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Evolutionary Optimization of Material Removal Processes
by Narendra Kumar Ravi Pratap Singh Pulak Mohan Pandey Ravinder KatariaThe text comprehensively focuses on the concepts, implementation, and application of evolutionary algorithms for predicting, modeling, and optimizing the various material removal processes from their origin to the current advancements. This one-of-a-kind book encapsulates all the features related to the application and implementation of evolutionary algorithms for the purpose of predicting and optimizing the process characteristics of different machining methods and their allied processes that will provide comprehensive information. It broadly explains the concepts of employing evolutionary algorithm-based optimization in a broad domain of various material removal processes. Therefore, this book will enable prospective readers to take full advantage of recent findings and advancements in the fields of traditional, advanced, micro, and hybrid machining, among others. Moreover, the simplicity of its writing will keep readers engaged throughout and make it easier for them to understand the advanced topics. The book- • Offers a step-by-step guide to implement evolutionary algorithms for the overall optimization of conventional and contemporary machining processes• Provides in-depth analysis of various material removal processes through evolutionary optimization• Details an overview of different evolutionary optimization techniques• Explores advanced processing of various engineering materials-based case studies It further discusses different nature-inspired algorithms-based modeling, prediction, and modeling of machining responses in attempting advanced machining of the latest materials and related engineering problems along with case studies and practical examples. It will be an ideal reference text for graduate students and academic researchers working in the fields of mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, and materials science.
Evolutionary Process of a Steep Rocky Reservoir Bank in a Dynamic Mechanical Environment
by Wengang Zhang Luqi WangTo prevent the collapse of dangerous rock masses on steep rocky reservoir banks which can cause casualties and property loss, it is essential to design and conduct practical experiments to quantify the evolution processes of the reservoir banks and control such dangerous rock masses. Using the Jianchuandong Dangerous Rock Mass project as a case study, this book generalizes the mechanical model of the project to show how improved equipment can be used to measure the mechanical state transition under the continuous action of axial pressure. It details a series of experiments to study the evolution of a severely steep rocky reservoir bank, which comprehensively consider the influence of hydraulic coupling, dry-wet cycles, axial pressure, and time-dependent effects. The results support a new method for determining the stability of dangerous rock masses on reservoir banks. Combines engineering principles, real data, experimental methods and results Provides a complete research method for investigating hydrogeology failure processes The book suits practitioners in hydropower engineering, engineering geology, and disaster protection.
Evolutionary Robotics: The Biology, Intelligence, and Technology Of Self-Organizing Machines
by Stefano Nolfi Dario FloreanoEvolutionary robotics is a new technique for the automatic creation of autonomous robots. Inspired by the Darwinian principle of selective reproduction of the fittest, it views robots as autonomous artificial organisms that develop their own skills in close interaction with the environment and without human intervention. Drawing heavily on biology and ethology, it uses the tools of neural networks, genetic algorithms, dynamic systems, and biomorphic engineering. The resulting robots share with simple biological systems the characteristics of robustness, simplicity, small size, flexibility, and modularity. In evolutionary robotics, an initial population of artificial chromosomes, each encoding the control system of a robot, is randomly created and put into the environment. Each robot is then free to act (move, look around, manipulate) according to its genetically specified controller while its performance on various tasks is automatically evaluated. The fittest robots then "reproduce" by swapping parts of their genetic material with small random mutations. The process is repeated until the "birth" of a robot that satisfies the performance criteria. This book describes the basic concepts and methodologies of evolutionary robotics and the results achieved so far. An important feature is the clear presentation of a set of empirical experiments of increasing complexity. Software with a graphic interface, freely available on a Web page, will allow the reader to replicate and vary (in simulation and on real robots) most of the experiments.
