CM Trends 2024
Revitalized Seminar Format Including Metrics or Audit Workshop!
SPEAKERS
Speaker Presentation Overview
CM Trends 2024 Host and Emcee: Jeff Heisler, i-Infusion Inc and CMPIC
Speaker Bio: Jeff Heisler is retired USAF, and currently the software developer of Orpheus, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to facilitate and enable Process Lifecycle Modeling and Management. He is also a CMPIC instructor for Course 8, Software Configuration Management and the Platform Manager for TikTok’s learning platform..
He has spent the last 20 years developing software for the PDM/CM industry, and 15 years before that writing software for DOD’s Logistics Agency.
Jeff is also an actor and joins his wife on stage regularly at their family owned Heisler Theater.
"Model-Based Initiatives in CM" by Larry Gurule, i-Infusion Inc and CMPIC
Presentation Overview: So what is The Model-Based Experience (MBX), that enables authoritative truth? Best case, The “Model” should contain everything that needs to be planned for given the models domain (e.g., MBD, MBSE, MBP, etc.). Everything is exactly what we need to consider when planning for appropriate CM. This presentation will take you from digital threads that enable digital twins, to the models that act as authoritative sources of truth for thread execution and twin simulation, and CM’s role in providing exemplary, enduring truth, trust, and traceability to the entire domain.
Speaker Bio: Larry Gurule is the President of CMPIC LLC, lead instructor, and author of CMPIC’s course material. He has decades of experience in configuration management, including consulting, assessing, and teaching on the subject matter to a wide variety of organizations across the globe. Larry is an active member in the CM community and is Chairperson of the SAE G-33 committee.
Larry has decades of Configuration Management experience on hundreds of government and commercial projects including the DoD, tier 1 and sub tier aerospace/defense suppliers, electronic developers/manufactures, medical developers/manufactures, automotive developers/manufactures, and industrial equipment developers/manufactures, as well as numerous service/process industry technology implementations. He is an experienced consultant and CM instructor specializing in the methodical investigation, analysis, review and documentation of all or part of a business in terms of business functions and processes, the information used and the data on which the information is based. For use in process and knowledge driven environments, including acquisition, product development, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, retail, distribution, and sustainment.
Larry has a BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, CMPIC Certification, CMSME, CMII Certification, CM Lead Assessor Certification, and CM Professional Certification. He is an active leader and member of American Society for Quality (ASQ) and SAE International. He has specialized training including Project Management, Configuration Management Professional Certification, Systems Engineering, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise, Lean Bill of Materials, Balanced Score Card and Activity Based Costing methodologies.
"Raise the Floor: Achieving better results with standards, policies, and procedures" by Jeff Windham, US Army Armaments Center
Presentation Overview: As configuration management professionals, our goal is to improve configuration management practices across the full spectrum of our organizations. Part of this effort involves crafting effective standards, policies, and procedures. This briefing will discuss better ways to approach the writing of standards, policies, and procedures with the goal of “raising the floor” on the effectiveness of our organizations.
Speaker Bio: Jeff Windham has over 30 years’ experience as a systems engineer and configuration manager for the US Army, Armaments Center at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. He is currently the chief of the Small Caliber Systems Configuration Management Branch. He has a Master’s Certification in Enterprise Configuration Management from CMPIC, is NDIA certified in Configuration and Data Management and teaches configuration management throughout the Army. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Mississippi State University and an MS in Business Administration from East Texas State University.
"Effectively communicate what CDM is and why we need it to Management" by Jenna Contenta, Barrios Technology
Presentation Overview: In most CMPIC training and team meetings, we find ourselves frustrated with a variety of things…
1. We do not have enough team members to do the job.
2. We do not have enough funding.
3. Management does not understand what we do and what we need.
It is exhausting, especially in a world where we are information overloaded, doing the work of 2+ people, and spread out by hybrid or 100% remote work. Since different people give and receive information differently, we’d like to explore how we can effectively communicate what is CDM and why we need it to be done fully and accurately within your office and for people with different perspectives.
Speaker Bio: Jenna Contenta, Lead of the NASA-Program Orion Configuration and Data Management and Board Secretariat team – has more than 27 years of Configuration and Data Management experience. With a degree in Vocal Performance, she found excitement in promoting bands around the country by teaching herself HTML coding to build communication platforms for fans just like herself (pre-social media). She quickly learned she was a bit of a computer nerd, with extreme organizational skills and a desire to better communicate with the world. When she realized her degree had no touring schedule and recording contract at its conclusion, she went back to school for web-design and networking.
