Join us on Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM for our annual Winter Social & Membership Drive!

This year’s event will take place at Home & Away in Old Town, San Diego, on their covered outdoor patio. Enjoy a relaxed evening with indoor and outdoor games, TVs, and a selection of 22 rotating craft beers.

We’ll also be welcoming our newly-seated 2025 Board of Directors – and there are still open positions available! If you’re interested in getting involved, please let us know.

The San Diego Chapter is sponsoring the food, including wings, strips, fries, nachos, and a variety of salads and sodas. Alcoholic beverages will be the responsibility of attendees.

* Please bring a friend or coworker who might be interested in joining INCOSE! Our San Diego Chapter is one of the most active, earning the Platinum Award six years running. Feel free to ask any of our chapter officers for more information.

IMPORTANT EVENT INFO

Date: Thursday, 27 Feb 2025, 5:30-7:30pm

Location: Home & Away, Old Town, San Diego. 2222 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 (Google Maps)

Cost: Free! All alcoholic beverages will be the responsibility of attendees. Please RSVP below.

Parking: Free to park, but space is limited. Please park along the street on San Diego Ave and walk the short distance to the event.

      

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(This presentation is open to all, including non-INCOSE members. Image curtesy of ThisisEngineering on Unsplash)

Please join us on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, in Old Town San Diego for a HYBRID presentation on Human Factors Engineering and its role in urgent acquisition and rapid prototyping. Please RSVP below.

This presentation will be conducted by Ms. Lily Zeman and Dr. John Wood of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Information Warfare Center – Pacific (NIWC-Pacific) division, and will be held at The Art of the Cigar in Old Town.

IMPORTANT INFO

Date: 12 March 2025, 5:30-7pm (the presentation starts at 6).

Location: The Art of the Cigar, 2609 Congress Street, Suite F, San Diego, CA (Google Maps)

Cost: Free! An optional dinner of pizza, wings, salad, and soft drinks will be offered at $5 for INCOSE members, $10 for non-members.

Zoom Meeting Link:
https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/83123390599

Meeting ID: 831 2339 0599

Phone line: +1 669-444-9171 US

SYNOPSIS

Urgent Capability Acquisition and Rapid Prototyping are accelerated processes intended to put functional solutions in the hands of the warfighter in a fraction of the time. Engineers often view them as means to test and mature technical capabilities. While this is critical, it is also critical to test and mature how humans will interface with the system in various roles including trainer, installer, user, maintainer, help desk agent, etc. This presentation will highlight key Human Factors Engineering activities that programs must perform to ensure the solutions they are building will ultimately provide the capability warfighters need in a manner they can use and maintain

PRESENTERS

Ms. Lily Zeman currently serves as Deputy Department Lead Systems Engineer at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific and a passionate advocate of Human Systems Integration. Helps the Navy develop system that are warfighter centered. They must be built with the end user in mind, resulting in systems that are easy to use and easy to maintain. Ms. Zeman holds a BS in Electronics and Computer Engineering and a MS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from National University.

John Wood, PhD, currently serves as Department Lead Systems Engineer at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific where he leads world-class engineers as they create future warfighting capabilities for the US Navy and other Department of Defense customers. Throughout his career, Dr. Wood has consistently applied his systems engineering and project management expertise to solve mission and safety critical challenges within healthcare, aviation, and defense. Dr. Wood holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the US Naval Academy and a PhD in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University.

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Welcome!!

The Los Angeles and San Diego chapters are hosting TWO online independent study groups (‘Cohorts’) for the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification, one on Thursday nights and the other on Friday mornings.

This registration page is for the THURSDAY EVENINGS Cohort that will meet from 7:30-9pm Pacific Time!

Both Cohorts will last 10 weeks and will help students prepare for the INCOSE SEP certification knowledge exam. There will also be an optional 11th-week session focused on reviewing the type of questions found on the knowledge exam.

Persons local to southern California are especially encouraged to register, as we plan to host a SEP paper exam in the SoCal area shortly after the Cohorts conclude. This training teaches you how to successfully study to increase the chance that you will pass the knowledge exam.

