Professional Development for Women and Minorities

2023 BEYA (2402) A True Commitment to Sustainability: The Emergence of the Green Circular Economy

Learning Objective: To understand the measurable value of ‘circular’ innovations and advocate for adopting circular sustainability in manufacturing, product development, and the global supply chain ecosystem. No matter the type or size of the idea or organization, from startups to enterprises, collective sharing is required to accelerate innovation and answer the global resource challenges facing our health and environmental equities. This natural ral resources continue to deplete; our international markets are migrating towards circular systems of sustainability (i.e., the emergence of the Circular Economy as described by the World Economic Forum). The session explores the circular economy, which has been described as an ecosystem of global innovation formulated to advance our capabilities of converting waste and natural resources into sustainable ecosystems to offer an alternative to traditional “take-make-dispose anywhere” environmental practices by advocating for innovative waste and resource cycling, and remanufacturing to reduce waste, cost and environmental impacts on our planet. The natural and human resources powering Industry are global; from raw materials to distributed products, the world has reached its peak and must embrace sustainability, environmentally friendly “green” recycling, and remanufacturing. Industry 4.0 has boosted the Circular Economy. An economy designed to provide continued use and recycling of waste and mitigate urbanization, mass migration, climate impacts, food security, global supply chains, and weather-related events.

After this seminar, the participants will be able to:

1. Understand the strategy and value of circular innovation and its positive impact on our planet and well-being.
2. Identify the values and benefits of innovative recycling and remanufacturing goods and products.
3. Identify the best practice approaches towards developing an organization-wide circular strategy and culture.
4. Understand how sustainability can be implemented into the core design and development process to produce measurable green outcomes.

Speakers:

Donna Bell, EVP - Product Creation, Engineering, and Supply Chain, Lordstown Motors

Andre Welch, Director of Federal Affairs, Ford Motor Company

2023 BEYA (2802) Job Readiness Certification – Behavior and Business: Best Practices in Business Etiquette

Professionals understand that etiquette in business is a critical factor in making decisions. Success in any industry relies on relationships with coworkers, clients, suppliers, or investors. When you are well-mannered and considerate in dealing with others, you create interesting, productive, long-lasting relationships. This course will discuss accepted business behavior and its importance in business correspondence.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to answer the following questions:

1. What is the definition of etiquette?
2. What are the guidelines for making effective introductions?
3. What are the three Cs associated with making a good impression?
4. What are the three steps in giving a handshake?
5. What is one technique you can use to remember names?
6. What are two ways to minimize nervousness while in social situations?
7. What are the two differences between a formal and an informal letter?
8. What color connotes dominance and power? Vitality and harmony?
9. Etiquette can help businesses improve in what four areas?
10. What is (are) the difference(s) between a formal and an informal letter?
11. What are the differences between these dress codes: dressy casual, semi-formal, formal, and black tie?
12. What are the basic guidelines in international etiquette?

Speakers:

Sondia Christian, Director of Business Integration, Huntington Ingall's Industries

Victor Brown, IBM

Celena Noel, Managing Consultant, IBM

2023 BEYA (2450) Let’s Talk Open Source: The Future of Global Platform Development is Here

Learning Objective: Develop an understanding of how and why technology and innovation are rooted in the global open-source community. The critical success factors used to measure market activity are rooted in two fundamental measures (speed and sustainability); how fast the market can be served with sustained scaling is a constantly evolving practice as more open-source projects launch physical and digital solutions. For instance, a smartwatch development kit can be purchased for as little as $25; this includes open-source operating systems, open-source development frameworks, supply chains, and open-source software. For example, Mastodon is a federated social platform designed to connect online communities without an intermediary platform. The platform is a “distributed” architecture that disrupts traditional social media and empowers each organization to have its version of popular social platforms with total access to all features, functionality, and,t importantly, the data generated from social activities on a distributed platform. This is a significant shift in technological advancements brought on by Industry 4.0 and a globally connected community of independent professionals, novices, and corporate, non-profit, and government resources. The future of open source is yet to be determined; what can be stated with confidence is that open source is the accelerant in a globally connected community and impacts all aspects of research collaborations, development costs, talent acquisition sources, micro-patents, and micro-licensing of intellectual property.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand how open source is leveraged by large and small organizations to reduce cost and increase the speed of delivery of goods, product,s and services.
2. Examine the type of open source development practices changing how talent acquisition is sourced, compensated, and reta,ined.
3. Explore the advantages of using open source to reduce costs and leverage community support.
4. Examine the limitations of internal development vs. open source development.

