System Test and Evaluation Plan and Procedure: The Department of Defense (DoD)
The objective of this study is to conduct a system test and evaluation plan and procedure for a the Department of Defense (DoD). Toward this end this study will review literature that informs this area of inquiry.
Concepts of Security Assurance and Trusted Systems
A system is "an integrated composite of people, products, and processes that provide a capability to satisfy a stated need or objective." (Defense Acquisition University Press, 2011, p.3) Systems engineering management is accomplished through integration of three primary activities:
(1) Development phasing that controls the design process and provides baselines that coordinate design efforts;
(2) A systems engineering process that provides a structure for solving design problems and tracking requirements flow through the design effort, and (3) Life cycle integration that involves customers in the design process and ensures that the system developed is viable throughout its life. (Defense Acquisition University Press, 2011, p.3)
The activities of system engineering are those of development phasing, systems engineering process, life cycle integration, baselines, systems engineering management, integrated teaming, and life cycle planning. All of these activities overlap one another as shown in the following illustration labeled Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Systems engineering activities
Source: Defense Acquisition University Press (2011)
The development phasing process involves specific stages including: (1) The concept level; (2) the system level; and (3) the subsystem component level. (Defense Acquisition University Press, 2011) Development phasing is illustrated as shown in Figure 2 in this study.
Figure 2 - Development Phasing
Source: Defense Acquisition University...
DoD is reported to have two fundamental requirements for program management; (1) the requirement that an integrated product and process approach be taken to design wherever practicable; and (2) requires that disciplined systems engineering process be used to translate operational needs and/or requirement into a system solution. (Defense Acquisition University Press, 2011)
II. Evaluation of Ways of Providing Assurance Throughout the Lifecycle
DoD reports that there is no "separate milestone decision required for a program to enter this phase of the system life cycle. The requirement for the Sustainment phase is implicit in the decision to produce and deploy the system." (Defense Acquisition University Press, 2011) This phase is reported to overlap the production phase. Systems Engineering activities in the Sustainment phase are focused on maintaining the system's performance capability relative to the threat the system faces. If the military threat changes or a technology opportunity emerges, then the system may require modification." (Defense Acquisition University Press, 2011) It is necessary that these modifications be "approved at an appropriate level for the particular change being considered. The changes then drives the initiation of new systems engineering processes, starting the cycle (or parts…
