Navy Strategic Systems Office, Draper Honored For Systems Engineering Excellence
The Department of Defense and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) honored the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs and Draper Laboratory for systems engineering work on an upgraded guidance system for sea-launched ballistic missiles during a recent ceremony in San Diego, Calif.The Department of Defense Systems Engineering Top 5 Program Award recognizes systems engineering practices that have enabled highly successful military programs.The Navy plans to use the upgraded version of the guidance system, which features improved performance and reduced lifecycle cost, through 2042.The Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) worked with Draper to successfully fly the Mark 6 MOD1 Guidance System in February during Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 23 off a submarine, the first time the Navy flew new flight hardware without first going through a land-based flight program.Draper and Navy SSP preserved as much of the legacy design as practical while capitalizing on new technology for the system’s electronics and sensors. Some of the systems engineering practices that contributed to their success include architecture trade studies, modularity, modeling and simulation-driven design, verification of interfaces and requirements, hardware development and integration, and enhanced ground testing. They also applied innovative approaches to commonality, configuration management, design review process, risk management, and earned value management.Stephen Welby, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering, presented the award to U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Gerken, Guidance Branch head for Strategic Systems Programs, and Steven DiTullio, Draper’s Vice President for Strategic Systems, on Oct. 24 during NDIA’s Systems Engineering Conference.