1616668486.a013 Sercwrt1006 Technicalreportserc 2021 TR 005 Final

WRT-1006 Technical Report: Developing the Digital
Engineering Competency Framework (DECF) – Phase 2

23 March 2021
Technical Report SERC-2021-TR-005
Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005 1

Copyright © 2021 Stevens Institute of Technology, Systems Engineering Research Center
The Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) is a federally funded University Affiliated Research
Center managed by Stevens Institute of Technology.
This material is based upon work supported, in whole or in part, by the U.S. Department of Defense
through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (ASD(R&E)) under
Contract HQ0034-19-D-003 (Task Order 0286).
Any views, opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Defense nor
ASD(R&E).
No Warranty.
This Stevens Institute of Technology and Systems Engineering Research Center material is furnished on
an “as-is” basis. Stevens Institute of Technology makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or
implied, as to any matter including, but not limited to, warranty of fitness for purpose or
merchantability, exclusivity, or results obtained from use of the material. Stevens Institute of
Technology does not make any warranty of any kind with respect to freedom from patent, trademark, or
copyright infringement.
This material has been approved for public release and unlimited distribution.
Authors:
Nicole Hutchison, Kara Pepe, Mark Blackburn, Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoong Yan See Tao, Dinesh Verma
Cliff Whitcomb, Rabia Khan Naval Postgraduate School
Russell Peak, Adam Baker Georgia Tech
i Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................................v
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................vi
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 9
1.1 Digital Engineering Strategy ........................................................................................... 10
1.2 Digital Transformation ................................................................................................... 10
1.3 This Report ..................................................................................................................... 11
2. Research Approach ............................................................................................................... 12
2.1 Utilization of Existing Competency Models ................................................................... 13
2.2 Use Cases for the DECF .................................................................................................. 13
2.3 Validation ....................................................................................................................... 15
2.4 Modeling the DECF ......................................................................................................... 15
2.5 Analysis of Existing Curricula .......................................................................................... 18
2.6 Synergies with Additional SERC Research Task .............................................................. 19
2.7 Mapping of the DECF to Commercial Job Titles, Job Descriptions, and Requirements of
DE 20
3. The Digital Engineering Competency Framework ................................................................ 24
3.1 DECF Organization .......................................................................................................... 24
3.2 Foundational Digital Competencies ............................................................................... 25
3.3 DECF v. 1.1 Overview ..................................................................................................... 27
3.4 Competencies and Proficiency Levels ............................................................................ 30
3.5 Cross-Cutting Elements in the DECF ................................................................................... 36
4. Digital Engineering Competencies in Existing DoD Training Resources ............................... 38
4.1 Defense Acquisition University Course (CLE084) ........................................................... 38
4.2 Coursera MBSE: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Course ............................ 40
4.3 MIT Architecture and Systems Engineering Program .................................................... 41
4.4 Overarching Recommendations from the Comparison of the DECF with the DoD
Training Resources .................................................................................................................... 42
5. Conclusion and Future Work ................................................................................................ 44
5.1 Work Completed ............................................................................................................ 44
5.2 Growth of the DECF Modeling Environment ................................................................. 45
5.3 Modeling Environment Development for the Engineering and Technical Management
(ETM) Task Force ....................................................................................................................... 46
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References .................................................................................................................................... 47
Appendix A: KSABs for Data Governance (C1) in DECF v. 1.1 ....................................................... 49
Appendix B: KSABs for Data Management (C2) in DECF v. 1.1 ..................................................... 53
Appendix C: KSABs for Modeling (C3) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................................................... 55
Appendix D: KSABs for Simulation (C4) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................................................. 60
Appendix E: KSABs for Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (C5) in DECF v. 1.1 .................... 62
Appendix F: KSABs for Data Visualization (C6) in DECF v. 1.1 ...................................................... 64
Appendix G: KSABs for Data Analytics (C7) in DECF v. 1.1 ............................................................ 65
Appendix H: KSABs for Digital Architecting (C8) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................................... 68
Appendix I: KSABs for Digital Requirements Modeling (C9) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................. 71
Appendix J: KSABs for Digital Validation and Verification (C10) in DECF v. 1.1 ............................ 73
Appendix K: KSABs for Model-Based Systems Engineering Processes (C11) in DECF v. 1.1......... 74
Appendix L: KSABs for Digital Model-Based Reviews (C12) in DECF v. 1.1 ................................... 82
Appendix M: KSABs for Project and Program Management (C13) in DECF v. 1.1 ......................... 83
Appendix N: KSABs for Organizational Development (C14) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................. 85
Appendix O: KSABs for Digital Engineering Policy and Guidance (C15) in DECF v. 1.1................. 87
Appendix P: KSABs for Configuration Management (C16) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................... 90
Appendix Q: KSABs for Software Construction (C17) in DECF v. 1.1 ............................................ 92
Appendix R: KSABs for Software Engineering (C18) in DECF v. 1.1 .............................................. 94
Appendix S: KSABs for Digital Environment Development (C19) in DECF v. 1.1 .......................... 98
Appendix T: KSABs for Management (C20) in DECF v. 1.1.......................................................... 101
Appendix U: KSABs for Communications (C21) in DECF v. 1.1 ................................................... 104
Appendix V: KSABs for Planning (C22) in DECF v. 1.1 ................................................................. 106
Appendix W: KSABs for Digital Environment Operations (C23) in DECF v. 1.1........................... 107
Appendix X: KSABs for Digital Environment Support (C24) in DECF v. 1.1 ................................. 109
Appendix Y: KSABs for Digital Environment Security (C5) in DECF v. 1.1 ................................... 113
Appendix Z: KSABs for Digital Literacy (F1) in DECF v. 1.1 .......................................................... 116
Appendix AA: KSABs for Digital Engineering Value Proposition (F2) in DECF v. 1.1 ................... 125
Appendix AB: KSABs for DoD Policy/Guidance (F3) in DECF v. 1.1 ............................................. 127
Appendix AC: KSABs for Coaching and Mentoring (F4) in DECF v. 1.1 ....................................... 128
Appendix AD: KSABs for Decision Making (F5) in DECF v. 1.1 .................................................... 129
Appendix AE: KSABs for Software Literacy (F6) in DECF v. 1.1 ................................................... 132
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Table of Figures
Figure 1. Overview of DECF v. 1.1. ................................................................................................. vii
Figure 2. BDD of the DECF Structure. ........................................................................................... 16
Figure 3. BDD of the DECF Context within a Defense Organization. ............................................ 17
Figure 4. Example Use Case Diagram for the use of the DECF in Career Development. .............. 17
Figure 5. The DECF OpenMBEE Structure. .................................................................................... 18
Figure 6. Relationship between DECF v. 1.1 and DAU ASI Competency Frameworks. ................ 20
Figure 7. Notional Model of the Overlap between Discipline-Specific Knowledge and the DECF.
....................................................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 8. Context for the DECF...................................................................................................... 27
Figure 9. DECF Competency Groups. ............................................................................................ 28
Figure 10. Overview of DECF v. 1.1. .............................................................................................. 29
Figure 11. Distributions of Cross-Cutting Elements in the DECF: (a) Digital Twin; (b) Digital
Thread; and (c) Digital Artifacts. ................................................................................................... 37
Figure 12. Visualization of DAU Course Content Comparison to DECF v. 1.1. ............................. 38
Figure 13. Visualization of DAU Course Content Comparison to DECF v. 1.1. ............................. 44
Figure 14. Potential Future Work for WRT-1006 Research Task. ................................................. 46
List of Tables
Table 1. Example List of DE-Related Jobs Available on the Indeed.com and USAJobs.gov
Websites. ...................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 2. Mapping of DECF v. 1.1 to the Sample Job Openings, Job Descriptions, Responsibilities
and DE Requirements from the USAJobs website. ....................................................................... 21
Table 3. Foundational Digital Competencies in DECF v. 1.1. ........................................................ 25
Table 4. Descriptions of DECF v. 1.1 Competency Groups. .......................................................... 28
Table 5. Proficiency Levels of DECF v. 1.1. .................................................................................... 30
Table 6. Distribution of the KSABs in DECF v. 1.1. ........................................................................ 31
Table 7. Competencies in the Data Engineering Group in DECF v. 1.1. ........................................ 32
Table 8. Competencies in the Modeling and Simulation Group in DECF v. 1.1. ........................... 32
Table 9. Competencies in the Digital Engineering and Analysis Group in DECF v. 1.1. ................ 33
Table 10. Competencies in the System Software Group in DECF v. 1.1. ...................................... 34
Table 11. Competencies in the Digital Enterprise Environment Group in DECF v. 1.1................. 34
Table 12. Distribution of CLE084 KSABs in DECF v. 1.1. ................................................................ 39
Table 13. Distribution of CLE084 KSABs in DECF v. 1.0. ................................................................ 40
Table 14. Distribution of Coursera KSABs in DECF v. 1.1. ............................................................. 40
Table 15. Distribution of MIT Course KSABs in DECF v. 1.1. ......................................................... 41
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to our sponsors, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
(OUSD (R&E)) and in particular, the Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) Task Force team.
You have provided not only the leadership to initiate this project but also critical guidance and review
during this task.
Mr. Troy Peterson and Mr. Sanford Friedenthal served as our subject matter expert review panel. They
provided guidance on the team’s approach, assumptions, and the content of the DECF. Their time and
dedication were critically important to the successful evolution of DECF version 1.1 (DECF v. 1.1).
The team would also like to acknowledge and offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Jon Wade
who contributed immensely during Phase 1 of this research project and reviewed this final technical
report.
v Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Executive Summary
This document describes the updated Digital Engineering Competency Framework (DECF) version 1.1
(DECF v. 1.1). This document also summarizes the findings of the comparison between the DECF
competencies and the training resources from the US Department of Defense (DoD), and provide
recommendations on how to build a competent DoD digital engineering workforce.
Digital engineering (DE) is “an integrated digital approach that uses authoritative sources of systems’ data
and models as a continuum across disciplines to support lifecycle activities from concept through
disposal. A DE ecosystem is an interconnected infrastructure, environment, and methodology that enables
the exchange of digital artifacts from an authoritative source of truth.”1 DE is a critical practice necessary
to support acquisition in an environment of increasing global challenges, dynamic threats, rapidly
evolving technologies, and increasing life expectancy of our systems currently in operation.
Digital transformation is fundamentally changing the way acquisition and engineering are performed
across a wide range of government agencies, industries, and academia and is characterized by the
integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, changing fundamental operations and how
results are delivered in terms of new value to customers. It includes cultural change centered on alignment
across leadership, strategy, customers, operations, and workforce evolution.
On 23 July 2020, the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) developed the DECF to support the
DoD by providing clear guidance for the DoD acquisition workforce, in particular the engineering (ENG)
acquisition workforce (Phase 1) (SERC, 2020). The guidance comprised of well-defined competencies
with the associated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (KSABs) that are required for the DE
workforce.
Phase 2 of this research task focused on mapping existing DoD DE training resources against the DECF
to identify gaps and provide recommendations on how to build the digital engineering competency of the
DoD workforce. The current Defense Acquisition University (DAU) ENG curriculum was analyzed
against the DECF to:
• Identify which competencies are already covered within the existing curriculum;
• Identify clear gaps between the existing curriculum and the DECF; and
• Create specific recommendations for training that could help address DECF competencies that are
not currently covered in the curriculum.
The updated DECF v. 1.1 includes new competencies that were discovered from the gaps identified when
comparing the DECF with the DoD training resources. The DECF competency groups were also updated
to reflect a cohesive categorization of the competencies. In DECF v. 1.1, there are five (5) competency
groups, nine (9) competency subgroups, and 31 competencies (including six (6) foundational digital
competencies) identified as shown in Figure 1.
1
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Systems Engineering) [ODASD (SE)], “DAU Glossary: Digital
Engineering,” Defense Acquisition University (DAU), 2017.
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Figure 1. Overview of DECF v. 1.1.
The competency hierarchy provides a logical structure for the individual competencies:
• G1 Data Engineering includes data governance and data management which incorporates
model-based processes to ensure the formal management of data assets within a digital enterprise.
• G2 Modeling and Simulation in the digital enterprise environment is the process of creating and
analyzing a digital prototype of a physical model to predict its performance in the real world.
Modeling and simulation are used to help system designers and engineers understand whether,
under what conditions, and in which ways a system component could fail and what loads it can
withstand through analysis. Data analytics and data visualization play an important role to
improve the decision-making process in the system lifecycle. Artificial intelligence and machine
learning (AI/ML) are critical tools to enable systems that continuously evolve to behave
differently based both on input data and statistical, logical, and knowledge-based inference.
AI/ML skills must be applied in a digital environment.
• G3 Digital Engineering and Analysis includes systems engineering and engineering
management which constitute how digital engineering takes full advantage of the digital power of
computation and communication to take better, faster actions throughout the defense system
lifecycle. Configuration management refers to the development of strategies, policies, standards,
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and guidelines for configuration management of DE related artifacts in accordance with model-
based systems engineering methods.
• G4 Systems Software is the systemic application of DE approaches to the development of
software.
• G5 Digital Enterprise Environment addresses development of the DE environment including
hardware and software aspects. Digital Enterprise Environment Management is for management,
communications and planning related to enabling the workforce to manage the adoption of
appropriate model-based tools and approaches, techniques and processes for the operation of
digital enterprise environment systems that ensure transformational processes in enterprises occur
with pace, high-quality and security. Digital Enterprise Environment Operations and Support
within a digital enterprise environment include abilities to operate and support the digital
enterprise environment across the enterprise and lifecycle. Digital Enterprise Environment
Security involves developing policies, standards, processes, and guidelines to ensure the physical
and electronic security of digital environments and automated systems.
viii Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

1. Introduction
Digital transformation is fundamentally changing the way acquisition and engineering are per-formed
across a wide range of government agencies, industries, and academia. Digital transformation is
characterized by the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, changing fundamental
operations and how results are delivered in terms of new value to customers. It includes cultural change
centered on alignment across leadership, strategy, customers, operations, and workforce evolution.
Digital engineering (DE) is “an integrated digital approach that uses authoritative sources of systems’ data
and models as a continuum across disciplines to support lifecycle activities from concept through
disposal. A DE ecosystem is an interconnected infrastructure, environment, and methodology that enables
the exchange of digital artifacts from an authoritative source of truth.”2
There is evidence across the Services and industry affirming that DE is a critical practice necessary to
support acquisition in an environment of increasing global challenges, dynamic threats, rapidly evolving
technologies, and increasing life expectancy of our systems currently in operation. The DoD must
continue to practice systems engineering efficiently and effectively to provide the best advantage for
successful acquisitions and sustainment. DE updates the systems engineering practices to take full
advantage of the digital power of computation, visualization, and communication to take better, faster
actions throughout the lifecycle.
The purpose of the Digital Engineering Competency Framework (DECF) is to provide clear guidance for
the DoD acquisition workforce, in particular the ENG acquisition workforce, through clearly defined
competencies that illuminate the KSABs required for DE professionals. Though the DECF includes
considerations specific to the Defense acquisition workforce, data was gathered from outside the defense
community and the structure of the DECF provides a useful model for any individual or organization that
needs to understand the skills required to successfully implement DE. Version 1.0 of the DECF,
published in 2020, was used as an input for this work.
The team had a comprehensive review of all the relevant competency models and identified competencies
that would relate to aspects of DE. Then, the team took the ones related to DE and translated or modified
them to develop the DECF so that it would be relevant in the digital environment. Any ongoing
modifications or updates to the competency models listed in Section 2.1, such as the INCOSE Systems
Engineering Competency Framework that is currently going through a modification have not been
updated and incorporated in DECF v. 1.1. Though DECF v. 1.1 has been updated to include new
competencies and is rather large, further refinement may be required. For instance, though cybersecurity
is lightly covered in DECF v. 1.1, iteration with practitioners may lead to the inclusion of additional
KSABs or even elevate cybersecurity to its own competency.
This research task (Phase 2) is a continuation of Phase 1 and focuses on mapping existing DoD DE
training resources against the DECF to identify gaps and provide recommendations on how to build the
digital engineering competency of the DoD workforce. The framework has been refined into DECF v.
1.1, as reflected here. Version 1.1 formed the basis for comparisons against existing curricula. The current
Defense Acquisition University (DAU) ENG curriculum was analyzed against the DECF to:
• Identify which competencies are already covered within the existing curriculum;
• Identify clear gaps between the existing curriculum and the DECF; and
2
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Systems Engineering) [ODASD (SE)], “DAU Glossary: Digital
Engineering,” Defense Acquisition University (DAU), 2017.
9 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

• Create specific recommendations for training that could help address the DECF competencies that
are not currently covered in curriculum.
1.1 Digital Engineering Strategy
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) published a
Digital Engineering Strategy in June 2018, outlining the vision for DE and five goals of the transition to a
digitally based engineering and acquisition approach (DoD 2018). According to the DoD, DE is defined
as “an integrated digital approach that uses authoritative sources of system data and models a continuum
across disciplines to support lifecycle activities from concept through disposal” (DoD 2018). In order for
a DE ecosystem to succeed, the five goals described in the Digital Engineering Strategy are:
1. Formalize the development, integration, and use of models to inform enterprise and pro-gram
decision making;
2. Provide an enduring, authoritative source of truth;
3. Incorporate technological innovation to improve the engineering practice;
4. Establish a supporting infrastructure and environment to perform activities, collaborate, and
communicate across stakeholders; and
5. Transform the culture and workforce to adopt and support digital engineering across the life
cycle.
This task helps to address Goal 5. The DECF provides a foundation for workforce transformation by
identifying the critical competencies required for individuals to successfully work in a digital
environment. In addition, competencies identified in the DECF relate to, or align with the other four (4)
Goals.
1.2 Digital Transformation
As the DoD transitions to DE, there is a need to develop and maintain an acquisition workforce and
culture that is literate in model-based engineering, competent in DE models, methods, and tools, and
understands digital artifacts across the acquisition lifecycle. This is significant as DE impacts how
engineers and the acquisition workforce will perform their job functions, their interaction and sharing of
information either locally or in a distributed manner, and the digital artifacts delivered. There are a
number of initiatives in the DoD to support progress toward these goals. In order to succeed in DE,
deliberate efforts to identify new competencies for the DoD acquisition workforce and develop
appropriate education and training around these competencies must be undertaken and the results
implemented. Phase 1 of this research task created a DECF that:
• Defines the critical knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (competencies) required to
implement digital engineering approaches;
• Highlights the competencies that are most critical for the DoD acquisition workforce, in particular
the ENG workforce and other acquisition career fields that will be most impacted by digital
engineering; and
• Provides the basis for ensuring the acquisition workforce has the appropriate competencies to
work within the envisioned digital environment.
In Phase 2, the DECF was further refined through reviews with subject matter experts and analysis
against existing DE or related curricula.

1.3 This Report
The outline of this report is:
• Section 2 provides the methodology and approaches used for updating the DECF to version 1.1
and for conducting the analysis of existing curricula;
• Section 3 lays out the structure of DECF v. 1.1;
• Section 4 describes the evaluation of the DoD training resources related to DE and the findings
from the comparison of the DECF and the competencies discovered in the DoD training
resources;
• Section 5 provides conclusions and outlines future work; and
• Appendices contain tables for all the KSABs within. DECF v. 1.1.
The DECF, while described and outlined here, primarily exists as a model. This model is available at
https://sercuarc.org/decf-review/.

2. Research Approach
DoD Instruction 1400.25, volume 250, “DoD Civilian Personnel Management Systems: Civilian Strategic
Human Capital Planning” was taken into consideration for developing the DECF, which outlines the
following five tiers of competencies:
• Tier 1 – Core Competencies, which apply across DoD regardless of DoD component or
occupation.
• Tier 2 – Primary Occupational Competencies, which apply across discrete occupational series and
or functions.
• Tier 3 – Sub-occupational Specialty Competencies, which are unique to sub-occupational
specialties.
• Tier 4 – DoD Component-Unique Competencies, which are so unlike any of the other
competencies identified that they exist at the component level and are unique to the context or
environment in which the work is performed.
• Tier 5 – Position-Specific Competencies, which are required for a particular position within an
occupation and are not addressed in tiers above.
DECF v. 1.1 addresses competencies in Tiers 2-5, with Tier 2 for acquisition professionals and Tier 3
specifically for acquisition ENG professionals being the primary focus. Where competencies apply to
additional acquisition roles (e.g., PM, IT, T&E, logistics), these may also be highlighted. Though focused
on the DoD, the overarching framework is intended to be relevant to a wide variety of stakeholders across
government and industry and should provide critical insights for any organization looking to successfully
implement digital engineering. Note that some Tier 1 or 2 competencies are listed as foundational for the
DECF, meaning there is an expectation that individuals possess these competencies prior to entering the
digital engineering workforce.
The overarching structure of the DECF is:
• Competency Group – Top-level grouping of related competencies that represents a core area of
expertise in digital engineering;
• Competency Subgroup – Subgroups contain related/like competencies.
• Competency - Major grouping of related KSABs; each competency is identified by its title and
includes a description that succinctly encompasses the general knowledge and skills related to
said competency.
• KSAB – A brief statement of knowledge, skill, ability, or behavior related to a competency and
associated with a specific proficiency level in said competency.
• Proficiency Level – For each competency, there will be five possible levels of attainment or
proficiency: awareness, basic, intermediate, advanced, and expert.
The structure of DECF v. 1.1 evolved significantly from v. 1.0 to improve the logical structure for
individual competencies and enable a better understanding and utilization of the DECF. The entire DECF
rests on a foundation of general digital competencies that are required for any individual who may have
tasks within a digital environment.

