Systems Engineering
Abstract
This Program Element (PE) establishes the dedicated funding line to carry out the mission and systems engineering duties as described in Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, "Establishment of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment," July 13, 2018. The Director, Mission Engineering (D, ME) and Director, Systems Engineering under the Deputy Director, Mission Engineering & Integration (DD, ME&I) are the principal advisors to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) on systems engineering, development planning, and related technical fields in the Department of Defense (DoD). The DD, ME&I develops policies and guidance for: (1) the use of systems engineering principles and best practices; (2) the use of systems, and software engineering planning and contracting approaches to enhance manufacturing, reliability, availability and maintainability on major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs); (3) the systems engineering plans (SEPs) for MDAPs including software, and systems engineering considerations in support of lifecycle management and sustainment; and (4) the inclusion of provisions relating to systems engineering and reliability in requests for proposals. The DD, ME&I develops new methods, processes, and tools (MPTs) incorporating state of the practice into engineering for the DoD in both weapon system design, and design tools. The DD, ME&I reviews and approves the SEP for each MDAP, and monitors and reviews the systems engineering and development planning activities of MDAPs and other defense acquisition programs, as directed by the Secretary of Defense. Based on the DD, ME&I’s continuous program engagement, the DD, ME&I advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Defense regarding systems engineering, development planning, reliability and maintainability (R&M) engineering planning, and the execution of these activities. As a member of the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB), the DD, ME&I provides independent assessments of defense acquisition program’s systems engineering, development planning, technical execution, and risk. The DD, ME&I also provides input on the inclusion of systems engineering requirements as part of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council's process for joint military requirements (e.g. the Sustainment Key Performance Parameter), to include developing specific inputs relating to each capabilities development document. In alignment with the National Defense Strategy (NDS), the Systems Engineering (SE) Program Element supports a more lethal force by analyzing near-, mid-, and long-term approaches to realizing mission capability, assessing that capability against anticipated adversaries in relevant AORs, and determine revised system, architectural, tech surprise opportunities to maintain tactical edge, insert technology, improve interoperability and formulate long-term strategies to retain or improve our capabilities against our adversaries. The SE Program Element oversees, initiates, or recommends opportunities to align technology investments to accelerate capability delivery, or modification of existing systems. SE Program Element supports modernizing key capabilities and cultivating workforce talent by developing SE methods, policies, processes, and tools that cross cuts technologies and integrates technical disciplines to advance DoD engineering practices and providing advocacy and oversight for the Department's systems engineering workforce to build a capable, current, and innovative engineering workforce. The SE Program Element also supports reforming the Department for greater performance and affordability by conducting independent technical risk assessments (ITRAs) on MDAPs to advise the USD(R&E) on progress towards achieving key performance parameters, technology maturation, interoperability, and cyber security posture. The DD, ME&I issues guidance to, and consults with, the Services and Agencies with respect to systems engineering across the Department. The DD, ME&I improves DoD’s SE capabilities through advocacy, oversight, policy, and guidance for the acquisition workforce responsible for Engineering, and Production, Quality & Manufacturing (PQM); in Engineering Tools and Environments; and in Specialty Engineering. The DD, ME&I periodically reviews the organizations and capabilities of the military departments with respect to systems engineering, development planning, and lifecycle management and sustainability, and identifies needed changes or improvements to such organizations and capabilities. Beginning in FY 2019, this PE will support activities to carry out responsibilities described in Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 855 titled Mission Integration Management (MIM). Funding from Project Code 143, Program Protection, will be re-aligned to a new Maintaining Technology Advantage Program Element (PE) 0605797D8Z, beginning in FY 2020 to support efforts which have transitioned to the Deputy Director, Strategic Technology Protection and Exploitation (STP&E).
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 0605142D8Z_6_0400_PB_2020
- Change Summary Explanation
- In FY 2020, funding was re-aligned to the Maintaining Technology Advantage PE0605797D8Z; changes were made in accordance with new OUSD(R&E) re-organization.
- Service Agency Name
- Office of the Secretary Of Defense
Entities
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
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