The document describes three NASA development programs - the Program Planning and Management Development Program (PPMD), the Project Leadership Program (PLP), and the Systems and Engineering Development Program (SSEDP). The PPMD aims to prepare future program and project managers for leadership roles on large projects through executive training, mentoring, and work assignments. The PLP and SSEDP seek to develop the project management and systems engineering competencies of participants so they can become managers or engineers on element-level projects through a curriculum incorporating various perspectives. The document provides examples of current participants in the different programs.

1. Preparing to Lead a
Complex Project
Kelly Elliott,
Carol Scott,
Bob Doremus,
Jay Leggett
NASA JSC
PM Challenge 2010

2. Career Launch Pad
System
Engineering
Program
Systems
Engineer
Large
Project
Systems
Engineer
Subsystem
Engineer
Small Project
Team
Member
Development Model and Target Audiences
Project
Management
Program
Manager
Large
Project
Manager
Subsystem
Project
Manager
Small Project
Team
Member
GS-7
to
GS-12
GS-13
to
GS-15
GS-15
to
SES
SSEDP
HQ/SELDP
PLP
HQ/PMLDP
PPMD

3. Development Program Content
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
PPMD PLP SSEDP
Leadership
Congressional Operations
Systems Engineering
Project Management
Program Planning & Control
Common Components:
Leadership & Technical Assessments
Group Learning Events
Mentoring
Work Assignments
Individual Development Plans
Activities to Build Agency Awareness

4. Overall Goals of PPMD
• Prepare future Program and Project Managers for the long-term
challenges facing NASA and to provide continuing leadership of
space exploration programs by:
– Developing competencies in leadership and project management through
a variety of development activities and a focus on work assignments
– Executive level training, mentoring, and work assignments targeted for
large scale Program and Project Management roles.
– Work assignments and training emphasizing preparation for DDT&E
roles
– Enabling relationship building among participants and strengthening
collaboration with other Centers
– Technical curriculum created through a collaborative effort involving
current NASA leaders, Advisory Council and other retired NASA
executives, current aerospace industry leaders and other industry
executives.

5. Overall Goals of PLP & SSEDP
• Develop participant’s competencies in project management, systems
engineering and leadership so that JSC has a talented pool of
capable project managers and systems engineers ready to become
an element (level 4) project manager or systems engineer by:
– Providing a core curriculum that incorporates speakers with different
perspectives
– Incorporating group learning events to capture lessons learned and
project management and systems engineering best practices
– Utilizing current NASA leaders as mentors
– Focusing on individual development
– Increasing Agency awareness through exposure to other Centers and
entities who practice and influence project management and systems
engineering practices
– Providing networking opportunities for participants to work with emerging
leaders from across the Center

6. Development Program Participants
• Carol Scott
– PPMD Participant from Kennedy Space Center
– Developing the Program Integration Office for the Constellation Space
Transportation Planning Office
• Bob Doremus
– PLP Participant from Johnson Space Center
– Manager of the Space Shuttle Program Safety and Mission Assurance Office
• Jay Leggett
– SSEDP Participant from Johnson Space Center
– International Space Station Vehicle Chief Engineer