Join us at our annual STEM Recognition Celebration on SUNDAY, October 4th, 2026, from 4:30-7:30pm at the CITY FUN CENTER in Poway !

INCOSE SD’s STEM program provides STEM awards to schools and groups, including the 2025-2026 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 Toy/Gadget Raffle included!!! Visit their webpage at CityFunCenter.com

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

VITAL INFORMATION

Date: Sunday, Oct 4th, 2026, from 4:30-7:30pm

Location: The City 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 CITY FUN CENTER

Located in Poway, the City Fun Center offers 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.

Fun includes:

• 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

Join us for plenty of Pizza, loads of Popcorn, and soft drinks!

RAFFLE

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 2025, the chapter awarded the following schools:

• Ada Harris Elementary Schools
• Poway High School
• FRC Team NOMAD
• Double Peak

Come see what the schools’ DEMOS!

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

RSVP deadline is past

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Please join us on Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 5:45pm Pacific time, for a HYBRID presentation on Root Cause Analysis (RCA). This presentation will be given in person at the Filippi’s Restaurant in Kearny Mesa (San Diego) by Mr. Randy Willard of the WAU.

VITAL INFORMATION

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

Cost: Free! There is an optional Italian food buffet (pizza, pasta, salads, soft drinks, etc.) offered at $5 for INCOSE members and students, $15 non-members.

Webcast: This presentation will be webcast to remote audiences using Zoom:

https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/86923051714?pwd=6GnkqUymyLgDFU1N3WX0lhpXLGyXbH.1

Join and take notes
https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/86923051714?pwd=6GnkqUymyLgDFU1N3WX0lhpXLGyXbH.1&mynotes=on

Meeting ID: 869 2305 1714
Passcode: 269943

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+16694449171,,86923051714# US

SYNOPSIS

Professor Randolph Willard from the San Diego campus of the Warfighting Acquisition University (formerly Defense Acquisition University) will present on Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis. This session includes background/history, traditional problem solving, problem identification and problem statements, problem definition, problem solving tools including brainstorming, Cause & Effect diagram, multi-voting, five whys, and force field diagram, and root cause analysis.

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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This conference is now available both in-person and remotely.

The INCOSE Los Angeles and San Diego chapters cordially invite you to join us at our HYBRID In-Person 2-Day INCOSE 2026 Joint Technical Conference from November 7-8, 2026 at Caltech in Pasadena, California.

This year’s conference theme is 250 Years and Beyond of Systems Engineering. Please join us!

WHY ATTEND THE 2026 CONFERENCE?

• 2 full days of insightful presentations, hands-on tutorials, keynotes, and panel discussions
• Now a HYBRID event!
• At $99 for INCOSE members, this is an exceptional value at a time when most conference fees are increasing substantially
• After-conference events
• Opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other professional Systems Engineers
• Paper exam for INCOSE SEP certification (to be offered on Friday, Nov 6th, the day before the conference)
• Free parking

WHEN & WHERE

DATES: 9am-6pm on Saturday Nov 7th, and 8am-5pm on Sunday, Nov 8th, 2026

LOCATION: Caltech University in Pasadena, CA.

Building Name: The conference will take place at the Gates-Thomas Lab (TOM) Building at Caltech
Address: 370 S. Holliston Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106 (Google Maps)
Building Number: 44
Map Grid: C4
Main Hall: Jim & Sandy Hall Auditorium (135 – 1st floor, for keynotes and presentations)
Coffee breaks (morning/afternoon) and lunch will be served on the second floor in George W. Housner Lounge (235 – 2nd floor)
1st breakout room: 235 Gates-Thomas building (2nd floor)
2nd breakout room: 115 Gates-Thomas building (1st floor)
3rd breakout room: pending

Map of Campus Area

Directions from Lot 4:  Once parked, please make your way to the 1st floor and exit the door on the Southwest side of the parking structure. Head south on Holliston and make a right westward, onto campus at San Pasqual.  Follow the path past Browne Dining Hall and make a left (South) after you pass Hameetman Center (Red Door).  From there you will make a right into the courtyard.  Gate-Thomas Laboratory will be on your left.

Here is the interactive campus map to assist participant travel to and from campus: https://www.caltech.edu/map/campus

Parking is free on weekends.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL (SEP) PAPER EXAM

We’re also offering the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) paper exam the Friday before (Nov 6th). This test will begin promptly at 10am, so all students must arrive by no later than 30 minutes prior (9:30am) for pre-test brief and seating. The test will conclude by approximately 12 noon.