Non-INCOSE members are also welcome to register!

Questions? Contact us at info@sdincose.org and/or info@incose-la.org.

Important Information on the Thursday Cohort

* The Cohort is 10 weeks long and will meet once a week using either Zoom or Microsoft Teams. (Which we use will be determined and announced beforehand.)

* Expect each Thursday session to last for 1.5 hours, from 7:30pm – 9pm Pacific Time. (On some evenings, the classes may run longer, e.g., until 9:30pm.)

* The Cohort will cover the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Version 5, upon which the knowledge exam is based.

* The INCOSE Los Angeles chapter will host the Thursday evening Cohort.

* The Thursday Cohort begins on 10 April 2024 and ends on 12 June 2024. There will be an optional extra meeting the following week on 19 June 2025 to discuss exam questions.

* We may limit each class to 50 students. Please sign up immediately if you are interested, and only if you are serious about attending! Please be serious about taking the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) exam as well.

* The INCOSE San Diego chapter will also host a Friday morning Cohort. Both the Thursday and Friday Cohorts the will cover the same material each week; please choose the one that works for you. You are also welcome to join the Friday morning Cohort to listen in and/or make up for a missed session.

* The registration fee is $100. However, participants are eligible for up to a full refund:

• 50% Refund for fulfilling your participation responsibilities, including creating a presentation deck and presenting to the Cohort. Note: Every participant must present to receive this refund— no exceptions! Presentations may be done in small teams depending on the number of students.

• Additional 50% Refund upon providing proof of having taken the SEP exam (pass or fail) by December 31, 2025.

* The LA and San Diego chapters will also organize an in-person paper exam 3-4 weeks after conclusion of the Cohorts. The exact location is to be determined (TBD), but expect it to be somewhere between Los Angeles and San Diego.

* The paper exam cost is also TBD, but we hope to make it free for all Cohort participants.

* We will apply INCOSE’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) adjustments to reduce the registration cost for students from smaller economy countries:

• PPP2 Countries: 25% discount ($75 total)
• PPP3 Countries: 50% discount ($50 total)

Please see each country’s PPP rating Here and CONTACT US if you have any questions at info@sdincose.org

* All students are required to pay via PayPal to join the Cohort. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can still make payment using a credit card through the PayPal site.

* All registered students who have submitted payment will receive the course curriculum and meeting link a few days prior to the first session. Thank you!

About the Cohort Structure

Cohorts are largely student-led learning experiences. Each participant will be part of a small team responsible for presenting a section of the INCOSE Handbook Version 5 to the entire Cohort. To support these sessions, the LA and SD chapters will supply team leaders (typically two per meeting) to facilitate the sessions by providing introductions, managing the schedule and Zoom sessions, and addressing any challenges that arise.

Preparation and Materials

You must have your own copy of the INCOSE Handbook, Version 5.

• INCOSE members can download it for free from the INCOSE Store (you must log in).
• Non-members will need to purchase a copy.

All participants are strongly encouraged to review each week’s assigned material in advance to fully engage with the presentations and ask thoughtful questions. NOTE that this Cohort is only supplemental to reading the Handbook. It is strongly encouraged to read the Handbook from beginning to end.

Before the First Session

• Please read Chapter 1: Systems Engineering Introduction of the Handbook.
• Familiarize yourself with the key Terms and Definitions in Appendix C

Technical Requirements

Please make sure your computer or network does not block access to Zoom or Microsoft Teams, as these will be our primary platforms.

Thursday Evening Cohort Schedule

WEEK	DATE	TOPICS
1	10 April 2025	Welcome, organization of Cohort, section assignments, how to use this handbook, Ch 1 – SE Intro
2	17 April 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – 2.1 Life cycle terms concepts through 2.3.2.2 Supply Process
3	24 April 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Section 2.3.3 Organizational Project Enabling Processes
4	1 May 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Section 2.3.4 Technical Mgmt processes
5	8 May 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Technical Processes I, 2.3.5.1 through 2.3.5.6
6	15 May 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Technical Processes II, 2.3.5.7 – 2.3.5.14
7	22 May 2025	Ch 3 – Life cycle analysis methods – 3.1 Quality characteristics and approaches
8	29 May 2025	Ch 3 – Life cycle analysis methods – 3.2 SE analyses and methods through Ch 4 section 4.2.4 Product Line Engineering
9	5 June 2025	Ch 4 – Tailoring and Application Considerations – section 4.3 through 4.4.10 Transportation Systems
10	12 June 2025	Chapter 5 – Systems Engineering in Practice
11 (bonus)	19 June 2025	Practice questions for exam

