Short Courses & Tutorials
The following short courses and tutorials were offered by DEPS and by ITEA on 15 January 2019 in Albuquerque.
However, not all courses were open to all registrants. All of the classes were unclassified, but some have additional participation requirements,
which are listed below and are identified in the Classification field in the course descriptions.
- Distribution limitation A - Any registrant may participant.
- Distribution limitation C - Restricted to U.S. citizens who are employees of the federal government or its contractors.
- Distribution limitation D - Restricted to U.S. citizens who are employees of the Department of Defense or its contractors.
Continuing Education Unit
(CEU) credits were awarded by DEPS for
completion of their professional development short courses.
Course 1. T&E of HEL Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: Larry McKee, American Systems
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: An introduction to fundamental considerations for the test and evaluation (T&E) of High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon systems. Students will be given an overview of the various distinct types of HEL testing, including example test concepts/configurations, considerations for test instrumentation, and key testing issues, such as safety and environmental concerns.
Topics to be covered include:
- HEL employment/testing challenges
- Types of HEL testing
- Lethality phenomenology testing
- HEL effects
- HEL lethality testing types and test diagnostics
- System output testing
- System performance testing
- HEL examples of static ground testing, dynamic OT, OT/Live
- HEL test measures
- Instrumentation Considerations
- HEL instrumentation summary
- Instrumentation protection
- Non-intrusive measurements
- HEL testing considerations
- HEL testing issues
- HEL testing safety
- Test planning tools
Intended Audience: T&E engineers who may be responsible for planning, supporting, and/or executing range tests that involve HEL weapon systems.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Larry McKee has over 40 years of experience directing and performing RDT&E programs in directed energy weapon (DEW) T&E, distributed testing, nuclear weapon effects, system survivability, neutral particle beam interactive discrimination, and high energy laser effects. He joined American Systems Corporation in 2012 and is currently a subject matter expert supporting the Directed Energy Test Technology Area under the Test Resource Management Center. He has also developed and presented High Energy Laser T&E short courses for the Electronic Warfare Directorate at Edwards AFB, CA.
Course 2. T&E of HPM Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: Jeff Schleher, American Systems
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: The short course is an introduction to the testing of high power radio frequency weapons. The course contains a short introduction to the fundamentals of these high power microwave (HPM) weapons to establish a common vocabulary. The focus of the course is on test practices as they apply to HPM weapons for U.S. system testing and susceptibility
testing as specified in MIL STD 464C. HPM instrumentation, test measures, and analysis make up a section of the course. Various presentations address military applications of HPM weapons and how fielded systems have been tested. Substantial new HPM test equipment has been recently made available to military test ranges and developmental laboratories. The course will address the
availability, location, and procedures for these test capabilities as well as the process used to determine what test equipment was needed. A portion of the course will address the specialized requirements of these systems for safety considerations and permitting required for testing to proceed.
Topics include:
- HPM Fundamentals
- Testing Fundamentals as Applied to HPM
- Test and Evaluation HPM Environment
- Sources for HPM Testing and Where to Find Them
- HPM Test Locations
- HPM Test Instrumentation and Setup
- Safety and Spectrum Management
Intended Audience: This course is appropriate for managers and analysts requiring an overview of HPM weapons and how they are tested in addition to new HPM field test engineers. A background in science and engineering at least to the technicial level is required to understand the technical portion of the course.
Instructor Biography: Jeff Schleher has spent 40-years in military test and is an early member of ITEA, participating in concept, developmental, and operational test. Mr. Schleher's early test activities focused on large radar and space system testing, but since the 1990's he has engaged in high power microwave test support. Mr. Schleher's current activities are as a subject matter expert for the Test Resource Management Center science and technology efforts to provide military test ranges with necessary equipment and capabilities to support testing of high powered microwave weapon and modern electronic warfare systems. Previously, he supported the acquisition of high power microwave sources and sensors through the Directed Energy Test and Evaluation Capability. Mr. Schleher is retired from the Air Force and is the current president of the Albuquerque Chapter of the Association of Old Crows.
Course 3. Changes to DoD Acquisition: Section 804 Middle Tier Authority- Rapid Prototyping/Rapid Fielding, Expanded Other Transaction Authority (OTA)
Classification: Open, Public Release, Distribution Limitation A
Instructor: Seth Shepherd
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: Exploration of DoD Acquisition process with a focus on new authorities and process for rapid prototyping and fielding.
The short course will explore DoD New Acquisition Authorities including:
- Section 804 Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping/Rapid Fielding,
- Section 806 Component Prototyping,
- Expanded Other Transaction Authority (OTA),
- Adaptive Acquisition Framework.
- Government Guidance at the DoD and Service level.
- Program reporting and data requirements.
- Identified approved programs to date.
- Potential impacts on Test and Evaluation
- Expectations for FY19 and beyond.
Intended Audience: Individuals interested in Department of Defense technology development and acquisition of systems, both from an industry and Government perspective. No previous experience required although a working understanding and experience with the current DoD acquisition system (DODI 5000.02) and Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) will be helpful to understand the differences.
Instructor Biography: Seth Shepherd is a professor in the Systems Engineering and Test (SET) Department at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) South Region in Huntsville, AL. He teaches courses in Systems Engineering, Science & Technology Management and Test & Evaluation to members of the Defense Acquisition Workforce. Mr. Shepherd also engages in consulting efforts with Department of Defense acquisition programs and agencies and the Department of Homeland Security.