Evolutionary and Deterministic Methods for Design Optimization and Control With Applications to Industrial and Societal Problems (Computational Methods in Applied Sciences #49)
by Nicolas Gauger Kyriakos Giannakoglou Jacques Periaux Domenico Quagliarella Esther Andrés-Pérez Leo M. GonzálezThis book contains thirty-five selected papers presented at the International Conference on Evolutionary and Deterministic Methods for Design, Optimization and Control with Applications to Industrial and Societal Problems (EUROGEN 2017). This was one of the Thematic Conferences of the European Community on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences (ECCOMAS). Topics treated in the various chapters reflect the state of the art in theoretical and numerical methods and tools for optimization, and engineering design and societal applications. The volume focuses particularly on intelligent systems for multidisciplinary design optimization (mdo) problems based on multi-hybridized software, adjoint-based and one-shot methods, uncertainty quantification and optimization, multidisciplinary design optimization, applications of game theory to industrial optimization problems, applications in structural and civil engineering optimum design and surrogate models based optimization methods in aerodynamic design.
Evolutionary and Memetic Computing for Project Portfolio Selection and Scheduling (Adaptation, Learning, and Optimization #26)
by Saber Elsayed Kyle Robert Harrison Ivan Leonidovich Garanovich Terence Weir Sharon G. Boswell Ruhul Amin SarkerThis book consists of eight chapters, authored by distinguished researchers and practitioners, that highlight the state of the art and recent trends in addressing the project portfolio selection and scheduling problem (PPSSP) across a variety of domains, particularly defense, social programs, supply chains, and finance. Many organizations face the challenge of selecting and scheduling a subset of available projects subject to various resource and operational constraints. In the simplest scenario, the primary objective for an organization is to maximize the value added through funding and implementing a portfolio of projects, subject to the available budget. However, there are other major difficulties that are often associated with this problem such as qualitative project benefits, multiple conflicting objectives, complex project interdependencies, workforce and manufacturing constraints, and deep uncertainty regarding project costs, benefits, and completion times.It is well known that the PPSSP is an NP-hard problem and, thus, there is no known polynomial-time algorithm for this problem. Despite the complexity associated with solving the PPSSP, many traditional approaches to this problem make use of exact solvers. While exact solvers provide definitive optimal solutions, they quickly become prohibitively expensive in terms of computation time when the problem size is increased. In contrast, evolutionary and memetic computing afford the capability for autonomous heuristic approaches and expert knowledge to be combined and thereby provide an efficient means for high-quality approximation solutions to be attained. As such, these approaches can provide near real-time decision support information for portfolio design that can be used to augment and improve existing human-centric strategic decision-making processes. This edited book provides the reader with a broad overview of the PPSSP, its associated challenges, and approaches to addressing the problem using evolutionary and memetic computing.
Evolve from Infrastructure to Innovation with SAP on AWS: Strategize Beyond Infrastructure for Extending your SAP applications, Data Management, IoT & AI/ML integration and IT Operations using AWS Services
by Bidwan Baruah Abarajith Vivekanandha Krishnakumar RamadossThe world of SAP is undergoing a major transformation, with many customers either planning or actively modernizing their SAP landscapes as part of the S/4HANA digital transformation. Given the extensive SAP transformation efforts adopted by nearly all SAP customers in recent years and the profound impact these digital changes have had on their business models and IT organizations, the authors decided to write this book. As customers embark on their SAP on AWS journey, they face three main challenges: deciding on the overall strategy, selecting the right business use cases and implementing them effectively. This book aims to address these challenges by guiding readers through the process of identifying and executing the appropriate use cases. It will highlight how customers can harness AWS services beyond merely hosting their SAP systems on AWS, demonstrating the potential of these services to drive innovation. This book covers the entire journey, from defining strategy and identifying business use cases to their implementation, providing practical tips, strategies, and insights. It serves as an essential guide for