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Joe Duquette

Thanks in part to his wife, Linda, Joe Duquette is improving engineering processes that result in better products and systems for the U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center (ESC). No, his wife doesn't work along side him, but she did ask him the right questions when he was looking to make a change from a 60-to-70-hour work week to a position more attuned to a life-work balance.

Today, Duquette is a staff member within MITRE's Center for Acquisition and System Analysis, working primarily with the corporation's Systems Engineering Process Office. For example, he helps the chief engineer of the ESC to implement processes that are based upon the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) framework. CMMI offers a framework of system engineering best practices that address the development and maintenance of products and services, covering the product life cycle from conception through delivery and maintenance.

Duquette came to MITRE after he decided he needed a change from his job in industry, where his work as a program director had become all-consuming. Previously, Duquette was the director of the international Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) Program at Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts. Duquette retired as an Air Force officer at the completion of the AWACS job.

A few years ago, when Linda asked that pivotal question about why he was living such a hectic life, Joe began to think of alternatives. "I thought about teaching high school, but I wanted to capitalize on my 35 years of successes and mistakes," says Duquette. "During the government acquisition reform period, I was watching from the contractor's side, and I saw issues. All of the standards and practices seem to have been thrown away, and some of the materials we were getting from the government were hard for me, as a contractor, to deal with. There were poor statements of work, poorly worded criteria for selection and requests for proposals, and some odd instructions for the preparation of proposals."

When Duquette looked around he found an opportunity with MITRE's Center for Acquisition and System Analysis, working with the System Engineering Process Office. As he helps ESC implement new acquisition processes, Duquette has found a way to give back to industry and government.

"My work has been extremely fulfilling," says Duquette. "I really enjoy it because it provides me an opportunity to take my experience as a government manager and a contractor manager and put it into training, briefings, and tool kits. I can capitalize on the rights and wrongs I've experienced during my career."

Duquette works regularly with systems engineer Mike Bloom to design process improvement courses that are then taught by the MITRE Institute. Courses include CMMI basics, risk management, requirements development and management, configuration management, program planning, integrated testing, and mission partnering.

"We have other courses on the drawing board," he adds. "We feel they're consistent with the desire of the government to follow section 804 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act of 2003. All the services have to implement the act, which includes processes that we have been working on. So, we were able to provide some real impact and help for the Department of Defense to meet the Congressional requirements. I think it fits into MITRE's own internal continuous efforts to try to enhance and improve our existing system engineering capabilities."

Duquette has also been able to pursue his ambition to teach. At Western New England College, Springfield, Massachusetts, he teaches courses on program control, program monitoring, financial management, and cost management.

His latest work activities at MITRE center on the development of processes to support enterprise engineering and enterprise integration complexities.

"One thing I like about working at MITRE is that I have been allowed to pursue lots of areas that interest me. I've also had an opportunity to work with lots of different people, which I find refreshing. Because MITRE manages three federally funded research and development centers, I have had an opportunity to talk with people in the Federal Aviation Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, as well as the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It's really kind of neat."

—by David Van Cleave