2.1 Utilization of Existing Competency Models
Existing competency models and guidance from the practicing DE community were used to develop the
DECF.3 For baseline terminology, the DoD competency models (DAU ENG and PM and US Department
of the Navy Systems Engineering Career Competency Model (SECCM)) are used, as these are already in
use within the DoD for systems acquisition. The non-DoD competency models are being mapped against
the DoD models to identify gaps between the DoD and non-DoD models. The existing competencies are
also being assessed to determine if and how they need to be changed to reflect a digital environment in
lieu of the traditional acquisition environment.
The existing relevant competency models being examined include:

• DAU ENG and PM competency models (DAU, 2016a and 2016b)
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Competency Framework (INCOSE, 2018)
• MITRE Systems Engineering Competency Model (MITRE, 2007)
• NASA SE/PM Competency Model (NASA, 2019)
• Helix Atlas Proficiency Model (Hutchison et al., 2020)
• IEEE Software Engineering Competency Model (IEEE, 2014)
• US Department of Labor Engineering Competency Model (US Department of Labor, 2017)
• Mission Engineering Competency Framework (Vesonder et al., 2018)
• US Department of the Navy Systems Engineering Career Competency Model (SECCM)
(Whitcomb et al., 2017)
The team also gathered materials from the DE community related to competencies, including in-progress
competency frameworks such as the Naval Digital Engineering Body of Knowledge. Paired with the
assessment of existing models, experts, and practitioners in DE and Model-Based Systems Engineering
(MBSE) are providing insights into their common activities and current training programs. These inputs
are being collected and compared to existing competency models to determine where these fit in the
existing frameworks and where new competencies need to be created to account for them.
2.2 Use Cases for the DECF
The overall objective is for the DECF to enable transformation of the acquisition workforce – in particular
the ENG workforce – for successful acquisitions in a digital engineering environment. The DECF is being
created in compliance with DoDI-1400.25 to facilitate its use in the DoD environment. The following are
some of the avenues for this transformation:
• Grow workforce
o Creating position descriptions
o Hiring for DE positions
• Increase skills of current workforce
o Workforce evaluation
o Creating DE training programs
o Career planning
• Transform organization
o Identifying critical roles
Currently, the most critical use case for the DECF is to enable transformation of the workforce by
providing competency models and frameworks to ensure that individuals have the required and
3
Most of this work was conducted in Phase 1 for DECF v. 1.0 but is still relevant to v. 1.1.

appropriate skillsets to adequately perform their jobs. The following describes more detailed use cases.
The DECF is expected to be tailored based on these roles. For example, all individuals working in a DE
environment require a basic level of modeling competencies, while only some need to be able to run
analyses using such models and fewer will need the deep knowledge to be able to build a model
themselves. The specific competencies and proficiencies associated with critical roles will be
incorporated into the DECF.
Creating Position Descriptions – An established competency model or framework can be used as a way
to clearly lay out the expectations and requirements for a given description. For example, Helix
(Hutchison et al., 2018) established a proficiency model and, using this, worked with multiple
organizations to map out the expected KSABs based on a given description. This was reviewed with
organizational managers and leaders to determine whether these expectations were what was intended by
the position descriptions and, where there was misalignment, to rewrite the position descriptions to better
reflect expectations. A baseline (minimum skills required) competency profile can also be used to further
clarify position descriptions.
Workforce Evaluation – It is common to use competency models or frameworks to assess individuals and,
collectively, the workforce with respect to a certain discipline or function. When used for this purpose,
the DECF must be sufficiently simple and streamlined to facilitate understanding and provide guidance on
the different levels of proficiency for a given competency. If the data is available, example profiles of
competencies related to specific roles may be created.
Creating DE Training Programs – The creation of training programs/curricula requires that there be clear
learning objectives. When objectives are tied to a common competency model or framework, the expected
outcomes are clear and more readily measured. As noted above in Workforce Evaluation, assessment of
the workforce against a competency model to identify major gaps is a critical first step. Existing training
curricula then need to be compared against the model to determine where training already exists, where
training can be modified, and where true gaps in training exist that do not currently address major
challenges in a competency. This work is intended to compare existing Defense Acquisition University
(DAU) training curricula against the DECF to identify any major gaps or areas where modifications of
existing programs may help to address DE.
Career Planning – It is a common practice to utilize competency models or frameworks to drive career
planning for individuals. In these instances, an individual’s current competencies are assessed, and a
future ‘target’ or ‘desired’ competency profile is created. Areas requiring major growth are identified and
the individual, often in conjunction with the organization, generates an approach to improving
competencies in these areas. Approaches to growth can include targeted work experiences, mentoring or
coaching, apprenticeship, or education and training.
Identifying Critical Roles – When developing a competency model or framework, it is common to

identify critical roles – related sets of activities – that tend to be associated with the discipline or example,
in systems engineering roles such as ‘system architect,’ ‘requirements engineer,’ or ‘technical manager’.
(Hutchison et al., 2018). Each role may require a specific competency profile – in other words, some
KSABs will be more important for certain roles and less important for others. In the context of digital
engineering, everyone working in the environment will require a baseline level of modeling competencies
– but additional interaction with models, from simply being able to find information to manipulating
models or building them from scratch, will be dependent on the role of the individual. One example of a
role specific to digital engineering is ‘model curator’ – this role has the responsibility of ensuring models
are current and correct. Where possible, competencies that are particularly critical to specific roles will be
highlighted.

2.3 Validation
In Phase 1 of the WRT-1006 research task, the team conducted several iterative workshops with key
stakeholders to revise and refine the DECF. This resulted in the release of DECF v. 1.0 in the final
technical report (Hutchison et al., 2020). The team engaged with a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel
throughout the development of the DECF. This panel, consisting of Troy Petersen and Sanford
Friedenthal, provided guidance, support, and feedback on the approach and content of the DECF.
Workshops with critical stakeholders and the public review periods were two primary mechanisms for
validating the DECF. A third review was conducted by the team internally. The team took use cases not
for the DECF itself but for engineering in a digital environment – for example, ‘digital sign off’ or ‘model
curation’ and walked through the steps required to perform these functions and mapped these steps to
their required competencies. This additional approach is hoped to identify and provide opportunities to fill
gaps in the current DECF. In addition, the team did a holistic review of the DECF and created additional
updates and recommendations based on the detailed review.
In Phase 2 of this research task, the team onboarded a new team member who provided an independent
review of DECF v. 1.0 and worked together with the team to provide valuable feedback to enhance the
DECF. As a result, DECF v. 1.1 is the final product of this technical report. The team maintained close
communication with the sponsors of this task to gather feedback and validate the work throughout Phase
2.
2.4 Modeling the DECF
The team utilized a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)approach to create a SysML model of the
DECF, its context, and its use cases. This approach both leverages the capabilities of DE and
demonstrates the benefit proposition of their adoption. The primary focus of the model was to capture the
structure and content of the DECF. Block definition diagrams (BDD) such as Figure 2 is both a functional
and visual representations of the structure of the DECF. The actual content of the model – the multitude
of groups, competency areas and KSABs – is fulfilled by specified instants of each of these blocks.

Figure 2. BDD of the DECF Structure.
The primary purpose of the model is to capture the DECF structure and content, but initial efforts were
made into exploring the use cases of the DECF. First the context of the relationship of the DECF to a
defense organization was modeled as shown in Figure 3. Since this is only a perfunctory pass at modeling
the context and use cases, only directly relevant aspects of a defense organization were modeled. With
this context the use cases of the model for a defense organization were also modelled, as shown in Figure
4. This graphical representation can be further detailed by elucidating each of the behaviors and activities
into their own diagrams. In the future there could be an entirely separate model that fully captured the
structure and behavior of a defense organization and would include all the ways in which the organization
would use the DECF.

Figure 3. BDD of the DECF Context within a Defense Organization.
Figure 4. Example Use Case Diagram for the use of the DECF in Career Development.
Although these images captured from the SysML model may yield some insights to any person,
attempting to browse model information natively is often inefficient and infeasible for many stakeholders.
Instead, an open-source tool called OpenMBEE was incorporated to generate text-based documents
directly from model elements. (OpenMBEE, 2020). These documents are generated in, and can be

accessed through, a web-based interface called View Editor. The View Editor interface not only allows
for easier sharing of the model documents, but it also allows for direct commenting and even modification
of model elements for users given the correct credentials. The intent of this modeling approach is two-
fold. First, it allows reviews to take place in a DE environment using the online View Editor interface –
giving potential users real-life experience using the required competencies. Second, it improves the
visibility and collection of review feedback and facilitates its implementation. Third, it establishes an
authoritative source for the DECF and follows digital engineering practices for model management. The
team encouraged digital feedback during the review process through this web-based interface, but the
model documents were also provided in more traditional PDF and spreadsheet forms.
The digital structure employed in the review process and enabled by OpenMBEE also demonstrates some
best practices in DE (see Figure 5 below). The underlying SysML model functions as an authoritative
source of truth with limited external access. Information extracted from the model is used to generate
model documents in the View Editor interface in which reviewers could potentially make changes and
comments. The model management system functions as an intermediary between these two interface
systems. It maintains the integrity of the authoritative source of truth and keeps the publicly available
documents current with up-to-date model information.
Figure 5. The DECF OpenMBEE Structure.
2.5 Analysis of Existing Curricula
In order to develop the DE skills of the acquisition workforce, the DoD has to have appropriate training
resources available to enable individuals to develop the KSABs required to improve their proficiency.
There are currently two courses utilized by DAU for DE:
• CLE084: Modeling, Simulation, and Digital Engineering and

• Coursera’s Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) course.

The team obtained materials for both of these courses, as well as took the Coursera course as students.
Learning objectives and KSABs were captured from the course materials. Themes were identified from
the materials, e.g., “modeling” or “digital engineering value proposition.” The team then analyzed the
data from the courses against the DECF and determined:
• Which DECF KSABs were covered;

• Any critical gaps (DECF KSABs not covered in the materials);
• KSABs from curriculum materials that should be added to the DECF; and
• KSABs from curriculum materials that are not in the DECF and are out of scope, i.e., should not
be added to the DECF.
In addition to the above, the team identified the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Architecture and Systems Engineering Program, which is currently being utilized by NAVAIR. The team
contacted the MIT faculty for this program and used the publicly available materials to conduct an initial
assessment following the same approach as outlined above. In Phase 3 of the research, the team will
coordinate with MIT faculty to further refine the assessment based on additional course materials/faculty
insights.
These analyses can be found in Section 4.
2.6 Synergies with Additional SERC Research Task
In 2020, DAU funded a related task through the SERC (WRT-1018). The task was created to support
“micro-credentialing” for individuals in the ENG discipline across three Areas of Strategic Importance
(ASIs):
• Digital Engineering (DE)
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) and
• Data Analytics (DA).
The DECF provides the foundation for the DE competencies described in the DAU micro-credentialing
task. Likewise, learning from that task fed into updates in the DECF. This was accomplished through:
• Research team members who participated in both tasks (Drs. Nicole Hutchison and Jon Wade);
• Regular weekly reviews of the WRT-1006 findings and progress with the WRT-1018 team;
• Reviews of the WRT-1018 framework with the WRT-1006 team; and
• Discussions of alignment with sponsors and SMEs.
The notional overlap between DECF v. 1.1 and the DAU frameworks for the ASIs (DE, DA, and AI/ML)
is illustrated in Figure 6, below. (Giffin et al., 2021)

Figure 6. Relationship between DECF v. 1.1 and DAU ASI Competency Frameworks.
Each of the competencies/KSABs in the ASI: Digital Engineering framework are contained within the
DECF, i.e., the DAU competency model is a subset of the DECF model specifically relevant and within
the scope of DAU curriculum. Generally, the DAU framework covers the lower proficiency levels
(Awareness through Intermediate) as opposed to the higher proficiency levels (Advanced and Expert).
The competency frameworks for both Data Analytics and AI/Machine Learning are related to digital
engineering and some of them overlap with the DECF, most specifically in the “Data Engineering” and
“Modeling and Simulation” competency groups. However, the purpose of the DECF is different than the
competency frameworks to support the ASI micro-credentials. While there is overlap with the DECF,
there are also many KSABs in the DAU DA and AI/ML frameworks that go into more depth than
anything contained within the DECF.
2.7 Mapping of the DECF to Commercial Job Titles, Job Descriptions, and Requirements of DE
The team gathered a list of DE-related roles from the Engineering and Technical Management (ETM)
task force. Typical roles include Engineer (e.g., Systems, Mission, Security, Software, Safety,
Infrastructure, Test, DevSecOps, Site Reliability, Data), Developer (e.g., Digital Environment, Software),
Architect (e.g., System, Digital, Software, Cloud, Data), Manager (e.g., Digital Environment, Test),
Scientist/Data Scientist, Specialist (e.g., Quality Assurance, Industrial, Business and Industry), Production
Controller, Engineering Technician, Modeling and Simulation SME, Model Curator (Model Maker),
Researcher/AI Researcher, Technical Product Owner, Administration and Program Staff, Management
and Program Analyst.
The team also queried a few jobs from relevant keywords based on the typical roles mentioned above
using Indeed.com and USAJobs, a U.S. Office of Personnel Management website. The job availability
varies daily, and the data shown in Table 1 was collected on 20 March 2021. Overall, there were more
than 354,000 jobs available for these selected job titles on both websites.

Table 1. Example List of DE-Related Jobs Available on the Indeed.com and USAJobs.gov Websites.
Job Title Search Jobs on Indeed.com Jobs on USAJobs.gov

Artificial Intelligence 12,239 23
Contracting Officer 9,448 416
Engineering Technician 5,678 264
IT Specialist 19,476 2,323
Model Maker (Model Curator) 84 33
Model-Based Systems Engineering 18,136 12
Program Manager 34,694 1,636
Software Engineer 84,969 147
Systems Architect 39,412 80
Systems Engineer 125,096 477
Total 349,232 5,411
Based on a few selected job openings, DECF v. 1.1 was mapped to the associated job openings, job
descriptions and responsibilities, as well as the requirements from USAJobs, as shown in Table 2. The
relevant DECF competencies were identified based on the job descriptions, responsibilities, and DE
requirements (see the last column in Table 2).
Table 2. Mapping of DECF v. 1.1 to the Sample Job Openings, Job Descriptions, Responsibilities and DE Requirements from the
USAJobs website.
Relevant DECF
Job Titles Job Descriptions and Responsibilities DE Requirements
Competencies
• In this organization, only the Contracting • Demonstrated C7
Officer is legally authorized to financially experience with and Data Analytics
obligate the US Government to acquire its knowledge of the
products and services. Working in a team Federal Acquisition C13
environment, you will learn and utilize Regulation (FAR) Project and Program
innovative business practices to guidelines and US Management
streamline the acquisition process and Government
maximize resources. You will also contracting. C21 Communication
negotiate and manage a wide variety of • Experience
unique and complex contract types, such conducting a wide
as fixed-price and cost-reimbursement range of acquisition
contracts, to obtain the best value on lifecycle activities.
Contracting behalf of the Government. reimbursement.
Officer • Working alongside Agency and other • Exceptional
Intelligence Community colleagues, you customer service
will apply your business skills to diverse skills.
programs for technical collection systems, • Strong analytic and
construction projects, information critical thinking
technology initiatives and more. skills.
• Contracting Officers are hired at various • Ability to multi-task
experience levels, from entry to full in a fast-paced
performance positions. This organization environment.
is committed to you and your • Attention to
development and provides progressively administrative detail.
more complex on-the-job experiences and
related training and development

Relevant DECF
Competencies
programs, enabling you to achieve your
career goals while supporting mission
needs.
• Performs work involving identification • Specialized C7
and incorporation of new concepts and experience required Data Analytics
ideas for optimized business architectures for this position is:
in a cloud environment leveraging both Business C8
Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Architecture and/or Digital Architecting
Software as a Service (SaaS) and custom Enterprise
developed applications in achieving Architecture in a C10
particular missions and goals, cloud domain or Digital Validation
technological trends, and significant cloud-based system and Verification
advancements in operational and mission of networks and
analysis. information systems; C11
• Plans, develops, schedules, and tests Agile software Model-Based
architectural constructs that enable more development Systems Engineering
efficient, effective, and secure use of methodologies; and Processes
IT Specialist artificial intelligence (AI)/machine information
(Enterprise learning (ML)/natural language management systems C16
Architecture- processing (NLP) in support of DCSA development life Configuration
INFOSEC) and other stakeholder missions using cycle (i.e., system Management
established standards to include Agile and requirements, design,
Rapid Prototyping methodologies. test, and C18
• Provides management and technical implementation). Software
expertise to the agency in managing the Engineering
development, validation, and
synchronization of the organization. C20
• Reviews and evaluates proposals Management
affecting business architecture.
• Researches emerging standards, tools, and C21
techniques for both assessing and Communication
performing software and systems
engineering processes. C25
Digital Environment
Security
• Foster and promote the strategic vision of • Selectees must meet C2
the Office of Chief Systems Engineer position Data Management
through innovative approaches to digital requirements for
engineering practices across the certification at Level C7
ASA(ALT) portfolio. 3 in the Acquisition Data Analytics
Lead
Systems • As the OCSE lead digital engineer, advise Career Field S -
the Chief Systems Engineer on all ENGINEERING C13
Engineer
engineering matters that will promote the within 24 months of Project and Program
(Digital),
digital transformation and modernization entrance on duty. Management
NH-4
Position of the ASA(ALT) Data Domain.
• Provide professional, creditable, valuable, C15
and consistent communications for efforts Digital Engineering
that span across the Office of Chief Policy and Guidance
Systems Engineer efforts to multiple
Army and DoD organizations. C16
• Monitors projects, programs, products, Configuration
and acquisition documentation related to Management
digital engineering.
C20

Relevant DECF
Competencies
• Responsible for contract management by Management
developing performance work
requirements, overseeing contractor C21
technical performance, and identifying Communication
areas of risk.
F4
Coaching and
Mentoring
• Responsible for the cost, schedule, • This position is C13
performance reporting, contract activities, covered under the Project and Program
logistics, budget, personnel management Defense Acquisition Management
for assigned activities in all phases of the Workforce
acquisition life cycle for a ship, sub, Improvement Act C14
carrier, ship, or weapon system. (DAWIA). You must Organizational
• Responsible for organizational personnel be certified as a Development
management, organizational structure, Career Field A-
and resource loading. Program C15
• Communicate program activities in a Management Level Digital Engineering
variety of written and oral forums, at all III. Certification is Policy and Guidance
levels, internally and externally to the required within 24
organization. months of C20
• Establish work assignments, set priorities, appointment. Management
prepare schedules, and ensure timely • Specialized
performance of satisfactory work. experience must C21
• Design acquisition strategy and program demonstrate the Communication
baselines, direct acquisition life cycle following: leading
Program the development or C22
activities and all efforts associated with
Manager implementation of Planning
the program office or functional area
through subordinate managers and teams. acquisition strategies
• Oversee the identification and resource (e.g., financial, C23
requirements and the developments of programmatic, Digital Environment
strategies for program planning, technical, Operations
budgeting, and execution. contractual) in
support of ship F3
• Provide goals, objects, program, and
construction or DoD Policy/Guidance
general guidance for operations consistent
with higher level guidance. weapons systems.
F4
• Provide the overall direction and
Coaching and
guidance for acquisition life cycle
Mentoring
program, its administration, and civilian
personnel.
• Forecast and manage workload for the
program office or functional area.
• Responsible for direct supervisory
management for civilians assigned to
your division.
• Develops System Engineering Plans, • This position C2
policies, and procedures in accordance requires Acquisition Data Management
Systems with DoD, Army, industry, and academia Certification level III
Engineer, best practices. in the career field - C3
NH-0801-04 • Integrates all systems engineering tasks to Engineering. Modeling
position effectively implement disciplined systems
engineering process and procedures C4
throughout all acquisition phases of the Simulation

Relevant DECF
Competencies
assigned subsystem, system, or system of
systems acquisition. C8
• Interfaces with contractor counterparts to Digital Architecting
ensure constant and current flow of
information to all parties for systems C11
engineering and integration. Model-Based Systems
• Provides life cycle architecture assistance Engineering
to the Project Executive Office (PEO), Processes
Project Manager, or Product Manager
associated with acquisition of subsystems, C13
systems, and system of systems. Project and Program
• Serves as the Product, Project, or PEO Management
expert on systems engineering and
architecture modeling tools and standards. C15
• Serves as advisor to all Project Leaders, Digital Engineering
Product Managers, and Project Policy and Guidance
Management personnel on matters related
to systems engineering and associated C21
processes. Communication
C23
Digital Environment
Operations
F3
DoD Policy/Guidance
F4
Coaching and
Mentoring
Data from the sample jobs in Table 2 shows most of the jobs had matching competencies with each other
such as data analytics, project and program management, communication, and coaching and mentoring. In
some instances, the team was able to clearly align the job descriptions and requirements from the sample
jobs with the competency descriptions in the DECF, which can make it easy for HR to identify, create,
modify, or improve the job creation process. HR could also utilize the associated competencies’ KSABs
with the various proficiency levels to provide further details on what KSABs are required for the positions
in the digital environment.
3. The Digital Engineering Competency Framework
3.1 DECF Organization
The overall structure of DECF v. 1.1 is in compliance with the DoD Instruction 1400.25. vol. 250. It
includes competencies, competency descriptions, proficiency levels, and KSABs within those levels. To
improve ease of understanding and use, the team has also organized the DECF into competency groups
and subgroups. These are collections of related competencies and should help the user grasp the aspects
of digital engineering addressed by their constituent competencies.

3.2 Foundational Digital Competencies
A holistic DE approach incorporates multiple disciplines into a rich model-based environment. The initial
focus of the DECF was primarily around acquisition engineers (“ENG” career field). However, many
disciplines must come together if digital engineering is to become the way the DoD does business in
accordance with the DoD Digital Engineering Strategy. DECF v. 1.1 incorporates additional
competencies to better address the skills required of a broader set of professionals who will work in the
digital environment.
The DECF covers aspects central to accomplishing DE. There are many other digital competencies that
could be considered core to developing a digital workforce that also underpin the DECF. These kinds of
digital competencies should be included in a holistic development of a DE workforce.4
In terms of coverage of the systems lifecycle, the many systems engineering competency models that
were used as inputs into the DECF included the full systems lifecycle, from mission engineering through
to traditional systems engineering, operation, and disposal. Lifecycle-focused competencies relevant for
the ENG career field are incorporated into the DECF, though some are updated to specifically reflect a
digital versus document-based approach. Table 3 outlines the foundations.
Table 3. Foundational Digital Competencies in DECF v. 1.1.
ID Foundational Digital Competencies

Digital literacy means having the skills you need to live, learn, and work in
a society where communication and access to information is increasingly
through digital technologies. Digital literacy looks beyond functional IT
skills to describe a richer set of digital behaviors, practices, and identities.
It is common for individuals to struggle with trusting the digital
F1 Digital Literacy environment; areas that arise include understanding how ‘versioning’
works in a model versus a traditional document and how cloud computing
works. When these are not understood, the modeling environment is not
trusted, and individuals are likely to find ways to work around the digital
engineering process. This includes the ability to communicate, locate,
protect, and preserve information on digital platforms.
The body of the DECF assumes that individuals understand why digital
Digital engineering is important. However, as the team has worked with
Engineering government and industry personnel over the last 18 months, this cannot be
F2
Value assumed. One of the foundational pieces of knowledge is the
Proposition understanding of why digital engineering provides value and what specific
values digital engineering is expected to provide.
DoD Individuals need to be aware of the DoD policies around DE and how
F3
Policy/Guidance individuals are expected to operate in a digital environment.
Coaching and mentoring competencies within the digital enterprise domain
Coaching and
F4 focus on senior or more experienced individuals acting as advisors or
Mentoring
counselors to junior level incumbents, on systems modeling and analysis.
4
In DECF v. 0.5 and v. 0.75, which were publicly reviewed, these competencies were called “digital literacy” and
were incorporated into the DECF. KSABs related to “Digital Literacy” have been incorporated into the new
structure for v. 1.1 as shown in Section 4.3.

