About
Tailored for engineering students, practitioners, team leaders, and program or project managers, the Systems Engineering for Aerospace & Defense Systems Workshop presents essential concepts and methods for applying systems engineering to technology programs. Participants learn to define early customer needs, write effective requirements, utilize iterative design synthesis through trade studies, and execute verification and validation methods across the entire product lifecycle. The workshop also provides an introduction to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and equips attendees with a practical, integrated approach for executing complex programs in industry and government environments.
Course Details
- Format: In-person
- Dates: Tuesday, December 15 through Friday, December 18, 2026
- Time: 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. (CT)
- Instructor: Dr. Colette de la Barre
- Cost: $1500 per person
- Meals: Lunch and light snacks provided by the UTSI Cafeteria
To Register
Please contact:
Meghan Morris
Outreach Coordinator
Email: mmorris@utsi.edu
Phone: 931-393-7213
Deadline
The deadline to register is Monday, December 7, 2026.
Course Description
This workshop presents engineering students, practitioners, team leaders, and program/project managers with the major concepts and methods of applying systems engineering to technology programs and projects, particularly within the aerospace and defense domains. It emphasizes defining customer needs and functionality early in the development cycle, writing effective requirements, and maintaining communication tools such as program plans and artifacts. Participants learn to employ iterative design synthesis through trade studies and analytical decision-making, execute verification and validation methods, and evaluate all aspects of the product lifecycle—including cost, schedule, testing, production, performance, operations, and disposal. Designed from an industry and government engineering perspective, the workshop also introduces Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), its benefits, and available tools. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, it equips attendees with an integrated management approach and a foundational understanding for successfully executing complex programs on the job.
Key Learning Objectives & Highlights
- Understand systems engineering terms and definitions and how to apply systems thinking.
- Recognize the benefits of systems engineering processes and practices and identify when to apply them in managing development programs and projects.
- Apply systems engineering concepts, processes, and tools through relevant in-class exercises.
- Understand the importance of integrating systems engineering management and program management for successful program execution.
- Identify where to find additional systems engineering and program management resources.
About the Instructor
Dr. Colette de la Barre has over 40 years of engineering and engineering management experience from industry, government, and academia, and is currently an adjunct professor for the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee Space Institute. She is a retired U.S. Air Force Officer with engineering and management assignments in technology development and integration, space operations, and teaching cadets at the Department of Astronautics at the United States Air Force Academy. She retired from The Boeing Company, holding leadership positions including Director of Engineering, Chief Engineer, Project Manager, and Business Leader in research and development, technology strategy, engineering process excellence, product mission assurance, and engineering workforce development. She was an adjunct professor in the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University. She earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, an M.S. in Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics at UCLA.