Course 4. Design of Tests for Transitioning DE Weapon Systems to Acquisition Programs for Warfighter Fielding (formerly known as DE Design of Tests)
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructors:
- Robert Newton, USAF, Retired
- Dan A. Isbell, USAF, Retired
Duration:Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: Test & Evaluation (T&E) of Directed Energy (DE) Systems is nothing new; however, the purpose of testing is changing. DE's many decades of research focused testing is now transitioning to support programs of record that lead to fielded DE weapons systems. This course is designed as an entry level short course where the instructors will briefly review the T&E processes and highlight applicable DoD guidance. Since Directed Energy (DE) is a technology very different from the kinetic weapons that form the basis of DoD written guidance, the instructors will apply the core T&E principles to DE weapon system development. This will include familiarization about methodologies along with unique test range resources that are required for DE weapons T&E.
There are differences in DE T&E phases. For instance, laboratory Research and Development (R&D) T&E has a science and engineering focus. In contrast, DE T&E for defense acquisition of fieldable DE weapons for warfighters has a more combat operational focus. The course will highlight the distinct differences between these types of DE T&E to include the spectrum of R&D T&E, Developmental T&E (DT&E) and Operational T&E (OT&E).
The phases of DT&E and OT&E for DE weapon systems are the types of testing that lead to fielding a DE weapon system after it has been proven to meet technical system performance requirements, military utility, and operational suitability requirements. These combat-relevant areas of T&E also include Logistics T&E (LT&E), which are focused on validated reliability, maintainability, sustainability and other specific logistics requirements that help to determine DE weapon system mission availability in a realistic combat environment.
The course will emphasize the need to consider integrated mission-level T&E for DE weapons, since the cost (in time and resources) is very high if done in a sequential DT&E followed by OT&E, followed by LT&E (as was historically done for other types of systems). Live fire testing of DE weapon systems is costly, and the resources are precious and few in terms of full-scale DE weapon systems test ranges and instrumentation. Careful design of test principles can result in much more effective and efficient DE weapons T&E by integrating all the elements of DT&E, OT&E, and LT&E to the maximum extent possible.
Intended Audience:To understand the material in this course, the attendee should have already completed DE 101, or have prior familiarization with DE weapon systems.
Instructor Biographies: Bob is an advanced systems developer with nearly 20-year DE experience. Currently he leads a defense technology company in applying his over 35-years of US Air Force and commercial industry experience. Beginning with a technical education in Aerospace Engineering from The Ohio State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, his mission perspective comes from F-16 fighter and special operations. He is an acquisition professional and test pilot with over 4500 hours in over 60 types of aircraft. His specific acquisition related responsibilities involved F-16 performance / flying qualities / avionics / sensors / weapons flight test and airworthiness certification, F-22 program management, Air Force Material Command headquarters, Pentagon Air Staff, and industry. He has commanded flying units and is a veteran of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Dan brings a broad range of expertise and experience to the defense and technology industry with his 27 years of service in the US Air Force. His insight comes from an educational background that includes a Master's degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, a Master's degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. During his Air Force career he also completed flight school, test pilot school, Senior Acquisition Manager's course, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the professional military service schools.
Dan's formal education and training founded his broad experience in aircraft and weapons airworthiness certification and program management, business development and integration, technology and engineering, fighter aircraft and special operations. His positions include Chief, F-16 Systems Program Office, Commander of 514th Flight Test Squadron, Operations Research Systems Analyst for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Program Analysis & Evaluation, Air Vehicle Program Manager for F/A-22 Systems Program Office, Chief of Weapon System Sector and Technology Integration Lead for Battlefield Air Operations Kit National Team.
Course 5. Predicting & Validating Prototype Performance
Classification: Open, Public Release, Distribution Limitation A
Instructor: Mark Kiemele, Air Academy Associates
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: Design of Experiments (DOE) is a method that can and should be used in the design and development of prototypical systems. But DOE should also be used in validating the performance of prototypes so that procurement decisions can more easily be made. This tutorial will examine the design and development of two prototypes that are built to satisfy a common set of requirements. DOE will be used to model the performance of each prototype. Then validation testing will be used to confirm the performance capability of each prototype, thereby enhancing the decision as to which system to procure. This will be a highly interactive session and should be fun for the participants. There are no pre-requisites to attend, as the analysis will be demonstrated via computer.
Intended Audience: This session is for any leader, manager or practitioner who wants to develop a better understanding of what needs to be done to predict the performance of a prototype system and then to be able to validate that predicted performance after the prototype has been built. No prior statistical knowledge is needed to garner the key principles/take-aways from this session.
Instructor Biography: Mark J. Kiemele is President and Co-founder of Air Academy Associates. He has more than 35 years of teaching, coaching, and consulting experience. He is world-renowned for his Keep-It-Simple-Statistically (KISS) approach to developing a culture of experimentation. His support is requested by an impressive list of global clients, including Sony, Microsoft, GE, Apple, GlaxoSmithKline, Samsung, John Deere, Xerox, and Bose, as well as many DoD contractors and organizations.
Mark earned a B.S. and M.S. in Mathematics from North Dakota State University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. During his time in the USAF, Mark supported the design, development and testing of various systems. He has more than 100 published papers and has authored or co-authored seven books.
| Course Fees |
|
| |
Single Half-Day
|
Two Half-Day
|
| Full-time students |
$0
|
$0
|
| Others |
$250
|
$450
|
Last updated: 29 January 2019
