2021 V&V Summit

Records from the 16th Annual Verification and Validation Summit held virtually September 29th and 30th, 2021

Summit Presentations

September 29th, 2021

September 30th, 2021

Welcome - Day 2

John Frederick

FAA, Manager, V&V Strategies and Practices Branch, ANG-E5A

Day 2 Welcome

Pamela D. Whitley

FAA, Assistant Administrator for NextGen, ANG-1

Research Agenda for Software Engineering: Architecting the Systems of the Future

Anita Carleton

Division Director, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
John Robert
Deputy Director, Software Solutions Division, Carnegie Mellon University
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Measuring the Impact of Innovation Activities in Government

Justin F. Brunelle, Ph.D.

Principle Researcher, Software Engineering Innovation Center, MITRE
Download Presentation
Video #3 - CBS 60 Minutes Episode: Robots of the future at Boston Dynamics, Anderson Cooper | Watch on Youtube

Art and Science of Implementing Trajectory Based Operations (TBO)

Wendy O'Connor

FAA, Air Traffic Services Lead, Trajectory Based Operations Air Traffic Services, AJT-32
Almira Ramadani
FAA, Integration and Analysis Manager, Trajectory Based Operations Air Traffic Services, AJT-3230
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Atlantic City Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Ecosystem

John Bradley

FAA, Air Traffic Control Specialist, Air to Ground Communications Branch, ANG-E62
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Analysis vs. Intuition

George Emilio

Director, Aviation Business Development, Serco Inc.
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Summit Closing

John Frederick

FAA, Manager, V&V Strategies and Practices Branch, ANG-E5A
Video #4 - CBS 60 Minutes Episode: Follow-Up |Watch on Youtube
Bonus Video #5 - The creative act of listening to a talking frog, Kermit on Creativity, TEDx Jackson | Watch on Youtube

If you require an accessible version of one of the documents provided on this page, please contact Wanda Lopez-LaBarbera.

Verification and Validation Summits

Verification and Validation Public Referenced Documents

2024 V&V Summit – May 08, 2024

National Aerospace Research and Technology Park (NARTP)

2023 V&V Summit – September 27-28, 2023

Resorts Casino

2022 V&V Summit – September 21-22, 2022

Virtual

2021 V&V Summit – September 29-30, 2021

Virtual

2020 V&V Summit – September 23-24, 2020

Virtual

Office of NextGen - Offices

Management Services

In collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, Management Services provides effective, innovative, and economical business solutions that exceed customers' expectations while promoting a highly skilled workforce and positive team environment. We leverage stakeholder expertise to lead agency, interagency, industry and international collaboration to address challenges, and communicate progress critical to National Airspace System (NAS) modernization.

NAS Systems Engineering and Integration

The NAS Systems Engineering and Integration Office plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the safety and efficiency of our NAS. We provide a suite of systems engineering services to the air traffic management enterprise, including defining NAS requirements, analyzing enterprise safety, defining security standards, guiding and informing systems engineering, managing the NAS Enterprise Architecture, Systems Engineering Tools, and analyzing NAS performance. Our efforts bring the right stakeholders to the table to make sure air travel remains safe, efficient, and secure, benefitting millions of travelers and supporting national security.

Portfolio Management & Technology Development

The Portfolio Management & Technology Development Office manages NAS evolution through management of NAS operational requirements and the NAS Operational Concept. We provide development, assessment, and refinement of NAS concepts to ensure feasibility and viability within the NAS. We coordinate research and execute engineering, analysis, and evaluation in support of mission and investment analysis. And we develop and conduct studies and demonstrations to prove concepts.

William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace

The William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace provides strategic direction to the FAA Research and Development program; manages the Research, Engineering, and Development budget process; serves as the FAA's Federal Laboratory for Aviation and Air Transportation Systems and serves as the FAA's Operational Test and Evaluation agent.

NAS Systems Engineering and Integration

The NAS Systems Engineering and Integration Office plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System (NAS). We provide a suite of systems engineering services to the air traffic management enterprise, including defining NAS requirements, analyzing enterprise safety, defining security standards, guiding and informing systems engineering, managing the NAS Enterprise Architecture, Systems Engineering Tools, and analyzing NAS performance. Our efforts bring the right stakeholders to the table to make sure air travel remains safe, efficient, and secure, benefitting millions of travelers and supporting national security.

Directorate Work

The NAS Systems Engineering and Integration Office works closely with FAA partners and industry allies to design the NAS of the future. We promote strategic ideas and use advanced data analytics and computer modeling to inform decisions about our engineering products and FAA acquisition plans.

Our team plans and integrates the NAS by prioritizing safety and information security while striving to improve NAS efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The office promotes best practices in systems engineering. Stakeholders leverage directorate expertise to resolve complex system-of-system-level design, engineering, and implementation across the NAS.