About SEP Certification

What is Systems Engineering Professional certification? Certification is a formal process whereby a community of knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled representatives of an organization, such as INCOSE, provides confirmation of an individual’s competency (demonstrated knowledge, education, and experience) in a specified profession. Certification differs from licensing in that licenses are permissions granted by a government entity for a person to practice within its regulatory boundaries. Certification also differs from a “certificate” that documents the successful completion of a training or education program. There are three types of INCOSE SEP certification: ASEP, CSEP, and ESEP. Please read more here.

What is the Systems Engineering Professional exam? The SEP exam is a 2-hour exam designed to test your knowledge of INCOSE systems engineering practices and processes. Please read more here.

Please contact us at info@sdincose.org and/or info@incose-la.org for more information.

What Each Student Will Need for the Cohort

Each student who attends a Cohort will need the following:

• A copy of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook: A Guide for System Life Cycle Processes and Activities, 5th Edition. An electronic version of this is available free for all INCOSE members. Non-members must purchase the handbook. Visit the INCOSE store here.  Important – you must have Version 5.
• The ability to log in and participate in the weekly Zoom or Teams sessions.  Please ensure your computer and/or network does not block access to Zoom or Teams.
• A commitment to build a slide deck and to present the agreed-upon material to the Cohort (this might be part of a small team). Presenting will result in 50% refund of the cost of registration.
• You should have interest and intent to take the INCOSE SEP exam, though this is not mandatory. Proof of you taking the exam by 31 Dec 2025 will result in 50% refund of the cost of registration. All payments and refunds will be made using PayPal. Note that you do NOT have to have a PayPal account; you can also pay on PayPal using a credit card.

Thank you! Please contact us at info@sdincose.org and/or info@incose-la.org if you have any questions, and we look forward to meeting you on April 10th!

The INCOSE LA and San Diego Chapters

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Welcome!!

The Los Angeles and San Diego chapters are hosting TWO online independent study groups (‘Cohorts’) for the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification, one on Thursday nights and the other on Friday mornings.

This registration page is for the FRIDAY MORNINGS Cohort that will meet from 8-10am Pacific Time!

Both Cohorts will last 10 weeks and will help students prepare for the INCOSE SEP certification knowledge exam. There will also be an optional 11th-week session focused on reviewing the type of questions found on the knowledge exam.

Persons local to southern California are especially encouraged to register, as we plan to host a SEP paper exam in the SoCal area shortly after the Cohorts conclude. This training teaches you how to successfully study to increase the chance that you will pass the knowledge exam!

Non-INCOSE members are also welcome to register!

Questions? Contact us at info@sdincose.org and/or info@incose-la.org.

Important Information on the Friday Cohort

* The Cohort is 10 weeks long and will meet once a week using either Zoom or Microsoft Teams. (Which we use will be determined and announced beforehand.)

* Expect each session to last up to two hours, from 8am – 10am Pacific Time.

* The Cohort will cover the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Version 5, upon which the knowledge exam is based.

* The INCOSE San Diego chapter will host the Friday morning Cohort.

* The Friday Cohort begins on 11 April 2024 and ends on 13 June 2024. There will be an optional extra meeting the following week on 20 June 2025 to discuss exam questions.

* We may limit each class to 50 students. Please sign up immediately if you are interested, and only if you are serious about attending! Please be serious about taking the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) exam as well.

* The INCOSE Los Angeles chapter will also host a Thursday evening Cohort. Both the Thursday and Friday Cohorts the will cover the same material each week; please choose the one that works for you. You are also welcome to join the Thursday Cohort to listen in and/or make up for a missed session.