customers planning to migrate or those who have already migrated their SAP workloads to AWS, helping them explore beyond just the infrastructure aspects of their journey. You Will : Discover how to go beyond just hosting SAP systems on AWS, using the full range of AWS services to innovate and extend your SAP applications. Learn how to identify the right business use cases and implement them effectively, with practical examples and real-world scenarios. Develop the mindset and skills needed to architect modern, cloud-native, event-driven architectures, balancing trade-offs between simplicity, efficiency, and cost. This book is for: Business leaders, IT professionals, and SAP specialists who are looking to modernize their SAP landscapes by leveraging AWS services
Evolved Cellular Network Planning and Optimization for UMTS and LTE
by Lingyang Song Jia ShenMost books on network planning and optimization provide limited coverage of either GSM or WCDMA techniques. Few scrape the surface of HSPA, and even fewer deal with TD-SCDMA. Filling this void, Evolved Cellular Network Planning and Optimization for UMTS and LTE presents an accessible introduction to all stages of planning and optimizing UMTS, HSPA,
Evolving Households: The Imprint Of Technology On Life
by Jeremy GreenwoodIn Evolving Households, Jeremy Greenwood argues that technological progress has had as significant an effect on households as it had on industry. Taking a macroeconomic perspective, Greenwood develops simple economic models to study such phenomena as the rise in married female labor force participation, changes in fertility rates, the decline in marriage, and increased longevity. These trends represent a dramatic transformation in everyday life, and they were made possible by advancements in technology. Greenwood also addresses how technological progress can cause social change. <p><p> Greenwood shows, for example, how electricity and labor-saving appliances freed women from full-time household drudgery and enabled them to enter the labor market. He explains that fertility dropped when higher wages increased the opportunity cost of having children; he attributes the post–World War II baby boom to a combination of labor-saving household technology and advances in obstetrics and pediatrics. Marriage rates declined when single households became more economically feasible; people could be more discriminating in their choice of a mate. Technological progress also affects social and cultural norms. Innovation in contraception ushered in a sexual revolution. Labor-saving technological progress at home, together with mechanization in industry that led to an increase in the value of brain relative to brawn for jobs, fostered the advancement of women's rights in the workplace. Finally, Greenwood attributes increased longevity to advances in medical technology and rising living standards, and he examines healthcare spending, the development of new drugs, and the growing portion of life now spent in retirement.
Evolving Households: The Imprint of Technology on Life (The\mit Press Ser.)
by Jeremy GreenwoodThe transformative effect of technological change on households and culture, seen from a macroeconomic perspective through simple economic models.In Evolving Households, Jeremy Greenwood argues that technological progress has had as significant an effect on households as it had on industry. Taking a macroeconomic perspective, Greenwood develops simple economic models to study such phenomena as the rise in married female labor force participation, changes in fertility rates, the decline in marriage, and increased longevity. These trends represent a dramatic transformation in everyday life, and they were made possible by advancements in technology. Greenwood also addresses how technological progress can cause social change.Greenwood shows, for example, how electricity and labor-saving appliances freed women from full-time household drudgery and enabled them to enter the labor market. He explains that fertility dropped when higher wages increased the opportunity cost of having children; he attributes the post–World War II baby boom to a combination of labor-saving household technology and advances in obstetrics and pediatrics. Marriage rates declined when single households became more economically feasible; people could be more discriminating in their choice of a mate. Technological progress also affects social and cultural norms. Innovation in contraception ushered in a sexual revolution. Labor-saving technological progress at home, together with mechanization in industry that led to an increase in the value of brain relative to brawn for jobs, fostered the advancement of women's rights in the workplace. Finally, Greenwood attributes increased longevity to advances in medical technology and rising living standards, and he examines healthcare spending, the development of new drugs, and the growing portion of life now spent in retirement.
