Digital Engineering

Digital Engineering / MBSE Overview

Digital Engineering is an integrated digital approach to creating one place for information and knowledge. With digital engineering, product teams learn more about systems sooner and can save time in development and testing, saving money.

As a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Systems Engineering Transformation (SET) team member, AVIAN has played a significant role in transforming the Navy's document-centric SE approach to using digital systems models (DSMs) for development.

By implementing core digital engineering practices, policies, and processes and through academic training, AVIAN introduces the approaches, techniques, and tools necessary to establish a digital trinity.

AVIAN shapes the digital ecosystem by creating integrated development environments (IDEs), utilizing agile methods, and enforcing open-source architectures (OSAs).
Within the digital trinity construct, AVIAN is mapping Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) principles to the creation of the Digital Thread (DT), where the resulting digital artifacts (models, analysis, technical data, etc.) are considered the Authoritative Source of Truth (ASoT) for decision-making throughout the systems' lifecycle.

Our Approach

1

Digital Engineering Center of Excellence (DECoE)

AVIAN experts in a wide range of engineering disciplines from around the company come together routinely to learn and advance the practice of digital engineering. We support growth and discuss advanced principles, we share lessons learned and promote an understanding of DE and Model-based Systems Engineering throughout.

2

MBSE Assist Team

AVIAN Model-based Systems Engineers assess modeling needs and requirements, recommend a modeling strategy to best fit these needs, and then execute that plan. Our experience implementing MBSE for a highly complex Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition program allows AVIAN to have unique insight into the best and most practical approaches. The Assist Team reviews all documentation and models to identify areas that need attention, observations on modeling practices, and recommendations for corrective actions.

3

MBSE Lab

AVIAN utilizes an Open Systems LABoratory (OpenSLAB) to train engineering professionals in the art of modeling. We use open-source Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools, mission and systems modeling and analysis, Systems Engineering (SE) development templates and examples, and a full training suite. Our virtual lab solution can be stood-up in minutes on any cloud or on-premises platform and is instructed by AVIAN Senior Systems Engineers.

4

MBSE SysML Training

AVIAN develops tailored courseware in Model-based Systems Engineering. Our courses cover introductory topics to outline the fundamentals/understanding of Systems Modeling Language (SysML). Our courses are intended to enable Systems Engineers with the knowledge to effectively use Cameo Systems Modeler and SysML to support their customers. Utilizing our MBSE lab and our Cameo licenses, we trained our engineers and those MBSE practitioners spread it throughout the NAVAIR workforce.

Our Customers

Supporting teams that are living at the edge of critical advancements.

Latest Insights

View all posts

Blog Post Jul 13th, 2023

Predictive Analysis in Disaster Management: The Power of Digital Engineering

Explore the transformative power of digital engineering and predictive analysis in disaster management. Learn how these technologies can help predict and prepare for natural disasters, allocate resources strategically, and enhance public safety.

Blog Post Jul 6th, 2023

Harnessing Digital Engineering for Effective Emergency Management

Discover how digital engineering can revolutionize emergency management. Explore the role of predictive modeling, real-time data analysis, and optimized response plans in saving lives. Learn about future trends in emergency management.

Blog Post Jun 29th, 2023

The Role of Digital Engineering in Disaster Response

Discover the transformative role of digital engineering in disaster response. This post explores how advanced technologies improve efficiency, speed, and accuracy in predicting and responding to disasters, potentially saving lives and resources. Dive into the future of proactive disaster management.

Blog Post Jun 22nd, 2023

How Digital Engineering Transforms Traditional Engineering Practices

Experience the transformative power of Digital Engineering on Traditional Engineering. Grasp how digital techniques elevate traditional practices, hasten processes, and encourage innovation.

Digital Engineering 101

Assist Team

AVIAN has created a streamlined process to review a program or project's Digital Engineering efforts to determine its health and status. This process, called an Assist, allows AVIAN's SMEs to review the available systems engineering and modeling content to determine how well MBSE and SE practices are defined and followed.

Based on the approach in INCOSE's "Model-Based Capabilities Matrix," AVIAN has developed a detailed rubric that provides a concise status on how well MBSE has been deployed. AVIAN experts use this rubric to give a total score to leadership so that current states are known and plans can be developed to move to the desired level of Digital Engineering capability.

This Assist can occur at various levels of depth and is dependent on the program's needs and constraints.