* The registration fee is $100. However, participants are eligible for up to a full refund:

• 50% Refund for fulfilling your participation responsibilities, including creating a presentation deck and presenting to the Cohort. Note: Every participant must present to receive this refund— no exceptions! Presentations may be done in small teams depending on the number of students.

• Additional 50% Refund upon providing proof of having taken the SEP exam (pass or fail) by December 31, 2025.

* The LA and San Diego chapters will also organize an in-person paper exam 3-4 weeks after conclusion of the Cohorts. The exact location is to be determined (TBD), but expect it to be somewhere between Los Angeles and San Diego.

* The paper exam cost is also TBD, but we hope to make it free for all Cohort participants.

* We will apply INCOSE’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) adjustments to reduce the registration cost for students from smaller economy countries:

• PPP2 Countries: 25% discount ($75 total)
• PPP3 Countries: 50% discount ($50 total)

Please see each country’s PPP rating Here and CONTACT US if you have any questions at info@sdincose.org

* All students are required to pay via PayPal to join the Cohort. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can still make payment using a credit card through the PayPal site.

* All registered students who have submitted payment will receive the course curriculum and meeting link a few days prior to the first session. Thank you!

About the Cohort Structure

Cohorts are largely student-led learning experiences. Each participant will be part of a small team responsible for presenting a section of the INCOSE Handbook Version 5 to the entire Cohort. To support these sessions, the LA and SD chapters will supply team leaders (typically two per meeting) to facilitate the sessions by providing introductions, managing the schedule and Zoom sessions, and addressing any challenges that arise.

Preparation and Materials

You must have your own copy of the INCOSE Handbook, Version 5.

• INCOSE members can download it for free from the INCOSE Store (you must log in).
• Non-members will need to purchase a copy.

All participants are strongly encouraged to review each week’s assigned material in advance to fully engage with the presentations and ask thoughtful questions. NOTE that this Cohort is only supplemental to reading the Handbook. It is strongly encouraged to read the Handbook from beginning to end.

Before the First Session

• Please read Chapter 1: Systems Engineering Introduction of the Handbook.
• Familiarize yourself with the key Terms and Definitions in Appendix C

Technical Requirements

Please make sure your computer or network does not block access to Zoom or Microsoft Teams, as these will be our primary platforms.

Friday Morning Cohort Schedule

WEEK	DATE	TOPICS
1	11 April 2025	Welcome, organization of Cohort, section assignments, how to use this handbook, Ch 1 – SE Intro
2	18 April 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – 2.1 Life cycle terms concepts through 2.3.2.2 Supply Process
3	25 April 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Section 2.3.3 Organizational Project Enabling Processes
4	2 May 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Section 2.3.4 Technical Mgmt processes
5	9 May 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Technical Processes I, 2.3.5.1 through 2.3.5.6
6	16 May 2025	Ch 2 – System Life Cycle Concepts, Models, Processes – Technical Processes II, 2.3.5.7 – 2.3.5.14
7	23 May 2025	Ch 3 – Life cycle analysis methods – 3.1 Quality characteristics and approaches
8	30 May 2025	Ch 3 – Life cycle analysis methods – 3.2 SE analyses and methods through Ch 4 section 4.2.4 Product Line Engineering
9	6 June 2025	Ch 4 – Tailoring and Application Considerations – section 4.3 through 4.4.10 Transportation Systems
10	13 June 2025	Chapter 5 – Systems Engineering in Practice
11 (bonus)	20 June 2025	Practice questions for exam

About SEP Certification

What is Systems Engineering Professional certification? Certification is a formal process whereby a community of knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled representatives of an organization, such as INCOSE, provides confirmation of an individual’s competency (demonstrated knowledge, education, and experience) in a specified profession. Certification differs from licensing in that licenses are permissions granted by a government entity for a person to practice within its regulatory boundaries. Certification also differs from a “certificate” that documents the successful completion of a training or education program. There are three types of INCOSE SEP certification: ASEP, CSEP, and ESEP. Please read more here.

What is the Systems Engineering Professional exam? The SEP exam is a 2-hour exam designed to test your knowledge of INCOSE systems engineering practices and processes. Please read more here.

