Michael D. Watson Interview — INCOSE President (2026–2027) & NASA’s Theory of Systems Engineering

2025-09-12

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🎁 GET MY FREE PDF SUMMARY OF THIS EPISODE BELOW 🎁

https://www.joshuasutherland.com/lp/free-pdf-notes-podcast-2025-09-12-michael-d-watson-interview/

Use the link above to get free instant access to my PDF notes.

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☎️ COACHING, CONSULTING & TRAINING ☎️

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- https://InternationalSystemsGroup.com/

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🔗 EPISODE LINKS 🔗

Michael D. Watson:
- https://www.incose.org/about-incose/organization/leadership/michael-watson-bio
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-watson-33294183/

NASA/TP–20205003644: Engineering Elegant Systems:
- https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/nasa_tp_20205003644_interactive2.pdf

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS ⏱️

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:19 What it's like being INCOSE President-Elect?

00:02:26 From NASA work to INCOSE principles (and why principles matter)

00:03:20 Origin of NASA's "Engineering Elegant Systems: Theory of Systems Engineering"

00:05:15 Why systems engineering is essential at NASA

00:07:03 Adoption & impact: principles → handbooks and guidance

00:08:15 The commercial space shift - beyond big gov & primes - Parallels with aviation

00:12:25 Shuttle reuse realities vs early vision

00:14:21 Tech transfer NASA → commercial engines & rockets

00:16:46 Advice to students/early-career degrees, paths, options