NASA Systems Engineering Leadership Development Program (SELDP)

SELDP Resources

• SELDP Program Plan — Outlines the Program Requirements, Roles and Responsibilities, Participant Nomination and Selection, and the Program Schedule.

• 2009-2010 Call for Participants
  

• Attachment A: 2009-2010 Selection Criteria
• Attachment B: 2009-2010 Developmental Assignment Form and Instructions
• View Attachment C: 2009-2010 Selection Process Schedule
  
• Download Attachment C (PDF)

• SELDP Nomination Form
  (Search for NASA Form 1781)

• The Art and Science of Systems Engineering
• Complete Version (PDF)
• Short Version (PDF)
• NASA Systems Engineering Behavior Study

NASA's vision and mission necessitate that its workforce is ready and able to lead the world in space exploration, scientific discovery, technology development, and managerial excellence. Systems engineering has been identified by NASA Leadership as a critical core competency in enabling current and future mission success. The NASA Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) has responsibility for implementing an effective systems engineering program and strategy across NASA. The OCE is aligning and integrating the following three aspects of the NASA systems engineering framework:

• Common Technical Processes
• Tools and Methods
• Workforce, Knowledge and Skills

Current activities to realign governing documents includes:

• Revision of NASA's Program/Project Management Policy Directive (NPD 7120.5D) to ensure the Agency has a focused and shared systems engineering policy;
• Revision of NASA's Systems Engineering Handbook (NASA SP-2007 – 6105 R1) to create a bridge from typical guidance back to the NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements (NPR 7123.1A);
• Development of implementation plans to show how NPR 7123.1A is being flowed down to the Centers; and
• Development of an Agency-wide Systems Engineering Leadership Development Program (SELDP).

The OCE has very robust Program and Project Management and Systems Engineering training programs within the Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership (APPEL). With over 60 in-depth courses, they provide an excellent foundation for NASA employees to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to improve their program/project and systems engineering capabilities. In addition to these courses, the OCE has determined that there is a greater need for hands-on systems engineering experience. The SELDP is closing this learning gap.

Several NASA Centers have hands-on systems engineering development programs. Other Centers are also developing programs. In addition to these Center programs, the OCE has identified the need for an Agency-wide leadership development program that will help identify high potential System Engineers and provide a NASA perspective and focus on developing an/or improving specific leadership behaviors and technical capabilities. The OCE implemented the SELDP in 2008 with a pilot program. A core requirement of this program is hands-on developmental assignments at other Centers. These assignments enable participants to gain a greater understanding of NASA and to expand the application of their systems engineering knowledge and skills.

The Art and Science of Systems Engineering (see sidebar) culminates years of experience in systems engineering and focused discussions among NASA leadership, systems engineers, and systems engineering trainers across the Agency. The objectives are to:

• Provide a clear definition of systems engineering,
• Describe the highly effective behavioral characteristics of NASA's best systems engineers, and
• Make explicit the expectations of systems engineers at NASA.
  
  

In addition to the resources offered in the sidebar, please use the choices in the left navigation panel to learn more about the SELDP program.