- Applicants have 1 year from the time of their application is received to complete their certification.
- A CSEP is valid for 3 years, while an ASEP is valid for 5 years. An ESEP, which is the highest level of certification is valid indefinitely.
- The top 6 organizations with active SEPs are:
- Airbus
- Lockheed Martin
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Northrop Grumman
- Thales
- Honeywell
- Out of approximately 10,000 INCOSE members, approximately 2,600 (or 26%) are SEPs.
- A steady growth of active SEPs was reported from 2004 to present day.
Highlights from a Recent INCOSE Gathering
On Monday, September 19th, I attended an INCOSE gathering. It was organized by the Chesapeake Chapter of Women in Systems Engineering (WISE), with a presentation by Courtney Wright, who is an SEP-Acq. Ms. Wright gave an overview of the INCOSE Certification Program, focused primarily on the growth of the program and the benefits of certification. […]
On Monday, September 19th, I attended an INCOSE gathering. It was organized by the Chesapeake Chapter of Women in Systems Engineering (WISE), with a presentation by Courtney Wright, who is an SEP-Acq. Ms. Wright gave an overview of the INCOSE Certification Program, focused primarily on the growth of the program and the benefits of certification. Since I am responsible for marketing and business development efforts in Canada and overseas, there were several interesting data points, which I caught my attention and that I would like to share:
How to Promote Your ATI Course in Social Media
LinkedIn for ATI Rocket Scientists
Did you know that for 52% of professionals and executives, their LinkedIn profile is the #1 or #2 search result when someone searches on their name?
For ATI instructors, that number is substantially lower – just 17%. One reason is that about 25% of ATI instructors do not have a LinkedIn profile. Others have done so little with their profile that it isn’t included in the first page of search results.
If you are not using your LinkedIn profile, you are missing a huge opportunity. When people google you, your LinkedIn profile is likely the first place they go to learn about you. You have little control over what other information might be available on the web about you. But you have complete control over your LinkedIn profile. You can use your profile to tell your story – to give people the exact information you want them to have about your expertise and accomplishments.
Why not take advantage of that to promote your company, your services, and your course?
Here are some simple ways to promote your course using LinkedIn…
On Your LinkedIn Profile
Let’s start by talking about how to include your course on your LinkedIn profile so it is visible anytime someone googles you or visits your profile.
1. Add your role as an instructor.
Let people know that this course is one of the ways you share your knowledge. You can include your role as an instructor in several places on your profile:
3. Upload course materials.
You can upload course materials to help people better understand the content you cover. You could include PowerPoint presentations (from this course or other training), course handouts (PDFs), videos or graphics. They can be added to your Summary, Experience or Project. You can see an example of an upload above, in Tom Logsdon’s profile.
4. Add skills related to your course.
LinkedIn allows you to include up to 50 skills on your profile. If your current list of skills doesn’t include the topics you cover in your course, you might want to add them.
Go to the Skills & Endorsements section on your Edit Profile page, then click on Add skill. Start typing and let LinkedIn auto-complete your topic. If your exact topic isn’t included in the suggestions, you can add it.
5. Ask students for recommendations.
Are you still in touch with former students who were particularly appreciative of the training you provided in your course? You might want to ask them for a recommendation that you can include on your profile. Here are some tips on 
Our president, Jim Jenkins is an avid gardener and known to his family and friends as “Farmer Jim”. He was the first of our “gardening club” to get a big red tomato this year! The news below should be of interest to our readers especially of a gardening conviction.
Several groups including NASA, Elon Musk and Mars-One hope to take people to Mars in the next ten to fifteen years. Returning to the Moon may happen in the next five years. If we get there it will be to stay for extended periods. People will also have to eat there and what is more logical than to grow your own food locally? In 2013 and 2015 the scientists conducted two experiments to investigate whether it was possible to cultivate peas, radishes and tomatoes on Mars and moon soil simulant supplied by NASA. The 2015 experiment provided the first radishes, peas, tomatoes and rye, but it is also safe to eat them?
The Mars and lunar soils contain several heavy metals that are toxic to humans such as lead, cadmium and arsenic. Plants are not too bothered by these and just carry on growing. We don’t know if the harvested fruits contain heavy metals and we don’t know if it is safe to eat them – which is what we aim to address in this project. If the project is successful, and shows that it is indeed safe to eat the plants and fruits, it brings the journey and the establishment of a long term human presence on Mars and a more or less permanent base on the moon one step closer.