This group encompasses competencies related to using data of all sorts to
perform analysis and make decisions in a digital environment. This
F5 Decision Making includes the abilities to correctly leverage digital resources to make and
effectively relate decisions. This includes the abilities to use analysis tools
and techniques to make appropriate decisions.
Technical expertise in various software or coding languages will be
necessary for many roles in a digital engineering environment. This ability
Software may range from simply opening documents within specific software to
F6
Literacy creating, supporting, and maintaining applications. This includes the
abilities to understand, apply, problem solve, create, and critique software
in pursuit of particular learning and professional goals.
It should also be noted that individual disciplines have assumed foundations that are not incorporated into
the DECF. For example, current systems engineers who are transitioning into DE should already have
basic systems engineering foundations. They should understand the concepts of “systems,” “systems
engineering,” and “lifecycle” from their own discipline. Likewise, program and project managers or
contracting officers should already be familiar with the basic terminology and approaches of their fields.
These discipline-specific foundations are assumed in the DECF, as these fields already have their own
distinct competency models that account for these types of KSABs. A notional representation of this
concept can be seen in Figure 7.
Figure 7. Notional Model of the Overlap between Discipline-Specific Knowledge and the DECF.

3.3 DECF v. 1.1 Overview
In Phase 2, the DECF was updated as DECF v. 1.1, as shown in Figure 10. The updated DECF v. 1.1
includes new competencies that were found from the gaps identified when comparing the DECF with the
DoD training resources. The DECF competency groups were also updated to reflect a cohesive
categorization of the competencies.
Data is the foundation on which DE is built. Data is required to support and build models and simulations.
These models are used to develop systems and support programs, creating a set of digital artifacts that
support a variety of engineering, programmatic, and contractual uses. This all occurs in a digital
environment, a carefully structured collection of data and supporting software. Ideally, successful DE
approaches should lead to more consistently to the development of successful systems. Finally, there is a
feedback loop in that successful systems create more data. This logic provides the structure for the DECF
and is illustrated in Figure 8.
Figure 8. Context for the DECF.
The DECF begins with the data foundations that are required for an effective digital environment (“Data
Engineering”). The competency groups constitute how DE takes full advantage of the digital power of
computation, visualization, and communication to take better, faster actions throughout the life cycle.
These competency groups can be seen as supporting the four elements of John Boyd’s OODA loop:
Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Data Engineering guides how to observe, ensuring that data is
acquired, curated, compressed, secured, and prepared. Next, Modeling and Simulation provide the ability
to orient this data to describe and understand a phenomenon of interest. Decision Making utilizes analysis
tools and techniques to make appropriate decisions. Finally, Engineering Methods are used to transform
these decisions into engineering actions.

Figure 9. DECF Competency Groups.
There are five (5) competency groups identified for the DECF, as shown in Figure 9, along with a
foundation of general digital competencies. Competency groups provide a logical structure for the
individual competencies, making the DECF easier for users to understand and utilize. The groups in
Figure 9 are intended to provide a holistic perspective of all the skills required to provide value in a
digital environment. The five (5) competency groups are defined in Table 4.
Table 4. Descriptions of DECF v. 1.1 Competency Groups.
ID Competency Title Competency Description

Apply knowledge on how to acquire, curate, compress, secure, and
Data prepare data resulting from a DE environment. Create or support
G1
Engineering data-focused processes. Data could originate from modeling and
simulation, or from sensors in the physical world.
Use of digital models to describe and understand phenomena of
interest from initiation of the effort through the entire life cycle
maturation. Model literacy—understanding what models are and
G2 Modeling and Simulation
how they work—is required to move into more advanced skills,
from the ability to build a model using appropriate tools, standards,
and ontology to creating a modeling environment.
Apply traditional engineering methods and processes in a digital
environment. Create new engineering processes and methods for a
Digital Engineering and
G3 digital environment. Create digital artifacts throughout the project or
Analysis
system lifecycle. Use engineering methods, processes, and tools to
support the engineering and system lifecycle.
Apply technical knowledge in various software or coding languages
to create, support, and maintain applications. This includes the
G4 Systems Software
abilities to understand, apply, problem solve, create, and critique
software in pursuit of particular learning and professional goals.
Digital Enterprise Use the foundations of data, modeling, and software to create and
G5
Environment maintain the digital enterprise. This requires creating the

environment in which digital engineers, discipline and domain
engineers, program managers, and decision-makers work.
As shown previously in Figure 9, in DECF v. 1.1, there are five (5) competency groups. Figure 10 further
breaks these into nine (9) competency subgroups, and 31 competencies (including six (6) foundational
digital competencies). The competency hierarchy includes competency groups (G#), subgroups (S#), and
individual competencies (C#). Where appropriate, the competency groups are divided into subgroups.
Subgroups contain related like competencies. The competency hierarchy provides a logical structure for
the individual competencies, making the DECF easier for users to understand and utilize. The hierarchy
structure provides an overview of all the skills required to provide value in a DE environment regardless
of specific roles.
Figure 10. Overview of DECF v. 1.1.
While every role is likely to require some skills from each of these competencies, no role should require
all the skills in all of the competencies in each group at top proficiency level. The specific competency,
proficiency levels, and KSABs required for an individual are dependent upon the role(s) being played.

3.4 Competencies and Proficiency Levels
In compliance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, each competency is broken down into KSABs relevant to
proficiency levels within each competency. Not every individual will fully obtain all the competencies.
Each individual’s proficiency level must be assessed to understand the true status of the workforce with
respect to DE. Proficiency is the level to which an individual attains a competency, as illustrated in Table
5.
Table 5. Proficiency Levels of DECF v. 1.1.

Proficiency Level
0 1 2 3 4 5
Basic Intermediate Advanced Expert

General General Detailed In-Depth
None Awareness
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
(Entry) (Junior) (Senior) (SME)
Applies the Applies the Applies the

Applies the Applies the
competency in competency in competency in
competency in competency in
somewhat considerably exceptionally
the simplest difficult
difficult difficult difficult
situations. situations.
situations. situations. situations.
Definition
No experience Requires close Requires Requires Generally Serves as a key

with or and extensive frequent occasional requires little or resource and
knowledge of guidance. guidance. guidance. no guidance. advises others.
the competency.
Demonstrates
Demonstrates
Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates comprehensive,
broad
awareness of familiarity with understanding of expert
understanding of
concepts and concepts and concepts and understanding of
concepts and
processes. processes. processes. concepts and
processes.
processes.
DECF v. 1.1 contains 962 KSABs divided among these competency areas. Each represent a unique and
important aspect of what will enable a successful digital transformation and productive DE practices. The
distribution of these KSABs in terms of both their competency area and respective proficiency level is
shown in Table 6.

Table 6. Distribution of the KSABs in DECF v. 1.1.
The KSABs within each competency are specifically targeted to DE. Therefore, a broader competency area
like Communications has a relatively low number of KSABs related to DE, while a specific area like
Model-Based Systems Engineering Processes, that is intrinsically linked with DE, has many KSABs.
It is also interesting to note the distribution of the KSABs across the five (5) proficiency levels. KSABs at
the Awareness and Basic levels represent broad fundamentals within a competency area, while KSABs at
the Advanced and Expert levels include the practice of specific techniques that make up the various
applications of the competency area. The DECF is established to be a general framework that can be used
to create specific competency models that will be tailored based on component implementation of the
Digital Engineering Strategy. As a result, the KSABs must cover the breadth of potential DE practices,
even if all these practices are not utilized within every organization.
It is important to note that the DECF is established as a competency framework instead of a competency
model and as such will be implemented differently for each respective organization. This distinction is
made to enable the DECF to flexibly serve as a standard for various shareholder organizations that have
wholly different functions and workforce needs. These organizations can tailor their specific competency
model by selecting KSABs out of the DECF that are deemed necessary for their business or workflow.
This subset of KSABs will still be traceable to the DECF standard while ensuring that each organization’s
competency model is streamlined to suit their needs and aid in the use cases described in Section 2.2.
Tables 7-11 display the specific competencies contained within the competency hierarch shown in Figure
10. These KSABs and proficiency levels can be found in the DECF model. For convenience, they are also
provided as appendices to this report (Appendices A-AE).

Table 7. Competencies in the Data Engineering Group in DECF v. 1.1.
Subgroup # Competency Description

Data governance is a collection of practices and
processes that help to ensure the formal management
of data assets within a digital enterprise. Data
governance practices help an enterprise gain better
control over its data assets, including methods,
Data
C1 technologies, and behaviors around the proper
Governance
management of data. Data governance also entails
security and privacy, integrity, usability, integration,
compliance, availability, roles and responsibilities, and
overall management of the internal and external data
S1-Data
flows within an organization.
Engineering
Data management is applying policies, procedures, and
information technology to plan for, acquire, access,
manage, protect, and use data of a technical nature to
support the total life cycle of the system. Data
Data management includes verifying that all the data are
C2
Management secure, collected, documented, and archived along with
descriptions of data to ensure completeness of data
collected. Data management also ensures the
distribution of data is in accordance with the data
management plan for analysis.
Table 8. Competencies in the Modeling and Simulation Group in DECF v. 1.1.

Modeling is essential to aid in understanding complex
C3 Modeling systems and system interdependencies, and to
communicate among team members and stakeholders.
Simulation provides a means to explore concepts,
system characteristics, and alternatives; open the trade
C4 Simulation
space; facilitate informed decisions and assess overall
system performance.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to
perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.
Artificial Machine Learning (ML) is the application of AI that
S2 Modeling Intelligence/ provides systems the ability to automatically learn and
C5
and Machine improve from experience without being explicitly
Simulation Learning programd. Machine learning focuses on the
development of computer programs that can access data
and use it to learn for themselves.
Data visualization is the creation of graphic
representations of data, particularly to improve
communication about that data. Data visualization is
Data also the ability to identify patterns, trends, and
C6
Visualization correlations in the data and place them in a visual
context to describe their importance. This entails
building and managing data visuals, models, and
artifacts.

This is the process of inspecting, cleansing,
transforming, modeling, and simulating data with the
C7 Data Analytics
goal of discovering useful information, informing
conclusions, and supporting decision making.
Table 9. Competencies in the Digital Engineering and Analysis Group in DECF v. 1.1.

Digital architecture activities use digital models to
define a comprehensive digital system model based on
principles, concepts, and properties logically related to
and consistent with each other. Digital architecture has
features, properties, and characteristics that satisfy, as
far as possible, the problem or opportunity expressed by
a set of system requirements (traceable to
Digital
C8 mission/business and stakeholder requirements) and life
Architecting
cycle concepts (e.g., operational, support) and which are
implementable through digital enterprise related
technologies. Digital architecture competencies relate to
the ability to create system digital models and required
architectural products and digital artifacts for a system
or system-of-systems in accordance with applicable
standards and policies.
Digital requirements modeling refers to being able to
capture stakeholder high-level requirements by
documenting stated needs in the form of a model, assist
S3 Digital in the clarification and translation of need statements
Systems into a more digital engineering-oriented basis, create
Engineering Digital and derive system requirements, that are related to the
C9 Requirements system architecture definition. It is also used to establish
Modeling requirements traceability throughout the digital model
architecture; examine the relationships of requirements
to digital artifacts, and trace design solutions to
requirements; and ensure designs can be traced to the
system capabilities and requirement sets within digital
enterprise environment.
Digital verification is the process for determining
whether or not a product fulfills the requirements or
Digital
specifications established for it, by using digital models
C10 Validation and
and artifacts for testing and verification. Enabling this
Verification
practice is important to ensure that digital practices
correlate well with their real-world projects.
Model-based systems engineering is the formalized
Model-Based
application of modeling to support system requirements,
Systems
C11 design, analysis, verification, and validation activities
Engineering
beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing
Processes
throughout development and later life cycle phases.
S4 Engineering Digital Digital model-based reviews define the series and
C12
Management Model-Based sequence of model-based systems engineering activities

Reviews that bring stakeholders to the required level of
commitment, prior to formal reviews. It utilizes system
models, artifacts, and products for analysis of design
and technical reviews to execute trade-off and design
analyses, prototyping, manufacturing, testing, and
sustainment of the system.
Project management is the planning, coordinating, and
Project and monitoring of the work activities needed to deliver a
C13 Program product, service, or enterprise endeavor within the
Management constraints of schedule, budget, resources,
infrastructure, and available staffing and technology.
Organizational development focuses on developing
Organizational
C14 organizational policies, standards, and guidelines for
Development
model-based systems engineering methods and artifacts.
Digital engineering policy and guidance focuses on
identifying process improvements to model-based
Digital
engineering methods and contributing to organization of
Engineering
C15 system lifecycle development standards and definition
Policy and
of best practices. It includes defining strategy and
Guidance
approach to be used for modeling and analysis of
complex systems.
Configuration management refers to the development of
configuration management strategies, policies,
Configuration
C16 standards, and guidelines for digital engineering related
Management
artifacts in accordance with model-based systems
engineering methods
Table 10. Competencies in the System Software Group in DECF v. 1.1.

Software Construction refers to the detailed creation of
Software working software through a combination of coding,
C17
Construction verification, unit testing, integration testing, and
S5 Systems
debugging.
Software
Software Engineering is the systematic application of
Software
C18 digital engineering approaches to the development of
Engineering
software.
Table 11. Competencies in the Digital Enterprise Environment Group in DECF v. 1.1.
Subgroup C# Competency Description

A digital enterprise environment is an integrated digital
S6 Digital
Digital development framework in which digital models and
Enterprise
C19 Environment representations are interconnected such that the content
Environment
Development and activities within it are managed to accomplish the
Development
organizational objectives of the enterprise.
S7 Digital Management in the digital enterprise environment aims
Enterprise C20 Management to deliver a framework that ensures transformational
Environment processes in enterprises occur with pace, high-quality

Management and security. This is achieved through a set of IT
solutions that are designed to make digital businesses
fast, seamless, and optimized at every level.
Communications include using digital model artifacts
from the digital enterprise environment to investigate
and manage the adoption of appropriate model-based
tools, techniques, and processes for the operation of
digital enterprise environment systems and services.
Communications also establishes the appropriate
guidance to enable transparent decision-making to be
C21 Communications
accomplished, allowing senior leaders to ensure the
needs of principal stakeholders are understood, the value
proposition offered by digital enterprise environment is
accepted by stakeholders and the evolving needs of the
stakeholders and their need for balancing benefits,
opportunities, costs, and risks is embedded into strategic
and operational plans.
Planning in the digital enterprise environment includes
establishing strategies to monitor and manage the
performance of digital artifacts and services, in respect
to their contribution towards enterprise performance
C22 Planning goals. Planning ensures that a framework of policies,
standards, processes, and practices is in place to guide
provision of digital enterprise environment services, and
that suitable monitoring of the governance framework is
in place to report on adherence to these obligations.
Operations within the digital enterprise environment
include creating digital models and simulation artifacts
and technology roadmaps, and sharing knowledge and
insights from processes and results, with others. It
Digital
encourages adoption to changes in the digital enterprise
S8 Digital C23 Environment
environment process or technology. It includes setting
Enterprise Operations
parameters for the prioritization of digital resources and
Environment
the changes to be implemented and the configuration of
Operations and
digital engineering methods and tools to address the
Support
project needs.
Support within a digital enterprise environment includes
Digital
abilities to develop, mature, and implement methods and
C24 Environment
processes to support digital enterprise environment
Support
activities across the enterprise and lifecycle.
Digital Environment Security includes developing
policies, standards, processes, and guidelines to ensure
the physical and electronic security of digital
S9 Digital
Digital environments and automated systems. This includes
Enterprise
C25 Environment performing security risk and vulnerability assessments,
Environment
Security and business impact analyses related to security and
Security
information assurance in the digital enterprise
environment. It is intended to provide advice and
guidance on the application and operation of digital

environment physical, procedural, and technical security
controls.
The KSABs related to each of these competencies can be found in Appendices A-AE.
3.5 Cross-Cutting Elements in the DECF
Because there is not a specific competency surrounding them, it could be perceived that some relevant
key elements in DE are not included in the DECF. The DECF is structured in a manner that concisely
captures the breadth of DE enabling skills with a minimal number of competencies. Most technologies are
inherently multidisciplinary in practice, and so creating distinct competencies for each potentially relevant
technology would create significant overlaps in the framework. To demonstrate this potential overlap,
three noteworthy cross-cutting DE elements were identified and analyzed:
• Digital Twin: An integrated multiphysics, multiscale, probabilistic simulation of an as-built

system, enabled by Digital Thread, that uses the best available models, sensor information, and
input data to mirror and predict activities/performance over the life of its corresponding physical
twin.
• Digital Thread: An extensible, configurable, and component enterprise-level analytical
framework that seamlessly expedites the controlled interplay of authoritative technical data,
software, information, and knowledge in the enterprise data-information-knowledge systems,
based on the Digital System Model template, to inform decision makers throughout a system's life
cycle by providing the capability to access, integrate and transform disparate data into actionable
information.
• Digital Artifact: An artifact produced within, or generated from, the digital engineering
ecosystem. These artifacts provide data for alternative views to visualize, communicate, and
deliver data, information, and knowledge to stakeholders.
These elements are all enablers of the digital transformation of the DECF. An analysis of the DECF
showed that each of these technologies had several dozen corresponding KSABs across various
competencies. There were 55 KSABs related to Digital Artifacts spread across ten (10) different
competencies, 32 KSABs related to Digital Twin found in seven (7) competencies, and another 32
KSABs related to Digital Thread in eleven different competencies. Each of these elements has more
associated KSABs than several of the individual competencies included in the DECF. However as shown
in Figure 11, the spread of these KSABs across the variety of competencies demonstrates the inherent
interdisciplinary nature of these elements and how much overlap would occur if they were uniformly
included as their own competencies. The exception to this rule is the competency for AI/ML, which was
deemed both vital for inclusion and unique in its content. In the future there may be some additional
unique, self-contained elements that may also warrant their own competencies in future iterations of the
DECF.

(a) Digital Twin
Digital Architecting
Digital Engineering Policy and

Guidance
Model-Based Systems
Engineering Processes
Modeling, Simulation, and
Analysis
Digital Environment
Development
Software Construction
Digital Validation and

Verification
(b) Digital Thread

Data Governance
Digital Architecting

Guidance
Digital Requirements Modeling
Digital Validation and

Verification
Model-Based Systems
Engineering Processes
Modeling, Simulation, and
Analysis
Digital Environment
Development
(c) Digital Artifacts

Communications
Configuration Management
Data Governance

Guidance
Digital Environment Development
Digital Environment Operations
Digital Environment Support
Model-Based Systems Engineering

Processes
Organizational Development
Figure 11. Distributions of Cross-Cutting Elements in the DECF: (a) Digital Twin; (b) Digital Thread; and (c) Digital Artifacts.

4. Digital Engineering Competencies in Existing DoD Training Resources
Using the DECF as a baseline, the team has been conducting a gap analysis using existing curriculum for
digital engineering training in the DoD. Specifically, the team has investigated three courses:
• Defense Acquisition University (DAU) CLE084: Models, Simulations, and Digital Engineering;
• Coursera MBSE: Model Based Systems Engineering (currently utilized by the DAU); and
• MIT Architecture and Systems Engineering Program (utilized by NAVAIR), which includes
relevant courses such as Models in Engineering and MBSE Documentation and Analysis.
The method used was to review course materials and attend the course as appropriate. Researchers
captured the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) illustrated in the curriculum as well as the stated
learning objectives. These were then compared against the KSABs in the DECF to determine the level of
coverage and any major gaps. In addition, materials covered in the courses but not reflected in the DECF
were flagged by the team for consideration and, where appropriate, incorporated into the DECF.
Sections 4.1-4.3 provide summaries of these analyses. The detailed KSAB tables and their mapping to the
DECF can be found in the OpenMBEE model.
4.1 Defense Acquisition University Course (CLE084)
From the DAU CLE084, 27 learning objectives were identified along with 184 KSAs that support those
objectives. All the KSAs were in the lower proficiency levels of “awareness” or “basic”, meaning
individuals after completing the course would be expected to understand the concepts and possibly apply
them on the job with heavy supervision. The course as currently structured provides a foundation for
beginning work in digital engineering but would not enable individuals without other experiences or
training to function as practitioners. Figure 12 displays the DAU course content in comparison to DECF
v.1.1.
Figure 12. Visualization of DAU Course Content Comparison to DECF v. 1.1.

In addition, there were some items that are covered – again at the “basic” and “awareness” levels – in
curriculum that are not contained wholly within a single area of the DECF, such as:
• Digital twin
• Digital thread
• Digital artifacts
• Technical coherency
As outlined in Section 3, these concepts are spread throughout the DECF, so there was no one-to-one
alignment with a single competency or even competency group. However, these concepts are contained
within the DECF.
There were KSABs in the curriculum that were not contained in the DECF, including:
• “Workforce Skillset” – awareness around developing the skillset of the workforce as a whole; and
• “Contracting for DE”
After reviewing these, the team agreed that “Workforce Skillset” KSABs are out of scope for the DECF,
though of course should remain in training materials around DE. The DECF itself is a method for
examining workforce skillset; this is a use case of the DECF, not a competency within it. But, as
managers will take these courses on DE, it is reasonable that they have awareness of the expectations of
the workforce and digital engineers will benefit from understanding the overarching expectations for their
growth and development.
After SME review of “Contracting for DE,” the team identified a small set of KSABs around contracting
that were incorporated into the DECF. As with other disciplines identified in the DECF, not all
contracting skills are reflected here, but specifics around the requirement to understand how contracting
language and approaches must change to enable digital acquisition are appropriate. (Refer back to Figure
2 for examples of overlaps with other disciplines.) These KSABs are contained in the “Program and
Project management” competency (C13).
Finally, there were some KSABs contained in the curriculum that were added to the DECF foundations –
not part of the DECF itself but considered important for functioning in a DoD digital environment. These
included the value proposition for DE and the specific DoD policies and guidance around DE. Table 12
provides an overview of the mapping of KSABs with DECF v. 1.1. Table 13 provides the mapping with
DECF v. 1.0, giving insight into the updates to the DECF that incorporated KSABs from the coursework.
Table 12. Distribution of CLE084 KSABs in DECF v. 1.1.