Please contact us at info@sdincose.org and/or info@incose-la.org for more information.

What Each Student Will Need for the Cohort

Each student who attends a Cohort will need the following:

• A copy of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook: A Guide for System Life Cycle Processes and Activities, 5th Edition. An electronic version of this is available free for all INCOSE members. Non-members must purchase the handbook. Visit the INCOSE store here.  Important – you must have Version 5.
• The ability to log in and participate in the weekly Zoom or Teams sessions.  Please ensure your computer and/or network does not block access to Zoom or Teams.
• A commitment to build a slide deck and to present the agreed-upon material to the Cohort (this might be part of a small team). Presenting will result in 50% refund of the cost of registration.
• You should have interest and intent to take the INCOSE SEP exam, though this is not mandatory. Proof of you taking the exam by 31 Dec 2025 will result in 50% refund of the cost of registration. All payments and refunds will be made using PayPal. Note that you do NOT have to have a PayPal account; you can also pay on PayPal using a credit card.

Thank you! Please contact us at info@sdincose.org and/or info@incose-la.org if you have any questions, and we look forward to meeting you on April 11th!

The INCOSE LA and San Diego Chapters

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(This presentation is open to all, including non-INCOSE members)

* See the recorded video HERE.

Greetings,

Please join us on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, at 5:45pm for a HYBRID presentation by Mr. Robert Aftel on the Dieselgate scandal: how engineers used technology and their knowledge of regulations to mislead governments and their customers.

This presentation will be made remotely by Mr. Aftel of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR). INCOSE San Diego will host a group viewing at Maggie’s Cafe in Clairmont, though you are also welcome to join us virtually via Zoom.

INFORMATION

Date: Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 5:45-7pm Pacific Time (presentation start at 6pm)

Location: Maggie’s Cafe, 3232 Greyling Dr, San Diego, CA 92123 (Google Maps)

Cost: Free! There will be an optional dinner with soft drinks at the in-person venue at a cost of $5 INCOSE members/$10 non-INCOSE members. RSVP

Remote Login: We will use Zoom for the presentation:

https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/83735505397

Dial In: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 837 3550 5397

SYNOPSIS

In 2013, engineering student researchers at West Virginia University were performing on the road emission tests with new miniaturized instrumentation on a variety of vehicles when they discovered that the Volkswagen diesels they tested were not meeting EPA standards.  Further investigation showed that the control systems designed by Bosch and Volkswagen were deliberately designed to fool the standard stationary tests of that time, and the ensuing scandal cost Volkswagen several tens of billions of dollars in fines, and some of their leadership their personal freedom. 

In this presentation, Mr. Robert Aftel will review the history of this scandal, and how engineers used technology and knowledge of regulations to mislead governments and their customers.  Most engineering disasters are errors of omission or simple negligence; in Dieselgate we have a rare example of engineers acting with malfeasance.

PRESENTER: Robert Aftel

Mr. Robert Aftel is a Navy civilian with a background in engineering and IT.  His background on Dieselgate comes from his side passion for automobiles and internal combustion engines, where his knowledge and experience is applied as an expert witness for clients in litigation.

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(This presentation is open to all, including non-INCOSE members.)

Please join us on Wednesday, 25 June, 2025, for a HYBRID presentation on the application of a systems engineering maturity and cost modeling framework for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)!

Please note: This presentation will take place at G2-OPS, Inc. in Kearny Mesa. Due to government contracting regulations, in-person attendance is limited to U.S. citizens only. However, non-U.S. citizens are invited to join us virtually!

MAIN INFORMATION

When: Weds, 25 June, 2025, from 5:45-7:00pm (presentation starts at 6 pm).
Where: G2-OPS, Inc. conference room (3rd floor), 8787 Complex Dr #310, San Diego, CA 92123. (Google Maps). Parking is free.
Cost: free! There will be an optional dinner with soft drinks, priced at $5 INCOSE members and students, $10 non-members.
Teleconference: remote attendees can join using the Zoom information below (Important – INCOSE now requires a passcode in addition to the waiting room. The code is also listed below.

