| |
Short Courses
The following short courses were offered by DEPS and ITEA on 5 February 2024 in conjunction with the
2024 DE Test & Evaluation Joint Conference.
Note that while all short courses were unclassified, some had additional participation requirements,
which are listed below and are identified in the Classification field in the course descriptions.
- Open/ Distribution A - Any registrant may participate.
- Distribution C - Restricted to U.S. citizens who are employees of the federal government or its contractors.
- Distribution 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: Mark Neice, DEPS
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:
Course 2. T&E Fundamentals and Certified T&E Professional (CTEP) Foundations CANCELLED
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release
Instructor: Charles “Chas” McKee, Taverene Analytics LLC
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: The CTEP requisites are appearing on more proposals. In this high-level
short course we will review T&E fundamentals which are covered in the CTEP exams. We will review the
Body of Knowledge (BOK) including the four subject domains used in developing the CTEP program. These
will include:
- Test and Evaluation Planning (Organizational planning, Requirements Analysis, T&E strategy,
Evaluation approach, Test Design and Adequacy, T&E Documentation, T&E Cost Management, Contracting for
T&E, Specialized Types of testing, planning and resourcing, Risk identification and management, Cyber
testing, Modeling and Simulation, Reliability-Availability-Maintainability)
- T&E Design (Test Adequacy, Scientific Test and analysis techniques, Software Testing)
- Test and Evaluation Execution (Test Control Management, Data Management, and Test Safety / Certification), and
- Test Data Analysis, Evaluation and Reporting (Data Verification and Validation, Validation of
Test Results, Evaluation, Reporting, Cyber Resilience / Cybersecurity Analysis, Model Validation,
and Data Analytics).
Application and Exam Fee waived for Attendees of this tutorial.
Valued at: CTEP Application – $50 ITEA Member ($150 Non-Member) | CTEP Examination – $250 ITEA Member ($400 Non-Member)
Intended Audience:
Instructor Biography:
Course 3. Test and Training Solutions with TENA, JMETC, and BDKM
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release
Instructor: Gene Hudgins, TRMC (TENA/JMETC)
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: Together, TENA and JMETC enable interoperability among ranges,
facilities, and simulations in a timely and cost-efficient manner while BDA enables the application
of advanced analytics tools to help quickly process, visualize, understand, and report what we have
learned. TENA provides for real-time system interoperability, as well as interfacing existing range
assets, C4ISR systems, and simulations; fostering reuse of range assets and future software systems.
JMETC is a distributed, LVC capability which uses a hybrid network architecture; the JMETC Secret
Network (JSN), based on the SDREN, is used for secret testing and the JMETC Multiple Independent
Levels of Security (MILS) Network (JMN) is the T&E enterprise network solution for all classifications
and cyber testing. JMETC provides readily-available connectivity to the Services' distributed test
and training capabilities and simulations, as well as industry resources. Big Data Analytics (BDA)
has demonstrated that applying enterprise big data analytic tools and techniques to T&E leads to
faster and more informed decision making that reduces overall program cost and risk.
This tutorial addresses using the well-established TENA and JMETC tools and capabilities combined
with BDA tools and techniques to reduce risk in an often-uncertain environment; regularly saving
ranges time and money in the process.
Intended Audience: Anyone wanting to use Enterprise Services of the TRMC will benefit
from the Tutorial. Services include use of TENA, JMETC, Cybersecurity and Big Data/Data Analytics.
Instructor Biography: Gene Hudgins works for KBRwyle as Director of Test and Training
Environments and supports the Test Resource Management Center's (TRMC's) Test and Training Enabling
Architecture (TENA) Software Development Activity (SDA) and Joint Mission Environment Testing
Capability (JMETC) as the lead for the TENA and JMETC User Support Team. Since October 1998, the
Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP) has overseen the development of TENA - which
drastically improves range interoperability and resource reuse among DoD range systems, facilities,
and simulations. As a key member of the TENA SDA and JMETC Program Office, Gene is responsible for
Distributed Event Coordination, Design, and Integration. Gene also manages TENA training and Range
Commanders Council coordination. Gene is an active member of the International Test and Evaluation
Association (ITEA) and recently served as President on the Executive Committee of the ITEA National
Board of Directors (BOD). Prior to this work for the TRMC, Gene worked on Eglin AFB as an
Instrumentation Engineer and Department Head. Gene has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical
Engineering from Auburn University (War Eagle!), a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from
the University of Florida (Go Gators!), and an MBA from the University of West Florida.
Course 4. T&E of HPM Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: Jeff Schleher, American Systems
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: The short course is an introduction to the testing of high power radio
frequency weapons. The course contains an 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. 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 for which best HPM test practices are
addressed.
Topics include:
- HPM Fundamentals - Design of an HPM Weapon System
- Testing Fundamentals as Applied to HPM
- Test Measurement and HPM Environment
- Sources for HPM Testing
- HPM Test Locations
- HPM Test Instrumentation
- HPM Test Types with Examples
- 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 45-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 and is a DEPS plank holder. Mr. Schleher's current activities are as a subject matter expert
for the Test Resource Management Center science and technology efforts in the areas of - directed energy,
electronic warfare, and nuclear effects - 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 5. Design of Tests for Transitioning DE Weapon Systems to Acquisition Programs for Warfighter Fielding
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructor: Robert Newton, 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 Biography: Bob Newton is an advanced systems developer with over 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 5000 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.
Course 6. AI Techniques, Tools, and Trends
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release
Instructor: Elizabeth Whitaker, GTRI
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This tutorial provides an overview of Artificial Intelligence and
Machine Learning techniques and approaches, tools, and trends. It introduces the fundamentals and
applications of AI ranging from knowledge-based, cognitive, and episodic techniques to data-driven
machine learning approaches, as well as an introduction to generative AI approaches. The tutorial
includes discussions of AI ethics, issues and testing. We will introduce some references, tools and
public data sets that students may use for further independent explorations.
Intended Audience:
Instructor Biography:
Last updated: 25 February 2024
|
