PLEASE JOIN US for a special hybrid presentation on Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and unwritten requirements, led by Professor Randolph (Randy) Willard of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). The event will take place at Sapphire Indian Cuisine in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), where attendees can also enjoy a selection from the restaurant’s excellent menu.

Note that the restaurant is conveniently located near the intersection of Interstate 15 and Rancho Bernardo Drive!

MAIN INFORMATION

Date: Wednesday, October 29, from 5:30-7:15 PM (presentation starts at 6pm)

Location: Sapphire Indian Cuisine Restaurant, 16785 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92128 (Google Maps)

Cost: Free! An option dinner of Indian cuisine and soft drinks will be offered at $5 for INCOSE members and students / $15 for non-members.

Zoom Link: https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/83167189009?pwd=TvAQtLtPy8cz2byB2VHrR2O7UlOsCR.1

Meeting ID: 831 6718 9009
Passcode: 381914

Dial-in Number: 669-900-6833 (passcode listed above)

SYNOPSIS

This presentation will explore Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and the often unwritten requirements found in DoD contracts. It will begin with an overview of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) (located in San Diego, CA), followed by a discussion of Contract Award Timelines, Government Source-Selection Teams, RFP Sections L&M, Government Unwritten Requirements (hints, clues, indications), and Business Development (BD)/Proposal/Bid Team actions to address.

This presentation is especially relevant to those who work on Government contracts!

PRESENTER

Randolph Willard

Mr. Randolph Willard is a retired U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer with more than two decades of active duty experience operating, testing, and evaluating both Fast Attack and Strategic Ballistic Missile submarines. His Navy service included roles as Chief Nuclear Engineer, Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Nuclear Prototype Unit in Idaho Falls, and program management positions at NAVSEA and PEO Submarines, where he earned DAWIA Level III certification in Program Management. Following his military career, he has spent over twenty-five years in executive and leadership roles in the defense industry and as a Professor of Program Management at the Defense Acquisition University in San Diego. He has supported a wide range of defense organizations, laboratories, and major contractors, including NAVSEA, PEOs, DOE national laboratories, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Johns Hopkins APL, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Viasat, and the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.

Mr. Willard holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt University, completed Navy nuclear engineering training, and pursued postgraduate studies at MIT, Yale School of Management, the Defense Systems Management College, and the Defense Nuclear Weapons School. He has taught acquisition, nuclear weapons acquisition, systems engineering, and test and evaluation courses to military, government, and industry professionals nationwide. He is currently available for consulting and speaking engagements on defense and energy acquisition, program management, business development, and foreign military sales, and can be reached at dodacq@gmail.com.

See full bio

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Join us on Saturday, Nov 1, 2025, from 4:30-7:30pm at the FAMILY FUN CENTER in Poway at our annual STEM Recognition Celebration!

INCOSE SD’s STEM program provides STEM awards to schools and groups, including the 2024-2025 school year, and the students will present their projects. Everyone – students, teachers, family and friends – is welcome to attend and see the awesome work our next generation of systems engineers.

Come celebrate STEM and have a blast! Food and Raffle included! Visit their webpage at FamilyFunCenter.com

All kids receive a free $20 game card as part of their registration.

Main Information

Date: Saturday, Nov 1st, 2025, from 4:30-7:30pm

Location: Family Fun Center, 12900 Gregg Court, Poway, CA 92064 (Google Maps)

Cost: $20/person, $70 Family of 4. Register below!

Food: Pizza, Popcorn, Drinks!

About the Family Fun Center

Located in Poway, the City Fun Center is San Diego’s premier family entertainment destination, offering a unique blend of fun activities including mini-bowling, mini-golf, and private party rooms. The center has over 100 exciting games – including driving, pinball, and video games – using game cards and e-tickets. Attractions include:

• 4-player PACMAN SMASH air hockey
• Classic air-hockey
• 4 mini-bowling lanes
• Walk-In Interactive games including Laser Frenzy and Time Freak
• Two player Fast-n-Furious driving simulator
• 9-hole black light glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course

Food

We plan to keep it simple this year and focus on the fun! Join us for plenty of Pizza, loads of Popcorn, and soft drinks.

Raffle

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response we had last year, we will once again hold a RAFFLE for toys, gadgets, and extra game cards! Everyone will receive one free ticket when checking in, and extra tickets will be available for sale for $1 each, 6 tickets for $5, or 15 tickets for $10. Good luck to all!

About the INCOSE SD STEM Program

The San Diego chapter is a yearly sponsor of Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) for local schools. Each year, the chapter solicits short proposals from area teachers who teach after-hours STEM classes to students, helping prepare the next generation of systems engineers for our country. In 2024, the chapter awarded the following three schools:

• Poway High School – Robotic parts for new robot for FIRST robotics competition
• Rancho Bernardo High – Entry fee for regional competition
• Casita Center – 3D printer & LEGO Education SPIKE Expansion set

If you would like to make a contribution to our INCOSE San Diego STEM fund, it would be warmly appreciated! Please select STEM Donation in the registration below – Thank you!

Questions?

Please contact us at info@sdincose.org. Thanks.

(Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels.com)

The INCOSE San Diego and Los Angeles chapters cordially invite you to JOIN US at our In-Person 2-Day INCOSE 2025 Joint Technical Conference in San Diego, California!

