President–Beth O’Donnell (1-year term)

Beth O’Donnell

John Silvas is a Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, currently supporting the GPS Directorate at the Space & Missile Systems Center (SMC) as the System Integration Lead on the System Engineering & Integration (SE&I) contract. In this role since October 2008, John has been leading a team of enterprise-focused integrators, with such functions as future GPS capability delivery planning and analysis, mission thread analysis, giver-receiver analysis, and early-lifecycle risk reducing System Integration Demonstrations. The common focus for all of these functions is to work across system and segment boundaries (i.e., external interfaces) to ensure the new physical parts (satellites, control software, user equipment) integrate properly with each other and ultimately with the currently operational system.

John joined Booz Allen in June 1998 in McLean, Virginia as a consultant and has a total of 17 years of systems engineering experience, working mostly on large scale DoD programs in the areas of requirements analysis, architecture development, technical management and control, systems engineering process improvement, and system integration. Prior to joining Booz Allen, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the first Gulf War working in satellite communications – three years on active duty and five years in the reserves. He has a B.S. degree from Virginia Tech, and obtained his INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) certification in January 2006.

John joined INCOSE in early 2004 to gain a better understanding of the overall systems engineering process, as well as increase his credibility with clients and colleagues. More recently, he has served as Programs Director for the INCOSE-LA Chapter in 2009 and 2010.

Secretary–Alan Kirschbaum (1-year term)

Alan Kirschbaum’s active engagement in systems engineering practice stretches over past 15 years.   From 1999 to 2010 he provided space systems acquisition management consulting, defense system planning analysis, and engineering concept design services to DoD clients on behalf of AT&T Government Solutions.  He performed process analysis and improvement services for Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) systems engineering and acquisition policy activities. He authored strategic planning and execution roadmaps for acquisition wings and development planning organizations. Additionally, he managed broadly ranging systems and component technologies developments for risk reduction including modeling and simulation, command and control integration, remote sensing, and space operations. 

Prior to his AT&T consultancy, he served as Director of Systems Engineering for all of SMC beginning in 1995. There, he devised and implemented system-of-systems integration and interoperability solutions across Air Force space programs. He formulated the basic charter for the Space Mission Integration Office and put into practice the DoD Joint Technical Architecture for Air Force space systems at SMC. He tailored Performance Based Business Environment and Operational Safety and Suitability policies to Air Force space systems and was INCOSE Corporate Representative.

Earlier, he functioned as associate director for technology, at DoD’s Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, he headed the Seismic Systems Acquisition Division at Air Force Technical Applications Center, and he was the advanced systems integration manager in the Secretary of Air Force Office of Research.  In all, he’s enjoyed 39 years experience in DoD systems management and engineering including complex project management, advanced research and development, technology planning, and engineering organization leadership.  His technical expertise is in astrodynamics, space remote sensing, controls, and communications with recognized mastery of aerospace and information systems design, test, and production. 

Alan has been a participant in INCOSE-LA Chapter activities, most recently having served on the technical program committee for INCOSE-LA 2009 and 2010 Mini-Conferences.  He also is an Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a Senior Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a Senior Member, Air Force Association.  He’s a registered Professional Engineer (Ohio) and is the recipient of the Legion of Honor. 

Alan holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Mechanical Engineering and an M.B.A. from New Mexico Highlands University.  He’s a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College and the National War College’s National Security Management program. 

Treasurer–Harvey Soldan (1-year term)

Harvey Soldan

Programs Director–Michael Kim (2-year term)

Michael Kim is a Senior Professional Staff in Space Systems and Application Group at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.  He is currently working on requirements and interfaces analysis in Mission Control Segment for Enhanced Polar System (EPS) Satellites.  Previously, he worked for Booz Allen Hamilton as an Associate performing systems engineering and integration tasks on various space programs sponsored by U.S Air Force, e.g. Space Launch and Test Range Modernization efforts for Vandenberg AFB and Patrick AFB, Space Situational Awareness for Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), and MILSATCOM systems for joint users.  Prior to Booz Allen, he worked for Northrop Grumman Corporation as Systems Integration Lead working on Common Bomber mission planning system for C2ISR Directorate at Electronic System Center (ESC).  He was also IV&V analyst for Minuteman III ballistic missile targeting program and operational flight/ground programs under Nuclear Surety Cross Check Analysis (NSCCA) program.