Divisions

NAS Enterprise Architecture & Requirements Services

The NAS Enterprise Architecture (EA) and Requirements Services Division is essential to evolve the NAS through model-based systems engineering (MBSE), NAS Requirements Lifecycle Management, and Integrated Systems Engineering expertise. We set the vision with our NAS Models and Requirements, and guide programs through the FAA Acquisition Management System. To do this, we work hands on with the program offices, create clear guidance in the FAST, and train the workforce through Systems Engineering courses, the SEM, and other technical reference materials. A key focus is to institutionalize the use of a Digital System Engineering Environment and develop a Digital Twin for the NAS. By utilizing MBSE and Digital Engineering techniques, we enhance the ability to represent complex systems, reduce technical ambiguities and associated misunderstandings, and achieve comprehensive traceability of requirements throughout the system lifecycle.

NAS Enterprise Planning & Analysis

The NAS Enterprise Planning and Analysis Division establishes the FAANAS EA under the direction of the NAS Chief Architect. The NASEA is a clear, comprehensive evolutionary path for NAS modernization. The division integrates and analyzes at the enterprise level to propose NAS technical changes (infrastructure and implementation), and develops and maintains NASEA planning artifacts, including EA strategic views and the NAS Segment Implementation Plan. Together, these products depict NAS evolution across the major planned FAA program investments and improvements.

Enterprise Safety & Information Security

The Enterprise Safety and Information Security Division develops and manages critical enterprise-level safety and information security requirements and architecture. This division ensures comprehensive integrated safety risk management and security risk management aligns with the NAS transition to NextGen.

Systems Engineering Information Management

The Systems Engineering Information Management Division provides information services to Air Traffic Operations and NextGen communities. It supports National Air Space planning and engineering work by providing secure contextualized enterprise level modeling, requirements, safety and planning information across internal FAA information platforms. It highlights reports and insights that target the introduction and implementation of new capabilities into the National Air Space.

Strategic Initiatives

The Strategic Initiatives Division develops the workforce. The division designs and develops technical training curricula and micro-credentialing certification programs that include emerging topics in aviation and the NAS. It educates the workforce on technology changes and opportunities, and investigates engineering tools and methods to support NAS evolution.

Systems Analysis & Modeling

The Systems Analysis and Modeling Division quantitatively assesses NAS technologies, procedures, and costs to aid in prioritizing and evaluating future capabilities and implementation. The division uses historical performance analyses, fast-time simulation modeling, and other analytical techniques to produce a consistent agency-wide view of the expected and realized impacts of NAS modernization.

Additional Information

• NAS Enterprise Architecture Infrastructure Roadmaps
• System Safety Management
• Engineering and Management Practices
• NextGen Performance Reporting

Management Services

The NextGen Management Services organization enables efficient administrative, human capital, budget, and contracting operations for the Office of NextGen. We accomplish this by establishing, implementing, and maintaining internal administrative, business, and logistical processes and ensuring adherence to FAA policies. We also lead interagency, aviation industry and international collaboration efforts to resolve complex challenges critical to NextGen, and communicate the progress of National Airspace System modernization. 

Divisions

The Office of Stakeholder Collaboration manages executive-level committees and component technical working groups of stakeholders to provide expertise and advice to ensure successful implementation of NextGen. Stakeholders include representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, other federal government agencies, Congress, and the civilian aviation community.

The Procurement Services & Grants Management Division establishes a portfolio of contract vehicles and administers grant management to secure services and financial assistance opportunities for the FAA and public.

The Employee Services Division coordinates directives for review within ANG; organizes workforce development and training; manages personnel and positions; procures equipment and workspaces required for employees to succeed; and processes personnel actions and awards.

The Financial Management Services Division manages financial services to help shape an environment in which management officials have and use high quality financial and planning information to make and implement effective policy, management, stewardship, and program decisions.

The Outreach Services Division leverages and executes the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning analytics to inform communication strategies and decision-making. The division brings expertise in writing, editing, website development, graphic design, and multimedia through the production of reports, print and video stories, fact sheets, brochures, presentations, banners, web pages, and other communication products. The division is also responsible for drafting, implementing, and tracking the status of the business plan at the direction and oversight of ANG. Additionally, the division promotes global air traffic modernization through: the harmonization of global standards and guidelines that are compatible with NextGen technologies and procedures, optimal equipage to take full advantage of air traffic modernization globally, and collaboration with partner agency liaisons to identify and resolve air traffic modernization issues.

Additional Information

• SETIS Contracts
• Funding Opportunities (Grants)
• NextGen Advisory Committee
• NextGen Web Pages

Portfolio Management & Technology Development

The work performed by the NextGen Portfolio Management & Technology Development Directorate (ANG-C) encompasses NextGen critical path concept validation, technology development, and prototyping of new capabilities to improve aviation system safety, capacity, and efficiency. Additionally, ANG-C supports the FAA's technology development portfolio through strategic planning, budget formulation, program execution, and program evaluation.

ANG-C meets the complex challenges associated with transforming the air transportation system while still maintaining and improving the existing National Airspace System (NAS) infrastructure by improving the management of NAS operational requirements and the NAS Operational Concept.