Table 13. Distribution of CLE084 KSABs in DECF v. 1.0.
4.2 Coursera MBSE: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Course
DAU uses the Coursera course “MBSE: Model-Based-Systems Engineering” for DE training. The course
was created by Ken English5 and is structured into a four-week program. Weeks 1-3 contain four modules
each, while Week 4 contains six modules. The course is intended to provide an overview of MBSE, but
also introduces basic concepts in systems engineering.
From this course, 34 KSABs were identified, all of which were at the Awareness or Basic proficiency
level. As with CLE084, several of the KSABs identified are not part of the DECF. For example, one
KSAB is “Discuss how systems engineering fits into the project lifecycle.” This is foundational
knowledge for systems engineering. However, the DECF is structured not to include all relevant skills for
any systems engineering, but to include the KSABs required for systems engineers to work in a digital
environment. (Refer to Figure 4 for conceptual illustration.)
Table 14. Distribution of Coursera KSABs in DECF v. 1.1.
This course can provide a valuable foundation for individuals who have no awareness of systems
engineering or what models are and how they can be used. For example, contractors working in a DE
environment may benefit from this kind of orientation to the purpose behind DE. However, systems
engineering practitioners or engineers used to working in a digital space would likely not gain appreciable
improvements in their DE competencies from attending this course.
5
The course is available at https://www.coursera.org/learn/mbse/home/welcome.

4.3 MIT Architecture and Systems Engineering Program
The team explored the MIT Architecture and Systems Engineering Program that focuses on models and
methods to manage complex systems. According to MIT, more than 8,500 professionals have joined this
program from global companies such as BAE Systems, Boeing, Ford, GM, the U.S. Navy, Raytheon, and
Shell, and is considered as an important part of the MBSE training and transformation efforts in these
organizations (MIT, 2021). This MIT program requires about 20 weeks for completion and the online
courses are a combination of videos, reading material, assessments, and course work. The online courses
in this program are:
• Architecture of Complex Systems
• Models in Engineering
• Model-Based Systems Engineering
• Quantitative Methods in Systems Engineering
As an example, The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has been committed to transforming
their engineering acquisition capabilities to a model-based design with a goal of reducing the timeline
from start to delivery while maintaining quality and precision. Since 2017, NAVAIR has participated in
this MIT Architecture and Systems Engineering program that focuses on MBSE. According to a white
paper by NAVAIR, the MIT program is appropriate for their use because of its intentional involvement of
a wide range of people across the organization rather than silos in specific groups or departments.
NAVAIR stated that the course introduced the participants to the depth and breadth of what model-based
engineering is, its applications, and how it is used. They also found that while the transition to MBSE is
complicated, the courses have helped their workforce understand the overarching goal and establish a
common language amongst them. NAVAIR recommends this program for individuals in higher levels of
an organization who are facilitating engineering change (MIT, 2021).
In the team’s independent assessment, 67 KSABs were identified after reviewing them from the publicly
available weekly schedules of the four courses in the MIT Architecture and Systems Engineering
Program. There are five (5) DECF competencies (digital architecting, modeling, simulation, model-based
systems engineering processes, and digital validation and verification) that were aligned with 27 KSABs
in this program at the awareness, basic, intermediate, and advanced proficiency levels. The remaining
KSABs contained in the program were either foundational systems engineering or fundamental
engineering KSABs, which were excluded from the DECF.
Table 15. Distribution of MIT Course KSABs in DECF v. 1.1.
It is important to note that this independent assessment is solely based on limited, publicly available
materials and the team has not reviewed this assessment with faculty at MIT. The team plans to
coordinate with the MIT faculty teaching these courses to refine the assessment based on their input or
additional course materials in Phase 3 of this research project.

4.4 Overarching Recommendations from the Comparison of the DECF with the DoD Training
Resources
The current courses in use by DAU (CLE084 and Coursera’s MBSE) are useful for providing a common
foundation and orientation to the terminology and benefits of MBSE and DE. They would help
individuals attain “Awareness” or “Basic” proficiencies – understanding of the concepts and in some
instance the ability to apply them with heavy guidance or supervision. They are particularly helpful for
individuals who have no background in systems engineering or modeling or who are firmly entrenched in
a document-based acquisition approach. However, seasoned systems engineers and engineers would
require substantially deeper training to become practitioners of digital engineering.
Based on mapping of the DECF to the limited course materials available online for the MIT Architecture
and Systems Engineering Program, the team found that the courses provided a solid fundamental
understanding of models in engineering, MBSE, systems engineering, and digital architecting. In some
cases, individuals can obtain proficiencies as high as the “Advanced” level. This program is
recommended by NAVAIR for individuals who are facilitating change in their departments or
organizations as they transition towards digital transformation.
Overall, the Department needs to:
• Screen for foundational skills. The DECF assumes a foundation of skills on which to build
digital engineering competency. However, when it comes to training, this foundation cannot be
assumed. The DoD needs to implement some basic screening approaches to ensure that
individuals who do not have this foundation are offered opportunities to build it. Courses like
DAU’s CLE084 and Coursera’s MBSE are already in use by the department and provide some of
the necessary foundations. But it is important that only individuals who need these foundations
utilize the resources, while individuals who will not gain proficiency through these courses be
directed to other courses.
• Introduce courses using modeling and simulation projects and problems as part of the
curriculum. As currently structured, CLE084 and Coursera MBSE training focus on the lowest
levels of proficiency. While Awareness level skills are a critical foundation on which to build
skills for practical application of DE, they are not sufficient in and of themselves. Because up to
70% of learning is gained through experience (rather than classroom instruction), creating models
and simulations that students can use to practice the skills of the task is paramount.
Ideally, implementation of modeling and simulation projects would impact not only DE-focused
curriculum but could help enable a variety of disciplines for digital transformation. A modeling
environment that spans, for example, the ENG and PM training courses at DAU would enable
systems engineers and program managers to improve their familiarity with working in a digital
environment before they are exposed to DE-specific training.
Note that the SERC will begin a task (WRT-1043) for DAU in 2021. This task is intended to
develop a modeling and simulation environment to be used for DAU curriculum along with the
associated simulations and course materials.
• Include coaching and mentoring as part of the longer-term curriculum. While coaching and
mentoring can be applied within a single course, it would be most beneficial if longer-term
coaching relationships were established specifically around the transition to DE in the DoD. The

DAU may be in a unique position to broker such coaching opportunities, allowing individuals the
opportunities to apply their DE knowledge on the job with expert guidance.

5. Conclusion and Future Work
5.1 Work Completed
From 2020-2021, the DECF team has created:
• DECF v. 1.1, an iterative improvement of DECF v. 1.0 released in spring 2020. The purpose of
the DECF is to provide clear guidance for the DoD acquisition workforce, in particular the ENG
acquisition workforce, through clearly defined competencies that illuminate the KSABs required
for DE professionals. Though the DECF includes considerations specific to the Defense
acquisition workforce, data was gathered from outside the defense community and the structure
of the DECF provides a useful model for any individual or organization that needs to understand
the skills required to successfully implement DE.
• Analysis of current DE-related courses/curriculum against the DECF. In particular, the team has
reviewed and mapped:
o DAU’s CLE084: Models, Simulations, and Digital Engineering;
o Coursera’s Model-Based Systems Engineering course; and
o MIT’s Online Program: Architecture and Systems Engineering: Models and Methods to
Manage Complex Systems.
The DECF exists in a modeling environment, which allows users to explore the competency groups,
competencies, and knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (KSABs) contained within. The model also
includes data on the courses, providing both visual and tabular information about the alignment between
courses currently being used within the DoD for DE training and how well these courses cover the DECF,
as illustrated in Figure 13.
Figure 13. Visualization of DAU Course Content Comparison to DECF v. 1.1.

5.2 Growth of the DECF Modeling Environment
Going forward, the DECF team proposes to continue to advance the capabilities of the DECF modeling
environment to improve capabilities with respect to specific users/use cases. In particular:
1. Work with the DE training community to compare additional training to the DECF, gather data
on the ease of use for importing course data, complete the comparisons, and decide how data can
best be exported for use.
2. Work with appropriate personnel to utilize the DECF for workforce assessment. This may include
individual assessment, collective assessment, or identification of gaps.
3. Work with appropriate personnel to use the data created in item #2 above to support workforce
planning and identify how the data can best be provided to enable planning. This may also
include determining how workforce plans can be contained within the DECF environment, with
appropriate metrics that can be tracked in the model over time.
4. Gather feedback from early users to identify additional capabilities that will enable exploration
and understanding of the DECF (e.g., additional model views, new visualizations, etc.).
The approach for these improvements in the DECF is to hold a series of pilots with several organizations
and gather lessons learned on real world use of the DECF. Periodically (notionally once a quarter), the
team will hold workshops to bring individuals from multiple organizations together to review and provide
feedback on updates to the DECF capabilities. The team would start with the OUSD (R&E) ETM Task
Force team. Potential organizations include NAVAIR, NAVSEA, DAU, and others. Our outreach through
the NAVAIR Systems Engineering Transformation brought industry participation to support early DECF
reviews, such as the acquisition systems reference model. The team believes in engage industry to support
these efforts again.
The learning from these activities would be used to continuously improve the DECF, with the research
task culminating in DECF v. 2.0. The proposed research task (Phase 3) is a continuation of Phase 2 and
focuses on improving the modeling environment for the DECF to support more users and use cases and
exploring the expansion of this environment to support the ETM and workforce planning with respect to
DE. Figure 14 provides an outline of the proposed workflow for Phase 3.

Figure 14. Potential Future Work for WRT-1006 Research Task.
5.3 Modeling Environment Development for the Engineering and Technical Management
(ETM) Task Force
The ETM task force proposes a comprehensive competency model that includes competencies in Tiers 1-
3. The DECF will feed into this competency model, and the lessons learned from the DECF work provide
a unique opportunity to assist the Department in developing the ETM in a modeling environment to better
enable the use cases outlined for the DECF.
The team proposes to:

• Work with the ETM task force team to create a modeling environment to support and capture the
ETM competency model. This would iteratively incorporate the capabilities further developed
for the DECF, e.g., visualizations, forms, model views, etc.; and
• Work with the ETM task force to determine whether and how the workforce development plan
can be captured in the modeling environment, with linkages to the ETM and metrics that are
linked to ETM model elements. This would give the Department a unique opportunity to utilize a
model-based environment from the ground up.
The result would be a working model to support ETM, assessments against the ETM, and an
understanding and first iteration of what is possible for planning using a model-based environment.

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of Defense (Research & Engineering). Presentation. June 2019.

Appendix A: KSABs for Data Governance (C1) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Group: G1 Data Engineering
Competency Title: C1 Data Governance
Awareness Basic Intermediate Advanced Expert
• Aware of the data • Assist in providing • Apply ethical and robust • Ensure that operational • Identify and manage
required to inform accessibility, techniques in the problems are identified, resources needed for the
program and technical retrievability, security transformation of data recorded, monitored and planning, development
decisions and protection of data in from one format/medium resolved, using relevant and delivery of specified
• Explain the importance of an ethical manner to another, in line with data and data analyses information and
a data model • Critically review, organizational policies • Assess and document the communications systems
• Understand the definition analyze, synthesize, and procedures and being impacts, threats and services (including
of schema. compare, and interpret sensitive to risks around opportunities to the storage, modification and
information the use of information organization, using communication of data,
• Draw conclusions from • Contribute to the relevant data and data voice, text, audio and
relevant and/or missing development of analyses images)
information organizational strategies • Assess and manages risks • Determine the data
• Identify data connections that address information around the use of requirements for the
between issues control requirements information appropriate governance of
• Understand project- • Update methods, • Assess issues which enterprise digital
specific needs in the processes, and tools to might prevent the environment, ensuring
digital environment such enable data and model organization from making clarity of responsibilities
as database or data exchanges while maximum use of its and authority, goals and
warehouse specifications protecting property rights information assets objectives, within a
• Understand and apply for both vendors and for • Devise and implement designated area of
principles of usability and the government master data management accountability
accessibility to published • Assess the implications of processes, including • Develop organizational
information information, both internal classification, security, policies, standards, and
• Understand the principles and external, that can be quality, ethical principles, guidelines for data
underlying the mined from business retrieval and retention management, aligned
relationship among facts systems and elsewhere processes with principles congruent
and apply this • Identify the • Ensure effective controls to the ethical use and
understanding when considerations for data are in place for internal dissemination of digital
solving problems quality. delegation, audit and artifacts
• Understand the definition • Assess the impact of data control relating to • Develop organizational
of data model. quality on data information and records policies, standards, and

• Understand the credibility. management guidelines for information
integration of process and • Assess the implications of • Identify the implications and records management
data models to create low-quality data. of copyright, data ensuring that uniformly
business models. protection and other legal recognized and accepted
• Understand the concept issues associated with data definitions are
of Data Exchange Layer publishing data developed and applied
• Understand the • Monitor the external throughout the
definitions of data environment to gather organization
governance; data storage; information on emerging • Ensure that the
data integration; and technologies information required to
monitoring. • Provide advice and support the organization
guidance to database is defined, and devise
designers and other appropriate processes and
application development data architectures to
team members using the support enterprise digital
data structures and engineering
associated components implementation
• Provide advice on the • Ensure that there is a
transformation of business perspective
data/information from based on data analyses, of
one format or medium to how any new technical
another capabilities will be
• Provide expert guidance integrated into the
in the selection, provision enterprise, including
and use of database and planning around key
data warehouse business cycles, selecting
architectures, software, appropriate customers for
and facilities migration, etc.
• Provide specialist advice • Establish and
to those accountable for communicate the
information governance organization's
to correct digital media information management
related compliance issues strategy.
• Recommend remediation • Identify issues with
actions on information portfolio structure, cost,

and documentation, risk, inter-dependencies,
records management, impact upon on current
information assurance business activities and the
and data protection, as strategic benefits to be
required realized, using relevant
• Sets standards for data data and data analyses
modelling and design • Identify and establish the
tools and techniques, veracity of the external
advise on their sources of information
application, and ensure which are relevant to the
compliance operational needs of the
enterprise
• Identify the impact of any
relevant statutory,
internal, or external
regulations on the
organization's use of
information and develop
strategies for compliance
• Direct the creation and
review of an enterprise
information assurance
strategy to support the
strategic requirements of
the business
• Establish processes for
regular and consistent
access to, and
independent verification
of, external information
from multiple sources
• Specify at a strategic
level the business
functions and data
subjects needed to

support future business,
thereby enabling the
development of an
information architecture

Appendix B: KSABs for Data Management (C2) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C2 Data Management
• Understand the benefits of • Understand, orient to, and • Develop • Derive data management • Assess and advise on the
data management. integrate new information appropriate structures and metadata to practicality of testing
• Understand the definition • Understand the definition physical database support consistency of process alternatives,
of data management. of data element in the or data warehouse information retrieval, including automated
context of metadata, design elements, combination, analysis, pattern testing, using data and
telecommunications, or within set policies, recognition and interpretation, data analysis
databases. to meet business throughout the organization • Derive an overall strategy
• Understand how data from change or • Develop and maintain specialist of master data
the Digital System Model development knowledge of database and data management, within an
(DSM) is stored, shared, project data warehouse concepts, design established information
protected, and used. requirements principles, architectures, architecture, that supports
• Understand the benefits of software, and facilities the development and
data centralization. • Ensure implementation of secure operation of
• Understand the definition information and records information and digital
of library filing construct. management policies and services
• Understand how digital standard practice • Design test cases and test
thread supports data • Ensure that formal information scripts independently and
workflow and analytics. access requests and complaints without supervision,
• Understand how digital are dealt with according to mapping back to pre-
threads can support approved procedures determined criteria,
information flow. • Ensure that physical database recording and reporting
design policy supports outcomes
transactional data requirements • Lead and plan activities to
for performance and availability communicate and
• Implement physical database implement information
designs to support transactional management strategies
data requirements for • Protect the integrity,
performance and availability availability, authenticity,
• Maintain and implement non-repudiation and
information handling procedures confidentiality of
• Manage the investigation of data information and data in
requirements in order to storage and in transit

Competency Title: C2 Data Management
establish, modify or maintain • Review new change
data structures proposals and provide
• Manage the iteration, review specialist advice on
and maintenance of data information and records
requirements and data models management, including
• Report on system quality and advice on and promotion
collects metrics on test cases of collaborative working
• Take responsibility for the and assessment and
accessibility, retrievability, management of
security, quality, retention, and information-related risk
ethical handling of specific
subsets of data
• Validate external information
from multiple sources,
independently
• Enable the availability, integrity
and searchability of information
through the application of
formal data and metadata
structures and protection
measures
• Assesses the integrity of data
from multiple sources

Appendix C: KSABs for Modeling (C3) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Group: G2 Modeling and Simulation
Competency Title: C3 Modeling
• Capture and • Construct models to be • Create system models for • Advise on selection of • Review and judge
maintain traceable from concept to system development efforts appropriate modeling or analysis the suitability of
model disposal, so that they can in accordance with approach, based on systems modeling
provenance become the authoritative applicable standards and understanding the strengths and and analysis
and pedigree source of truth policies weaknesses of various modeling approaches and
in order to • Know where to find model • Define the inter- techniques results
establish descriptions relationships among model • Develop approaches to • Advise and
trust, • Understand the purpose and elements and diagrams integrating modeling tools with arbitrate on
credibility, benefits of modelling • Explain why models are other types of engineering tools complex or
accuracy and • Use appropriate system developed for a specific such as requirements sensitive issues
a basis for analysis techniques to derive purpose or use and management tools and relating to systems
judging information about the real provides examples configuration management tools modeling
model reuse system • Have a well-developed • Prepare instructions in support of • Apply a wide-
• Describe a • Use models to communicate, understanding of modeling collaboration of model ranging
variety of collaborate, and perform tools and how to development, to ensure accurate knowledge of the
system model-driven lifecycle implement them in both use and operation between strengths and
analysis activities by exchanging classified and unclassified technical disciplines and weaknesses of
techniques information between technical environments organizations available
which can be disciplines or organizations • Model current and desired • Adapt approach to accommodate modeling
used to derive • Use models to support analysis scenarios, as directed the specifics of a given situation techniques, to
information • Use various modeling toolsets • Review the system model or system of interest being advise on the
about a • Apply concepts to start created by others modeled appropriateness of
system creating system models and • Select appropriate tools and • Advise across the enterprise, on selected
• Describe architecture products (less techniques for system systems modeling approaches in any
different complex architecture with modeling and analysis • Analyze system models given level of
types of fewer coordinating activities) • Use model formalisms to • Apply a range of mathematical, complexity and
modeling and with direct supervision aid in the development, statistical, or predictive novelty
provide • Apply modelling techniques to integration, and curation of modelling techniques in • Coach lead
examples establish, modify or maintain a models consultation with experts if practitioners in
• Explain why data structure and its • Use modeling language, appropriate, and with sensitivity systems modeling
system associated components (entity concepts, diagrams, data to the limitations of the • Contribute to

representation descriptions, relationship attributes techniques system modeling
s are required descriptions, attribute • Ability to design models • Coach new and experienced best practices
and the definitions) based on data practitioners in systems • Defines strategy
benefits they • Apply published modeling • Analyze the system model modeling and analysis and approach to
can bring to methodologies, i.e., OOSEM, • Apply design, modelling, • Conduct advanced modelling be used for
developments JPL-SA, RUP-SE, etc. and quality assurance activities for significant change modeling and
• Understand • Assist in creating the system techniques, based upon a programs and across multiple analysis of
that system model and required detailed understanding of business functions complex or novel
models are architectural products for a business processes, to • Conduct analyses (e.g., gap, system or system
created for system or system-of-systems establish, modify or impact, interoperability) of the elements
system in accordance with applicable maintain data structures system model and architectural • Establish policy
development standards and policies under and associated components products and strategy for
efforts in direct supervision (entity descriptions, • Contribute to capacity modelling the selection of
accordance • Assist in maintaining the relationship descriptions, and planning solution
with system model and required attribute definitions) • Contribute to discussions about architecture
applicable architectural products for a • Assess aspects of model the choice of the modelling components, and
standards and system or system-of-systems quality to ensure approach to be used coordinate design
policies in accordance with applicable conformance to language • Define and document enterprise- activities,
• Understand standards and policies under and method constraints level policies, procedures, promoting the
the various direct supervision • Contribute to model guidance and best practice for discipline to
modeling • Assist in more complex development and systems modeling and analysis, ensure
toolsets modelling activities interpretation activities including associated tools consistency
• Describe the • Build models in a • Conversant with techniques • Determine how to integrate or • Evaluate multiple
scope and collaborative modeling covering full range of federate models system models at
limitations of environment modelling situations • Develop framework for system the mission or
models, • Comply with style guides to • Develop accurate, model system-of-system
including properly develop system complete, trusted and • Ensure that DE activities and level
definition, models reusable models digital artifacts development are • Has continuing
implementati • Define governing modeling • Develop Digital Artifacts, performed according to intent responsibility for
on and the maintenance
plans, processes, and according to intent • Establish a data model
analysis appropriate tools for a project, • Develop models with input of models for a
framework
• Explain how designated
and use these to monitor and from subject matter experts • Evaluate system models created
the purpose of control systems modeling and communicates the function
and maintained by others
modeling activities for a system or • Influence key
results back to them for • Identify and maintain an
affect the system element review and confirmation stakeholders
approach that integrates models

approach • Develop plans to digitally • Explain why models have a generated by all stakeholders to within and beyond
taken represent the system of limit of valid use, and the digitally represent the SOI the enterprise
• Re-state interest, using an approach that risks of using models throughout the lifecycle boundary in
terms and uses models to enable the outside those limits • Investigate corporate data systems modeling
definitions orchestration of activities, the • Gain agreement from requirements, and apply data and analysis
about models efficient management of work, subject matter experts to analysis, design, modelling, and • Introduce novel
and Digital and the integration of work models produced quality assurance techniques, to practices and
Engineering products and multidisciplinary • Generate system models establish, modify or maintain techniques in
in Systems teams to result in the digital • Implement system model data structures and their systems modeling
Engineering representation of the SOI and architecture associated components (entity and analysis,
• Understand • Explain policy and guidance • Implement the strategy and descriptions, relationship producing
“model” in about models, simulations, and approach to be adopted for descriptions, attribute measurable
the context of Digital Engineering the modeling on a system definitions) improvements
Digital • Explain the use of models in or system element • Knowledge of a broad range of • Lead capacity
Engineering Digital Engineering (DE) • Integrate and curate models industry-wide modelling modelling and
• Understand • Utilize modeling language across disciplines to techniques forecasting over
the basic tools to create or maintain support cohesive model • Lead and determine appropriate the organization’s
modeling architectural products based on driven lifecycle activities representations of complex planning or
concepts, data provided • Integrate modeling system or system elements budgeting cycle
diagrams, • Utilize Unified Modeling language components with • Manage capacity modelling and • Lead the
data Language (UML) based tools other product and forecasting activities development of
attributes, and to create or maintain analytical models including • Manage complex system model architectures for
the architectural products based on physics-based models development and analysis efforts complex
relationship(s data provided • Interpret and use outcomes • Manage the investigation of solutions,
) between the • Understand the types of data of modeling, with guidance corporate data requirements, and ensuring
modeling models (conceptual, logical, • Lead and determine co-ordinate the application of consistency with
language physical) appropriate representation data analysis, design and specified
diagrams • Identify key considerations for of a system or system modelling techniques, based requirements
implementing a digital system element upon a detailed understanding of agreed with both
external, and
model successfully. • Maintain the system model the corporate information
• Understand the steps of the requirements, in order to internal customers
for a system or system-of-
model-test-model approach: systems in accordance with establish, modify or maintain • Set strategy for
long-term planning, pre-test applicable standards and data structures and their management of
modeling, field test, post-test policies with minimal or no associated components (entity technology
modeling, model supervision descriptions, relationship resources,

validation/accreditation. • Manage framework for descriptions, attribute including
• Understand the benefits and system model definitions) corporate
potential risks in the model- • Organize complex models • Plan own modelling activities, telecommunicatio
test-model approach. • Review how the system selecting appropriate techniques ns functions, and
model is aligned with the and the correct level of detail for promotes the
framework meeting assigned objectives opportunities that
• Review system model to • Prioritize the creation of system technology
identify system models to meet larger program presents to the
components or capabilities milestones and events employing
based on the application • Prioritize the maintenance of organization,
• Review the creation of system models to meet larger including the
system models (e.g., program milestones and Systems feasibility of
Interface Control Engineering Technical Review change and its
Document, SysML (SETR) events likely impact upon
diagrams) produced by • Produce models in support of the business
other systems engineers to business strategy • Within a business
ensure proper format and • Responsible for planning and change program,
content coordinating team modelling manage the target
• Select appropriate activities and for ensuring the design, policies
modelling techniques for quality of their work and standards,
meeting assigned • Review and judge the outputs of working
objectives systems modeling, ensuring the proactively to
• Use modeling and results can be used for the maintain a stable,
simulation tools and intended purpose viable architecture
techniques to represent a • Review complex modeling work and ensure
consistency of
system or system element • Set standards for data modelling
• Use system models for and design tools and techniques, design across
projects within the
collaboration of design and advise on their application, and
program
technical reviews to ensure compliance
execute trade-off and • Support the technical authority
design analyses, prototype, expert in approving standard
manufacture, test, and modeling techniques and
sustainment of the submitting waivers and
developed system deviations for approval
• Verify the creation of system

models and architectural
products (e.g., Interface Control
Document, DoDAF viewpoints,
SysML diagrams) produced by
other systems engineers to
ensure proper format and content