Evolving Networking Technologies: Developments and Future Directions
by Dac-Nhuong Le Kanta Prasad Sharma Shaurya Gupta Ashish SharmaEVOLVING NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES This book discusses in a practical manner some of the critical security challenges facing the ever-evolving networking technologies of today. In an age of explosive worldwide growth of electronic data storage and communications, effective protection of information has become a critical requirement, especially when used in coordination with other tools for information security and cryptography in all of its applications, including data confidentiality, data integrity, and user authentication. While the importance of cryptographic technique, i.e., encryption, in protecting sensitive and critical information and resources cannot be overemphasized, an examination of the technical evolution within several industries reveals an approaching precipice of scientific change. The glacially paced but inevitable convergence of quantum mechanics, nanotechnology, computer science, and applied mathematics will revolutionize modern technology. The implications of such changes will be far-reaching, with one of its greatest impacts affecting information security and, more specifically, modern cryptography. The book takes the reader through these issues. As the security systems design becomes more and more complex to meet these challenges, a mistake that is committed most often by security specialists is not making a comprehensive analysis of the system to be secured before choosing which security mechanism to deploy. Often, the security mechanism chosen turns out to be either incompatible with, or inadequate for, handling the complexities of the system. In addition, the book also discusses three main points: Configuration management is a critical issue, and as networks are increasing in size, their configuration needs to be managed. Devices may conflict with each other in terms of configuration. Therefore, it becomes challenging for firewalls to be up-to-date according to network policies. Scalability of the network is another big challenge, it would be easier to address if the network stays the same, but the network is ever expanding with a constant increase in the number of devices devoted to the network. Vendor lock-in: Business decisions that are taken today are revolving around the assumptions and capabilities of the current vendor and environment scenario. Buying the best solutions from today’s vendors involves how to interoperate, integrate, and support multiple solutions. It may involve tearing out all of the longstanding kits without tearing down the entire network at the same time. Audience This book specifically appeals to industry practitioners, IT researchers, and students regarding network technological management.
Evolving Perspectives on ICTs in Global Souths: 11th International Development Informatics Association Conference, IDIA 2020, Macau, China, March 25–27, 2020, Proceedings (Communications in Computer and Information Science #1236)
by Don Rodney Junio Cecile KoopmanThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Development Informatics Association Conference, IDIA 2020, held in Macau, China, in March 2020.*The 14 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 43 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on ICT4D: taking stock; harnessing frontier technologies for sustainable development; ICT4D discourse, methodologies, and theoretical reflections; the evolving Global Souths.*The conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evolving Role of AI and IoMT in the Healthcare Market
by Manoj Kumar Fadi Al-Turjman Akashdeep Bhardwaj Thompson StephanThis book is a proficient guide to understanding artificial intelligence (IoT) and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) in healthcare. The book provides a comprehensive study on the applications of AI and IoT in various medical domains. The book shows how the implementation of innovative solutions in healthcare is beneficial, and IoT, together with AI, are strong drivers of the digital transformation regardless of what field the technologies are applied in. Therefore, this book provides a high level of understanding with the emerging technologies on the Internet of Things, wearable devices, and AI in IoMT, which offers the potential to acquire and process a tremendous amount of data from the physical world.
Evolving Technologies for Computing, Communication and Smart World: Proceedings of ETCCS 2020 (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #694)
by Pradeep Kumar Singh Maheshkumar H. Kolekar Sudeep Tanwar Arti Noor Raj K. Bhatnagar Shaweta KhannaThis book presents best selected papers presented at the International Conference on Evolving Technologies for Computing, Communication and Smart World (ETCCS 2020) held on 31 January–1 February 2020 at C-DAC, Noida, India. It is co-organized by Southern Federal University, Russia; University of Jan Wyżykowski (UJW), Polkowice, Poland; and CSI, India. C-DAC, Noida received funding from MietY during the event. The technical services are supported through EasyChair, Turnitin, MailChimp and IAC Education. The book includes current research works in the areas of network and computing technologies, wireless networks and Internet of things (IoT), futuristic computing technologies, communication technologies, security and privacy.
Evolving Theories on the Origin of the Moon: Studies On The Origin Of The Moon (Historical & Cultural Astronomy)
by Warren D. CummingsThis book follows the development of research on the origin of the Moon from the late 18th century to the present. By gathering together the major texts, papers, and events of the time, it provides a thorough chronicle of the paradigmatic shift in planetary science that arose from the notion that the Earth-Moon system was formed from two colliding planetary bodies.The book covers pre-Apollo ideas, the conceptual evolution during and subsequent to the Apollo explorations of the Moon, and the development of the Earth-Moon system consensus.A plethora of excerpts from key publications are included to demonstrate the shift in scientific focus over the centuries.Through its comprehensive review of lunar science research and literature, this book shows how new technologies and discoveries catalyzed the community and revolutionized our understanding of the Moon’s formation.