A family friend had just been awarded a contract in a local Styrene Plant and needed savvy computer skills to work their Central Files and facilitate the maintenance of their large format and auto-CAD drawings. Thus she was first introduce to CDM without realizing what it was called. A few years later, she was introduced to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Water Authority, but then an opportunity with Barrios Technology at NASA’s Johnson Space Center opened up in their Meeting Support department. Within a year, her Supervisor and mentor, built up her skillset by formally introducing her to the Orion Project (now Program Orion) Configuration and Data Management Team, which is where she has supported directly and indirectly ever since 2007. Additionally, she lent contract support to help build Acceptance Data Packages (ADP) at an Oil and Gas Company that had partnered with Barrios. Over the years she’s performed Change Management, Data Management, Records Management, Baseline Management, in-company Audits, and continues to build her understanding of Hardware Audits.
After receiving her NDIA Certification, another friend and mentor introduced her to CMPIC, where she has since earned her Master’s in Enterprise Configuration Management and CMSME designation. “I love CM and I’m so grateful for CMPIC who continues to help me learn, practice, expand, and maintain my skills; as well as keep a pulse on the industry at large!” – Jenna
"Configuration Management: A Pillar of Cybersecurity" by Cary Rosson, ManTech International, Corp., Space Force Contractor, Cybersecurity Engineer
Presentation Overview: Cybersecurity is not a buzz word nor the topic of the moment. Cybersecurity is critical to not just Business and Government operations, but to both our financial and core infrastructure systems; and CM is a Pillar to Cybersecurity. Everyone in the organization has a role in strong cybersecurity practices and help to ensuring low cyber-risk to the organization, and CM is a pillar that supports both the organization, its employees, and customers.
CM is not just practical in Cybersecurity it is a foundational pillar to ensure that the tenants of cybersecurity are supported and provide a high level of confidence to organizational leadership and support in the systems used by both the organization and external customers, which feeds low security risk and high levels of systems and services availability; the Pillars of CM are directly called out in cybersecurity practices as critical for those reasons.
Speaker Bio: Cary is a retired United States Air Force Veteran (21 Years), who spent 17 years as a Security Policeman (Law Enforcement), and his last 4 years working as a Paralegal at the Vandenberg AFB, California Legal Office. Since his retirement from the military, he has worked supporting the 614th Air Operations Center/Joint Space Operations Center in various roles, but what he considers his most important contribution, was as the Configuration Manager on the sustainment team responsible for the multi-faceted IT systems that support and guide the decision making for the senior leaders at the United States’ only Space Operations Center. He also spent a short time working for Boeing, Co. supporting the Army’s Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA), Ground Based Mid-Course Defense (GMD) program as an Information Systems Security Officer. He currently works for ManTech International, Corp. at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA supporting commercial and Gov’t space launch Mission Assurance activities at both Vandenberg and Patrick Space Force Bases in California and Florida respectively. Cary was born in Berkeley, California, and is married to the former Kari Anne Dunham of Redlands, California (Oregon State University, Delta Delta Delta Sorority) they are currently celebrating their 36th Anniversary and call the Central Coast of California home. Cary and Kari have two sons; Kristopher (San Diego State University, 2012, Sigma Chi Fraternity) and Curt (University of California, Irvine, 2015, Sigma Chi Fraternity), and two grandchildren, 5 and 2 respectively.
Cary started his CM Journey with CMPIC in 2011, and continues to follow and support the CMPIC principles and training, which he propagates to all CM professionals he comes into contact with.
"AI & CM: Beyond all the Hype" by Peter A. Bilello, President & CEO, CIMdata, Inc.
Presentation Overview: Let there be no doubt, configuration management (CM) is a critical lifecycle process that must be at the core of any organization’s product lifecycle management (PLM) strategy if it intents on being effective, efficient, and innovative. When implemented and supported correctly, CM’s practices, policies, and procedures ensure that the appropriate resources, processes, and tools are used to establish and maintain consistency between the product requirements, the product, and associated product configuration information. Over the past several years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has begun to foster end-to-end lifecycle connectivity throughout a product’s lifecycle, resulting in unprecedented growth of product-related structured and unstructured data that can augment human intelligence through appropriate analysis. As a result, the big-data flowing within PLM environments and between PLM and adjacent enterprise solutions can now be leveraged to explore a plethora of new artificial intelligence (AI) applications to better ensure the availability of actionable and insightful information. Like most emerging technology trends, AI tends to be more hype than reality, especially during its early days of study and implementation. So, where are we at today when we consider AI’s support of CM? Has AI’s enablement of CM reached its tipping point? What is available and what is potentially next? The emergence of these topics in the context of product lifecycle CM will be presented.