Appendix D: KSABs for Simulation (C4) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C4 Simulation
• Describe the scope • Explain the use of • Assist in complex • Apply modeling and simulation • Conduct mission-
and limitations of models and modelling activities techniques to forecast the demand level analyses
model simulations, simulations within a • Applies modeling and upon a particular resource or service across multiple
including digital engineering simulation applications and • Advise on the choice of modeling systems or services
definition, environment tools, to cover a full range techniques and approach, to • Advise on the
implementation, • Explain why models of modeling situations communicate with customers suitability and
and analysis and simulations have • Integrate modeling accordingly limitations of
• Explain how the a limit of valid use, capabilities with other • Analyze system designs (including models and
purpose of and the risks of using product and analytical system elements and enabling analysis techniques
modeling and models and models including physics- system elements), to provide a used
simulation affect simulations outside based models greater understanding of the reasons • Apply a wide-
the approach taken those limits • Apply maintenance and for defects and failures at all levels ranging knowledge
• Explain the • Use established calibration for an • Apply a range of mathematical, of the strengths and
relevance of techniques as engineering tool statistical, predictive modelling or weaknesses of
outputs from directed, to model • Use system analysis machine-learning techniques in available modeling
systems modeling simple subject areas techniques to derive consultation with experts if and analysis
analysis, and how with clearly-defined information about the real appropriate, and with sensitivity to techniques, to
these relate to boundaries system, with guidance the limitations of the techniques advise on the
overall system • Understand • Use tools and techniques to • Understand that various modeling appropriateness of
development definitions of conduct analysis of models, and simulation applications and tools selected
• Describe different modeling and with guidance are required to cover a full range of approaches in any
types of simulation simulation. • Understand different types modeling and simulation situations given level of
and provide • Understand the of models (mathematical, • Coordinate complex modeling work complexity and
examples definition of models process, text vs graphics- • Develop and implement clearly novelty
• Describe the scope and simulation. based, low- vs high-level defined digital modeling plans and • Develop the
and limitations of • Understand the models, flat vs. hierarchical method statements capabilities and the
simulations, definition of business models • Ensure staff use the model to support requirement sets
including model. • Understand considerations their analysis within digital
definition, • Explain the use of for implementing a Digital • Ensure that appropriate modeling modeling and
implementation, simulations in Digital System Model (DSM). and simulation tools and methods are simulation
and analysis Engineering (DE) • Understand how models available, understood and employed environment
• Explain how the • Use various and digital artifacts can be in architecture development • Ensure the

Competency Title: C4 Simulation
purpose of simulation toolsets used to represent technical • Use models to identify and evaluate maintenance of
simulation affects coherency using DE alternative architectures and the models for a
the approach taken concepts. trade-offs in cost, performance, and designated function
• Re-state terms and • Understand the importance scalability • Serve as a
definitions about and acceptance of models, • Implement the strategy and approach modeling expert in
simulations in simulations, and digital to be adopted for the modeling and industry initiatives
Systems engineering artifacts. analysis on a system or system • Advise and
Engineering • Understand the process for element arbitrate on
• Understand the peer review of models, • Support a modeling and simulation complex issues
various simulation simulations, and digital program through the preparation of relating to systems
toolsets artifacts. technical plans and the application of simulation
• Understand the spectrum of digital thread principles • Review and judge
peer review approaches for • Understand the need to include the suitability of
modeling and simulation modeling, simulation, and Digital systems simulation
and the implications of Engineering tasks in the request for approaches and
each. (Desk checking, pair proposal (RFP) results
programming, team review, • Understand the need to obtain the
walkthrough, formal appropriate model, simulation, and
inspection) digital engineering artifact
• Explain why simulations deliverables using the proper
have a limit of valid use, contractual mechanism.
and the risks of using • Advise on selection of appropriate
simulations outside those modeling or analysis approach,
limits based on understanding the strengths
• Interpret and use outcomes and weaknesses of various
of simulation with guidance simulation techniques
• Select appropriate tools and • Review and judge the outputs of
techniques for system systems simulation, ensuring the
modeling simulation results can be used for the intended
• Use simulation tools and purpose
techniques to represent a
system or system element

Appendix E: KSABs for Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (C5) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C5 Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
• Ability to describe text • Ability to audit and test the • Ability to design and • Apply a range of
classification, information dynamic function allocation execute a supervised machine-learning
retrieval, information between humans and the machine learning task techniques in consultation
extraction • Ability to conduct User • Ability to design and with experts if
• Describe the advantages experience testing to evaluate the execute an unsupervised appropriate, and with
of an Integrated usability of the AI learning task sensitivity to the
Development • Ability to do text • Ability to do Information limitations of the
Environment (IDE) for classification/categorization retrieval on a corpus of techniques
coding • Ability to measure degree of documents • Evaluate whether the
comprehensibility of the AI/ML • Demonstrate that affective system demonstrates:
inferencing computing systems do not accountability, value
• Ability to retrieve data from one cause harm by amplifying alignment, explainability,
version of a SQL and NoSQL or damping human fairness and user data
database emotional experience rights
• Able to design and implement a • Design and construct an • Supervise the construction
prescriptive support system ontology supporting a of an end to end learning
• Able to design and implement a semantic web application system from data
Decision Support System • Design, construct and collection to data analytics
• Demonstrate familiarity with execute information
ROS-M extraction
• Describe an ontology, and state • Evaluate adaptive and
situations where it would be learning systems for the
useful ability to explain their
• Describe and provide examples of reasoning and decisions in
the 6 levels of autonomous a transparent and
systems defined by the Society of understandable way
Automotive engineers. • Evaluate mixed reality
• Describe reinforcement learning, systems (virtual,
and indicate the class of problems augmented, diminished)
it addresses and their effects on task
• Describe the difference between a performance and human

Competency Title: C5 Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
Decision Support System and a welfare
Prescriptive support system
• Describe the major differences
between Supervised and
Unsupervised learning
• Determine the degree of
explainability of the AI/ML
inferencing
• Determine whether the behavior
of autonomous functions is
predictable to their operators
• Explain the concept of Human in
the loop
• Explain the concept of User
Centered Design
• Explain the value of ML
platforms (e.g., TensorFlow,
WatsonStudio)
• Understand the importance of
SLAM (simultaneous localization
and mapping) for real and virtual
robotic systems

Appendix F: KSABs for Data Visualization (C6) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C6 Data Visualization
• Understand the • Ability to extract • Ability to determine the most appropriate • Ability to determine • Ability to design
benefits of data semantic metrics from visual representation for the specific need the most representative process to explore
visualization text under supervision • Ability to do Information retrieval on a metrics for the specific data
• Understand the • Ability to extract corpus of documents need • Ability to design
definition of data statistical metrics from • Ability to implement methods and tools to • Ability to evaluate the most
visualization text under supervision represent patterns of what happened in the results of knowledge appropriate visual
• Describe the benefits past providing predictive behaviors representation and representation for
of data visualization • Ability to implement processes to explore extraction the specific need
across a variety of data
stakeholders • Ability to implement the most appropriate
• Knowledge of the visual representation for the specific need
basic principles of • Ability to perform text preparation
applied logic and • Ability to represent patterns of what
knowledge happened in the past
representation • Ability to represent semantic structures in
text
• Ability to understand and interact with
algorithm and modeling for knowledge
representation and extraction
• Ability to use and implement algorithm and
modeling for knowledge representation and
extraction
• Ability to use different forms of text
vectorization for NLP
• Identify, evaluate, select, and apply
hardware or software tools or technological
solutions appropriate to support data
visualization

Appendix G: KSABs for Data Analytics (C7) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C7 Data Analytics
• Explain the difference • Apply data analysis, • Apply data analysis, • Contribute to the data • Develop analytics policy,
between structured and design, and modelling design, modelling, and engineering of digital standards, and guidelines
unstructured data techniques to establish, quality assurance information systems with • Direct the creation and
• Understand the difference modify or maintain a data techniques, based upon a the creation of reports, review of a cross-
between SQL and NoSQl structure and its associated detailed understanding of technology road mapping, functional, enterprise-wide
databases components (entity business processes, to and the sharing of approach and culture for
descriptions, relationship establish, modify or knowledge and insights analytics
descriptions, attribute maintain data structures • Ensure that digital data • Lead the organization’s
definitions) and associated components warehouse design policy commitment to efficient
• Leverage data and (entity descriptions, supports demands for and effective analysis of
analytics to enable insights relationship descriptions, business intelligence and textual, numerical, visual,
and achieve faster and attribute definitions) data analytics or audio information
better data-driven • Identify, evaluate, select, • Develop data hypotheses • Lead the provision of the
decisions and apply hardware or and methods, evaluate organization’s analytics
• Understand definition of software tools or analytics models, share capabilities
data, metadata, technological solutions insights and findings, and • Set direction and lead the
telecommunication, appropriate to the task at continue to iterate with introduction and use of
databases. hand (e.g., use statistical additional data analytics to meet overall
• Ability to determine the tools to show reliability of • Establish and manage business requirements,
elements required to data) methods, techniques, and ensuring consistency
describe what happened in • Interpret and use outcomes capabilities to enable the across all user groups
the past of data analysis, with organization to analyze • Ability to design insights
• Ability to interact with guidance data, to generate insights, to understand why
data engineering • Undertake data analysis create value, and drive something happened in the
procedures and methods activities and deliver decision-making. past
analysis outputs, in • Evaluate the need for • Ability to design methods
accordance with customer analytics, assess the and tools to understand
needs and conforming to problems to be solved and what happened in the past
agreed standards what internal or external • Advise and arbitrate on
• Ability to determine data sources to use or complex or sensitive issues
patterns in what happened acquire relating to systems analysis
in the past • Implement data warehouse • Apply a wide-ranging

• Ability to implement designs that support knowledge of the strengths
methods and tools to demands for business and weaknesses of
understand what happened intelligence and data available analysis
in the past analytics techniques, to advise on
• Ability to implement • Investigate corporate data the appropriateness of
methods and tools to requirements, and apply selected approaches in any
understand why something data analysis, design, given level of complexity
happened in the past modelling, and quality and novelty
• Ability to represent what assurance techniques, to • Coach lead practitioners in
happened in the past and establish data structures systems analysis
why it happened • Know the data required to • Contribute to system
• Apply data analysis inform program and analysis best practices
techniques, based upon a technical decisions
detailed understanding of • Manage reviews of the
business processes, to benefits and value of
establish, modify or analytics techniques and
maintain data structures tools and recommends
and associated components improvements
(entity descriptions, • Manipulate specific data
relationship descriptions, from information services,
attribute definitions) to satisfy defined
• Define governing information needs
modeling and analysis • Specify and apply
plans, processes and appropriate mathematical,
appropriate tools for a statistical, predictive
project, and use these to modelling or machine-
monitor and control learning techniques to
systems modeling and analyse data, generate
analysis activities for a insights, create value and
system or system element support decision-making
• Implement the strategy and • Adapt approach to
approach to be adopted for accommodate the specifics
analysis on a system or of a given situation or
system element system of interest being

• Lead and determine analyzed
appropriate analysis of a • Advise across the
system or system element enterprise, on systems
analysis
• Coach new and
experienced practitioners
in systems analysis
• Lead and determine
appropriate analyses of
complex system or system
elements
• Lead the integration and
combination of different
analyses for a system or
system element
• Review and judge the
outputs of systems
analysis, ensuring the
results can be used for the
intended purpose

Appendix H: KSABs for Digital Architecting (C8) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Group: G3 Digital Engineering and Analysis
Competency Title: C8 Digital Architecting
• Understand how a model- • Create system digital • Provide architecture • Contribute to the • Evaluate multiple system
based systems engineering models and basic assessment to make development of solution architectures at the mission
approach can enable architecture products, decisions based on the architectures in specific or system-of-system level
architecture design under direct supervision architecture to ensure business, infrastructure or • Lead and oversee the
• Understand system model • Assist in creating the requirements are met for functional areas, using framework for system
and architectural concepts, system digital model and the system development model-based engineering digital model and
including the DODAF required architectural throughout the life-cycle methods and digital architecture
framework products for a system or • Apply system model and artifacts
• Understand how system-of-systems in architectural concepts • Utilize architectural
architecture enables a accordance with applicable based on different products to assist with
model-based systems standards and policies stakeholder views and how analysis of alternatives to
engineering approach under direct supervision they relate make a recommendation
• Describe what it means for • Collaborate with for the best solution
a digital model to be disciplinary subject matter • Analyze systems
accurate, complete, trusted, experts to create system architecture models
and reusable models and architectural • Apply architecture to the
• Identify and locate data products remaining system
necessary to create system • Collaborate with disciplines and
model and architectural disciplinary subject matter specification development
products when using experts to maintain system • Develop framework for
architecting tools models and architectural system architecture
• Identify the relationship(s) products • Ensure that appropriate
between defense • Create required tools and methods are
architecture frameworks architectural products for a available, understood and
and system models system or system-of- employed in architecture
• Interact with relevant systems in accordance with development
stakeholders to create applicable standards and • Evaluate digital
digital engineering policies with minimal or architectural products
oriented architecture for a no supervision created and maintained by
system's design • Demonstrate a full others
• Utilize modeling understanding of system • Identify and evaluate
languages to create or model and architectural alternative architectures
maintain system techniques

architectural products • Review architecture and the trade-offs in cost,
based on data provided diagrams performance and
• Comply with style guides • Review how the system scalability
to properly develop model and architecture are • Lead the development of
architectural products aligned with the solution architectures in
• Identify the relationship(s) framework specific business,
between defense • Review system infrastructure or functional
architecture frameworks architectural products (e.g., areas
and modeling language structural diagram, • Manage complex system
diagrams behavior diagram, architectural development
• Understand the concept of requirements diagram, and analysis efforts
digital thread. parametric diagram) to • Prioritize the creation of
• Understand how digital identify system architectural products to
threads work in the components or capabilities meet larger program
acquisition lifecycle. based on the application milestones and events
• Understand how digital • Review the architectural • Prioritize the maintenance
artifacts support system of products created by others, of architectural products to
systems approaches, including digital twins and meet Systems Engineering
program interoperability, digital assets Technical Review (SETR)
and modularity. • Understand the ways events
• Understand how the use of digital artifacts can be used • Review program integrated
digital artifacts can be used to support a MOSA. architectures for release
to effectively support • Analyze architectural outside of the system
interoperability. products using system command
• Understand how the use of models • Support the technical
digital artifacts can be used • Contribute to the system authority expert in
to effectively support model for a system-of- approving architectural
Modular Open System systems architecture effort products and submitting
Approach (MOSA). to establish the framework waivers and deviations for
by which systems are approval
designed • Utilize architectural
• Maintain the required products to assist with
architectural products for a analysis of alternatives to
system or system-of- provide a set of technically
systems in accordance with acceptable solutions

applicable standards and • Verify architecture
policies with minimal or products for the technical
no supervision authority
• Manage framework for • Verify the creation of
architecture architectural products (e.g.,
• Review how the DoDAF viewpoints)
architecture is aligned with produced by other systems
the framework engineers to ensure proper
• Review the creation of format and content
architectural products (e.g., • Verify the maintenance of
DoDAF viewpoints) architectural products (e.g.,
produced by other systems DoDAF viewpoints)
engineers to ensure proper produced by other systems
format and content engineers to ensure proper
• Identify digital interfaces format and content
and integration approaches
with the contractor.

Appendix I: KSABs for Digital Requirements Modeling (C9) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C9 Digital Requirements Modeling
• Explain the importance • Use requirements • Capture stakeholder high-level requirements • Ascertain needs • Lead the modeling
of digital requirements traceability when by documenting stated needs in the form of a requirements of development of
modeling modeling system-of- model, to assist in the clarification and project to ensure digital models for
interest translation of need statements into a more proper modeling complex
• Contribute to digital engineering oriented language for tools and technology solutions,
requirements proper architecture definition are selected for the ensuring
management using • Create requirements traceability in the digital current project consistency with
digital modeling model architecture • Examine engineering specified
• Use requirements • Ensure traceability between requirements and artifacts and trace requirements
traceability matrix specifications designs to agreed with both
• Generate a system specification in a digital requirements external, and
enterprise environment model where all • Develop the internal customers
requirements and RDs are generated from the capabilities and the
modeled system requirement sets
• Generate models using requirements and use within digital
case diagrams to include requirements enterprise
elicitation, generation, analysis, verification environment
and validation • Ensure staff are
• Generate system models with functional involved with
allocation to operational requirements to configuration or
determine system functions to include requirements
capability, operational, functional & physical management
architecture to establish the allocated,
functional, and product baselines based on
sound, proven standards
• Perform requirements engineering using

Competency Title: C9 Digital Requirements Modeling
digital techniques, deriving lower level
requirements & traceability of parent-child
relationships to establish, validate, and
maintain a set of system requirements at all
system and subsystem levels
• Query the model for how reliability
requirements are addressed
• Translate requirements into system
specifications using digital modeling
products
• Understand relationships between system
requirements and the system being developed
• Create requirements traceability building on
architectural products
• Generate a system specification in a model
where all requirements and RDs are
generated from the modeled system behavior,
performance, structure, qualities, and
interfaces to form the baseline of the system
performance traced to the CDD requirements
to include verification methods which can
also be used for source selection
• Perform requirements engineering deriving
lower-level requirements & traceability of
parent-child relationships to establish,
validate, and maintain a set of system
requirements for all system and subsystem
levels
• Provide system model to make decisions
based on the architecture to ensure
requirements are met for the system
development throughout the lifecycle
• Translate requirements into system
specifications using architecture products

Appendix J: KSABs for Digital Validation and Verification (C10) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C10 Digital Validation and Verification
• Develop an • Explain the • Create test cases using own in-depth • Extend the digital
understanding of the role validation and technical analysis from model-based enterprise
of testing within system verification engineering methods, of both functional and environment model
development, as a tool process of the non-functional specifications (such as to define test
for design improvement digital model reliability, efficiency, usability, strategies or cases
as well as a verification • Understand how maintainability, and portability) • Verify digital model
process digital twins can • Analyze and report test activities and results using digital thread
• Understand the be used for using model-based engineering methods and • Verify system model
importance of validating T&E/V&V. tools for the technical
the digital twin. • Understand the specific definition of authority
verification with regards to DE.
• Understand the specific definition of
validation with regards to DE.
• Understand the use of a digital ecosystem for
VV&A of the system.
• Verify that products developed are aligned
with the review and/or analysis

Appendix K: KSABs for Model-Based Systems Engineering Processes (C11) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C11 Model-Based Systems Engineering Processes
• Knowledgeable about • Assist with the evaluation • Analyze the system • Apply advanced concepts, • Act as the technical
digital model project of system-of-interest model and architectural principles, and practices authority for system
lifecycle change requests using products of model-based system model and architecture
• Understand the use of MBSE processes • Build models in a digital engineering process • Advise across the
models in the context of • Contribute to modeling enterprise environment • Coordinate the enterprise, on systems
digital engineering tasks employing a model- collaborative modeling assessment of risks to the modeling and analysis
• Understand need to assess based systems environment availability, integrity and • Develop advanced
aspects of model quality engineering approach • Develop knowledge and confidentiality of systems concepts, principles and
including conformance to • Describe digital artifacts skills with a new or that support critical practices of model-based
modeling language and contribution to the updated tool, and apply business processes, using system engineering
application method following engineering the tool in the solution of model-based engineering process, requirements,
constraints concepts: Systems of an engineering problem methods and digital and products
• Understand published Systems (SoS), program • Ensure digital artifacts are artifacts • Evaluate multiple system
modeling methodologies, interoperability, and up-to-date, consistent, • Integrate supporting models and architectures
i.e., OOSEM, JPL-SA, modularity interoperable, accessible, engineering disciplines at the mission or system-
RUP-SE, etc. • Describe how digital uncorrupted, and properly and specification of-system level
• Understand the basic system model artifacts and safely stored development into system • Formalize the application
fundamentals of Model- advance the state-of-the- • Generate digital architecture of models to support
Based Systems practice of digital enterprise environment • Integrate MBSE system requirements,
Engineering (MBSE), engineering system models processes for complex design, analysis,
Model-Based Engineering • Develop digital model • Integrate all other model system development verification, and
(MBE), and the broader artifacts, according to domains and physics- efforts to appropriately validation activities
Model-Centric intent based models with the represent the system beginning in the
Engineering (MCE) • Analyze and interpret the system model requirements and design conceptual design phase
concepts results obtained using within the digital and continuing
model-based engineering enterprise environment throughout all life cycle
methods and tools phases