Speakers:

Madeline Augustin, BDS Technology Strategy Sr. Manager, The Boeing Company

Markeeva Morgan, Senior Manager, The Boeing Company

David C Williams, Assistant Vice President, AT&T

Kindra Porter, Bell Textron

2023 BEYA (2705) Becoming Everything You Are In A Post Pandemic Environment Presented by The Boeing Company

In today’s environment, we are facing a fundamental technological change that we haven’t seen in decades. The coronavirus pandemic has changed how we live, learn, connect, and work. Forbes states that due to the Covid-19 pandemic “2020 became 2025 on the digital acceleration timeline”. The digital revolution is here as seen by the accelerated rise in remote working, distance learning, virtual communication, and online experiences. This digital transformation has made cloud computing, data & analytics, mobility, and digital experience key areas of focus for every industry. Ted Colbert, 2022 Black Engineer of the Year, spearheaded the creation of the Digital Twin Initiative that launched Boeing on the path to Web 3.0. But along with the technology plan, Boeing needs the workforce that can rise to this challenge. Today’s Post-Covid workforce has record breaking pay for digital occupations while simultaneously experiencing a tech industry downturn resulting in widespread layoffs. Preparing, recruiting, retaining, and optimizing that workforce has its own challenges. Join Boeing leaders as they discuss being everything you are in today’s environment.

Speakers:

Evelyn Moore, Director of Engineering & Chief Engineer - F/A-18 & EA-18G Programs, The Boeing Company

David Cade, Vice President - USGS Business Transformation, The Boeing Company

Mark Cleary, Executive Director, The Boeing Company, BR&T Materials & Manufacturing Tech

Dr. Pamela Obiomon, Dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University

Bernice Billups, Director - Boeing Global Engagements, The Boeing Company

Manuel Tiggs, Vice President - 737 Manufacturing Operations, The Boeing Company

2023 BEYA (2948) Small Business: 2023 State of Black Government Contracting; Transcending COVID; Navigating Changes in Government Contracting

In 2022, the federal government exceeded its small business contracting goal by awarding 27.2 percent in federal contract dollars to small businesses. How did this impact black owned companies? What are the strategies that led to this success and how can minority owned companies participate? What are the tips for working with large corporations? What type of systems should be in place and what are the basic requirements? There are emergent opportunities in rebuilding the sagging US infrastructure, sustainability projects, technologies like ChatGPT, Dall E.2, Metaverse. cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence, As we transition from a remote workforce to a fully mobile, hybrid approach for contractors how do companies ensure that employees are providing optimal support to the government clients.

 

Enabling Objectives:

1. Understanding Government Annual Scorecard for Small Business; Implications for FY2024 Capture Strategy
2. Mentor - Protege and other opportunities for Small Businesses to partner with larger organizations to win government contracts.
3. HBCU University Affiliated Research Center implications and opportunities for Small Businesses to work with a college and win government contracts.
4. Service Disables Veteran Owned Businesses; how to increase the number of veterans pursuing entrepreneurship and support mechanisms at federal agencies to ensure an opportunity to compete.

Speakers:

Erica Dobbs, President/CEO, Dobbs Defense Solutions

Jimmy Smith, SES

Hayes Fountain III, CEO, Wide Scope

2023 BEYA (2945) Freedom to Serve In a Digital Age

During this Crucial Convo session, we’ll take a look at the past implications of military service after Executive Order 9981 which integrated the military. President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 on 26 July 1948. Since then, military leaders have been developed to serve in a digital environment of artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity, and engineering. This panel will take deep dive in the past and project a bold new future for military service.

Speakers:

Casey Sharperson, Brand Strategist, Confidence Cultivator

Eries Mentzer, Air Force Diversity & Inclusion

Col. Felicia Burks, U.S. Air Force

Dr. Kenneth Dunn, Director, U.S. Marine Corps

Rick Pina, World Wide Technology, Inc.

Dr. Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist, United States Department of the Air Force

2023 BEYA (2944) Engineering Challenges and Opportunities Infrastructure, Simulation, Technology, and HCM

The US government has an infrastructure crisis. This crisis affects the military and the government at large. America owns or maintains over 400 bases in 80 countries. These bases face risks from flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, outdated water systems, patchwork of electrical grids, aged airfields, and environmental pollution. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change, budgetary constraints, and the lack of research on technologies or processes that can help mitigate these risks.

The United States is the world leader in simulation, artificial intelligence, and 3D. One of the cornerstones of this primacy is the ability of simulation centers of excellence to work public - private partnerships. Learn about the groundbreaking work that is taking place across the country in simulation, artificial intelligence, and Human Capital Management in Florida and Texas.

Enabling objectives:

• Managing challenges in addressing the underlying root causes of recurring infrastructure challenges
• Managing risks to achieve goals; enhancing award, administration and oversight processes over new and existing funded programs and projects.
• Executing federal priorities related to the impact of climate change, advancing equity, and promoting resilience in infrastructure.
• Coordinating effectively to address capacity challenges to successfully deliver Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act programs.
• Maximizing the benefits of workforce flexibilities and the hybrid work environment to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and engagement.