Evolving Toolbox for Complex Project Management (Complex and Enterprise Systems Engineering)
by Indra Gunawan Alex Gorod Vernon Ireland Leonie HalloThis book enhances learning about complex project management principles and practices through the introduction and discussion of a portfolio of tools presented as an evolving toolbox. Throughout the book, industry practitioners examine the toolsets that are part of the toolbox to develop a broader understanding of complex project management challenges and the available tools to address them. This approach establishes a dynamic, structured platform for a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the modern, rapidly changing, multifaceted business environment to teach the next generation of project managers to successfully cope with the ever increasing complexity of the 21st century.
Evolvodynamics - The Mathematical Theory of Economic Evolution
by Len H. WallastDissatisfied with the flaws of orthodox economics, the author proposes to base economic theory on the three principles of Darwinian evolution (variation, inheritance, selection). Pursuing a suggestion of E.T. Jaynes of 1991, the innovation is in treating economic behavior as chance events of selection. This involves abandoning the methods of mainstream economics and to apply instead the methods by which Claude E. Shannon analyzed information transport over a stationary channel. As economic processes are non-stationary, the author clarifies first how the Shannon-system must be reshaped in a system capable to describe economic evolution mathematically. As economic processes are non-stationary, the author first clarifies how the Shannon system must be reshaped into one capable of describing economic evolutions mathematically. Deriving the universal relations between input, output, the economic growth rate, inflation and money flow involves applying differential sets of selection, Venn diagrams, bitpulses as units of selection and the probability distributions of bitpulses. This is a thought-provocative and highly informative book of which the explanatory power goes far beyond that of traditional economics. It should be on the readers list of everyone concerned with the weal and woe of economic theorizing.
Exact Design of Digital Microfluidic Biochips
by Robert Wille Rolf Drechsler Oliver KeszoczeThis book presents exact, that is minimal, solutions to individual steps in the design process for Digital Microfluidic Biochips (DMFBs), as well as a one-pass approach that combines all these steps in a single process. All of the approaches discussed are based on a formal model that can easily be extended to cope with further design problems. In addition to the exact methods, heuristic approaches are provided and the complexity classes of various design problems are determined.Presents exact methods to tackle a variety of design problems for Digital Microfluidic Biochips (DMFBs);Describes an holistic, one-pass approach solving different design steps all at once;Based on a formal model of DMFBs that is easily adaptable to deal with further design tasks.
Exact Solutions for Buckling of Structural Members (Applied and Computational Mechanics)
by C.M. Wang C.Y. WangThe study of buckling loads, which often hinges on numerical methods, is key in designing structural elements. But the need for analytical solutions in addition to numerical methods is what drove the creation of Exact Solutions for Buckling of Structural Members. It allows readers to assess the reliability and accuracy of solutions obtained by nume
Exact Thinking in Demented Times: The Vienna Circle and the Epic Quest for the Foundations of Science
by Douglas Hofstadter Karl SigmundA dazzling group biography of the early twentieth-century thinkers who transformed the way the world thought about math and scienceInspired by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and Bertrand Russell and David Hilbert's pursuit of the fundamental rules of mathematics, some of the most brilliant minds of the generation came together in post-World War I Vienna to present the latest theories in mathematics, science, and philosophy and to build a strong foundation for scientific investigation. Composed of such luminaries as Kurt Gödel and Rudolf Carnap, and stimulated by the works of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Karl Popper, the Vienna Circle left an indelible mark on science.Exact Thinking in Demented Times tells the often outrageous, sometimes tragic, and never boring stories of the men who transformed scientific thought. A revealing work of history, this landmark book pays tribute to those who dared to reinvent knowledge from the ground up.
