Session 2.7d Tutorial: Engineering the Mission, not just the Network: Introduction to Mission Engineering for Communications Systems
Tracks
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| Wednesday, November 18, 2026 |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Nicholls Theatre |
Presentation Outline
Communications and information systems are rarely acquired, tested or fielded as ends in themselves, as they exist to deliver a mission. Yet requirements, architectures and test evidence are still routinely expressed in system terms that are difficult to trace to achieve mission outcomes. Mission Engineering (ME) offers a disciplined way to bridge that gap, and its digital representation gives us a repeatable, evidence-based means of doing so.
This tutorial introduces the core constructs of Mission Engineering: mission context and threads, effects chains, measures of effectiveness and performance, and the mission trade-space and shows how they apply directly to military C4 and network-centric problems. It is deliberately tool-agnostic: participants work with the reasoning, not a particular software product. The session is built around a running scenario in which a joint force must sustain a time-critical decision cycle while its primary space and terrestrial bearers degrade. Participants will leave able to describe what Mission Engineering is and is not, understand a mission thread, distinguish mission-level from system-level measures, and recognise where digital engineering methods add analytic value versus where they add cost. No prior modelling experience is assumed. The tutorial suits acquisition and capability staff, T&E practitioners, systems engineers, and industry personnel supporting Defence programs.
Speaker
Prof Braden McGrath
UNSW - Canberra
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Biography
Braden McGrath is Professor of Digital Engineering Practice in the School of Systems and Computing at UNSW Canberra at ADFA, where he leads the development of Mission Engineering and Digital Engineering curriculum and research for the Australian Defence enterprise and is establishing the Digital Engineering Innovation Facility (DEIF) at UNSW Canberra as a collaborative environment for Defence, industry and academic partners.
His career spans government, industry and academia. He served sixteen years as a research engineer with the US Navy, and has since held senior roles including Chief Technology Officer and QinetiQ Fellow at QinetiQ Australia, founding Managing Director of MITRE Australia, and chief executive positions in medical device and pharmaceutical ventures.
Braden holds a PhD, is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Chartered Professional Engineer.
His career spans government, industry and academia. He served sixteen years as a research engineer with the US Navy, and has since held senior roles including Chief Technology Officer and QinetiQ Fellow at QinetiQ Australia, founding Managing Director of MITRE Australia, and chief executive positions in medical device and pharmaceutical ventures.
Braden holds a PhD, is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Chartered Professional Engineer.