Researchers at Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands are growing edible space vegetables in soil similar to the surface of Mars and the moon.
The new experiment will be carried out according to a procedure developed in 2015, with some improvements. It will use experimental trays, with one crop per tray, containing respectively peas, tomatoes and radishes and two other crops. The experiment will be replicated five times and the soils (Mars and lunar simulants and terrestrial control) will be enriched with organic material in order to improve the structure and nutrient supply. For Mars the nutrient will consist of the parts of the plants that would not be eaten and human faeces. Fruits and edible parts will be harvested and analysed for heavy metals at the Wageningen UR institute Rikilt.
Applied Technology Institute (ATI Courses)
An unidentified space object will fall to Earth on Friday Nov. 13, but don’t be alarmed; it poses very little risk.
The unidentified object was first spotted in 2013 by astronomers in Arizona and it was appropriately dubbed WT1190F. It is believed to only be a couple feet in diameter and not very dense, which could mean it’s a leftover piece of a rocket.
The European Space Agency said the object has been orbiting Earth every three weeks in a “highly eccentric, non-circular orbit.”
Both ESA and NASA are excited to see the object reenter Earth’s atmosphere because it’ll help with research. ESA said the event will provide an opportunity to gather data and improve space agencies’ knowledge of how objects interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
“The first goal will be to better understand the reentry of satellites and debris from highly eccentric orbits,” Marco Micheli, astronomer at ESA’s NEO Coordination Centre, said in a statement. “Second, it provides an ideal opportunity to test our readiness for any possible future atmospheric entry events involving an asteroid, since the components of this scenario, from discovery to impact, are all very similar.”
WT1190F is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere around 6 p.m. (Sri Lanka time) and fall into the Indian Ocean about 62 miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Astronomers said the object will put on a spectacular show to those nearby as it turns into a bright strike against the mid-day sky.
Last week when a customer had questions I talked with Tom Logsdon about the 6 methods of training used in his
Creativity & Innovation course. The six methods are spelled out in his book Six Simple Creative Solutions that
Shook the World. Tom is a mathematician and rocket scientist by training (and he teaches courses on GPS and
Orbital & Launch Mechanics in his spare time) who teaches creativity paired with discipline.
Yesterday, my husband called to alert me to a minor crisis at home. Our 2 year old gas stove, both burners and
oven, had ceased to heat. It was fine at breakfast and not at lunch. Although fueled by gas it has electric igniters.
During the phone call we took a scientific approach.
Six Simple Creative Solutions that Shook the World #1: Break your problem apart & put it back together:
we concluded that since the burners could be started with a lighter that the problem was not in the gas
feed. Additionally, the digital clock didn’t work. Everything pointed to something electric. However, the
circuit breaker was fine.
Later, when I came home we pulled the stove out and
6SCStStW #2: Take a fresh look at the interfaces. The electric connection appeared secure on both ends
and it didn’t work with an alternate outlet.
By this time -in a too-crowded kitchen with a malfunctioning appliance- the (wall) clock was ticking, no food was
being prepared and my husband and mother were chomping at the bit. I reached for the iPod, plugged it in to the
speaker and turned on some vintage Eric Clapton Unplugged….and nothing…..happened. Zero sound. Then the
Eureka moment occurred! Or
6SCStStW #6. Happy Serendipity. Believe me, I needed those mellow acoustic notes. That is when I
realized that the outlet circuit had tripped. I hit the reset button and Voila! Eric Clapton strummed the
guitar and Chuck Leavell dazzled on the piano.
Electricity was restored to the stove and dinner was prepared and served. Thank you Tom Logsdon & Eric Clapton!
Note: Tom Logsdon’s Creativity & Innovation course is available for training at your facility. 
Jim, our president and supreme ruler, enjoys boating and fishing immensely. We, his faithful minions, enjoy eating the fish he catches even more. We are at absolute awe of his fishing prowess that was proven yet again last Thursday to the unanimous delight of ATI staff. As soon as we heard of his record catch in South West Florida the recipes were researched and drooling immediately ensued.
