DIGITAL ENGINEERING TRANSFORMS COMPLEX SYSTEMS SUCCESS
SAIC expands its innovation hubs to support U.S. Army modernization
08-16-2022
Chuck Murdock
DIGITAL ENGINEERING
The Army’s modernization plans call for a “try before they buy” framework that requires minimal development, faster delivery capabilities and lower costs. Meeting the Army’s requirements involve leveraging best-in-class digital engineering tools and solutions that test and validate solutions before any metal is bent.
SAIC is leaning into the Army’s needs by opening our newest innovation hub in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The new hub will serve as a collaborative environment where the best minds in academia, defense technology and other federal agencies will work together to provide rapid identification, vetting, adaptation and delivery of innovative solutions to the Army.
A new innovation hub
The Sterling Heights Innovation Hub will allow us to leverage technologies that support the Army’s modernization efforts across several critical programs and address the challenges posed by integrating future technologies into existing platforms. We will also introduce non-traditional system integrators that will benefit small business and academic technologies to address Army priorities.
The Sterling Heights Innovation Factory Hub is located near the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Michigan. The Sterling Heights Factory Hub operates alongside our Innovation Factories located in Reston, Virginia; Lowell, Massachusetts at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Institute; Los Angeles; Huntsville, Alabama; and the Capital Factory in Austin, Texas.
Elevating model quality
The Sterling Heights Innovation Hub will focus on enabling technological advancements for ground vehicle systems through a best-in-class suite of digital engineering tools and processes.
Our teams operate like a startup, using a highly automated, cloud-hosted toolset; agile practices; and DevSecOps production chains to rapidly build, test, and deploy the first iterations of solutions quickly and provide organic enhancements as needed. The addition of Sterling Heights location gives GVSC access to over 12,000 software and hardware engineers. The new hub also provides access to the SAIC’s state-of-the-art Cyber Threat & Intelligence Integration Center, which provides cyber threat analysis, intelligence and support.
Accounting for the future
As part of SAIC’s investment in the best digital engineering community practices, we have released a free system model validation tool that guides modeling consistency to reduce errors, aid analyses, and improve quality. The Digital Engineering Validation Tool is intended for system modelers, engineers and users. The tool improves the quality and functionality of modeling and engineering systems using state-of-the-art validation techniques to enable better and faster decision making. The new tool leverages the behavioral and structural integration from our modeling and validation rules to predict potential failures.
Visit our Digital Engineering Validation Tool page for more information on how SAIC is delivering tomorrow’s engineering solutions to customers today.
Posted by: Chuck Murdock
Senior Vice President of Ground Systems/Combat Support
Chuck Murdock is senior vice president of operations of ground systems and combat support in the U.S. Army business unit of SAIC's Defense and Civilian Sector, with responsibility for customer relationship management, leading and expanding the company’s business in support of Army training and systems integration.
Murdock, who joined SAIC in 2003, has two decades of diversified experience in the defense technical services industry. He is experienced in line management, program management, business management, engineering and operations. Murdock previously served as vice president of programs in the Army mission space, where he led a portfolio of programs delivering engineering, business and analytical, logistical, program management and operations support solutions to joint force and Army customers.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy with a bachelor of science in mechanical (aerospace) engineering, Murdock served as an Army infantry officer in mechanized and light infantry units in Germany and the U.S. Other assignments included training and operations research/systems analysis and acquisition. Following his military service, Murdock continued to serve in the Army Reserve and which included Operation Enduring Freedom. He retired at the rank of colonel after 30 years of combined active and reserve service.
Murdock holds a master of science in engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a master of strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. He is defense acquisition certified in program management and systems planning, research, development and engineering.
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