• Understand the uses of • Understands model-based • Maintain system models • Coordinate the planning, • Define and manage the
system models for system engineering methods, for system development designing, and testing of model-based engineering
development efforts in tools and technologies efforts in accordance with maintenance procedures activities to ensure
accordance with that may assist in applicable standards and in accordance with achievement of the
applicable standards and streamlining work and policies to reduce model-based engineering projected business
policies improving productivity acquisition lifecycle methods AND Produce benefits after delivery
• Understand the value that • Evaluate the system timeline digital artifacts to support • Create value from the
modeling concepts bring model and architectural • Review system models to planning, designing, and model-based engineering
to complex system products created and identify system testing of maintenance process for stakeholders
development efforts maintained by others components or procedures by maintaining the
throughout the system • Explain the difference in capabilities based on the • Identify sources of error principles of professional
lifecycle digital enterprise application in model-based standards, accountability,
• Understand the environment stakeholder • Select and define engineering methods and openness, equality,
importance of model views appropriate take appropriate diversity, and clarity of
traceability from concept • Use appropriate representations of a corrective action purpose
to disposal in maintaining representations of a system or system element • Conduct analysis to • Engage with senior
an authoritative source of system or system element • Understand need to ensure interoperability managers to ensure the
truth in order to derive organize complex models, with external programs, business portfolio will
• Understand the workforce information about the real define the inter- systems, or capabilities deliver the agreed upon
needs for the system relationships among • Evaluate and select digital artifact objectives
development and use of • Use model formalisms to model elements and appropriate model-based • Incorporate technological
digital artifacts during the aid in the development, diagrams engineering methods and innovation to improve the
acquisition life cycle. integration, and curation • Understand the tools in line with agreed engineering practice of
• Understand the definition of models capabilities and the policies and standards model-based engineering
of digital artifact. • Use modeling toolsets to requirement sets within • Design MBSE solutions methods and digitization
Understand how digital generate diagrams, to the digital enterprise for complex systems • Provide advice to support
artifacts can be used establish system model environment including operational, the design of service
across the acquisition data attributes • Use digital enterprise architectural, and components including
lifecycle (DoD 5000.02) • Use models as the basis environment tools and requirements research, designing in flexible and
for defining, evaluating, techniques to represent a analysis, and scalable capacity, using
comparing, and system or system element documentation of model-based engineering
optimizing alternatives assigned programs methods and digital
and making decisions artifacts

• Use system models for • Use models to support • Review and improve • Recommend and
design analysis engineering activities and usage and application of implement corrective
• Contribute to the system decision making across digital engineering action by engaging and
model development and the lifecycle methods and tools influencing senior
interpretation activities • Use system models for • Support monitoring of the management, using
• Apply digital modeling system development external environment and results from model-based
tools to the solution of an efforts in accordance with assessment of emerging engineering methods and
engineering problem applicable standards and technologies to evaluate tools
Understand digital polices to reduce the potential impacts, • Manage the target design,
artifacts and their use. acquisition lifecycle threats and opportunities policies and standards,
• Understand how to timeline to the organization, using working proactively to
represent systems and • Conduct operational, model-based engineering maintain a stable, viable
systems of systems (SoS) architectural, and methods and digital modeling and simulation
technical data in the requirements research, artifacts architecture and ensure
digital engineering analysis, and • Ensure that digital consistency of design
environment. documentation of engineering activities and across projects within the
• Understand the concept of assigned programs digital artifacts program
digital twin and how it • Understand the definition development are
can be used in an of model-based systems performed according to
acquisition environment. engineering (MBSE) and intent
• Understand elements that the • Evaluate supervision of
can make up the digital differences/similarities the system model and
twin. between this and DE. architectural products
• Understand how digital • Use the risk management created and maintained by
twin can be used for process to manage the others
understanding operation risk of using digital • Identify and maintain an
and maintenance. artifacts. approach that integrates
• Understand how the use models generated by all
of models and digital stakeholders to digitally
artifacts contributes to represent the system of
technical coherency. interest throughout the
lifecycle
• Implement MBSE
solutions for complex
systems

• Understand the Implement plans to
definitions of models, digitally represent the
digital artifacts, and system of interest, using
information sharing and an approach that uses
how these are related. models to enable the
• Understand why digital orchestration of activities,
artifacts are used and the efficient management
common examples of of work, and the
digital artifacts. integration of work
• Understand the products and
characteristics of digital multidisciplinary teams to
artifacts, as well as result in the digital
potential benefits, representation of the
including: accessibility, system of interest
alignment, consistency, • Determine appropriate
comprehensiveness, representation or analysis
precision, data of the digital model
limitations, relevancy, • Determine appropriate
accuracy, and ownership. representations or
• Identify key stakeholder analysis of complex
groups that will produce system or system
and consume digital elements
artifacts • Lead complex system
• Understand how strategic model and architectural
leadership may create or development and analysis
consume digital artifacts. efforts
• Understand how program • Lead the development of
managers may create or digital models in specific
consume digital artifacts. business, infrastructure or
• Understand how functional area
developers may create or • Lead the integration and
consume digital artifacts. combination of different
• Understand how systems models and analyses for a
engineers may create or system or system element
consume digital artifacts.

• Understand the risk of • Maintain the system
using digital artifacts with model and required
respect to workforce, architectural products for
change, data accuracy, the a system or system-of-
DE ecosystem, and data systems in accordance
consistency. with applicable standards
• Understand how digital and policies with minimal
artifacts can be used to or no supervision
effectively support SoS. • Plan modelling activities,
• Understand how Digital selecting appropriate
Artifacts can be used to techniques and the correct
support interoperability. level of detail for meeting
assigned objectives
• Plan and coordinate team
modelling activities and
for ensuring the quality of
their work
• Review the creation of
system models and
architectural products and
artifacts produced by
other systems engineers
to ensure proper format
and content
• Review the maintenance
of system models and
produced by other
systems engineers to
ensure proper format and
content

• Support the technical
authority expert in
approving standard
modeling and
architectural products and
submitting waivers and
deviations for approval
• Understand system
designs (including system
elements and enabling
system elements), which
provides an overall
understanding of the
reasons for defects and
failures at all levels
within a system
• Utilize digital model
artifacts to assist with
analysis of alternatives to
provide a set of
technically acceptable
solutions
• Utilize system model and
architectural products to
conduct gap analysis
• Apply integration using
the integrated modeling
environment to execute
the MBSE process for
complex system
development efforts to
represent the system
requirements and design

• Verify the creation of
system models and
(e.g., Interface Control
Document, DoDAF
viewpoints, modeling
language-based diagrams)
produced by other
content
• Verify the maintenance of
system models and
(e.g., Interface Control
Document, DoDAF
viewpoints, modeling
language-based diagrams)
produced by other
content
• Implement MBSE
operational, architectural,
and requirements
research, analysis, and
documentation of
assigned programs

• Integrate MBSE solutions
for intricate systems and
is responsible for
operational, architectural,
and requirements
research, analysis, and
documentation of
solutions for intricate
systems and is
responsible for assigned
programs

Appendix L: KSABs for Digital Model-Based Reviews (C12) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C12 Digital Model-Based Reviews
• Aware of the • Coordinate with • Conduct model-based reviews and • Define the series and sequence of • Approve system
digital model- subject matter audits, to ensure effective model-based engineering activities to model as the
based review experts to review collaboration for system-of-interest bring stakeholders to the required technical
process and confirm evolution level of commitment, prior to formal authority
• Understand the information and • Confer with subject matter experts reviews
importance of results from models on models produced to gain • Conduct technical reviews to evaluate
peer reviews. concurrence on results digital products on a continuous basis
• Review resulting models with as the technical baseline matures, and
stakeholders and gain resolution to inform decisions
resultant issues • Communicate modeling results to
• Use system models for analysis of managers and obtain feedback for
design and technical reviews to agreement
execute trade-off and design • Provide advice on technical aspects
analyses, prototype, manufacture, of solution development and
test, and sustainment of the integration (including requests for
developed system changes, deviations from
• Use system models for collaboration specifications, etc.) and ensure that
during design and technical reviews relevant technical strategies, policies,
to execute trade-off and design standards and practices (including
analyses, prototype, manufacture, security) are applied correctly
test, and sustainment of the • Utilize system model and
developed system architectural products to conduct
• Verify that system model products reviews
developed are aligned with the
review and/or analysis

Appendix M: KSABs for Project and Program Management (C13) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C13 Project and Program Management
• Understand that • Understand the importance of including • Ensure that program/project • Able to formalize the • Maintain an
modeling and simulation DE consideration in contracts: Build, leads and/or service owners development, integration, overview of the
provide insight into extend, and maintain the DSM adhere to the agreed and use of models to contribution of
program cost, schedule, • Understand the importance of including portfolio management inform enterprise and programs to
performance, and contractual systems tasks and elements in model-based engineering program decision making organizational
associated risks the DSM taxonomy and the WBS. (DID, approach and timetable and • Use model-based success
• Understand the pricing, CDRL, SOO, PWS, SOW, specs, that they provide the engineering methods to • Implement
challenges and benefits etc.) appropriate information to reduce the time and cost processes which
for planning and • Understand how DE tasks and products agreed targets of timelines of iterative build, test, and support cost-
execution of projects in are incorporated into a contract and accuracy fix cycles in order to effective
digital engineering • Understand the differences in contracting • Advise on program cost, create greater efficiencies technology
ecosystem. for document-based versus model-based schedule, performance, and in design and development and
acquisition supportability risk manufacturing selection decisions
• Understand the role and importance assessments, using • Design and implement a • Plan, schedule,
models, simulations, and data in knowledge gleaned from model-based testing monitor and report
improving project management digital engineering methods strategy to ensure that on model-based
• Understand the process for digital and tools continuity plans and engineering
engineering as it relates to acquisition. • Lead system modeling for a procedures address activities related to
• Identify the DE tasks and products that project exposure to risk and that the portfolio to
need to be accomplished. • Manage models that are agreed levels of ensure that each
• Identify the tasks that should be produced within a project continuity are maintained part of the portfolio
completed by the contractor/developer • Understand the importance • Define new projects and contributes to the
• Understand the importance of the of including DE support them through overall
Program and Contract WBSs. Identify consideration in contracts: their lifecycle achievement of the
how digital engineering tasks and use DE practices during • Implement model-based portfolio
artifacts can be included in WBS acquisition engineering methods and
structures. • Understand the importance tools at program, project
• Understand how to reflect DE tasks and of including DE and team level including
products in the SOW, SOO, and PWS. consideration in contracts: selection and tailoring in

Competency Title: C13 Project and Program Management
• Understand the importance of including leverage the DSM for line with agreed standards
DE consideration in contracts: develop developing training systems. • Take action to ensure
and maintain the digital twin. • Understand how to properly targets are met within
• Understand the importance of including reflect IP and Data Rights established safety and
DE consideration in contracts: use digital considerations in a contract. quality procedures,
artifacts for analysis in place of briefing • Understand the importance including, where
charts. of develop and maintain the appropriate, handover of
• Understand the importance of including digital artifacts for digital artifacts to the
DE consideration in contracts: design and consideration in contracts client
integrate architecture for the DE • Understand the importance • Prioritize the creation of
infrastructure. of develop and maintain the system model and
• Understand how to include DE-related digital twin for architectural products to
tasks and artifacts into the RFP, consideration in contracts meet larger program
specifically sections B, C, L, and M. • Include the tasks, interfaces, milestones and events
• Identify the ways models and source and integration approaches
codes should be delivered to the in the RFP and final
government in the contract, including any contract.
programs required for running models or • Identify the mechanisms
codes. and artifacts for reflecting
• Understand the interaction between DE tasks and deliverables in
digital engineering and program risk (i.e., a contract (e.g., WBS,
how digital engineering can mitigate CDRL, DID, SOW, SOO,
some risks and introduces others). PWS).
• Understand how cohesively using digital • Use digital artifacts to
artifacts throughout the acquisition life mitigate risks in schedule,
cycle is critical to program success. cost, requirements, and
• Understand the ways that stakeholders design.
can use digital artifacts in a SoS context
(describe, distinguish, determine,
communicate, draw, and allow).

Appendix N: KSABs for Organizational Development (C14) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C14 Organizational Development
• Aware of the organizational • Understanding of the • Create technology • Monitor and report progress • Establish a systems
plans in the organization organizational plans in the roadmaps using model- on organization readiness modeling culture and
organization based engineering methods, targets, organization environment, leveraging the
• Understand the workforce to align organizational plans engagement activity, capabilities of the
needs in terms of: specific with emerging technology training design and organization
skills and abilities required; solutions deployment activities, key • Initiate organization-wide
competency standards; and operational metrics and modelling improvement
training and development return to productivity activities and obtain
needs. measures, using model- customer buy-in to general
based engineering methods changes
and digital artifacts • Develop organizational
• Monitor environmental and policies, standards, and
market trends and pro- guidelines for model-based
actively assesses impact on engineering methods and
organization strategies, artifacts
benefits and risks, using • Lead the establishment of
model-based engineering MBSE at an enterprise level
methods and digital artifacts • Leverage the capabilities of
• Provide advice, guidance MBSE across the
and expertise to support organization
adoption of model-based • Establish and share best
methods and tools, and practices, for re-use or
adherence to policies and adaptation of model-based
standards engineering methods and
• Play a leading role in digital artifacts, to the
establishing modeling broader community
language-based MBSE at an
enterprise

Competency Title: C14 Organizational Development
• Initiate the business
implementation plan,
including all the activities
that the business needs to
do to prepare for new
technical components and
technologies, including
using model-based
engineering methods
• Lead the establishment of a
MBSE enterprise with the
use of formalized modeling
language and ontology
• Plan and lead the
identification and
assessment of new and
emerging technologies and
the evaluation of the
potential impacts, threats
and opportunities by using
model-based engineering
methods and digital artifacts
• Set direction and lead in the
introduction and use of
techniques, methodologies
and tools, to match overall
business requirements,
ensure consistency across
all user groups

Appendix O: KSABs for Digital Engineering Policy and Guidance (C15) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C15 Digital Engineering Policy and Guidance
• Understand the maintenance • Define plans, processes, • Create and update the • Contribute to • Create standards or
of system models for and appropriate tools for documentation of digital organizational policies, guidance for the execution
system development efforts model governance and engineering methods and standards, and guidelines of model-based system
are accomplished in analysis on a project tools for methods and tools engineering and
accordance with applicable • Understand the role of • Update engineering • Identify process architectural design
standards and policies digital engineering with processes, manuals, and improvements to model- • Define modeling standards
respect to existing DoD instructions to achieve based engineering and quality targets for an
acquisition practices desired digital engineering methods, and contribute to organization
• Understand the specific benefits organization system testing • Define strategy and
definition of accreditation standards and definition of approach to be used for
with respect to digital best practice modeling and analysis of
engineering. • Tailor processes in line complex or novel system
with agreed standards and or system elements
evaluation of digital • Establish modeling policy
engineering methods and and strategy for the
tools selection of solution
• Develop policy and architecture components,
guidance about models, and coordinate design
simulations, and digital activities, promoting the
engineering modeling and simulation
• Maintain standards or discipline to ensure
guidance for the execution consistency
of model-based system • Extend MBSE at an
engineering and enterprise level by
architectural design penetrating the concept
• Manage the system model into new departments or
and architecture products product areas
for policy compliance and
framework alignment

• Review and judge the • Drive adoption of and
adequacy of tailoring of adherence to model-based
enterprise-level systems engineering methods and
modeling and analysis policies and standards
processes for specific through the provision of
projects expert advice and guidance
in order to ensure
architectural principles are
applied, requirements are
defined and rigorous
security testing is applied
• Ensure that appropriate
methods and standards
(corporate, industry,
national and international)
are adhered to
• Identify and monitor
environmental and market
trends using modeling-
based engineering methods
and pro-actively assess
impact on business
strategies, benefits and
risks
• Create governance
approaches for model-
based systems engineering
activities and digital
artifacts to enable
governance activity to be
conducted with reasonable
independence from
management activity, in
line with the organization's

corporate governance
requirements
• Establish formal guidance
for the system model
within a command (e.g.,
Command Style Guide,
command policy,
handbooks)

Appendix P: KSABs for Configuration Management (C16) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C16 Configuration Management
• Aware of the configuration • Apply tools, techniques • Create traceability records, • Contribute to development • Develop configuration
management policies, and processes to from test cases back to of configuration management strategies,
standards, and guidelines administer, track, log, requirements management strategies, policies, standards, and
report on, and correct • Ensure that users comply policies, standards, and guidelines for digital
configuration items, with identification guidelines in accordance engineering related
components and changes standards for object types, with model-based artifacts
• Assist with audits to check environments, processes, engineering methods and • Develop new methods such
the accuracy of lifecycles, documentation, digital artifacts as automation and
information and undertakes versions, formats, • Agree to the scope of organizational capabilities
any necessary corrective baselines, releases and configuration management for the configuration
action under direction templates processes and the management of digital
• Contribute to configuration • Perform audits to check the configuration items and artifacts
management using digital accuracy of information related information to be
modeling and undertake any controlled
necessary corrective action • Develop, configure and
under direction maintain tools (including
• Asses the details of digital automation) to identify,
enterprise environment track, log and record
hardware/software items accurate, complete and
that have been installed current information
and removed so that • Ensure that operational
configuration management processes are in place to
records can be updated maintain secure
• Verify and approve configuration, consistent
changes ensuring classification and
protection of assets and management of
components from configuration items, and
unauthorized change, for the verification and
diversion and inappropriate audit of configuration
use items
• Identify, evaluate and
manage the adoption of
appropriate tools,

Competency Title: C16 Configuration Management
techniques and processes
(including automation) for
configuration management
of digitally-based artifacts
and systems
• Plan the capture and
management of
configuration items and
related information
• Propose and agree on the
configuration items to be
uniquely identified with
naming conventions
• Asses reports on the status
of the configuration
management of digital
artifacts and systems to
define, measure, assess,
improve, tailor and/or
automate methods and
tools used to support the
digital enterprise
environment

Appendix Q: KSABs for Software Construction (C17) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Group: G4 Systems Software
Competency Title: C17 Software Construction
• Aware of the available • Construct software for • Build extensible • Ensure that system • Ensure adherence to
software tools and basic verification by following software to assist in software is tailored to agreed software
coding knowledge coding standards, which managing future facilitate the development standards
support code reviews changes and updates achievement of service and good practice
and unit testing • Create working software objectives
• Construct software for through a combination • Apply knowledge of
verification by of coding, verification, algorithms and coding
organizing code which unit testing, integration practices
supports automated testing, and debugging • Specify user/system
testing • Encapsulate reusable interfaces, including
• Understand algorithms code fragments into validation and error
and of coding practices well-structured libraries correction procedures,
• Minimize software or components, to avoid processing rules, access,
complexity by the problem of code security and audit
emphasizing code clones controls
creation that is simple • Tailor system software
and readable, using to maximize hardware
software construction functionality
standards, modular • Translate logical designs
design and other into physical designs
specific coding
techniques
• Minimize software
complexity by
restricting the use of
complex or hard-to-
understand language
structures

Competency Title: C17 Software Construction
• Perform variability
encapsulation to make
the software assets easy
to configure and
customize
• Perform software
variability
implementation with
mechanisms such as
parameterization,
conditional compilation,
design patterns, and so
forth
• Use existing software
construction assets such
as libraries, modules,
components, source
code, and commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS), to
solve different problems

Appendix R: KSABs for Software Engineering (C18) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C18 Software Engineering
• Execute given software • Identify and report testing • Assist in the configuration • Advise on the correct and • Assess supplier's software
test scripts under software issues and risks, of software and equipment effective use of system development and testing
supervision associated with own work and the systems testing of software capabilities
• Understand that the • Interpret, execute and platform-specific versions • Assess software-associated • Define software
disciplinary engineer is a record software test cases of one or more software risk and specify recovery configurations required for
productive contributor to in accordance with project products routines and contingency testing with reference to
modeling tasks performed test plans • Carry out agreed system procedures agreed testing standards
by a systems engineering • Perform software unit tests software maintenance tasks • Assist the user community • Determine software testing
team employing a model- and integration tests • Correct malfunctions on in the provision of policy, and supports the
based systems engineering throughout system system installations software transition support software development
approach lifecycle • Document software faults, and change planning processes including
• Aware of the software • Receive and respond to implement resolutions and • Conduct tests of hardware software security testing
development processes and routine requests for retest to agreed standards and/or software using • Ensure sites deliver site
software implementation software security support • Use system management supplied test procedures software implementation
plans • Test the variability software and tools to and diagnostic tools plans that align with the
provided by reusable collect agreed performance • Configure software and overall plan
software assets statistics equipment and test • Lead complex software
platform-specific versions security investigations
of one or more software engaging additional
products specialists if required
• Contribute to the • Manage all risks associated
development of software with software testing and
information assurance take preventative action
policies, standards and when any risks become
guidelines unacceptable
• Coordinate and manage • Ensure compliance
planning of the system between business strategies
software and/or acceptance and software information
tests, including software security
security testing, within a
development or integration
project or program

• Ensure that operational • Manage complex software
documentation for system security investigations
software is fit for purpose engaging additional
and current specialists if required
• Interpret, execute and • Review new software
document complex application proposals and
software test scripts using provide specialist advice
agreed methods and on security issues and
standards implications
• Investigate and coordinate • Set policies, standards and
the resolution of potential guidelines for how an
and actual software service organization conducts
problems software digital forensic
• Investigate software investigations
security breaches in
accordance with
established procedures and
recommend required
actions and support/ follow
up to ensure these are
implemented
• Lead a team, by providing
expert technical knowledge
in the systems testing of
platform-specific versions
of the software products,
on varying platforms
• Plan the installation and
testing of new versions of
system software
• Prepare and maintain
operational documentation
for system software

• Process and analyze
software security evidence
in line with policy,
standards and guidelines
and support production of
forensics findings and
reports
• Produce test scripts,
materials and regression
test packs to test new and
amended software or
services
• Provide authoritative
advice and guidance on
any aspect of software test
planning and execution
tools
• Provide reports on
progress, anomalies, risks
and issues associated with
the overall software project
• Provide software specialist
advice to support others
• Provide specialist guidance
information to support
systems software testing
and quality assurance
functions, to assist in
improving procedures
• Provide technical expertise
to enable the correct
application of software
operational procedures

• Report the outcome of
testing and identify
potential improvements to
the process and to the
software products
according to agreed
designs and standards
• Review system software
updates and identify those
that merit action
• Specify requirements for
software digital, data,
resources and tools

