Welcome to the Air Force Institute of Technology

In today’s resource-constrained Air Force, it is most encouraging that senior leadership has chosen not to promote the improbable “do more with less” adage but has instead chosen to empower reasoned efforts to discover and implement smarter ways of accomplishing our mission.  In the professional continuing education arena, the requirement to ensure our coursework is strategically linked to the most critical education needs has never been more important.  Tools and processes that help us achieve that objective are vital to meeting customer needs.

At present, systems engineering PCE coursework is managed in a stovepipe fashion with separate course sponsors.  Through an agreement between The Air Force Center for Systems Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology, AFIT’s School of Systems and Logistics, and AFMC/ENP, the Systems Engineering Portfolio concept was initiated to align SE education with existing policy, standards, and guidance.  In short, a portfolio approach would promote strategic planning and execution of PCE with core competencies for critical engineering positions.

On 14 Dec 2007, Mark Sobota of AFIT/LS prepared an analysis to demonstrate that existing standards can be used to determine whether or not current SE curricula satisfies competency-based educational requirements.  Sobota built the framework of competencies using the Defense Acquisition Guidebook, AFI 63-1201, AFMCI 63-1201, AFMCI 62-202, and the Engineering Career Field Education and Training Plan.  His analysis confirmed a common definition of “Systems Engineering,” demonstrated a consensus on competency expectations for systems engineers, and used AFIT/LS’s Risk Management course to illustrate an evaluation toward conclusive results.

AFMC/ENP, the primary customer of the portfolio effort, endorsed the value of this initial AFIT/LS analysis and agreed to provide a prioritized list of engineering competencies to strategically guide the extensive analysis work that remains.  To that end, AFMC/ENP indicated their short-term focus will be education requirements for entry-level engineers.  AFIT/SY, as lead for the SE Portfolio initiative, agreed to finalize a draft Memorandum of Agreement that will establish a Management Board to oversee SE PCE curriculum and course sponsorship.  Board membership in work at this time includes representation from SAF/AQR, SMC/AX, and AFRL/XP.

In a “resource confined world” AFIT/SY, AFIT/LS, and AFMC/ENP will apply the SE Portfolio as a smart tool that promotes delivery of the right education in the right way (best method) to the right people.