Bridging Joint Operations and Engineering Management through an Operational Mission Architecture Framework

Abstract

The paper presents an organizing framework for directly incorporating United States Department of Defense (DoD) joint operational concepts into early-stage engineering management and system design. It translates operational level guidance from DoD Joint Publications to a concise Operational Mission Architecture Framework (OMAF) that can be used as a starting point for engineering management efforts. The OMAF is used to orient the development of systems architecture products per Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) standards. Resultantly, the OMAF serves as a bridging mechanism between the language and terminology employed in the joint operational community and the engineering management community.

Keywords:

• Systems Architecture
• Mission Engineering
• Architecture Framework
• Department of Defense

EMJ Focus Areas:

• Systems Engineering
• Organization Design

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Beery

Paul Beery, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). He holds a BA in Statistics from Rutgers University, a MS in Systems Engineering Analysis from the NPS, and a PhD in Systems Engineering from the NPS. He teaches courses in systems modeling and simulation, capabilities engineering, and systems architecting. His research includes discrete event and agent-based modeling as well as linkage of systems architecture products to operational simulations.

Thomas Irwin

Thomas Irwin, PhD, is the Executive Director Joint Force Development and Design at the Joint Staff. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, a MS in Systems Engineering Management from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), and a PhD in Systems Engineering from the NPS. He worked previously for the Joint Staff J7 and J9, as well as at the Marine Corps Systems Command and NAVSEA Warfare Centers.

Eugene Paulo

Eugene Paulo, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. He has developed and taught various courses related to systems engineering and modeling and simulation. His research interests include model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and mission engineering, while focusing on operational areas including mine warfare, hypervelocity weapons, distributed maritime operations, expeditionary warfare, and autonomous systems. He is serving this year as visiting professor of Systems Engineering at the US Air Force Academy.

Anthony Pollman

Anthony Pollman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of the Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA. He holds a BS and MS in nuclear engineering from Purdue University, a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland-College Park, and an MBA from the NPS. He teaches courses in system engineering, sensors, and modeling. His research interests include process modeling and simulation and operational energy.

Wayne Porter

Wayne Porter, PhD, CAPT, USN (ret), is a Senior Lecturer in the Defense Analysis and Systems Engineering Departments of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). He is the Co-Director of the CORE Lab and Director of the Littoral Operations Center. He holds a PhD in Information Sciences and two MS degrees in Computer Science and Joint C4I Systems Technology from the NPS. He retired from the Navy in 2014 after 28 years of active service.

Stephen Gillespie

Stephen Gillespie, PhD, is an officer in the U.S. Army. He has served as an operations research analyst and infantry officer at Army Futures Command, the US Military Academy, 4th Infantry Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade. He holds a PhD in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MA and BA in mathematics from Boston University.