Appendix S: KSABs for Digital Environment Development (C19) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Group: G5 Digital Enterprise Environment
Competency Title: C19 Digital Environment Development
• Describe the basic concept • Contribute to setting • Leverage technologies • Ensure that operational • Align the contribution of
of digital engineering digital application service currently available in the procedures and working systems and services to
within a digital enterprise level agreements marketplace, while finding practices for decision clearly stated business and
environment • Streamline contracting, high-payoff solutions for making in acquiring, financial goals and
procurement, legal, and decision making in deploying, and maintaining performance targets
business practices by acquiring, deploying and the enterprise digital • Create the business
transitioning to a model- maintaining the enterprise environment are fit for readiness plan, taking into
based approach digital environment purpose and current consideration digital
• Relate the importance of a • Review digital enterprise • Assess supplier's digital enterprise environment
methodology to achieving environment requirements environment development deployment, data
digital engineering within and specifications, and and testing capabilities migration, capability
a digital enterprise define test conditions • Develop, mature, and deployment (training and
environment • Ensure the digital implement digital engagement activities) and
• Utilize and provide enterprise environment enterprise environment any business activities
feedback on the digital supports evaluating tools required to integrate new
engineering methodologies concepts, engaging the • Contribute to development digital processes or jobs
• Understand the definition user, and identifying of policy, standards and into the business as usual
of technical coherency. tradeoffs using a digital procedures for decision environment
• Understand the representation of a system making for acquiring, • Contribute to the
characteristics of technical of interest deploying, and maintaining development of digital
coherency. a digital environment that enterprise environment
• Understand the challenges is compliant with relevant organizational strategies
and benefits of developing policies that address the evolving
a digital engineering • Contribute to the business risk and
ecosystem. development of digital information control
• Understand the environment installation requirements
components of the digital procedures and standards • Create and maintain
engineering ecosystem. • Develop, mature, and use overall digital enterprise
digital engineering environment network plans
methodologies in place of to support the …
document-based
approaches

• Understand at a high level • Evaluate and identify • (cont) organization's
the infrastructure digital engineering tools business strategy and
components of the digital for stakeholders based on service level agreements
engineering ecosystem current and future needs with customers
including hardware, • Determine the readiness • Establish a digital
software, networks, and levels of users with regard enterprise environment
MPTs and how these will to upcoming changes in supporting infrastructure
interact in a digital decision making for and environment to
engineering ecosystem. acquiring, deploying, and perform activities,
• Understand how digital maintaining digital collaborate, and
thread and digital twin enterprise environment communicate across
work within the DE • Lead the processes of stakeholders
Ecosystem. design, procurement, • Lead efforts to extending
• Understand the installation, upgrading, modeling penetration into
relationship between DE operation, control, new departments or
Ecosystem and data maintenance (including product areas
quality. storage, modification and • Monitor emerging
• Understand the role of peer communication of data, technologies which can be
review and VV&A in the voice, text, audio and used to innovate and
DE ecosystem. images) and the effective manage creativity in
• Understand the VV&A use of digital enterprise support of projects
applications for the DE environment components, • Establish an end-to-end
Ecosystem. and monitor their digital engineering
• Understand the authorities performance enterprise by focusing on
and recommended • Identify information and production, delivery and
practices around VV&A in communication systems sustainment of the end
a DE Ecosystem. that support the digital item
• Understand the MOSA and enterprise environment • Lead the development of
the implications for processes and manage the digital enterprise
defining interfaces in a relationship with environment
digital ecosystem. specialists with authority organizational capabilities
for those systems for methods and tools
• Lead multi-organizational (including automation) to
level digital artifacts and ensure adoption and
digital enterprise adherence to policies and
environment infrastructure standards
development efforts

• Produce outline digital • Provide hardware and
enterprise environment software recommendations
system designs and to perform digital
specifications, and overall enterprise environment
architectures, topologies, activities
configuration databases • Review new digital
and design documentation enterprise environment-
of networks and related software
networking technology application procurement
within the organization proposals and provide
• Produce specifications of specialist advice on digital
cloud-based or on- enterprise environment
premises components, tiers security issues and
and interfaces, for implications
translation into digital • Specify requirements for
enterprise environment digital enterprise
using selected services and environment, data,
products resources and tools
• Review digital enterprise • Take responsibility for
environment related major aspects of digital
requirements and enterprise environment
specifications, and define network specification and
digital enterprise design within the
environment test organization
conditions
• Develop digital enterprise
environment application
installation procedures and
standards

Appendix T: KSABs for Management (C20) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C20 Management
• Describe how digital • Manage risks associated • Produce routine reports to • Produce reports as • Identify leadership teams
engineering tasks and with digital enterprise assist in digital appropriate for digital (e.g., champions, sponsors,
products are incorporated environment testing and environment management enterprise environment etc.) that are accountable
into a contract take preventative action activities and decision portfolio governance, to actively participate in
• Describe the risks and when risks become making including making managing and
opportunities of using unacceptable recommendations for implementing the digital
digital engineering • Explain the concept of changes to the portfolio transformation efforts
authoritative source of • Review current and • Lead the definition,
truth proposed digital enterprise implementation and review
environment for of the organization
compliance with the portfolio management for
organization's obligations its digital engineering
(including legislation, related framework
regulatory, contractual and • Lead the on-going
agreed standards/policies) monitoring and review of
and adherence to overall digital engineering related
strategy portfolios for impact on
• Ensure the workforce has current business activities
proper digital engineering and the strategic benefits to
qualifications be realized
• Control digital enterprise • Make a deliberate effort to
environment assets in one transform the workforce to
or more significant areas, promote a cultural change,
ensuring that including efforts such as
administration of the training, education,
acquisition, storage, strategic communication,
distribution, movement leadership and continuous
and disposal of assets is improvements in model-
carried out based engineering methods
• Coordinate information • Implement effective digital
and media resources to enterprise environment
meet specific digital thread portfolio governance
… …

• (cont.) related objectives, • (cont.) arrangements
while maintaining the supported by effective
professional standards and reporting, using results
clarity of purpose from model-based
throughout a project engineering methods and
• Maintain and update tools
content management • Transform the culture by
processes to meet the encouraging the workforce
needs of users including to develop and implement
those with disabilities enterprise-wide digital
• Make decisions for enterprise environment
changes to enterprise and strategies
project level digital • Take full responsibility for
enterprise environment decision making for
relevant information acquiring, deploying, and
• Support a model based maintaining the enterprise
culture and environment, digital environment
leveraging capabilities of • Undertake and/or direct
the digital enterprise reviews as necessary to
environment infrastructure ensure management
of the organization decision-making is
• Take responsibility for transparent for acquiring,
ogranization's digital deploying, and maintaining
engineering projects, enterprise digital
providing effective team environment, and that an
leadership, including appropriate balance
information flow to and between benefits,
from team members during opportunities, costs and
project work risks can be demonstrated
• Take responsibility for the to principal stakeholders
design, procurement,
installation, upgrading,
operation, control,
maintenance (including
storage, modification and
communication of data, …

• voice, text, audio and
images) and effective use
of digital enterprise
environment infrastructure
components and monitors
their performance

Appendix U: KSABs for Communications (C21) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C21 Communications
• Advance digital • Describe the motivation • Communicate and share • Investigate and manage the • Engage with and influence
engineering policy, for change within a digital the digital modeling adoption of appropriate senior level stakeholders
guidance, specifications, engineering environment strategy for a specific model-based tools, and project teams through
and standards by using • Communicate using digital project techniques and processes digital enterprise
commonality in model artifacts from the (including automation) for environment management
terminology, developing a digital enterprise the management of digital processes, ensuring that the
shared understanding of environment enterprise environment infrastructure is managed
concepts, and ensuring systems and services to provide agreed levels of
consistency and rigor in • Collate digital enterprise service and data integrity
implementing digital environment usage Inspire creativity and
engineering across conclusions and flexibility in the
engineering activities recommendations and management and
present lessons learned to application of digital
stakeholders engineering related
• Define and communicate artifacts and projects
the digital modeling • Communicate and execute
strategy for any given the digital engineering
project vision, strategy, and
implementation by
providing a mechanism for
people to ask questions and
provide feedback,
establishing priorities and
key milestones, and
defining roles and
responsibilities of staff

Competency Title: C21 Communications
• Establish the appropriate
guidance to enable
transparent decision-
making to be
demonstrated, working
with senior leaders to
ensure the needs of
principal stakeholders are
understood, the value
proposition offered by
digital enterprise
environment is accepted by
these stakeholders and the
evolving needs of the
stakeholders and their
appetite for balancing
benefits, opportunities,
costs and risks is
embedded into strategic
and operational plans
• Evaluate new
developments in the
organization and the
industry and advise senior
management on digital
enterprise environment
potential growth, problem
areas and resourcing needs

Appendix V: KSABs for Planning (C22) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C22 Planning
• Aware of the digital • Participate in the • Coordinate digital • Implement and contribute • Authorize the structure of
enterprise environment coordination of the digital enterprise environment to the development of a digital enterprise
continuity management enterprise environment content management digital enterprise environment portfolios,
plan content management processes to meet the environment continuity and align digital enterprise
• Understand the needs of users, including management plan environment with business
stakeholders that will be those with disabilities • Lead the development and strategy/objectives and
impacted by the switch to a • Plan the digital enterprise implementation of a digital emerging digital
digital ecosystem and the environment infrastructure enterprise environment opportunities
roles and responsibilities necessary to provide the continuity management • Ensure that a framework of
of these stakeholders. digital application services plan policies, standards,
to meet service level • Lead the preparation of processes and practices is
agreements digital enterprise in place to guide provision
environment technical of digital enterprise
plans and, in liaison with environment services, and
business assurance and that suitable monitoring of
project staff, ensure that the governance framework
appropriate digital is in place to report on
engineering related adherence to these
resources are made obligations
available, within a change • Set strategy for monitoring
program and managing the
performance of digital
systems and services, in
respect of their
contribution to business
performance and benefits
to the business

Appendix W: KSABs for Digital Environment Operations (C23) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C23 Digital Environment Operations
• Follow digital enterprise • Adapt to changes in digital • Carry out agreed upon • Configure modeling tools • Control digital
environment procedures, enterprise environment operational procedures, to automate the environment assets in one
including performing process or technology including infrastructure provisioning, testing and or more significant areas,
simple installations, • Identify digital configuration, installation, deployment of new and ensuring that
replacing consumable environment related and maintenance changed digital enterprise administration of the
items, checking correct operational problems and • Contribute to digital environment infrastructure acquisition, storage,
working of installations, contribute to their enterprise environment • Ensure advanced distribution, movement,
and documenting/reporting resolution, checking that capacity modelling and modelling activities are and disposal of assets is
on work done they are managed in planning used to create significant carried out
• Understand that as a model accordance with agreed • Provide technical expertise change in digital enterprise • Set parameters for the
repository, the digital standards and procedures to enable the correct environment adoption prioritization of digital
enterprise environment can • Understand digital application of digital across multiple resources and the changes
be used as a single enterprise environment enterprise environment organization functions to be implemented
authoritative source of technical publication operational procedures • Create digital modeling
technical truth concepts, tools and • Configure digital and simulation artifacts
• Understand established methods and the way in engineering methods and and technology roadmaps,
digital engineering which these are used tools to address the project and share knowledge and
publishing processes and • Use organization's agreed needs insights from processes
dashboards used to to digital enterprise • Implement systems and and results, with others
distribute digital content environment procedures to controls for digital • Define digital environment
(formally or informally) to publish content, and create enterprise environment to configurations required for
interested stakeholders and maintain data records measure performance and testing with reference to
manage risk agreed upon testing
• Use digital enterprise standards
environment content • Ensure that digital
publishing systems to information is presented
manage published content effectively
across different channels

Competency Title: C23 Digital Environment Operations
• Use standard procedures • Provide expert technical
and tools to carry out knowledge in the systems
defined digital enterprise testing of platform-specific
environment system versions of the digital
backups, restoring data enterprise environment
where necessary products, on varying
• Provide support on the use platforms
of existing model-based • Perform digital enterprise
engineering methods and environment activities
tools related to administration of
assets
and advice to less
experienced colleagues to
ensure best use is made of
available digital
environment assets, and to
maintain or improve the
digital environment
installation service
• Select appropriate channels
through which digital
content should be
published, providing
advice to content authors
on how to leverage
features of relevant digital
channels and suggest
methods and tools

Appendix X: KSABs for Digital Environment Support (C24) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C24 Digital Environment Support
• Aware of the maintenance • Contribute to digital • Apply tools, techniques • Use appropriate digital • Extract information from
and support plans of the enterprise environment and processes to create and enterprise environment digital enterprise
digital enterprise maintenance, installation maintain an accurate tools, techniques, and environment as input to
environment and problem resolution digital enterprise proprietary guidelines to regulatory authorities
• Understand the tools, • Initiate improvements to environment register conform to application • Contribute to the creation
techniques, and processes digital enterprise • Assess digital environment programming interface and maintenance of digital
to log, track, and report on environment test processes associated risks, and definitions for new or environment policy,
configuration items, and direct their specify recovery routines existing platforms and standards, procedures and
components, and changes. implementation and contingency applications documentation for security
• Develop an understanding • Obtain and analyze digital procedures • Schedule and supervise all • Determine digital
of the role of testing within enterprise environment • Contribute to the planning digital enterprise environment testing
system development, as a usage data, and present it and implementation of environment maintenance policies, including
tool for design effectively maintenance and and installation work processes related to
improvement as well as a • Ensure that project-specific installation of • Act to highlight and security
verification process needs are supported in the infrastructure components resolve potential instances • Evaluate new digital
digital enterprise for virtualized of digital enterprise environment developments
environment environments environment unauthorized in the organization, and the
• Conduct tests on digital • Contribute to the planning usage such as unlicensed industry and advise senior
enterprise environment and implementation of copies of software management on potential
installations with guidance maintenance and • Develop, mature, and growth, problem areas and
• Explain the validation and installation work, implement methods and resourcing needs
verification process of the including building and processes to support digital • Investigate and coordinate
digital model configuration of enterprise environment the resolution of potential
infrastructure components activities across the and actual digital
in digital environments enterprise and lifecycle enterprise environment
• Understand basic service problems
approaches for • Lead and manage
maintenance, installation, investigations into
and problem resolution for complex digital enterprise
digital environments environment issues,
• Create and maintain an engaging additional
inventory of information specialists if required
…

• Contribute to • (cont.) assets, which are • Lead the establishment and
investigations of problems subject to relevant external maintenance of consistent
and faults concerning the oversight and integrated approach to
installation of digital • Analyze and implement digital enterprise
environment hardware technological innovations environment governance in
and/or software and in digital environment to line with the organization's
confirm the correct enable end-to-end digital corporate governance
working of digital enterprise requirements
installations • Develop digital enterprise • Measure and monitor
• Correct digital environment installation adherence to standards and
environment malfunctions, procedures and standards, ensure consistent execution
calling on other and schedule installation of the digital enterprise
experienced colleagues and work environment processes
external resources if • Document digital across the organization
required environment related faults, • Establish accountability to
• Identify potential hazards implement resolutions and measure, foster,
or risks related to the use retest to agreed standards demonstrate, and improve
of digital enterprise • Draft and maintain tangible results of digital
environment tools and standards and procedures engineering across
equipment for digital enterprise programs and the
• Install or remove digital environment component enterprise
enterprise environment capacity management • Plan all aspects of the
hardware and/or software, • Identify and analyze infrastructure necessary to
and associated problems and issues with ensure provision of digital
connections, using decision making for enterprise environment
supplied installation acquiring, deploying, and network services to meet
instructions and tools, and maintaining enterprise organization's business
where appropriate, digital environment and strategy and service level
handover to the client recommend corrective agreements with customers
• Maintain accurate records actions. • Provide authoritative
of various metrics related • Implement agreed upon advice and guidance on
to digital artifacts and digital enterprise any aspect of digital
digital enterprise environment infrastructure environment test planning
environment infrastructure changes and maintenance and execution
routines

• Provide assistance to • Manage and maintain • Provide information and
digital enterprise service compliance of all advice on digital enterprise
environment users digital enterprise environment issues such as
following agreed upon environment service assets maintenance of hardware
procedures for further help in line with business and assets, licensing of
or escalation regulatory requirements software, protection of
• Maintain and troubleshoot involving knowledge of intellectual property, and
digital enterprise financial and technical legal obligations
environment tools and processes, tools, and • Provide reports and
technologies techniques proposals for digital
• Use infrastructure • Manage digital enterprise enterprise environment
management tools to environment capacity improvement, to
collect and report on modelling and forecasting specialists, users, and
digital enterprise activities managers
environment load and • Produce and analyze • Report on digital enterprise
performance statistics and registers and histories of environment portfolio
to automate the authorized digital status as appropriate
provisioning, testing and enterprise environment • Review information, in
deployment of new and assets (including secure conjunction with service
changed infrastructure master copies of software, level agreements, to
• Create test cases using own documentation, data, identify any digital
in-depth technical analysis licenses and agreements enterprise environment
from model-based for supply, warranty, and capacity issues and specify
engineering methods, of maintenance), and verify any required changes
both functional and non- that all these assets are in a
functional specifications known state and location
(such as reliability, • Produce reports and
efficiency, usability, analysis to support digital
maintainability, and enterprise environment
portability) asset management
• Analyze and report test activities and aid decision
activities and results using making
model-based engineering • Provide reports on
methods and tools progress, anomalies, risks,
• Understand the specific and issues associated with
definition of verification a digital enterprise
regarding DE. environment modeling
project
• Understand the specific • Provide specialist guidance
definition of validation information to support
with regard to DE. digital enterprise
• Understand the use of a environment systems
digital ecosystem for testing and quality
VV&A of the system. assurance functions, to
• Verify that products assist in improving
developed are aligned with procedures
the review and/or analysis • Undertake routine
installations and de-
installations of digital
items of hardware and/or
software
• Use infrastructure
management tools to
determine digital enterprise
environment load and
performance statistics
• Oversee maintenance,
installation, and problem
resolution for digital
• Configure digital
tools to maintain records of
user requests, contact
details, and outcomes
• Extend the digital
model to define test
strategies or cases
• Verify digital model using
digital thread
• Verify system model for
the technical authority

Appendix Y: KSABs for Digital Environment Security (C5) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: C25 Digital Environment Security
• Understand digital • Assist in the investigation • Assist users in defining • Contribute to development • Develop and communicate
enterprise environment and resolution of issues their access rights and of information security corporate information
access and controls for the relating to access controls privileges policy, standards, and security policy, standards,
authoritative source of and security systems • Interpret digital enterprise guidelines and guidelines
truth in the digital • Develop policies, environment information • Contribute to the creation • Develop policies,
enterprise environment standards, processes, and assurance and security and maintenance of policy, standards, processes, and
• Understand the purpose of guidelines for ensuring the policies and apply these to standards, procedures, and guidelines for ensuring the
the application and physical and electronic appropriately manage risks documentation for security physical and electronic
operation of digital security of digital • Perform non-standard • Develop corporate security of automated
environment physical, environments digital enterprise information assurance systems
procedural, and technical environment security policy, standards, and • Ensure compliance
security controls. - AND administration tasks and guidelines between business strategies
Provide advice and resolve security • Obtain and act on and information assurance
guidance on the administration issues vulnerability information by setting strategies,
application and operation • Provide advice and and conduct security risk policies, standards, and
of digital environment guidance to ensure assessments, business practices and leading the
physical, procedural, and adoption of and adherence impact analysis and provision of information
technical security controls to digital enterprise accreditation on digital assurance expertise, advice
• Maintain relevant records environment information enterprise environment and guidance across all of
and documentation on assurance architectures, • Perform security risk, the organization's digital
digital enterprise strategies, policies, vulnerability assessments, enterprise environment
environment security standards and guidelines and business impact • Ensure that all identified
administration tasks • Apply and maintain analysis for digital breaches in digital
• Perform simple digital specific security controls enterprise environment environment security are
enterprise environment as required by • Ensure that all identified promptly and thoroughly
security administration organizational policy and breaches in digital investigated and that any
tasks local risk assessments enterprise environment changes required to
• Receive and respond to • Perform basic risk security are promptly and maintain security are
routine digital enterprise assessments for digital thoroughly investigated implemented
environment requests for enterprise environment and that any system • Ensure that the digital
security support information systems changes required to environment policy and
maintain security are standards for security …
implemented

• Secure digital enterprise • Use digital testing methods • Ensure that digital • (cont.) administration are
environment infrastructure to support digital environment security fit for purpose, current and
and protect intellectual enterprise environment records are accurate and are correctly implemented
property information assurance complete and that requests • Ensure that the policy and
for support are dealt with standards for digital
according to set standards enterprise environment
and procedures security administration are
• Ensure that digital fit for purpose, current and
enterprise environment are correctly implemented
security records are • Direct the development,
accurate and complete and implementation, delivery
that request for support are and support of an digital
dealt with according to set enterprise environment
standards and procedures information security
• Investigate digital strategy aligned to the
enterprise environment strategic requirements of
security breaches in the business
accordance with • Lead the provision of
established procedures and authoritative advice and
recommend required guidance on the
actions and support/follow requirements for digital
up to ensure these are enterprise environment
implemented security controls in
• Assess impact of suspected collaboration with experts
cyber-attacks and manage in other functions such as
security incidents, legal, technical support
supporting digital • Lead the provision of
enterprise environment information security
digital forensics where resources expertise,
appropriate guidance and systems
• Maintain digital enterprise necessary to execute
environment security strategic and operational
administration processes plans across all of the
and check that all requests organization's digital
for support are dealt with enterprise environment
according to agreed systems
procedures

• Monitor the application • Set policies, standards and
and compliance of digital guidelines for how the
enterprise environment organization conducts
security administration digital enterprise
procedures and review environment digital
information systems for forensic investigations
actual or potential breaches • Establish digital enterprise
in security environment access and
• Process and analyze controls for the
evidence of digital authoritative source of
enterprise environment truth
security breaches in line
with policy, standards and
guidelines and support
production of forensics
findings and reports
• Provide advice and
guidance on digital
enterprise environment-
based security strategies to
manage identified risks
and ensure adoption of IT-
industry standard processes
• Provide guidance in
defining digital enterprise
environment access rights
and privileges
• Provide secure connected
information network
recommendations to
perform digital enterprise
environment activities

