We wrote the Essence of Systems Engineering explicitly for NAWCWD, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. However, we also wrote the book to be applicable throughout the Department of Defense and its suppliers.

Be aware this book is not a how-to guide. We have read many books in our careers that were tomes on systems engineering with hundreds of pages of technical details. In this book, we only talk about the implications of technology. Our focus is always on the person behind how it all works.

Systems engineers wrote this book for systems engineers. We also created this for those who want to understand why systems engineering is critical to our major challenge of innovating faster than our adversaries.

About The Field Guide Series

When it comes to the development of technology systems, friction occurs when the business needs intersect with the complex realities of engineering. Only exceptional leadership ensures those friction points don’t result in disastrous fires or constant firefighting. Instead, outstanding leaders use the heat from those friction points to fuel excitement and innovation.

The Field Guide Series emulates the tradition where experts share their real-world experience in the form of a book filled with practical wisdom, helping others survive and thrive in the challenging wildness of the world.

Are you a leader who wants not just to survive the chaotic wilds of technology development but to thrive in it with joy? Then the field guide series is for you.