Michael is a prior U.S. Army Chemical officer proficient at Nuclear, Biological and Chemical defense doctrine and sensor/reporting technologies.  His military tour includes four years in Germany and a deployment to Macedonia as the United Nations Pre-Deployment Forces.

Michael is a Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) and has been a member of INCOSE since 2004.  He has volunteered for various local INCOSE LA Chapter activities including chairing Systems Engineering for Integrated Technical Business Environment track at 2005 Mini-Conference and working as Deputy Programs Director and Chapter Website Technical Manage last year.  Michael is looking forwarding to working as Programs Director at INCOSE LA Chapter for next two years.  He would like to bring more exciting learning and networking opportunities to local INCOSE members through monthly INCOSE LA Speaker Series meetings.  

Michael has a B.S. in Physics from U.C. Berkeley, an M.B.A. degree from U.C. Irvine, and an MS in Systems Architecting and Engineering from USC.  He has been married for over seven years to his wife Julie, and they happily live in Marina del Rey, California.

Communications Director–Edie Ung (2-year term) 

Edie Ung is Systems Engineer, Manager III, at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo. She is currently an operations manager for one of their business area chief engineers. A twenty-year employee, who started her career originally at Hughes Aircraft, she has rotated through a number of opportunities from a software engineering, configuration management, and process improvement to earn more management responsibilities by becoming a project lead and control account manager and line management.

In addition to her many years of experience in the aerospace industry, she has worked in the commercial industry as well. Previously, Edie was a software systems engineer developing systems in information technology, networking, and financial services for Lockheed Federal Credit Union, and she was a process engineer and requirements manager at Motorola, supporting new technologies in the Personal Communications Sector.

An INCOSE member since 2008, Edie volunteered as one of the Newsletter co-editor later that year to become more involved in the INCOSE-LA Chapter. Currently, she is completing her two-year term as Communications Director for 2009 and 2010 and continues as Newsletter co-editor.

Edie earned a B.S. in Computer Science from California State University, Los Angeles, and completed a pre-med program.

Membership Director–Paul Cudney (2-year term)

Paul Cudney recently retired from his position as Senior Systems Engineer with Lockheed Martin. He has nearly 45 years experience in systems integration, software maintenance, test, and verification for real-time, ground-based control systems involving aircraft, missiles and satellites.

Paul served as Chairman of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and also as Chairman of the ACM Committee on Chapters. In addition, Paul is a member of the Steering Committee for the Southern California Software Process Improvement Network.

Paul has been an INCOSE member since 2000, was twice Track Chairman at INCOSE-LA Mini-Conferences, once Secretary of the Chapter, and has served as Membership Director for the past untold years. Paul vigorously supports activities to increase the knowledge and stature of our members, and seeks to increase member participation as a low-risk method of gaining direct job-related experience.

Ways and Means Director–Michael Maar (Interim Election-2^nd year of 2-year term)

Michael Maar is an Associate Technical Fellow with The Boeing Company.  He is currently a systems engineer for the Ground Mobile Radio and Joint Enterprise Network Manager. He joined Rockwell International in 1985.  Over the years, he has led development of various types of communications and signal processing systems, including international communication satellites, ground and space-based surveillance systems, space and airborne laser, and space shuttle orbiter mission data processing.

Michael was a technical chair for the INCOSE LA Mini-Conference in 2005. He supported the Mini-Conference in 2009 as finance/risk chair.  He was a reviewer of the technical papers and the finance chair for CSER 2006.  He was the finance chair for CSER 2008.  He has been the INCOSE Awards manager since 2007.

He has participated as judges for First Lego League and First Tech Challenge robotics competition events.

Michaels holds a B.S.E.E. (First Class Honours) from Hong Kong University, B.S.E.E. from George Washington University, and M.B.A. from Virginia Polytechnic and State University.