Chief engineer for digital engineering, Systems Engineering Research Center
Keynote: Leading for a sustainable future
16:30 – 17:30
Abstract
Complexity is a dominant theme of the 21st century as we bemoan that the world around grows ever more complex. We create much of this complexity ourselves as we leverage new technologies in pursuit of larger, more audacious undertakings. At the same time, some of what we observe as new complexity was always present. We simply were not aware of it.
Our interrelationship with the world around us falls into the category of complexity that has always been present but is only now entering (or re-entering) our consciousness. In pursuit of our more audacious goals, we often neglect or intentionally deprioritize sustainability. Today we recognize that this is not a mindset we can continue.
As systems engineers, what can we do to create a better tomorrow for ourselves and future generations? The answer is far more than we might think. Leveraging our principles and positions, we can have a unique and positive impact as we address the question of sustainability. We can lead through influence, identifying and exploiting specific intervention points as we look upstream, downstream, and outward at the product, enterprise, and societal levels. We can embrace the challenge before us, leveraging our strengths in combination with those around us, to lead for a sustainable future.
Bio David Long
David has spent over 30 years helping organizations assess, adopt, and deploy methods to increase their systems engineering proficiency while simultaneously working to advance the state of the art. David founded and led Vitech where he developed innovative, industry-leading methods and software to engineer next-generation systems. Today, he is the Chief Engineer for Digital Engineering at the Systems Engineering Research Center working to coordinate and advance their digital portfolio. He co-authored A Primer for Model-Based Systems Engineering and frequently delivers keynotes and workshops around the world.
An INCOSE Fellow and Expert Systems Engineering Professional, David was the 2014/2015 President of INCOSE. David currently serves as INCOSE’s Director for Strategic Integration and as a coach in INCOSE’s Technical Leadership Institute.