Divisions

ANG-C has approximately 160 Federal employees across six divisions:

• Human Factors Division
• Info-Centric NAS (ICN) Operations & New Entrants
• Engineering Development Services
• ICN Technology & Advanced Concepts
• Aviation Weather
• NAS Lifecycle Planning

Directorate Work

ANG-C performs the following tasks:

• Manages the entry process of developing concepts for the NAS Operational Concept
• Develops and conducts studies and demonstrations to mature concepts
• Distils Concepts of Operations into operational requirements and works with NextGen's NAS Systems Engineering & Integration Office (ANG-B) to reflect updates in Enterprise Architecture
• Manages NextGen portfolios which develop and assist in the implementation of Operational Improvements (OI) and Operational Sustainments (OS)
• Provides concept development and engineering for Weather Air Traffic Management (ATM) integration
• Manages human factors research focused on Air Traffic Control (ATC)/Tech Ops and aircraft/maintenance regulation and certification
• Maintains the human-system integration roadmap and supports the human factors community of practice
• Facilitates partnerships with external research organizations
• Provides research, engineering, and test support across the process flow
• Leads in segment planning and implementation
• Conducts shortfall analysis to identify gaps in NAS performance
• Leads and supports development of international and domestic standards for emerging technologies as well as for harmonization activities
• Orchestrates budget formulation and execution of NextGen Portfolio funding and ensures alignment with the Segment Plans

Office of NextGen

The Office of NextGen coordinates NextGen initiatives, programs, and policy development across the FAA's various lines of business and staff offices. The office also collaborates with other U.S. federal and state government agencies, the FAA's international partners, and the aviation community to harmonize NextGen policies and procedures.

Learn more about the Office of NextGen's organizational structure:

Key Officials   |   NextGen Offices

Info-Centric National Airspace System

Exciting new opportunities are emerging in aviation and aerospace. The future NAS must accommodate the resulting changes in operations. Charting Aviation’s Future: Operations in an Info-Centric NAS is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) vision for the future of the NAS.

Partner Engagement

Funding Opportunities

The Office of NextGen administers several funding opportunities available to public entities:

• Aviation Workforce Development Grants
• Aviation Research Grants
• Centers of Excellence Grants

Contracts

The Office of NextGen administers the Systems Engineering and Technical Innovative Solutions (SETIS) contract portfolio providing technical and professional services to enable the Federal Aviation Administration to accomplish its objectives.

Office of NextGen - Key Officials

Assistant Administrator
NextGen
Paul Fontaine

Deputy Assistant Administrator
NextGen
Gregory Burke (A)

Chief Scientist for Architecture and NextGen Development
NextGen
Steve Bradford

Director
Management Services
Nick Lento (A)

Director
NAS Systems Engineering and Integration
Kathleen Torrence (A)

Director
Portfolio Management & Technology Development
John Maffei

Director
William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
Eric Neiderman

FAA Aviation Research Grants

The FAA is now accepting electronic submission of proposals through Grants.gov.

As posted on Grants.gov, information pertaining to funding opportunity 20-01 is contained in the bulletin "Current FAA Grant Solicitation." The guidance in this funding opportunity only pertains to electronic submissions.

Contact Us

Please email questions and feedback to us at 9-ANG-ARG-Grants@faa.gov. 

• Delphi eInvoicing
• Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards
• Leading the way in Aviation Progress
• How the Program Works
• Technical Areas of Research
• Applying for a FAA Research Grant and Cooperative Agreement
• OMB Circulars
• DOT Grants
• U.S. Code
• GRANTS.GOV

Technical Areas of Research

In 1990, the United States Congress authorized the FAA to award grants and cooperative agreements for research, engineering and development activities, and an example is shown below. The program, entitled FAA Aviation Research Grants Program, is administered by the Acquisition and Grants Group.

Aviation Research Grants

Supports research in areas necessary for the long-term growth of civil aviation. Specific research areas include air traffic control automation, aviation applications of advanced technologies, human factors in highly automated environments, and aircraft safety.

The FAA has identified the following technical areas of research for which it is particularly interested in receiving proposals. These areas are crucial to the FAA's overall mission of ensuring capacity, efficiency, and safety.

• Capacity and Air Traffic Control Technology
• Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance
• Aviation Weather
• Airports
• Aircraft Safety Technology
• Human Factors and Aviation Medicine
• Systems Science/Operations Research

EXAMPLES OF GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. The FAA has been developing a risk assessment and risk management software for structural fatigue issues of general aviation, called SMART, that is expected to be completed and released in 2025. Thus far, the FAA has used SMART to determine the relative damage caused by different flight profiles on a family of small airplanes, and to study the effect of stress levels and usage spectra to develop a draft continued airworthiness action. 
2. In view of the recent problems with the design and operation of the 737MAX aircraft leading to two notorious accidents; FAA funded research that was relevant and its application would likely contribute to mitigating the flight crew challenges that were revealed in the accident investigations.  

Return to Grants Page