Speaker Bio: Peter Bilello, President & CEO of the strategic management consulting and research firm CIMdata—an internationally recognized authority on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)—has more than 35 years of experience in the development of business-enabling information technology (IT) solutions for research, engineering, and manufacturing organizations worldwide. He has participated in PLM analysis, selection, implementation, and training; CAD/CAM/CAE/CIM implementation and management; synchronous and lean manufacturing consulting; software engineering; and general data management strategy development and support. He has authored numerous papers and research reports on PLM and related topics, and his articles, commentaries, and perspectives have appeared in publications throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Mr. Bilello has been directly involved with consultation on the selection, integration, and implementation of large-scale PLM solutions. He has spoken on a number of different PLM-related topics in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Mr. Bilello holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in Physics from the California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Science in Engineering degree, in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, from The University of Michigan.
"Navigating the Ripple Effect: Understanding the Impact of Misclassified Engineering Changes on the Government Supply Chain" by Bryan David, NAVSUP WSS Configuration Management Lead
Presentation Overview: You may have experienced this before: the Government releases a solicitation, but receives a no-bid from the vendor, stating the part is no longer supported. Have you ever wondered the reasons why this happens? There are many, but oftentimes it could be as simple as a superseded part the Government didn’t know existed. Although many programs have robust change processes in place, that doesn’t mean engineering change proposals can’t be misclassified and slip through the cracks, causing a ripple effect through various systems that may have a result such as that “no-bid” scenario. In this presentation, we’ll be talking the expected versus reality in terms of engineering changes, the types of errors, and their consequences on the supply chain.
Speaker Bio: Mr. Bryan David is the Configuration Management (CM) Lead for Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Weapon System Support (WSS). Responsible for establishing CM policy and processes for the command, he leads the agencies CM Community of Practice and has standardized procedures for the review, processing, and coordination of Requests for Variance and Engineering Change Proposals submitted on NAVSUP contracts. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University, and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from Kennesaw State University. He has a certification as a CM Subject Matter Expert (CMSME) by CMPIC. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. David has over 17 years of Naval aviation experience, including nine years on active duty as a Flight Engineer on the KC-130J Super Hercules, two years with Naval Air Systems Command as a Propeller Engineer, and six years as an Engineer/CM Lead with NAVSUP WSS.
"Winning at CM: How helping your contractors helps you travel the road to success" by Clyde Dottin, Keolis Commuter Services
Presentation Overview: The evolution of Configuration Management has made the discipline more precise and much more complex. A high level of technical skill is required to perform CM well. Even though you may be an expert, you may find yourself struggling with inadequate data and documentation from your contractors. Learn how to leverage your expertise to elevate the performance of other organizations so they deliver the results you need, setting you up for success.
Speaker Bio: Mr. Clyde Dottin is the Manager for Assets and CM at Keolis Commuter Services. He has 30+ years experience in CM including positions within the Department of Defense (DoD), commercial and medical industries, and currently the railroad. Roles held include: Manager, Configuration & Data Management, Raytheon (SMDO); Configuration & Data Management Manager, SSC, Hanscom AFB Granite Sentry, Cheyenne Mountain, SPO; Manager, Configuration & Data Management, SSC, Hanscom AFB AWACS, SPO; Manager, Configuration Management, BAE Systems/Lockheed; Manager, Engineering Services/Configuration Management, Philips Medical; Manager, Assets and Configuration Management Keolis, Commuter Rail.
"Criticality of Configuration Management" by Daniel K. Christensen, NAVAIR Configuration/Data Management Department Head, Patuxent River, MD
Presentation Overview: coming soon.