The cost to sign up for this exam is $30. INCOSE Los Angeles and San Diego chapter members will be reimbursed the $30 after taking the exam. Students who are at least half-time students will also be reimbursed the $30. (Members from other INCOSE chapters will not be reimbursed.)

Instructions for registration:

1. Log in to https://portal.incose.org
2. Click on “Certifications” in the menu banner
3. Select “Register for an Paper Exam”
4. Click the tile for the November 6th exam
5. Click on “Registration” and follow the prompts to complete registration, including payment.

Note that if you are not an INCOSE member that you will need to create an account to sign up.

Address for Paper Exam:

• Address: 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125 (near S. Holliston Ave), Building 79
• Room: PB 100 (Room 100) is a lecture and seminar room located on the ground floor of the Caltech Powell-Booth Laboratory for Computational Science

Parking and finding the building: We recommend parking in Structure 4 on South Holliston Ave as it is the closest to the Powell-Booth Building. https://www.caltech.edu/map/campus/holliston-parking-structure Since it is a weekday, a permit will be required. Individuals will be able to purchase parking on the HonkMobile App: https://www.honkmobile.com/ Here is the interactive campus map to assist participant travel to and from campus: https://www.caltech.edu/map/campus

Please note that exam seating will be limited to the first 10 sign ups. Please be prepared to take the exam, and feel free to email us at info@sdincose.org if you have any questions.

CONFERENCE PRICE

The following prices are In-Person or Remote:

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! This greatly helps us in planning the food orders (thank you!)

Note that presenters (up to 2 per presentation) receive a 50% discount. Please contact us for Discount Code.

AFTER HOURS EVENTS

Saturday, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Yard House, 300 East Colorado Blvd Suite 220 Pasadena, CA 91101

PARKING

Caltech parking is FREE on weekends.

FOOD

More information on conference food and refreshments is forthcoming.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

Please help us welcome our two 2026 JTC keynote speakers.

Saturday Keynote Presentation: “The Technological Frontier: Innovation in the Modern Tech Ecosystem”

Dr. Tom Cwik – Technology Strategist and Former JPL Chief Technologist

Sunday Keynote Presentation : “The AI System Model: Creating a Framework for Technical Leaders”

Nicholas Beaudoin – AI Advisor and Lead AI Instructor, Caltech CTME; Head of AI, Addenso Labs

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Please see the following draft schedule, which will be updated as needed to accommodate speaker availability. We will also post a full program by mid to late October.

JTC SPONSORS

We are pleased to recognize our conference sponsors!

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

EDUCATOR/NON-PROFIT SPONSORS

Potential JTC Sponsors – please see the following sponsor tiering below. Please let us know if you have any questions!! Mr. Rick Hefner is our JTC Sponsor lead and can be reached at: rhefner@caltech.edu.

HOTELS

There are many hotel options in the greater Pasadena/Caltech area. Please see below for several good options:

Hilton Pasadena
168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena
About 1 mile from Caltech. Full-service hotel with restaurant, pool, fitness center. Convenient for both Caltech and Old Pasadena.

Pasadena Hotel & Pool
928 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
About 0.8 miles from Caltech. Walkable to restaurants and shopping on Colorado Boulevard. Outdoor pool, modern rooms, good value for visitors to campus.

Pasadena Rose & Crown Hotel
1203 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
About 0.8 miles from Caltech. Free parking and breakfast. Budget-friendly option with strong guest reviews.

Langham Huntington, Pasadena
1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena
About 1 mile from Caltech. Luxury resort-style property. Spa, gardens, multiple restaurants, elegant accommodations.

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Pasadena
1599 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
About 0.9–1.0 mile from Caltech. Budget-friendly. Free parking and breakfast.

Hotel Dena, Pasadena (Tribute Portfolio)
Downtown Pasadena, 303 Cordova St, Pasadena, CA 91101
About 1.2 miles from Caltech. Stylish Marriott-affiliated hotel. Easy access to restaurants and shopping.

Courtyard by Marriott Pasadena/Old Town
Old Pasadena, 180 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103
About 1.7 miles from Caltech. Great location for dining and evening activities. Marriott rewards eligible

CONTACT US

Please feel free to contact us anytime at info@sdincose.org. Thank you.

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