Speakers:

George Ramsey, Sr. Program Manager for Veteran Outreach and Diversity Recruiting, Micron

Ernest Levert Sr., Rocket Engineer, Lockheed Martin Corporation

Adrienne Somerville, Director, Command Operations Group, NAVAIR Systems Command HQ

John Meyers, Executive Director, Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division

2023 BEYA (2947) Cybersecurity: Using Zero Trust to Secure the Hybrid Workforce

As we transition from a remote to a fully mobile, hybrid workforce, organizations need to re-evaluate their approach to securing their people and data. Perimeter defense is no longer sufficient for achieving cyber resiliency and securing our information enterprise that spans geographic borders, interfaces and external partners, and support to millions of authorized users. The "never trust, always verify" mindset requires organizations to take responsibility for securing devices, applications, assets, and services. For an effective Zero Trust security model implementation, organization should answer the following:

• What do you trust: verify explicitly, authenticate, and authorize (enterprise network)
• Who do you trust: least privilege access (applications, devices, services, users)
• How do you trust: end to end encryption (technology)

Enabling Objectives:

1. Zero Trust Cultural Adoption (mindset that guides the design, development, integration and deployment of information technology across the Zero Trust Ecosystem).
2. Cybersecurity information systems Secured & Defended (cybersecurity practices to incorporate and operationalize Zero Trust to achieve enterprise resilience).
3. Technology Acceleration (zero trust-based technologies deployed at a pace equal to industry advancements to remain ahead of changing threat environments).
4. Zero Trust Enablement (policy, programming, planning, funding, execution).

Speakers:

Robbin Johnson, Senior Information System Security Engineer, National Security Agency

Jerri Sanders, Quality Assurance and Risk Manager

Stephen Yirenki, CEO, Terp Techs, LLC

Col. Elizabeth Casely, Director, I Corps Communications (G6)

2023 BEYA (2946) Energy: Enabling the Defense of Nation

Energy is an essential enabler of military capability, and the Department of Defense depends on energy-resilient forces and facilities to achieve its mission. DoD consumed over 85 million barrels of fuel to power ships, aircraft, combat vehicles, and contingency bases at a cost of nearly $9.2 billion. At over 500 worldwide military installations, the Department spent $3.4 billion on energy to power over 585,000 facilities and 160,000 non-tactical vehicles.

Enabling Objectives:

• Understand Energy Resilience: Enhancing the military capability, readiness, and resilience of our installations and forces through assured access to resilient and cyber secure fuel and power.

• Understand Energy Supply —  Understand emerging technologies that can reduce the use of nonrenewable energysources

• -Understand Energy Risk: Identifying, assessing, and integrating energy-related risks into DoD  decision-making associated with requirements, deliberate planning, wargames and exercises, installation master planning, Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP), and investments in forces and installations.

• -Understand Energy Performance: Ensuring energy efficiency and lower costs at DoD installations through reliable, efficient use of power and alternative financing mechanisms.

• -Understand Cyber Secure risk and Facilities: Reducing the cyber risks to facility related control systems to ensure reliable power for critical missions.

Speakers:

Ernest Smiley, Chief Data Scientist & CISO, Kingdom Capital

Alphonso Trimble, Former Commanding Officer, U.S. Marine Corps

Brig. Gen. Robert Bowie, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard

2023 BEYA (2711) General Dynamics Leading Technologies: Calling All Innovators! Presented by General Dynamics

Internal/External Crowd sourcing

At GDMS, our customers rely on us to provide innovative solutions to their toughest problems. With related challenges evolving at lightning speed, we need to fully leverage our talented workforce to address them — faster and more capably than our competitors. The GDMS Internal Challenge aims to do just that by making our top business challenges visible to all employees, so those with the right skill and drive can step up to tackle them, in collaboration with our top technical leaders. When our internal activities are not good enough, GDMS takes the appropriate External Challenge measures to connect with external organizations that provide solutions to important challenges we face with an unrivaled network of expert problem solvers. These actions reach experts both from within our industry, but more importantly experts from outside of our industry that can offer diverse perspectives and fresh insight. With these activities and solutions provided, GDMS can incorporate and expand its cutting-edge technologies and products and extend them to their customers.

After this seminar, the participants will be motivated to:

1. Find innovative ways to solve tough problems in technology.
2. Collaborate with top technical leaders in the industry.
3. Engage top performers in cutting edge research activities.

 

Virtual Systems Integration & Test

Learning Objective: How to effectively conduct Virtual Systems Integration &Test

Sometimes necessity can lead to innovation. With recent COVID-19 restrictions that affected travel and lab participation for our customers, GDMS engineers found smart ways to continue to meet and exceed customer needs through Virtual Systems Integration & Test. This session will go over the techniques used to conduct successful VSI&T.

After this seminar, the participants will have knowledge of:

1. Key components of VSI&T.
2. Presentation/electronic records.
3. Parallel testing tracks.
4. Minimizing testing errors.

Speakers:

Shawn Roberts, Senior Principal Software Engineer, General Dynamics

Ali Abubakar, Deputy Program Manager Engineering, General Dynamics