Jim aka TeslaJim set off bright and early with Captain Mikey Findictive, his friend Ed McCarthy aka The MarylandCrab and fine group of merry fishermen with creative nicknames as FrontLoaderFrank, Dr. Bill and DoorMat Don. Their epic departure was even capture on Florida television by a mysterious lady in red. Among other prominent fish specimens, Jim’s catch included a 31″ grouper and 30″ amber jack. The cooler of the boat was filling up at record speed!
After hours of fun and some hard reeling, these fine gentlemen came into marina elated and victorious. We, back in still cold Maryland cheered! That, and licked our chops…
The fish distribution to ATI staff was handled on Monday.
I pulled out my best fish taco recipe and we had a glorious family dinner. For those interested the recipe is below.
.JPG "Fish Tacos")
Grilled Fish Tacos with Chipotle-Lime Dressing
Students taking courses through Applied Technology Institute (ATIcourses) receive mugs with the clever slogan “Trained Rocket Scientist.” This may be a very small perk for most students, but a family recently shared how these mugs have become a fond memory.
Josie Cullina sent in what she termed an “odd” request to ATI recently. Josie wanted to buy some “Trained Rocket Scientist” mugs. Her husband, Jeffrey Cullina, had taken various classes here at ATI over the years and had a few of those mugs which the family used on a daily basis. Sadly, after battling brain cancer for seven years, Jeffrey Cullina passed away two years ago. The “Trained Rocket Scientist” mugs have worn from use and Josie realized how important they had become to her and her family. “I just have some fond memories and the kids get a kick out of them for cocoa as well. It’s the little things…”
ATI is proud to be a part of this special family memory and offers our most sincere condolences to the Cullina family for their loss.
To find out more about Jeff and Josie’s story visit: 
Dr. Richard (Dick)Wiley passed away February 2, 2015 in Singapore. He was in Singapore doing what he was passionate about – teaching a class on electronic warfare. Dick taught ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) and Electronic Warfare courses for Applied Technology Institute (ATIcourses) for more than 10 years and for the Association of Old Crows. He was a friend and colleague. He will be sorely missed by all.
As many security experts predicated, scammers are exploiting the news of the Heartbleed Internet-security bug, sending unsuspecting citizens email messages asking them to log into sensitive accounts.
Researchers at security giant Symantec noticed one such message, which purported to come from a well-known insurance company that caters to U.S. military veterans and their families. The message is part of a phishing scam trying to steal website login credentials in order to gain access to sensitive personal information.
MORE: 
I don’t take the Web for granted. In my 34 years, we’ve gone from just having TV and land lines to handheld devices that basically make the collected knowledge of the world available any time, any place. The Web allows people to communicate and mobilize around ideas. It informs and amuses us. You wouldn’t be reading this without it.
Here are some interesting facts that could be of interest to our readers.
In March 1989, Tim Berners-Lee proposed a system that would allow the Internet to be used by regular people. He called it the World Wide Web. Though the Web and the Internet often are used interchangeably, the Internet was already in existence as a collection of computer networks used almost exclusively by government and university scientists.
I am Jim Jenkins, President of a technical training company, ATIcourses, and I am using LinkedIn to maintain my connections to others who work in NASA, Space, Satellites and Defense. LinkedIn is a 24/7 virtual networking environment Make a positive link to business people with years of experience. LinkedIn is free to join and is the premiere professional networking site.
If you want to increase your connections in these areas, send me a request to add you to my network. I will accept all connection requests. Mention your technical interest area in your request. I currently have 1000+ focused connections and growing so you get a running start at connecting with a large group of my connections. I personally have 2325+ connections, including many technical experts in engineering and science (who are willing to link to you to expand the set of mutually beneficial connections). LinkedIn allows you to view the profiles of my connections and contact them if you have a common background or strong group overlap. You can also join the group ATI Courses to receive updates about Space and Satellite news and announcements of new courses.
Join LinkedIn at 
This morning when you awoke, you probably quieted the growls of your hungry belly by eating breakfast. Most likely, as your stomach quieted, so did your thoughts of food.
One of ATI’s training partners TrainingEtc has a community service program that ATIcourses wants to publicize. TrainingEtc teams with ATIcourses to offer both open enrollment and on-site Project Management and Computer courses. You can read more about their volunteer program at