Short Courses
The following short courses were offered by DEPS and ITEA on 27 January 2020 in conjunction with the 2020 Joint Conference on T&E Support
to Prototyping and Experimentation in Albuquerque, NM.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits were awarded for completion of the short courses.
Not all courses were open to all registrants. While all of the classes were unclassified, some had 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.
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. Combat Systems Engineering of DEWs T&E
Classification: Distribution D
Instructor: Douglas H. Nelson, Teknicare, Inc.
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: An introduction to the test and evaluation of directed energy weapon systems as they are designed, developed and realized to perform their intended military missions. The fundamentals of the combat systems engineering approach will be introduced to provide context and comparison to systems engineering models commonly in use. The role of test and evaluation in the steps/activities of this combat systems engineering process as tailored to directed energy systems will be briefly examined.
Intended Audience:
Instructor Biography: Doug Nelson received his Bachelor of Science in 1980 from the United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY where he concentrated in physics with a specialty in weapons systems engineering. After graduation, Doug finished the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY. He then completed a series of operational tours in Korea and CONUS serving as a tank platoon leader, tank company executive officer, tank company commander as well as various brigade & battalion staff positions. Doug then graduated from the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Fort Knox in 1986 subsequently earning Master or Science. in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterey, CA, in 1988. While at NPS, he conducted research in the analysis of selected atmospheric optical turbulence effects on the Relay Mirror Experiment. Upon graduation from NPS, he was an instructor and assistant professor of physics at USMA concurrently graduating from the Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS. In 1991, Doug then redeployed to Korea for tours as a tank battalion operations officer and brigade logistics officer. Beginning in 1993, Doug served as a Military Research Associate and upon retirement from the Army in 1997, a Staff Research Assistant, at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) conducting research in CO2 DIAL. While at LANL, Doug earned his PhD in Optical Science from the University of New Mexico in 1999.
In 2000, Doug transitioned to industry, first with Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ where he conducted test planning and analysis on AIM-9X Sidewinder. In mid 2001, he transferred to The Boeing Company where he managed and contributed technically to various programs including several in directed energy (DE). Among these were: Relay System Internal Research & Development, Aerospace Relay Mirror System, Airborne Laser, Advanced Tactical Laser, High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator, Active Track of satellite targets, Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle, SBInet, Ground Combat Vehicle as well as several proprietary programs.
In 2011, Doug joined the Systems Engineering Department at the Naval Postgraduate School as an Associate Professor. There he taught the Directed Energy Systems track as well as the Combat Systems Engineering track and other systems engineering & project management courses. He also conducted research into mission engineering, atmospheric optical turbulence effects, combat force protection & survivability as well as high energy laser system and subsystem integration.
He transitioned to the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command in 2016. There his duties included serving as the Army Representative to the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office (HEL JTO) Atmospheric Propagation Technical Area Working Group (AP TAWG) and the Modeling & Simulation (M&S) TAWG.
Doug is now the Senior Combat Systems Engineer with Teknicare, Inc. supporting several government programs. Areas of expert support include beam control, combat systems engineering and DE test & evaluation.
Course 4. Design of Tests for Transitioning DE Weapon Systems to Acquisition Programs for Warfighter Fielding
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 Newton 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 Isbell 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. Introduction to the DoD Test & Evaluation Process
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructor: Harry Sinsheimer, DE JT0
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course discusses the fundamentals of testing DoD systems, with an emphasis on
directed energy systems. Topics include:
- Overview of Defense Acquisition System
- Where do we start? - Good requirements
- The role of the Systems Engineering process
- Test Planning - when and what do we do it?
- Test Development Strategy
- Test & Evaluation Master Plan
- Role of Test Lead manager
- Types of testing/when started/finished
- Developmental Testing
- Initial Operational T&E
- Live Fire T&E
- Test execution and reporting
- Directed energy testing issues
- Instrumentation
- Safety
- Training
- Best practices and lessons learned
- Some important test parameters of laser systems
Intended Audience: While the primary audience for the course remains DoD staff, DEPS shares the course broadly, not
as a blueprint, but in a spirit of collegiality and an interest in contributing to others' efforts and continuing our collective
dialogue about Directed Energy. As a basic introduction to T&E, it is suitable for personnel in other technical acquisition
management and program management positions who want to understand more about T&E and the critical role it plays in DE system
acquisition.
Instructor Biography: Harry Sinsheimer serves as the Deputy Director to the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office
since February 2017. As the Deputy Director, Harry's expertise, knowledge, and skills including an understanding of laser
technology, directed energy weapons, test and evaluation, financial management, logistics, program analysis, organizational and
force structure will advocate, develop and execute a High Energy Laser investment strategy that builds on existing programs
while exploiting promising new technology developments for High Energy Laser weapon system applications. Prior to this role
Harry was a business consultant helping small scale companies build strong functional organizations while implementing strategic
planning, programming, and progressive execution of tasks and business processes. Harry's 34 year government career included
serving as Technical Advisor and Program Manager on several Missile Defense Agency's Advanced Laser and Sensor projects after
serving a wide range of roles and responsibilities on the Airborne Laser Program, cradle to grave, from 1995 to 2012 gaining
valuable experience on laser weapon systems. Harry earned a Master's Degree in Project Management from Penn State Erie, the
Behrend College in 2006 and earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico - Robert O.
Anderson School of Management in 1999.
| Course Fees |
|
| |
Single Half-Day
|
Two Half-Day
|
| Full-time students |
$0
|
$0
|
| Others |
$250
|
$450
|
Last updated: 18 February 2020