Our 2025 conference theme: ‘Converging Frontiers: Engineering Resilience Across Domains.‘

This year’s event will be held on Friday and Saturday, Dec 5th and 6th, 2025 with sessions at both Dassault Systemes Sorrento Valley office and San Diego State University (SDSU).

FRIDAY, Dec 5th at Dassault Systemes – Tutorials and Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) paper exam. Lunch included.

SATURDAY, Dec 6th at SDSU – Keynote speaker and up to 18 presentations and speaker panels. Lite continental breakfast and lunch included.

As noted, this year we will also offer the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) paper exam on Friday afternoon. Cost is $30 – please contact us at info@sdincose.org on how to sign up.

AFTER HOURS EVENTS

On Friday, 5:30-7:30 PM after the tutorials, join us for a no-host Happy Hour at Crust & Brew (4653 Carmel Mountain Rd, San Diego).
On Saturday after the conference, we’ll meet for no-host informal dinner at Oggi’s Sports Brewhouse (2245 Fenton Pkwy Ste 101, San Diego).
Optional: visit December Nights at Balboa Park after Oggi’s. Parking is difficult – let’s carpool or take the UC San Diego Blue or Orange Line trolley to City College Transit Center, then the free Park Blvd shuttle.

Please contact us at info@sdincose.org for more information!

DATES

Friday Dec 5th at Dassault Systemes is dedicated to tutorials and the paper SEP exam. Times will be announced soon, once the Tutorial selection process is complete.

Saturday Dec 6th conference will begin at 8:30am with Introduction and Keynote. * Please arrive early enough to park and find and walk to Hepner Hall! We recommend parking in Parking Lot 15 or Parking Structure 3 or 4. Please arrive at the Hall by 8am for check in, snacks, etc.

LOCATIONS

Friday, Dec 5th: Dassault Systemes, 7473 Lusk Blvd, 3rd Floor San Diego, CA, 92121 (Google Maps)

Saturday, Dec 6th: San Diego State University (SDSU), Hepner Hall, Room 130, Floor 1, Campanile Mall, San Diego, CA 92182 (Google Maps)

Parking – Free on Friday at Dassault Systemes. On Saturday at SDSU, parking can be as low as $4.75 plus fees if you park at one of four parking areas: Parking Structure 3, Parking Structure 4, Parking Lot 17/17A/17B, or Parking Lot 15. You must use the PayByPhone mobile app and choose the 24-hour permit. See SDSU visitor parking for full details. You also have option to take the TROLLEY TO SDSU (green line). SDSU Interactive Parking Map

PRICE

Regular INCOSE Member: $99, Non-INCOSE Member: $149, Senior (65+) INCOSE Member: $39, Senior (65+) Non-INCOSE Member: $59, Student: $25.Register below (uses PayPal). NOTE – please sign up in advance, as this greatly helps us in planning food orders. Thank you.

Presenters (up to 2 per presentation) receive a 50% discount. Please contact us for Discount Code!

Please Note – Due to SDSU insurance regulations, all conference attendees must be 18 years or older.

FOOD

Refreshments will include lunch (sandwiches, snacks, soda/water) on both days, and Saturday will also include a lite continental breakfast. Coffee will be available on both days. (Friday’s refreshments and facility are compliments of Dassault Systemes.)

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

The Conference program schedule, including tutorials, panels and presentations, will be posted in early November. Over 20 tutorials, panels and presentations! We are still accepting presentation proposals through Thursday, October 16th – please see the following webpage with more information on submitting your proposal!

Submit Proposal to present at conference (due NLT October 16th)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

This year’s keynote will be delivered by Mr. Nick Freije, former Assistant Chief Engineer (CHENG) for Mission Architecture at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR).

Mr. Nick Freije is a Senior Professional Engineer in the Agile Mission Systems division at General Atomics–Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), where he supports innovation in Unmanned Aircraft Systems through mission architecture, system-of-systems engineering, and operational assessments that strengthen the performance and interoperability of GA-ASI’s next-generation platforms.

Prior to joining GA-ASI, Mr. Freije spent three decades with the Department of the Navy, culminating in his role as Assistant Chief Engineer for Mission Architecture at NAVWAR. As a Senior Executive Service member, he led the Navy’s digital engineering transformation, helping to shape enterprise-wide architecture and engineering policies for C4ISR, IT, and Space Systems. His leadership as Technical Director for Fleet Readiness and Chief Engineer for programs such as CANES, ANP, and ADNS helped modernize the Navy’s operational networks and strengthen its information warfare capabilities. Mr. Freije holds an A.S. in Engineering from Broome Community College and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Buffalo.

Full Bio

SPONSORS

We are incredibly indebted to our Systems Engineering sponsors! For more information on how to help sponsor the event, including packages, tables at the event, etc., please contact our conference Sponsor leads, Dr. Julia Taylor (San Diego chapter) and Ms. Victoria Patterson (Los Angeles chapter)! Thank you.

Please see the full brochure here and contact us for more information on sponsoring!

CONTACT US

Please feel free to contact us anytime at info@sdincose.org. Thanks and see you in December!

INCOSE San Diego and INCOSE Los Angeles

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