APL Engineer Honored by the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association

Chuck Alexander, a senior cost engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, earned the “2017 Best Paper in the Analysis Methods Category” and “2017 Best Paper Overall” awards from the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA) on June 6 at the organization’s Professional Development and Training Workshop in Portland, Oregon.

“Our judges choose the best [paper] in each category based on quality and style, technical complexity, originality and creativity, a clear articulation of concepts, and relevance to the profession,” explained Megan Jones, ICEAA executive director. “From those category winners, the judges then use the same criteria to name the best overall.”

Alexander’s paper, “Parametric Cost and Schedule Modeling for Early Technology Development,” addresses the critical challenge of leveraging parametric methods and data to better integrate cost and schedule estimate models with technology road mapping, early systems engineering and conceptual design efforts.

Alexander works in APL’s National Security Analysis Department (NSAD), which provides multi-mission assessments for government sponsors on a wide range of emerging and evolving national security issues. APL’s expert analysts provide strategic insights that help guide APL mission areas as well as sponsored research programs.

Mark Lewellyn, who heads NSAD, said: “ICEAA is the premiere association for the cost-estimating and analysis profession, and their recognition of Chuck’s outstanding technical work is a significant accomplishment for APL’s growing cost-estimating and analysis capability.”