaced at work by endless meetings, discussions and conference calls. Colleagues and bosses constantly pop by the cubicle for chats, causing the iPod â„¢ ear buds to be constantly popping in and out as well. – They are functioning in this new world very much “in the blind”, without the comfort of frequent homework assignment and class quizzes to confirm their understanding of a subject and their comparative standing among peers. Now there is no paper graded “B” to show the Gen-Y where they can improve performance. In a new job, just when they desperately seek feedback, they get little or none from their bosses until a scheduled performance review occurs (once or twice a year, quarterly if they are lucky). There are some simple things we can do to fix this disconnect between realities of the workplace and the expectations of our Gen Y colleagues. In the next post we’ll learn what bosses, and Gen-y workers themselves, can do to ease the college-to-work transition. And we’ll recommend a new frame of mind for Gen-X and Boomers to help fold-in the Gen-Ys who, if the rest of us are ever going to retire, must take their place in the workforce. Until then, what are YOUR thoughts? PS: The author of this post teaches a short technical training course, Technical CONOPS & Concepts, which will be presented in Laurel, MD  on April 3-5, 2012.  Register now!
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ATI’s Top 5 Engineering Course Samplers of 2011

Video Clip: Click to Watch ATI specializes in short course technical training Our mission here at the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced […]
What Are the Tools of Your Trade?
Video Clip: Click to Watch
ATI specializes in short course technical training
Our mission here at the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s Top Five Engineering Courses for 2011 The five engineering courses for 2011 are highlighted below: #1 Practical Statistical Signal Processing – using MATLAB This 4-day course covers signal processing systems for radar, sonar, communications, speech, imaging and other applications based on state-of-the-art computer algorithms. These algorithms include important tasks such as data simulation, parameter estimation, filtering, interpolation, detection, spectral analysis, beamforming, classification, and tracking. Until now these algorithms could only be learned by reading the latest technical journals. This course will take the mystery out of these designs by introducing the algorithms with a minimum of mathematics and illustrating the key ideas via numerous examples using MATLAB. Designed for engineers, scientists, and other professionals who wish to study the practice of statistical signal processing without the headaches, this course will make extensive use of hands-on MATLAB implementations and demonstrations. Attendees will receive a suite of software source code and are encouraged to bring their own laptops to follow along with the demonstrations. Click here for the tutorial #2 Advanced Topics in Digital Signal Processing This four-day course is designed for communication systems engineers, programmers, implementers and managers who need to understand current practice and next generation DSP techniques for upcoming communication systems. DSP is more than mapping legacy analog designs to a DSP implementation. To avoid compromise solution appropriate for an earlier time period, we return to first principles to learn how to apply new technology capabilities to the design of next generation communication systems. Click here for the tutorial #3 Engineering Systems Modeling WithExcel/VBA This two-day course is for engineers, scientists, and others interested in developing custom engineering system models. Principles and practices are established for creating integrated models using Excel and its built-in programming environment, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Real-world techniques and tips not found in any other course, book, or other resource are revealed. Step-bystep implementation, instructor-led interactive examples, and integrated participant exercises solidify the concepts introduced. Application examples are demonstrated from the instructor’s experience in unmanned underwater vehicles, LEO spacecraft, cryogenic propulsion systems, aerospace & military power systems, avionics thermal management, and other projects. Click here for the tutorial #4 Wavelets: A Conceptual, Practical Approach Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) are in wide use and work very well if your signal stays at a constant frequency (“stationary”). But if the signal could vary, have pulses, “blips” or any other kind of interesting behavior then you need Wavelets. Wavelets are remarkable tools that can stretch and move like an amoeba to find the hidden “events” and then simultaneously give you their location, frequency, and shape. Wavelet Transforms allow this and many other capabilities not possible with conventional methods like the FFT. This course is vastly different from traditional math-oriented Wavelet courses or books in that we use examples, figures, and computer demonstrations to show how to understand and work with Wavelets. This is a comprehensive, in-depth, up-to-date treatment of the subject, but from an intuitive, conceptual point of view. We do look at a few key equations from the traditional literature but only AFTER the concepts are demonstrated and understood. If desired, further study from scholarly texts and papers is then made much easier and more palatable when you already understand the fundamental equations and how they relate to the real world. Click here for the tutorial #5 Computational Electromagnetics This 3-day course teaches the basics of CEM with application examples. Fundamental concepts in the solution of EM radiation and scattering problems are presented. Emphasis is on applying computational methods to practical applications. You will develop a working knowledge of popular methods such as the FEM, MOM, FDTD, FIT, and TLM including asymptotic and hybrid methods. Students will then be able to identify the most relevant CEM method for various applications, avoid common user pitfalls, understand model validation and correctly interpret results. Students are encouraged to bring their laptop to work examples using the provided FEKO Lite code. You will learn the importance of model development and meshing, post- processing for scientific visualization and presentation of results. Click here for the tutorial Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Determine for yourself the value of these or our other courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. To see the complete course listing from ATI, click on the links at the bottom of the page. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Since 1984, ATI has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. ATI short courses are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide you a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development such complex systems. Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will also become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology.