Zoom: https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/87436486602?pwd=XtBmAD9UeEZcZv5UkTipBnTBlQPzKp.1
Meeting ID: 874 3648 6602
Passcode: 132956

Telephone: (669) 444-9171
(codes already listed above)

SYNOPSIS

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming systems engineering processes by automating tasks, generating architectural and design alternatives, supporting tradeoff analysis, implementation, testing, enhancing decision-making, and more. This presentation introduces an integrated maturity and cost modeling framework to guide the strategic adoption of GenAI within SE. The framework is being developed through collaboration between the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC), which is contributing empirical data on cost and quality impacts of GenAI use.

The model defines five maturity levels with key practices for hardware and infrastructure investment, knowledge integration and data management, LLM customization and fine-tuning, LLM retraining, and personnel training. It extends the Constructive Systems Engineering Cost Model (COSYSMO) for estimating project costs with a new cost factor for AI usage.

By understanding these maturity levels and their associated cost implications, organizations can formulate effective strategies to leverage GenAI, drive continuous improvement, reduce costs, and align with technological advancements.

This harmonized maturity and cost model enables a cohesive evaluation of the financial impacts of AI adoption. An example investment case demonstrates how advancing a level of GenAI process maturity per the key practices can yield substantial cost savings with a short break-even period. Though the cost model calibration is provisional, the modeling framework supports ongoing empirical calibration and refinement to keep up with evolving AI technologies and engineering processes.

PRESENTER

Ray Madachy

Raymond Madachy, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Systems Engineering Department at the Naval Postgraduate School. His research interests include systems engineering tool environments for digital engineering, modeling and simulation of systems and software engineering processes, generative AI, and system cost modeling. He has developed widely used cost estimation tools for systems and software engineering, and created the Systems Engineering Library (se-lib). His books include Software Process Dynamics, What Every Engineer Should Know about Modeling and Simulation, What Every Engineer Should Know about Python; and co-authored Software Cost Estimation with COCOMO II and Software Cost Estimation Metrics Manual for Defense Systems.

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(Photo by Tara Winstead at Pexels.com)

PLEASE JOIN US this July 12th for a special HYBRID tutorial on how to develop an open source Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Large Language Model (LLM) for systems engineering. This tutorial will be conducted in person, and simultaneously available online via Zoom.

Large Language Models are a type of artificial intelligence model trained on massive amounts of data to understand and generate human-like language (examples include ChatGPT, Gemini and Llama). These models can also be customized or fine-tuned to support systems engineering tasks and problem-solving. This tutorial will show students how to customize an open source LLM for SE.

*** IMPORTANT, NEW LOCATION

*** Due to unforeseen issues with our originally-planned venue, our tutorial will now be held at Miramar College, near their Aquatic Center. See address below.

*** Free parking is available next to the Aquatic Center or in the South Parking Lot. If you park elsewhere on campus, parking may cost up to $5 per day.

This tutorial will be taught by Dr. Ray Madachy of the Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) and graduate student Mr. Ryan Bell.

MAIN INFO

Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025, 9:30am – 3pm (Pacific Time)
New Location: 10440 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92126, Building J3, Room J303 (Google Maps). Pls note that on Google Maps, this is next to the building showing “J304.” Our building is on a cul-de-sac as shown below.

Cost: In-person prices are $50 INCOSE members, $75 non-INCOSE members, and $25 students. Remote attendance price is $25.  This price includes morning coffee, soft drinks and lunch (sandwiches etc.) for in-person attendees (please contact us if you have special dietary preferences).
Parking: Free parking is available next to the Aquatic Center or in the South Parking Lot. If you park elsewhere on campus, parking may cost up to $5 per day.
Remote Participation: We will use Zoom for remote students. After you register, Zoom access details will be sent to you via email prior to the class.

SYNOPSIS

Join us for an immersive tutorial where we leverage the power of custom Large Language Models (LLMs) to tackle the complexities of systems engineering. This hands-on session is designed for systems engineers who are eager to explore how LLMs can revolutionize their workflows, enhance model accuracy, and address domain-specific challenges in managing socio-technical systems.