Speaker Bio: Mr. Daniel K. Christensen is the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Configuration/Data Manager, Department Head for the NAVAIR Sustainment Group (NSG) Configuration/Data Management Department, defining policy, processes, procedures and responsibilities governing Configuration Management (CM) and Data Management (DM) for 34 naval aviation weapon system program offices within NAVAIR. He has over 52 years of naval experience with 20 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as an Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer, 6 years as a contractor supporting the Department of the Navy and various Program Offices and 26 years as a civilian at NAVAIR. For the last ten years, Daniel has been the Defense Standardization Counsel Configuration Management Working Group (DSC CMSWG) Chairman, which developed the SAE EIA-649-1 and SAE EIA 649-1A “Configuration Management Requirements for Defense Contracts” standard.
Daniel has a CMPIC Masters Certification of Enterprise CM and CM Subject Matter Expert from the University of Houston, TX. Additionally, Daniel is a certified Enterprise CM Professional and a member of the International Society of CM and is a certified CMII Professional from the Institute of Configuration Management. He is also a certified Configuration and Data Manager from National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College Level III Advanced Program Management, Logistics and Information Resources Management curriculum.
Daniel is the government liaison to the SAE International G33 Configuration Management committee, a member of teams for SAE EIA-649C, “Configuration Management Standard”, and for “Configuration Management Standard Implementation Guide” GEIA-HB-649A, and the government liaison to the NDIA Technical Information Division committee and is a 2012 recipient of the TechAmerica Associate Technical Fellowship award. Daniel was selected to receive the 2017 James M. Crawford Technical Standards Board Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding service within the technical committee activities of SAE International on behalf of the Technical Standards Board and the Aerospace Council.
Daniel has a BS in Marketing from Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK, and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from National University, San Diego, CA. He is married to Yolanda P. Christensen and lives in California, Maryland.
"Building a High Performing CM/DM Team" by Dave Allen, CMPIC Instructor, CMstat Consultant, CM/DM Coach
Presentation Overview: Dave Allen recently retired (after 35 years) from Raytheon as the Director of CM, SWCM, and DM. Dave saw the team grow from a small group of 10 with 2 programs to a large group of 400 with over 50 programs. Dave will share his experiences along this growth journey and help attendees understand how to lead a high performing CM DM team and how to gain a seat at the company's leadership table.
Speaker Bio: Mr. Allen is a CMPIC instructor. He recently retired from Raytheon as the Director of CM and DM and stared JDA Consulting LLC. Dave is the Defense and Aerospace Ambassador for CMstat. In addition, Dave is an Associate Technical Fellow for TechAmerica (now SAE), a NDIA certified CM DM Manager, and a member of the G33 committee for CM.
"Building a Legacy" by Helcio Valvano, Senior Configuration Engineer at Embraer, Brazil
Presentation Overview: Embraer has been engineering, manufacturing - and especially configuring - aircraft for more than 50 years. From a small transport aircraft, going through successful regional and private jets, to a state-of-the-art eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, we will analyze some aspects and further challenges.
Speaker Bio: Mr. Helcio Valvano is an engineer with 25 years of experience in aerospace industry. He acts as Senior Configuration Engineer at Embraer, where he developed a passion for Configuration Management over 20 years in the development of new aircraft as well as supporting legacy ones. He supports several configuration processes, acting also as internal instructor for configuration subjects.
"The Impacts of Poor CM...and How To Stress the Importance of CM to Management” by Rose Morton, Chief of Configuration and Data Management and Competency Manager, US Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC)
Presentation Overview: coming soon
Speaker Bio: Rose M. Morton serves as Chief of Configuration and Data Management and Competency Manager for the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. Rose is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Configuration and Data Managers across the Air Force with knowledge and tools that enable thorough and reliable execution of Configuration and Data Management processes. In her 5th year of functional leadership, Rose has facilitated multiple transformation efforts involving training and certification; position requirements, classification, and recruitment; tool development, and most recently the Air Force’s ongoing digital transformation effort. Rose leads a team of subject matter experts assisting Air Force Configuration and Data Managers in developing program-unique digital strategies and implementation plans that align with organizational goals. The team has been at the forefront of digital transformation efforts, delivering expertise to development efforts for MBSE guidance, AF-PLM, Data Item Descriptions, and suitable acquisition and sustainment contractual language. During her tenure, Rose has focused on expanding AFLCMC Configuration and Data Management’s footprint by increasing community outreach, maximizing career field opportunity, and process improvement.
Prior to serving as Center Lead, Rose served as Chief of Configuration and Data Management for the AFLCMC Fighters and Bombers Directorate and the Mobility Directorate’s C-5 Galaxy program office. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a DoD acquisition professional and holds advanced acquisition certifications in Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) and Production, Quality, and Manufacturing (PQM).