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Can You Pass the Certified Systems Engineers Professional (CSEP) Exam?

Will YOU be part of the supply? Video Clip: Click to Watch Certified Systems Engineers Are In Demand Just as you would not attempt a state bar exam without studying, you should not attempt the CSEP (Certified Systems Engineer Professional) exam without preparation. By taking a preparatory course, you can yield great benefits in performance, stress […]
Will YOU be part of the supply?
Will YOU be part of the supply?
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Certified Systems Engineers Are In Demand
Just as you would not attempt a state bar exam without studying, you should not attempt the CSEP (Certified Systems Engineer Professional) exam without preparation. By taking a preparatory course, you can yield great benefits in performance, stress reduction and overall, greatly improve your chances of passing the exam. While the economy is down, the demand for systems engineers is still growing — but supply is low. To assist you in your career, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has added a CSEP preparation course to its curriculum. Systems engineering is a profession, practice and way of doing business that concentrates on the design and application of the whole system to produce a successful product or system. The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) has established a Professional Certification Program to provide a formal method for recognizing the knowledge and experience of systems engineers. The INCOSE CSEP rating is a coveted milestone in the career of a systems engineer, demonstrating knowledge, education and experience and is of high value to systems organizations. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Determine for yourself the value of our course before you sign up. For example click here to see our CSEP slide samples or click here to see ATI CSEP on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors The instructor for this class is Eric Honour, an international consultant and lecturer, who has nearly forty year career of complex systems development & operation. He was Founder and former President of INCOSE. He has led the development of eighteen major systems, including the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation systems and the Battle Group Passive Horizon Extension System. Dates, Times and Locations The dates and locations for our CSEP courses in 2011 are listed here: February 11-12, 2011, Orlando, FL March 30-31, 2011, Minneapolis, MN September 16, 2011, Chantilly, VA For a complete ATI course list, please access the links below. Sincerely, The ATI Courses Team P.S. Call today for registration at 410-956-8805 or 888-501-2100 or access our website at www.ATIcourses.com. For general questions please email us at ATI@ATIcourses.com.
Mark N. Lewellen
Consultant/Instructor
Washington, DC
240-882-1234

ATI Features World Class Instructors for Our Short Courses

Washington, DC Tuesday, November 30, 2010 “Even I Could Learn a Thing or Two from ATI” Video Clip: Click to Watch Since 1984 ATI has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training The short technical courses from the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide […]
Washington, DC
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
“Even I Could Learn a Thing or Two from ATI”
“Even I Could Learn a Thing or Two from ATI”
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Since 1984 ATI has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training
The short technical courses from the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development such complex systems. The classes are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. ABOUT ATI AND THE INSTRUCTORS Our mission here at the ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. For example: Robert Fry worked from 1979 to 2007 at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory where he was a member of the Principal Professional Staff. He is now working at System Engineering Group (SEG) where he is Corporate Senior Staff and also serves as the company-wide technical advisor. Throughout his career he has been involved in the development of new combat weapon system concepts, development of system requirements, and balancing allocations within the fire control loop between sensing and weapon kinematic capabilities. He has worked on many aspects of the AEGIS combat system including AAW, BMD, AN/SPY-1, and multi-mission requirements development. Missile system development experience includes SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, Patriot, THAAD, HARPOON, AMRAAM, TOMAHAWK, and other missile systems. Robert teaches ATI’s Combat Systems Engineering course Wayne Tustin has been president of Equipment Reliability Institute (ERI), a specialized engineering school and consultancy he founded in Santa Barbara, CA, since 1995. His BSEE degree is from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California. Wayne’s first encounter with vibration was at Boeing/Seattle, performing what later came to be called modal tests, on the XB-52 prototype of that highly reliable platform. Subsequently he headed field service and technical training for a manufacturer of electrodynamic shakers, before establishing another specialized school on which he left his name. Based on over 50 years of professional experience, Wayne has written several books and literally hundreds of articles dealing with practical aspects of vibration and shock measurement and testing. Wayne teaches ATI’s Fundamentals of Random Vibration & Shock Testing course. Thomas S. Logsdon, M.S For more than 30 years, Thomas S. Logsdon, M. S., has worked on the Navstar GPS and other related technologies at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin, Boeing Aerospace, and Rockwell International. His research projects and consulting assignments have included the Transit Navigation Satellites, The Tartar and Talos shipboard missiles, and the Navstar GPS. In addition, he has helped put astronauts on the moon and guide their colleagues on rendezvous missions headed toward the Skylab capsule. Some of his more challenging assignments have centered around constellation coverage studies, GPS performance enhancement, military applications, spacecraft survivability, differential navigation, booster rocket guidance using the GPS signals and shipboard attitude determination. Tom Logsdon has taught short courses and lectured in thirty one different countries. He has written and published forty technical papers and journal articles, a dozen of which have dealt with military and civilian radionavigation techniques. He is also the author of twenty nine technical books on various engineering and scientific subjects. These include Understanding the Navstar, Orbital Mechanics: Theory and Applications, Mobile Communication Satellites, and The Navstar Global Positioning System. Courses Mr. Logsdon teaches through ATI include: Understanding Space Fundamentals of Orbital & Launch Mechanics GPS Technology – Solutions for Earth & Space and Strapdown Inertial Navigation Systems COURSE OUTLINE, SAMPLERS, AND NOTES Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS For the dates and locations of all of our short courses, please access the links below. Sincerely, The ATI Courses Team P.S. Call today for registration at 410-956-8805 or 888-501-2100 or access our website at www.ATIcourses.com. For general questions please email us at ATI@ATIcourses.com.
Mark N. Lewellen
Consultant/Instructor
Washington, DC
240-882-1234