Participants will utilize Llama factory to design and fine-tune their own LLMs using a specialized systems engineering dataset. You’ll not only gain valuable experience in building these models but also work collaboratively to create a robust evaluation dataset. Together, we will put these models to the test using our custom evaluation dataset and SysEngBench, a benchmark specifically crafted for the systems engineering domain!

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

By the end of the workshop, you will understand how to:

• Tailor LLM performance
• Strike a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency, and
• Learn how to create AI solutions to elevate the practice of systems engineering

The goal is to walk away with practical, cutting-edge skills and a strong foundation to make impactful contributions to the future of SE.

TUTORIAL AGENDA

0930-1030: Introduction to Custom Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)s

• Overview of LLMs in Systems Engineering
• Setting up the environment and tools
• Case Studies

1030-1045 BREAK

1045-1200: RAG Pipeline with Documents

• Hands-on walk through of using a model with non-public documents
• Participants work on using RAG with a language model with guidance

1200-1300 LUNCH

1300-1400: Creating Evaluation Datasets

• Collaborative session to develop evaluation datasets
• Types of evaluation tasks: multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, textual response prompts

1400-1415 BREAK

1415-1530: Model Evaluation with Benchmarking

• Evaluating models with benchmarks
• Case Study: Evaluate Llama 3.2 1B on SysEngBench
• (optional) Case Study: Evaluate Llama 3.2 1B on Hour 3’s dataset
• Wrap-up and Q&A

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

This tutorial will use Google Colab Jupyter Notebook. It would be advantageous for everyone who attends in-person to have a laptop. This is recommend for remote students as well.

Please note that to use Google Colab that you may need a gmail email account. If you do not have a gmail, you can create one for free.

We will also include all of the setup instructions in the notebook, so those in the session can follow along real time.

INSTRUCTORS

Raymond Madachy

Raymond Madachy, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Systems Engineering Department at the Naval Postgraduate School. His research interests include systems engineering tool environments for digital engineering, modeling and simulation of systems and software engineering processes, generative AI, and system cost modeling. He has developed widely used cost estimation tools for systems and software engineering, and created the Systems Engineering Library (se-lib). His books include Software Process Dynamics, What Every Engineer Should Know about Modeling and Simulation, What Every Engineer Should Know about Python; and co-authored Software Cost Estimation with COCOMO II and Software Cost Estimation Metrics Manual for Defense Systems.

Ryan Bell

Ryan Bell is an 9 year experienced engineer in the defense industry. In his current role at Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC LANT), Ryan provides modeling and simulation expertise to a variety of programs for the Navy and USMC. He specializes in simulating communication systems in complex environments and is an advocate for the use of digital engineering early in the systems engineering lifecycle. Ryan earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University, a MS in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University with a focus on Electronics, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a South Carolina registered Professional Engineer (PE), published author, and teacher.

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(This event is open to all, including non-INCOSE members.)

The INCOSE San Diego Chapter invites all systems thinkers, engineers, and pizza aficionados for a fun and flavorful evening at Oggi’s Sports Brewhouse in Mission Valley on July 30th! Please join us in the front outside area. We will also hold a raffle for prizes!

* This event is open to all, so please bring a friend who may be interested in joining INCOSE!

Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Oggi’s Sports Brewhouse, Mission Valley. 2245 Fenton Pkwy Ste 101, San Diego, CA 92108 (Google Maps)

Cost: Free! Alcoholic beverages will be the responsibility of attendees.

Join us for two hours of good food, cold drinks, and even better conversation. Whether you’re a seasoned systems engineer or just INCOSE-curious, come swap stories, share ideas, and unwind with fellow members in a laid-back, cheesy pizza atmosphere.

Don’t miss your chance to catch up with the local systems crew and maybe even network over a perfectly crisp crust.

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Join us on Thursday, 25 September 2025, for a hybrid session covering both Federated Learning and highlights from this year’s 2025 INCOSE International Symposium (IS) in Canada!

The evening will start with a presentation by Dr. Art Villanueva on Federated Learning – A Systems Engineering Approach to Smarter Artificial Intelligence, and how complex system-level behavior arises from simple, local interactions. This will be followed by Dr. Julia Taylor covering exciting topics from the 2025 IS.