Once the assessment is complete, AVIAN experts will support the mitigation of any observed issues by supporting road mapping efforts and performing the corrections directly.

An AVIAN Assist provides program leadership confidence that their approach will create viable models that enable the management of a system's lifecycle and best systems engineering practices.

AVIAN's creed "Modeling with a Purpose" ensures that a program's MBSE efforts will come to fruition and continue to pay dividends.

Meet our experts

John Sliger, CSEP

Senior Systems Engineer

Experienced Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) that has done it all – create architectures and methodologies for a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approach, lead design reviews, create and test new component designs, turn a wrench under the workstation on a naval ship, train end-users, lead digital interoperability efforts, manage engineering teams, and act as a supportive team member.

Extensive experience in United States Navy (USN) / United States Marine Corps (USMC) aviation, including the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, RQ-21A Blackjack UAS, Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Attack/Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA), and Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Maritime Strike. Actively participates in the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Rich Gilpin

Senior Systems Engineering Fellow

With a knack for seeing the big picture, or developing a team vision, Rich excels at leading complex projects and programs with a lot of moving parts.

As a child he loved science and believed it could make anything possible. Inspired by the space program, Rich knew early on that he wanted to be part of it. This translated into a degree in mechanical engineering, which led to an extensive government career with the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as the Chief Engineer for the F/A-18 E/F, the EA-18G Director for Air Vehicle Engineering, as well as Navy Secretariat of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs). As DASN-Air, Rich was charged with developing and overseeing acquisition activities for all Naval Aviation and Air launched weapons programs on behalf of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research Development and Acquisition.

Now, Rich is using his expertise to assist NAVAIR with its transition to Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and by developing courseware that will be used to teach the systems engineering workforce how to operate in an MBSE environment.

Rhett Zimmer

Model-Based Systems Engineer

With a focus on multi-disciplinary integration, Rhett leverages his background in Model-Based Systems Engineering to empower Subject Matter Experts as a part of the interconnected whole.

Rhett Zimmer has extensive experience across the MBSE and Digital Engineering and has supported various roles, from creating the initial DSET Acquisition System Reference Model and enabling vendor integration on the H-1 Upgrade Program to profile and library generation. Subsequently, he led the architecture development for the Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA) and Maritime Strike. At each phase of program development, his focus is on direct stakeholder involvement, and direct SME input is enabled by his comprehensive approach to system development in a model-based environment, enabling queries, analysis, and integration with the greater Digital Engineering Environment. His academic background includes a master’s in systems engineering, with formal training in UML, SysML, ERD, and IDEF for descriptive modeling, stochastic and deterministic simulation, operations research, heuristics, and traditional systems Engineering.

Professionally, he currently serves as Lead Architect for the VTOL Family of Systems (FoS), defining the approach for future Navy & Marine Corps Vertical Lift platforms and leading the training effort in MBSE to enable SME integration.

Devontae Casey

Model-Based Systems Engineer

Casey is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), whose background is as diverse as they come. His tenure in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) introduced aviation through the lens of three unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), accumulating over +500 flight hours. Post-deployment, Casey assisted in standing up the Marine Corps’ first UAS training squadron while fulfilling the role of operations chief and instructor pilot, teaching over +60 students standardized methods to launch, recover, and fly tactical UAS safely.

This experience materialized after transitioning into Systems Engineering. Casey is now an Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP), attending Cornell University as a postgraduate. He has directly supported the United States Navy and Marine Corps RQ-21A “Blackjack” during production and deployment as well as operations and sustainment. Currently, he supports the Advance Development Program Office (ADPO) with the maturation of the Future Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Family of System (FoS). In support of the ADPO, Casey facilitates Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) activities as well as fulfills the role of Product Owner.

Jim Carroll

Senior Systems Engineer

Jim Carroll can be seen as a jack of all trades, with a broad range of experience that includes 35 years in Naval Aviation Systems Development, Systems Engineering (SE), and Test and Evaluation (T&E). Jim is a graduate of Virginia Polytech with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

With 35 years of experience, Jim has perfected the skills of strategic planning, implementation, and processes and methodologies for the development of weapon systems for the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy.

Currently, Jim is a lead system engineer at AVIAN and works at the Virginia Tech Department of Aerospace Engineering as a mentor for students in the program.

Our Contract Vehicles

Access to AVIAN's services can be achieved through a range of easy-to-use contract vehicles. These include Multiple Agency Contracts (MACs), General Services Administration (GSAs), and agency-specific Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IDIQs).