Why Not Give Yourself the Gift of a Short Course this Holiday Season?

Washington, DC Monday, November 29, 2010 Is One of These Yours? Video Clip: Click to Watch When Did You Last do Something for Your Career? Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Our courses provide a practical overview of space […]
Washington, DC
Monday, November 29, 2010
Is One of These Yours?
Is One of These Yours?
Video Clip: Click to Watch
When Did You Last do Something for Your Career?
Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development such complex systems. ATI short courses are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. Dates, Times and Locations For the dates and locations of all of our short courses, please access the links below. Sincerely, The ATI Courses Team P.S Call today for registration at 410-956-8805 or 888-501-2100 or access our website at www.ATIcourses.com. For general questions please email us at ATI@ATIcourses.com.
Mark N. Lewellen
Consultant/Instructor
Washington, DC
240-882-1234

Have you considered the low cost and high flexibility of unmanned aerial vehicles?

      Anchor Reliance Group (ARG) LLC is a new consulting and program management firm specializing in projects that utilize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for technology development and practical flight applications.   ARG focuses on three primary areas: (a) identifying organizations which would benefit from the flexibility and low cost of unmanned aerial vehicles […]

 

 

 

Anchor Reliance Group (ARG) LLC is a new consulting and program management firm specializing in projects that utilize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for technology development and practical flight applications.

 

ARG focuses on three primary areas:

(a) identifying organizations which would benefit from the flexibility and low cost of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),

(b) helping organizations develop and execute flight projects which accomplish their business goals, and

(c) demonstrating cutting edge technologies via proof-of-concept flights.

 

Unmanned aircraft systems describe the newest and fastest growing segment of the aerospace industry worldwide today.  While it’s true that most existing applications are for military purposes, the potential for civilian and commercial applications is virtually unlimited.  The majority of tasks employing piloted aircraft can be accomplished by UAVs, and often with greater flexibility, less cost, less risk, and a smaller carbon-emission footprint.

 

ARG’s business model is built on the premise that every technology-based organization, whether military, civil, or commercial, can find a niche within the unmanned systems sector.  By reaching beyond convention, ARG enables organizations to realize their objectives through the application of UAS.  Some examples include:

 

  1. Technology firms which develop new airborne or space-based instruments typically hire manned aircraft to flight-test their products.  With proper planning, ARG can fly these instruments on an unmanned aircraft, achieving the same testing at lower hourly cost and environmental impact.

 

  1. Other organizations may want to collect only video or data from an airborne platform for environmental studies, crop management, pipeline inspections, and other purposes.  UAVs are well-suited for these applications, and ARG will work with these organizations to design and fly the project that will deliver the required data.

 

  1. New unmanned aircraft platforms and flight systems require extensive testing before market.  ARG will coordinate the range and restricted air space to test and prove these products.

 

  1. With ARG’s help, emergency response agencies such as police and fire departments can benefit from unmanned aircraft to aid with emergency communications, search and rescue, hazards detection, and cargo lift and delivery.