Please be aware that this month’s presentation will take place on Thursday evening rather than Wednesday. We hope to see you there!

EVENT INFORMATION

Date: Thursday, 25 September 2025, 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm (presentations start at 6pm)

Location: Filippi’s restaurant in Kearny Mesa (San Diego), 5353 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego, CA 92123 (Google Maps)

Cost: FREE! There will be an optional dinner of Italian food (spaghetti, pizza, salad, etc.) and soft drinks. Prices are $5 for INCOSE member and students/$15 for non-members.

Zoom Link: https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/84606914523?pwd=GaA3EusBwl3ZYz0rf9VxwyN2cyjYDm.1

Meeting ID: 846 0691 4523
Passcode: 264936

Telephone Dial In: 669-444-9171 (same passcode as above)

SYNOPSES

FEDERATED LEARNING. In the first presentation of this evolving series, Dr. Villanueva explored the convergence of Systems Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. In the second, he examined the phenomenon of emergence – how complex system-level behavior arises from simple, local interactions. This third installment delves into federated learning (FL), a distributed machine learning paradigm that applies principles of emergence at scale, enabling intelligent global behavior to arise from decentralized, local interactions.

Federated Learning enables edge devices to collaboratively train shared models without transferring raw data. Through decentralized computation and global aggregation, intelligent behavior emerges from the collective experience of autonomous participants – from smartphones and hospitals to fleets of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This talk will examine the algorithmic foundations of FL, its systemic challenges (non-IID data, intermittent connectivity, and adversarial threats), and its compelling applications in systems where privacy, resiliency, and autonomy converge.

From collaborative healthcare systems to adaptive environmental monitoring to smart infrastructure and UAV networks, federated learning provides a powerful framework for enabling distributed intelligence across diverse domains. Dr. Villanueva will examine how FL represents not just a technical tool, but a systems architecture for building complex, adaptive, and mission-aware AI at the edge, where privacy, resilience, and autonomy are paramount.

2025 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM. The 2025 IS was the largest annual gathering of systems engineering professionals – from industry, government, and academia – providing a platform to share ideas, present innovations, and network across a range of interactive formats including presentations, workshops, tutorials, and panel discussions. This short presentation will cover major events and happenings.

PRESENTERS

Dr Art Villanueva

Dr. Art Villanueva lives in the intersection of artificial intelligence, emergence, and systems engineering. His current research focuses on complex adaptive systems (CAS) – from brain mechanisms to autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He is the founder of Phronos, an AI services company dedicated to leveraging AI and SE across domains. He also serves as a Senior Staff Engineer at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, where he applies his expertise to the next-generation of unmanned aerial vehicles. Dr. Villanueva previously served as Chief AI Technologist for Dell Technologies’ Federal Strategic Programs, guiding Dell’s AI posture across government sectors. His multidisciplinary experience also spans large defense and public transportation projects as well as clean-tech entrepreneurship in renewable energy. An inventor with multiple U.S. utility patents and several peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Villanueva holds a Doctor of Engineering in Systems Engineering from Colorado State University, where he specialized in meta-algorithmics for natural language processing. He also holds a master’s degree in systems engineering, a master’s degree in computer science from UC San Diego, and a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from UCLA. He is an INCOSE-certified Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP).

Dr Julia Taylor

Dr. Julia Taylor is a Management Consultant at Taylor Success Systems, where she applies Systems Thinking to solve business challenges. She holds a Doctorate in Corporate Strategy (under the guidance of Igor Ansoff), an MBA from Santa Clara University, a B.S. in Chemistry from Memphis State University, and an Electronics degree from Heald Institute of Technology in San Francisco. Dr. Taylor has been a INCOSE SD board member since 2018 and Chapter President in 2024. Additionally, Dr. Taylor is the Chapter Representative for SD INCOSE at the San Diego County Engineering Council (SDCEC). Active in Toastmasters, Dr. Taylor holds the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) title and has achieved Presentation Pathways recognition. She is also the author of several technical papers and three business books.

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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.

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