Appendix Z: KSABs for Digital Literacy (F1) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Group: Foundational Digital Competencies
Competency Title: F1 Digital Literacy
• Use established publishing • Act as a contributor to • Capture stakeholder high- • Advise on the choice of • Develop the overall
processes according to modeling tasks on a design level requirements techniques and approach strategy for the delivery of
appropriate guidelines, for engineering team • Communicate information and influence customers information and
example, to release, retire • Apply modeling tasks security risks and issues to accordingly knowledge, including
or convert content into a employing a model-based business managers and • Collate conclusions and preferred media, overall
format suitable for systems engineering others recommendations and information structure, and
publication approach • Coordinate content present forensics findings rules for formatting
• Follow digital engineering • Define test conditions for management processes to to stakeholders content to meet the needs
procedures, including given requirements meet the needs of users, • Conduct investigations to of the organization and its
performing simple • Describe digital artifacts’ including those with correctly gather, analyse desired audience
installations, replacing contribution to the disabilities and present the totality of • Act as a chief architect for
consumable items, following engineering • Maintain accurate records findings, including digital a system-of-systems or
checking correct working concepts: Systems of of user requests, contact evidence - to both business mission level analysis
of installations, and Systems (SoS), program details and outcomes and legal audiences across multiple system
documenting/reporting on interoperability, and • Provide advice and • Conduct technical reviews commands or services
work done modularity guidance to ensure on a continuous basis, • Act as the organization's
• Understand that as a model • Describe how digital adoption of and adherence especially as the technical contact for relevant
repository, the digital artifacts advance the state to information assurance baseline matures, to regulatory authorities
engineering framework can of practice of Digital architectures, strategies, produce digital artifacts • Approve architecture
be used as a single Engineering policies, standards and and inform decisions products as the technical
authoritative source of • Describe the motivation guidelines • Coordinate information authority
technical truth for change within a DE • Respond to security resources to meet specific • Authorize program
• Understands that rationale environment breaches in line with business objectives whilst integrated architectures for
is an important • Describe the purpose of security policy and record maintaining the principles release outside of the
characteristic different stakeholder views the incidents and action of professional standards, system command
• Document results in taken accountability, openness, • Communicate and execute
accordance with agreed • Review the architectural equality, diversity and the digital engineering
procedures products created by others clarity of purpose vision, strategy, and
• Establish access and • Submit waivers and • Create and maintain an implementation by
controls for the deviations for approval inventory of information providing a mechanism for
authoritative source of assets, which are subject to people to ask questions and
truth relevant legislation provide feedback

• Explain the difference in • Take into account any • Create reports and • Communicate and execute
stakeholder views legal issues related to technology roadmaps, and the digital engineering
• Maintain records and publishing, including that share knowledge and vision, strategy, and
advise relevant persons of associated copyright insights with others implementation by
actions taken concerns are adequately • Define and communicate providing resources,
• Perform digital managed the test strategy for the establishing priorities and
engineering activities • Use content publishing project key milestones, and
related to administration of systems to manage • Develop and implement defining roles and
assets published content across quality plans and method responsibilities to enable
• Relate the importance of a different channels statements • Define metrics and the
methodology to achieving • Use digital artifacts to • Draft and maintain criteria for success, as a
Digital Engineering advance the state of standards and procedures means to create incentives,
• Understand technical practice of Digital for service component monitor, reward, take
publication concepts, tools Engineering capacity management corrective action, and
and methods and the way • Ensure asset controllers, improve results across the
in which these are used infrastructure teams and digital enterprise
• Use agreed on procedures the business coordinate • Demonstrate efficient
to create and maintain an and optimize value, communication among
accurate register of assets maintain control and stakeholders about
• Use agreed procedures to maintain appropriate legal relationships between
publish content compliance system requirements and
• Explain the purpose of and the system being
provide advice and developed, through
guidance on the creating and maintaining
application and operation precise engineering
of elementary physical, artifacts and traceability of
procedural and technical designs to requirements
security controls • Develop configuration
• Identify information and management strategies,
communication systems policies, standards, and
that support the critical guidelines
business processes and • Develop new methods and
manage the relationship organizational capabilities
with specialists with (including automation) for
authority for those systems configuration management
• Identify the implications of • Develop organizational
copyright, data protection guidelines for monitoring
and other legal issues emerging technologies
associated with publishing
• Identify, assess and • Develop organizational
communicate associated policies, standards, and
risks related to asset guidelines for data
management management, aligned with
• Investigate major breaches ethical principles
of security, and • Develop organizational
recommend appropriate policies, standards, and
control improvements guidelines for information
• Investigate suspected and records management
attacks and manage ensuring that uniformly
security incidents, using recognised and accepted
digital forensics where data definitions are
appropriate developed and applied
• Lead a multi- throughout the
organizational level system organization
model development • Develop policy and
• Lead multi-organizational strategies to ensure all the
level architecture performance measures of
development efforts IT services meet the needs
• Manage client of the business and
relationships with respect performs to any service
to testing matters requirements or service
• Manage large programs level agreements which
• Monitor the effectiveness may be in place
of installations and ensure • Engage with and influence
that appropriate senior level stakeholders
recommendations for and project teams through
change are made change management
• Obtain and act on processes, ensuring that the
vulnerability information infrastructure is managed
and conduct security risk to provide agreed levels of
assessments, business service and data integrity
impact analysis and • Engage with, and
accreditation on complex influence, relevant
information systems stakeholders to obtain
• Obtain input from, and organizational
communicates modelling commitment to technology
results to, senior managers roadmaps
118 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005 for agreement
• Perform security risk, • Ensure compliance
vulnerability assessments, between business strategies
and business impact and information assurance
analysis for medium by setting strategies,
complexity information policies, standards and
systems practices and leading the
• Plan effective data storage, provision of information
sharing and publishing assurance expertise, advice
within the organization and guidance across all of
• Plan large programs the organization's
• Play a leading role in information and
establishing SysML-based information systems
MBSE at an enterprise • Ensure that a framework of
• Produce and analyze policies, standards, process
registers and histories of and practices is in place to
authorised assets guide provision of
(including secure master enterprise IT services, and
copies of software, that suitable monitoring of
documentation, data, the governance framework
licenses and agreements is in place to report on
for supply, warranty and adherence to these
maintenance), and verify obligations, as needed
that all these assets are in a • Ensure that adequate
known state and location procedures, standards,
• Propose and agree on the tools and resources are in
configuration items (CIs) place to ensure the
to be uniquely identified appropriate quality of
with naming conventions material published by or on
• Provide advice and behalf of the organization
guidance on security and it is in a form
strategies to manage accessible to all potential
identified risks and ensure users, including those with
adoption and adherence to disabilities
standards • Ensure that any legal
• Provide specialist advice to issues related to
those accountable for publishing, including
governance to correct associate copyright
compliance issues concerns, are adequately
managed
• Provide specialist expertise • Ensure that the business
in the design processes and information
characteristics of database required to support the
management systems organization are defined,
(DBMS) or data and devise appropriate
warehouse processes and data
products/services architectures
• Report on the status of • Establish a supporting
configuration management infrastructure and
• Review current and environment to perform
proposed information activities, collaborate, and
systems for compliance communicate across
with the organization's stakeholders
obligations (including • Establish and communicate
legislation, regulatory, the organization's
contractual and agreed information management
standards/policies) and strategy, developing it as
adherence to overall an integral part of the
strategy business strategy
• Review the benefits and • Establish and maintain the
value of digital policies for compliance
engineering methods and with the organization's
tools obligations (including
• Schedule and supervise all legislation, regulatory,
IT maintenance and contractual and agreed
installation work standards/policies),
• Select appropriate channels holding the management
through which content team to account
should be published, • Establish new projects and
providing advice to users support them through their
and content authors to lifecycle
leverage the features of the • Formalize the application
relevant channels and tools of models to support
used system requirements,
design, analysis, …

• Support a change program • (cont.) verification and
or project through the validation activities
preparation of technical beginning in the
plans and application of conceptual design phase
design principles that and continuing throughout
comply with enterprise and development and later life
solution architecture cycle phases
standards (including • Inspire creativity and
security) flexibility in the
• Support a systems management and
modeling culture and application of IT
environment, leveraging • Lead the establishment and
the capabilities of the maintenance of a function
organization that provides a consistent
• Take responsibility for and integrated approach to
installation projects, IT governance in line with
providing effective team the organization's
leadership, including corporate governance
information flow to and requirements
from the customer during • Lead the establishment of
project work modeling-language-based
MBSE at an enterprise
level
• Lead the provision of
authoritative advice and
guidance on the
requirements for security
controls in collaboration
with experts in other
functions such as legal,
technical support

• Lead the provision of
information security
resources expertise,
guidance and systems
necessary to execute
strategic and operational
plans across all of the
organization's information
systems
• Manage client
relationships with respect
to all testing matters
• Measure and monitor
adherence to standards and
ensure consistent execution
of the process across the
organization
• Outline key business
engagement messages that
need to be communicated
throughout the
program/project
• Plan, establish and manage
processes for regular and
consistent access to, and
independent validation of
external information from
multiple sources
• Produce network design
policies, philosophies and
criteria covering
connectivity, capacity,
interfacing, security,
resilience, recovery, access
and remote access
• Promote awareness of, and
commitment to, asset
control
• Promote the continuing
economic and effective
provision of services,
ensuring that all changes to
assets and services are
appropriately and
accurately controlled and
recorded
• Provide assurance to
principal stakeholders that
IT services meet the
organization's obligations
(including legislation,
regulatory, contractual and
agreed standards/policies)
• Provide guidance in
defining access rights and
privileges
• Provide information and
advice on issues such as
maintenance of hardware
assets, licensing of
software, protection of
intellectual property, and
legal obligations
• Provide resources to drive
adoption of, and adherence
to, policies and standards
• Represent own
organization as a
modelling expert in
industry initiatives
• Responsible for
compliance with
regulations, standards and
codes of good practice
relating to information and
…
• (cont.) documentation,
records management,
information assurance and
data protection
• Review information, in
conjunction with service
level agreements, to
identify any capacity
issues and specify any
required changes
• Review new business
proposals and provide
specialist advice on
capacity issues
• Take overall responsibility
for planning effective data
storage, security, quality,
sharing, availability,
retention and publishing
within the organization

Appendix AA: KSABs for Digital Engineering Value Proposition (F2) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: F2 Digital Engineering Value Proposition
• Understand the benefits of • Understand the benefits of • Understand the limitations
working in a digital digital engineering: greater of current document-based
engineering environment integration among engineering acquisition
(more efficient and engineering activities that practices.
effective). is enabled through the use • Understand the challenges
• Understand the definition of models, simulations, of current document-based
of digital engineering. and data that are both well- acquisition system (linear,
defined and well-formed, inefficient).
all housed in a single DE • Understand how digital
Ecosystem; A complex engineering can reduce
system of systems may program risk.
involve multiple
geographically distributed
stakeholders, sometimes
with competing priorities
and interests. Programs
involve ever-greater levels
of technology, software,
and requirements for both
capability and security
• Understand digital
engineering guidance,
capabilities, benefits, roles,
responsibilities, and
activities.
• Understand the benefits of
digital engineering and the
laws that support digital
engineering.
• Understand the benefits of
implementing a digital
engineering ecosystem:
traceability, digital data,

Competency Title: F2 Digital Engineering Value Proposition
MPTs, historical systems
information, authoritative
source of truth, digital
thread, documents
generated from
environment, not by hand.
• Understand the
"community acceptance"
model, which includes
review, V&V, and
accreditation to create
credibility and trust.
• Understand the elements of
trust in the community
acceptance model (context,
governance, accuracy,
applicability of MPTs,
community buy-in).
• Understand the role of
stakeholder engagement in
building trust in the DE
ecosystem.

Appendix AB: KSABs for DoD Policy/Guidance (F3) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: F3 DoD Policy/Guidance
• Ensure the correct • Establish formal guidance
implementation of for the system model and
standards and procedures architectural design within
in digital enterprise a command (e.g.,
environment projects Command Style Guide,
• Understand DoD policy command policy,
and guidance about handbooks)
models, simulations, and
DE in the context of SE
• Understand why the DoD
is interested in digital
engineering

Appendix AC: KSABs for Coaching and Mentoring (F4) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: F4 Coaching and Mentoring
• Secure a mentor to seek • Obtain personal coaching • Mentor basic practitioners • Coach intermediate • Coach advanced
guidance and advice in the and training to improve in in systems modeling and practitioners in systems practitioners in systems
digital engineering systems modeling and analysis modeling and analysis modeling and analysis
environment analysis • Coach basic practitioners • Guide supervised • Mentor advanced
in systems modeling and practitioners in modeling practitioners in systems
analysis and systems analysis modeling and analysis
• Mentor intermediate
practitioners in systems
modeling and analysis

Appendix AD: KSABs for Decision Making (F5) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: F5 Decision Making
• Leverage technologies • Use technological • Provide reports on the • Authorize allocation of
currently available in the innovations to improve consolidated status of resources for the planning,
marketplace, while finding decision making, system information controls to development and delivery
high-payoff solutions capabilities, and inform effective decision of all information systems
performance of making services and products
computationally intensive • Contribute to development • Authorize organizational
engineering activities of policy, standards and policies governing the
• Identify potential hazards procedures for compliance conduct of management of
or risks related to the use with relevant legislation change initiatives and
of tools and equipment • Contribute to standards of professional
• Interpret information organizational policies, conduct
assurance and security standards, and guidelines • Authorize the release of
policies and applies these for methods and tools formal forensics reports
in order to manage risks • Contribute to the • Authorize the structure of
• Interpret installation development of analytics portfolios, and be
standards to meet project policy, standards and responsible for alignment
needs and produce guidelines with business
database or data warehouse • Determine the readiness strategy/objectives and
component specifications levels of business users with emerging IT and
• Produce routine reports to with regard to upcoming digital opportunities
assist asset management changes • Determine project testing
activities and decision • Ensure that operational standards for all phases,
making procedures and working influencing all parties to
practices are fit for purpose conform to those standards
and current • Ensure that the policies
• Identify problems and and standards for capacity
issues and recommend management are fit for
corrective actions purpose, current and are
• Make decisions based on correctly implemented
that information, including • Establish the appropriate
the need to make changes guidance to enable
to the systems transparent decision-
• Manage and maintain the making to be

service compliance of all demonstrated, working
IT and service assets in with senior leaders to
line with business and ensure the needs of
regulatory requirements principal stakeholders are
involving knowledge of understood, the value
financial and technical proposition offered by
processes, tools and enterprise IT is accepted
techniques by these stakeholders and
• Produce reports and the evolving needs of the
analysis to support asset stakeholders and their
management activities and appetite for balancing
aid decision making benefits, opportunities,
costs and risks is
embedded into strategic
and operational plans
• Initiate assessment of
consequences and risks
arising from decisions to
obtain, change or continue
the possession or use of an
asset, system or service
• Maintain an overview of
the contribution of
programs to organizational
success
• Monitor performance and
take corrective action
where necessary and in
line with policies
• Plan and manage
implementation of
processes and procedures,
tools and techniques for
monitoring and managing
the performance of

automated systems and
services
• Take full responsibility for
budgeting, estimating,
planning and objective
setting
• Undertake and/or direct
reviews as necessary to
ensure management
decision-making is
transparent, and that an
appropriate balance
between benefits,
opportunities, costs and
risks can be demonstrated
to principal stakeholders

Appendix AE: KSABs for Software Literacy (F6) in DECF v. 1.1
Competency Title: F6 Software Literacy
• Contribute, under • Adapt quickly to changes • Apply tools, techniques • Act to highlight and • Ensure the availability of
supervision, to in process or technology and processes to create and resolve potential instances hardware, software, and
infrastructure operation • Assist with the evaluation maintain an accurate asset of unauthorized assets such resources for the systems
• Develop an understanding of change requests register as unlicensed copies of testing of platform specific
of the role of testing within • Conduct tests and correct • Apply tools, techniques software versions of one or more
system development, as a malfunctions on system and processes to track, log • Assess associated risks, software products
tool for design installations and correct information and specify recovery • Assess suppliers'
improvement as well as a • Contribute to maintenance, related to configuration routines and contingency development and testing
validation process installation and problem items procedures capabilities
• Execute given test scripts resolution • Construct software for • Assess proposed changes • Contribute to the
under supervision • Contribute, as required, to verification by building in to object/data structures, in development of
• Knowledge of algorithms investigations of problems such a way that faults can order to evaluate organizational strategies
and of coding practices and faults concerning the be easily found by alternative options that address information
• Maintain relevant records installation of hardware software engineers writing • Assist the user community control requirements
and documentation on and/or software and the software, and testers in the provision of • Contribute to the
security administration confirms the correct and users during their transition support and development of
tasks working of installations independent testing and change planning, and organizational strategies
• Perform simple security • Identify and report testing operational activities liaises with the project that address the evolving
administration tasks issues and risks, associated • Contribute to the team business risk and
• Secure IT infrastructure with own work development of installation • Contribute to digital information control
and protect intellectual • Interpret, execute and procedures and standards forensic investigations requirements
property record test cases in • Contribute to the • Contribute to setting • Create and maintain
accordance with project implementation of service level agreements, overall network plans to
test plans maintenance and and plan the infrastructure support the organization’s
• Obtain and analyze usage installation work necessary to provide the business strategy and
data, and present it • Contribute to vulnerability network services to meet service level agreements
effectively assessments such agreements with customers
• Perform variability • Document faults, • Contribute to the • Define configurations
implementation with implement resolutions and development of required for testing with
mechanisms such as … retest to agreed standards information assurance reference to agreed testing
policies, standards and standards
guidelines

• (cont.) parameterization, • Install or remove hardware • Contribute to the planning • Determine testing policy,
conditional compilation, and/or software, and and implementation of and owns the supporting
and design patterns associated connections, maintenance and processes including
• Receive and respond to using supplied installation installation work, software security testing
routine requests for instructions and tools, and including building and • Ensure sites deliver site
security support where appropriate, configuration of implementation plans that
handover to the client infrastructure components align with the overall plan
• Perform non-standard in virtualized environments • Ensure that the policy and
security administration • Control IT assets in one or standards for security
tasks and resolve security more significant areas, administration are fit for
administration issues ensuring that purpose, current and are
• Provide assistance to users administration of the correctly implemented
in a professional manner acquisition, storage, • Evaluate new
following agreed upon distribution, movement developments in the
procedures for further help and disposal of assets is organization and the
or escalation carried out industry and advise senior
• Report details of all • Coordinate and manage management on potential
hardware/software items planning of the system growth, problem areas and
that have been installed and/or acceptance tests, resourcing needs
and removed so that including software security • Lead complex
configuration management testing, within a investigations engaging
records can be updated development or integration additional specialists if
• Review requirements and project or program required
specifications, and define • Correct malfunctions,
test conditions calling on other • Manage all risks associated
• Understand the capabilities experienced colleagues and with the testing and take
and the requirement sets external resources if preventative action when
within modeling and required any risks become
simulation software • Create and maintain unacceptable
• Use infrastructure network plans for own area • Manage complex
management tools to of responsibility investigations engaging
collect and report on load • Develop installation additional specialists if
and performance statistics procedures and standards, required
and to automate the and schedule installation • Plan all aspects of the
provisioning, testing and work infrastructure necessary to

deployment of new and • Develop the capabilities ensure provision of
changed infrastructure and the requirement sets network services to meet
• Use standard procedures within modeling and organization's business
and tools to carry out simulation software strategy and service level
defined system backups, • Document details of all agreements with customers
restoring data where hardware/software items • Provide hardware and
necessary that have been installed software to perform digital
and removed so that engineering activities
configuration management • Provide secure connected
records can be updated information networks to
• Ensure that all identified perform digital engineering
breaches in security are activities
promptly and thoroughly • Provide technical
investigated and that any management of an IT
system changes required to operation, ensuring that
maintain security are agreed service levels are
implemented met and all relevant
• Ensure that security policies and procedures are
records are accurate and adhered to
complete and that request • Set policies, standards and
for support are dealt with guidelines for how the
according to set standards organization conducts
and procedures digital forensic
• Identify operational investigations
problems and contribute to • Set strategy for monitoring
their resolution, checking and managing the
that they are managed in performance of IT-related
accordance with agreed systems and services, in
standards and procedures respect of their
• Implement agreed on contribution to business
infrastructure changes and performance and benefits
maintenance routines to the business
• Install and test new
versions of system
software

• Interpret, execute and • Take responsibility for
document complex test major aspects of network
scripts using agreed specification and design
methods and standards within the organization
• Investigate and coordinate
the resolution of potential
and actual service
problems
• Investigate security
breaches in accordance
with established
procedures and
recommend required
actions and support/follow
up to ensure these are
implemented
• Maintain security
administration processes
and check that all requests
for support are dealt with
according to agreed
procedures
• Monitor the application
and compliance of security
administration procedures
and review information
systems for actual or
potential breaches in
security
• Process and analyze
evidence in line with
policy, standards and
guidelines and support
production of forensics
findings and reports

• Produce outline system
designs and specifications,
and overall architectures,
topologies, configuration
databases and design
documentation of networks
and networking technology
within the organization
• Produce specifications of
cloud-based or on-
premises components, tiers
and interfaces, for
translation into detailed
designs using selected
services and products
• Provide authoritative
advice and guidance on
any aspect of test planning
and execution
• Provide reports and
proposals for
improvement, to
specialists, users and
managers
• Provide reports on
progress, anomalies, risks
and issues associated with
the overall project
• Provide specialist advice to
support others
and advice to less
experienced colleagues to
ensure best use is made of
available assets, and to

maintain or improve the
installation service
information to support
systems testing and quality
assurance functions, to
assist in improving
procedures
• Provide technical expertise
to enable the correct
application of operational
procedures
• Specify requirements for
environment, data,
resources and tools
• Undertake routine
installations and de-
installations of items of
hardware and/or software
• Use infrastructure
management tools to
determine load and
performance statistics

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WRT-1006 Technical Report: Developing the Digital

Engineering Competency Framework (DECF) – Phase 2

Technical Report SERC-2021-TR-005

Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005 1

Nicole Hutchison, Kara Pepe, Mark Blackburn, Stevens Institute of Technology

Cliff Whitcomb, Rabia Khan Naval Postgraduate School

Russell Peak, Adam Baker Georgia Tech

i Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

ii Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

iii Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

iv Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

v Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

vi Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

vii Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

viii Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

9 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

1.1 Digital Engineering Strategy

1.2 Digital Transformation

10 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

The outline of this report is:

11 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

The overarching structure of the DECF is:

12 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

The existing relevant competency models being examined include:

2.2 Use Cases for the DECF

13 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Identifying Critical Roles – When developing a competency model or framework, it is common to

14 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

2.4 Modeling the DECF

15 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

16 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

17 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Figure 5. The DECF OpenMBEE Structure.

2.5 Analysis of Existing Curricula

• CLE084: Modeling, Simulation, and Digital Engineering and

18 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

• Which DECF KSABs were covered;

These analyses can be found in Section 4.

2.6 Synergies with Additional SERC Research Task

19 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

20 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Job Title Search Jobs on Indeed.com Jobs on USAJobs.gov

21 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

22 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

23 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

3. The Digital Engineering Competency Framework

3.1 DECF Organization

24 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Table 3. Foundational Digital Competencies in DECF v. 1.1.

ID Foundational Digital Competencies

25 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

26 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Figure 8. Context for the DECF.

27 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Table 4. Descriptions of DECF v. 1.1 Competency Groups.

ID Competency Title Competency Description

28 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Figure 10. Overview of DECF v. 1.1.

29 Report No. SERC-2021-TR-005

Table 5. Proficiency Levels of DECF v. 1.1.

Basic Intermediate Advanced Expert

Applies the Applies the Applies the

No experience Requires close Requires Requires Generally Serves as a key