ASEM REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM | Huntsville, AL

Register at http://asem.org/event-6460885

The 2nd Regional Symposium in Engineering Management for Space and Defense

Leading Through Complexity: Engineering Management for Emerging Defense and

Space Era

April 3rd, 2026
at the
Huntsville Botanical Garden, Carriage House, Huntsville, AL

Description:

The Engineering Leadership for Space & Defense Symposium brings together leaders from industry, government, and academia to discuss the evolving skills today’s engineering managers need. As aerospace, defense, and civil sectors become increasingly interconnected, engineering leaders are expected to manage complex, cross-cultural, multi-organization programs; make sound, ethical decisions under uncertainty; and guide teams through digital transformation, applied AI, and rapid innovation. This symposium focuses on the emerging leadership capabilities that matter most, including communication, collaboration, systems thinking, strategic foresight, and accountability.

Sessions focus on practical lessons drawn from real engineering settings, from leading cross-sector projects to working effectively in diverse, global teams, and managing the organizational challenges that come with today’s technology-driven programs.

Topics:

• From Engineer to Leader: Developing communication and influence skills to lead multidisciplinary teams while translating technical work into business, mission, and operational terms, and understanding how sub-elements interact within the broader organizational picture.
• Managing Complexity Across Sectors: Applying systems thinking and program leadership to coordinate across space, defense, and civil environments while designing and executing cross-sector projects that bring together industry, government, and academia.
• Risk-Informed Decision Making: Leading under uncertainty and making sound, high-stakes decisions.
• Strategic Foresight, Innovation & Digital Transformation: Combining scenario planning and emerging technology insights with the use of AI and digital engineering tools to provide long-range engineering leadership and guide teams through technological change.
• Legal Leadership: Navigating personnel issues, unions, and customer/vendor disputes with professionalism and accountability.
• Ethical, Inclusive & Global Leadership: Cross-cultural teamwork, inclusive practices, and building resilient teams.

Early Bird Registration, through February 15, 2026: $75

Regular Registration, starting February 16, 2026: $100

Confirmed symposium speakers include (in alphabetical order):

• Lisa Bates, MSFC Engineering Director, NASA
• Ron Duren Jr., Associate Professor – University of Colorado Boulder; Author; Public Speaker
• Dayna Ise, Director, Mars Campaign Office, Moon to Mars Program, NASA
• Erkan Kaplanoglu, Department Head and Professor – Department of Engineering Technology and Management, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Bryan Mesmer, Department Chair, Associate Professor – Industrial & Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, University of Alabama in Huntsville
• Greg Praino, Director of Quality, Mainstream Engineering Corporation
• Yesim Sireli, ASEM Industry Advisory Board Chair; Associate Professor – Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Co-Founder, Carolina-AI
• Danley Tommasini, Director, Site Operations, Missile Solutions, L3Harris Technologies
• Lisa Watson-Morgan, Vice President – Civilian Space Operations, Astrion

Organizing Committee:

• Yesim Sireli, PhD, CPEM, F-ASEM, IAB Chair
• Carl Ise, Col (ret), PhD, CPEM, F-ASEM, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, IAB member
• Mike Holman, PE, CPEM, F-ASEM, Kratos Defense, IAB member
• James M. Harrington, Col, U.S. Special Operations Command, IAB member

A block of rooms has been reserved at Hotel Indigo® Huntsville MidCity, 940 Nunnuhsae Park Dr. Huntsville, AL 35806 at a reduced rate. Room block information is included on the registration confirmation email that paid registrants will receive.

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If you experience any troubles with registration, please email Angie at asem-hq@asem.org for registration through email.