The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory's Earned Value Management Surveillance Program - Benefits to JHU/APL and Its Sponsors

Abstract

In December 2016, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) was notified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that its Earned Value Management System (EVMS) complied with the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) Standard 748 EVMS guidelines required by NASA; thus, JHU/APL had a government-validated system. As a result of this acceptance, JHU/APL was required by NASA to institute a surveillance program of its EVMS. This paper will delve into how the Surveillance Program was implemented and the key characteristics ensuring a successful program for both JHU/APL and its sponsors. The paper will cover how enhancements in the areas of processes, tools, and training have supported a continuous improvement process and maturation of the EVMS, which has led to a successful Surveillance Program used on several major NASA missions, including Parker Solar Probe, DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), Europa Clipper, and currently IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) over the period from fiscal year (FY) 2018 to present. Within the context of the paper and subsequent presentation, we plan to explore the following topics: program goals, surveillance approach and execution, communicating results of quarterly reviews, Defense Contract Management Agency metric results through FY 2020 and 2021, task/project management metrics utilized by JHU/APL's Space Exploration Sector, benefits of a joint surveillance program with NASA, and where we are today. We hope this paper will provide an informative perspective and road map that will help others with their implementation of a Surveillance Program in support of their EVMS and sponsors.