 

Based in Somerset County near the Maryland-Virginia border, between the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean with access to both air and maritime environments, ARG is convenient to Washington DC, and the Hampton Roads and Greenbelt technology regions.  Nearby flight and test ranges such as Wallops Flight Facility, Fort Eustis, and Fort Pickett, and local military facilities all offer a diverse choice of terrains and resources for a variety of flight projects. 

 

Through its broad network of industry resources and talents, ARG will provide everything from basic consulting services to complete end-to-end program management, including finding the right flight vehicles, payloads, and sensors to fly your mission.  ARG provides engineering and technical support, software development, safety analysis and risk management, as well as range and air space coordination.  A typical project at ARG follows a basic five-step process:

 

Phase 1:  Conduct initial consultation to establish mission objectives and to determine how UAS fit the customer’s goals.

 

Phase 2:  Choose the best aircraft and sensors, and design the flight that will achieve mission success.

 

Phase 3:  Coordinate use of flight range and restricted airspace, or work with the FAA to apply for a Certificate of Authorization (COA) to fly in the National Air Space, if required.

 

Phase 4:  Execute the mission; gather and process the data.

 

Phase 5:  Deliver the final report.

 

To find out more about the services and capabilities at Anchor Reliance Group, visit ARGs web site at www.anchorreliancegroup.com or call (443) 783-6763.

The nomination of Bolden as NASA Administrator, and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA Administrator.

On May 23, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Bolden as NASA Administrator, and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA Administrator. Charles F. Bolden, Jr. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NASA, Assistant Deputy Administrator USNA, Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen Charles Frank “Charlie” Bolden, Jr. NASA Astronaut Born August 19, 1946 (1946-08-19) (age 62) Columbia, […]
On May 23, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Bolden as NASA Administrator, and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA Administrator. Charles F. Bolden, Jr. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NASA, Assistant Deputy Administrator USNA, Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen Charles Frank “Charlie” Bolden, Jr. NASA Astronaut Born August 19, 1946 (1946-08-19) (age 62) Columbia, South Carolina Time in space 28d 08h 37m Selection 1980 NASA Group Missions STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, STS-60 Mission insignia Charles Frank “Charlie” Bolden, Jr., (born August 19, 1946 in Columbia, South Carolina, United States) is a retired U.S. Marine Corps major general and a former NASA astronaut. A 1968 graduate of the United States Naval Academy (USNA), he became a Marine Aviator and test pilot. After his service with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, he became Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the USNA. Bolden is the virtual host of the Shuttle Launch Experience attraction at Kennedy Space Center.[1] Bolden also serves on the board of directors for the Military Child Education Coalition. On May 23, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Bolden as NASA Administrator, and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA Administrator. [2] Bolden will take office after confirmation by the United States Senate.[3][4]

Workers For The U.S. Satellite Industry

I thought that this was interesting: by Marion Blakey, President and CEO Aerospace Industries Association Photo 1 The U.S. satellite industry has a great deal to worry about these days ­— lost opportunities due to outdated export control rules, global competition from more and more countries every day, the various technical challenges of providing new […]
I thought that this was interesting: by Marion Blakey, President and CEO Aerospace Industries Association Photo 1 The U.S. satellite industry has a great deal to worry about these days ­— lost opportunities due to outdated export control rules, global competition from more and more countries every day, the various technical challenges of providing new services — but there’s another issue out there affecting the entire aerospace industry that demands attention in the satellite sector — a looming workforce crisis. The U.S. aerospace industry workforce is currently dominated by aging workers — baby boomers who were enthralled with space travel and answered our nation’s call to win the Space Race and put Americans on the moon. Today, nearly 60 percent of aerospace workers were age 45 or older in 2007, with retirement eligibility either imminent or already reached. There is a growing need to replace these experienced workers, especially the engineer talent pool, with capable new talent to ensure that the United States continues to be the world’s leader in satellite technology and other important aerospace applications. But there are not sufficient numbers of young people studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — the STEM disciplines — that would put them on the path to enter aerospace careers and replace our retiring workers. There is very strong competition for our nation’s brightest math- and science-oriented students. Aerospace companies are forced to share talent with a variety of high-tech industries that were not even around when baby boomers were selecting their careers. For example, more than half of those who graduate with bachelor’s degrees in engineering go into totally unrelated fields for employment. And the numbers earning advanced degrees in STEM subject areas lag other fields by huge margins. More at http://www.satmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1220945084

On-Site Training at Your Facility

An on-site course presentation, when considering travel and related expenses, will make having as little as 6-8 attendees a more economic value then having the same number attend a public seminar.
The Applied Technology Institute offers on-site technical training at your facility. ATI’s abilityt to provide customized course presentations to a highly technical market has placed ATI as one of the leading technical seminar providers. Request a free on-site proposal with no obligation by contacting us at ati@aticourses.com