May 6, 2008 Vol. 1, Issue 4
Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or a recent college graduate, the Academy’s core curriculum offers a common baseline of skills and knowledge for your career level.
The core curriculum focuses on building NASA-specific expertise and capability in project management and systems engineering. It is intended to supplement an individual’s academic and professional work experience, and it is sequenced according to professional development career levels.
All core courses are based on the Academy’s project management and systems engineering competency models. Instructors regularly update content to reflect the latest developments in best practices and lessons learned. NASA subject matter experts serve as instructors to ensure that the best training is available for NASA practitioners.
The core curriculum consists of the following four courses:
Foundations of Aerospace at NASA is designed for employees who began work at NASA within the last five years. The learning objective of this course is to give participants a solid understanding of the NASA organization and its principles of technical excellence. Topics include NASA’s strategic direction, governance model, organizational structure, technical guidelines, and history.
Project Management and Systems Engineering is designed for NASA project practitioners and systems engineers prior to or in the first year of entry into project, systems engineering or supervisory positions. The learning objective is to enhance proficiency in applying project management and systems engineering processes and practices over the project life cycle. It places a strong emphasis on the integration of project management and systems engineering principles.
Advanced Project Management and Advanced Systems Engineering is designed for technical professionals who have had prior supervisory experience with projects or systems. The learning objective is to give experienced practitioners a deep understanding of the challenges of leading and managing programs and projects in a complex and dynamic environment. Topics include the formulation and implementation of integrated systems and organization architectures, advanced acquisition strategy, review and oversight, and approaches to identifying and mitigating risks such as changing requirements and unanticipated budget reductions.
The Executive Program is designed for experienced and potential executive leaders. Participants are selected based on the recommendations of Center Directors and Associate Administrators. This course aims to develop a cadre of highly qualified NASA leaders for current or future executive leadership roles.
Core courses are delivered at NASA field centers and other facilities, including the Wallops Flight Facility. Dates and locations can be found in the APPEL Training Master Schedule.
