Course Description

A one-week course designed to provide an overview of the flight test and evaluation process and to examine, in detail, the subjects necessary to manage T&E programs.  The course is offered to members of government and industry who are either directly involved with managing flight test programs/projects; interface directly with a flight test program and need to understand T&E management issues; and/or are program office personnel who oversee flight test programs.  The subject matter is useful for anyone involved with the management of either DT&E or OT&E.  (Prerequisite: must be enrolled as a Master's Degree candidate and have successfully completed T&E 4001.)

Anticipated Student Academic Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have a basic understanding of the test and evaluation process and the management issues relevant to that process.  The student will:

Be Familiar With:
·      budget tracking and the Earned Value Management concept.

Understand:
·      the requirements process and how user requirements drive the scope of test programs
·      the similarities and differences between OT&E and DT&E
·      the resource factors which must be considered during T&E planning
·      the elements of RML&A tests including their purpose and challenges
·      the basic management concepts needed to manage a test program
·      risk management and safety considerations while planning and conducting a flight test program

Know:
·      how to develop and apply COIs, MOEs/MOSs, and MOAs from user requirements/capabilities         documents

Sequence of Instruction

Test and Evaluation Process 
Operational Test and Evaluation
Developmental Test and Evaluation
Requirements Process
Detailed Specs and Operational Requirements
T&E Program Planning 
Instrumentation/Data Requirements/Resource Planning 
Modeling and Simulation 
Test Criteria and Test Measures 
Test Item Configuration Control 
Envelope Expansion 
Earned Value Management for Test and Evaluation 
Software T&E 
Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis 
Military Certification 
FAA Certification 
Best Practices 
COTS
Risk Management and Safety in Flight Test

Texts and Reference Materials

Acquisition of Defense Systems
Operations Research Analysis in Test and Evaluation

Exercises

Test criteria and test measurement development
Detailed specification development

Examinations

Criteria oral presentation
Detailed specification oral presentation