Boeing Executive Speaks to Aldridge Commission
Boeing [NYSE: BA] provided industry perspective on managing large, complex "systems-of-systems" for the President's commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond during a public hearing today in the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
Mike Mott, vice president and general manager of Boeing NASA Systems said the President's vision for space exploration is affordable and sustainable.
"I have no doubt that the program managers we are training today will be up to the task of managing the incredible complexity and uncertainty of the endeavor this commission is evaluating," he said.
The presidential commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy, chaired by Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge, invited Mott to speak about techniques for managing systems to be developed for a return to the moon and beyond.
Mott provided several lessons learned from Boeing's experience as the prime contractor for the International Space Station, which he called a global project involving the scientific and technological resources of 16 countries and the efforts of more than 100,000 people. He also spoke about the keys to successful lead systems integration which include owning the system architecture; enforcing requirements; full government, academic and industry collaboration; ensuring independence from actual hardware production; development of system-of-systems engineering tools and using an open architecture that can take advantage of new technologies.
The President's Commission is charged with building consensus and providing recommendations to the President regarding moon research activities, increasing young people's interest in space science, and bringing in industry and other countries as space partners.
A written transcript of Mott's presentation can be obtained here. A full transcript and video on the hearing can be found on the Aldridge Commission Web site.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
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