Exam Ref Md-101 Managing Modern Desktops
by Andrew Bettany Andrew WarrenPrepare for Microsoft Exam MD-101-and help demonstrate your real-world mastery of skills and knowledge required to manage modern Windows 10 desktops. Designed for Windows administrators, Exam Ref focuses on the critical thinking and decision-making acumen needed for success at the Microsoft Certified Associate level. Focus on the expertise measured by these objectives: Deploy and update operating systems, Manage policies and profiles, Manage and protect devices, Manage apps and data. This Microsoft Exam Ref: Organizes its coverage by exam objectives; Features strategic; what-if scenarios to challenge you; Assumes you have experience deploying, configuring, securing, managing, and monitoring devices and client applications in an enterprise environment. About the Exam: Exam MD-101 focuses on knowledge needed to plan and implement Windows 10 with dynamic deployment or Windows Autopilot; upgrade devices to Windows 10; manage updates and device authentication; plan and implement co-management; implement conditional access and compliance policies; configure device profiles; manage user profiles; manage Windows Defender; manage Intune device enrollment and inventory; monitor devices; deploy/update applications, and implement Mobile Application Management (MAM). About Microsoft Certification: Passing this exam and Exam MD-100 Windows 10 fulfills your requirements for the Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification credential, demonstrating your ability to install Windows 10 operating systems and deploy and manage modern desktops and devices in an enterprise environment.
Examination Review for Ultrasound: Abdomen And Obstetrics And Gynecology
by Steven PennyThis updated 2nd Edition of Examination Review for Ultrasound: Abdomen & Obstetrics and Gynecology helps students prepare for—and excel on—the ARDMS and ARRT certification exams. Focusing on only the information needed for exam success, this proven resource includes a concise, narrative approach, content based on the current exam, and an online exam simulator with registry-style questions.
Examination Review for Ultrasound: Abdomen and Obstetrics & Gynecology
by Steven M. PennyPrepare for—and excel on—the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exams! Steven M. Penny’s Examination Review for Ultrasound: Abdomen & Obstetrics and Gynecology, 3rd Edition, focuses only on the information that you’ll see on these exams, saving you valuable study time. Now in full color throughout, it uses a concise, narrative approach and features an online exam simulator with hundreds of registry-style questions.
Examination Review for Ultrasound: Sonographic Principles And Instrumentation (spi)
by Steven Penny Traci FoxThis updated 2nd Edition of Examination Review for Ultrasound: Sonographic Principles & Instrumentation helps students prepare for—and excel on— the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) certification examination offered by the ARDMS. Taking a concise, narrative approach, this proven resource aligns with the SPI revised content outline and format. An online exam simulator with registry-style questions makes it easy to create mock exams that allow unlimited practice.
Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs
by Air Force Studies BoardThe ability of the United States Air Force (USAF) to keep its aircraft operating at an acceptable operational tempo, in wartime and in peacetime, has been important to the Air Force since its inception. This is a much larger issue for the Air Force today, having effectively been at war for 20 years, with its aircraft becoming increasingly more expensive to operate and maintain and with military budgets certain to further decrease. The enormously complex Air Force weapon system sustainment enterprise is currently constrained on many sides by laws, policies, regulations and procedures, relationships, and organizational issues emanating from Congress, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Air Force itself. Against the back-drop of these stark realities, the Air Force requested the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies, under the auspices of the Air Force Studies Board to conduct and in-depth assessment of current and future Air Force weapon system sustainment initiatives and recommended future courses of action for consideration by the Air Force. Examination of the U. S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs addresses the following topics: Assess current sustainment investments, infrastructure, and processes for adequacy in sustaining aging legacy systems and their support equipment. Determine if any modifications in policy are required and, if so, identify them and make recommendations for changes in Air Force regulations, policies, and strategies to accomplish the sustainment goals of the Air Force. Determine if any modifications in technology efforts are required and, if so, identify them and make recommendations regarding the technology efforts that should be pursued because they could make positive impacts on the sustainment of the current and future systems and equipment of the Air Force. Determine if the Air Logistics Centers have the necessary resources (funding, manpower, skill sets, and technologies) and are equipped and organized to sustain legacy systems and equipment and the Air Force of tomorrow. Identify and make recommendations regarding incorporating sustainability into future aircraft designs.
Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce Needs in the Future and its Strategy to Meet Those Needs
by National Research Council of the National AcademiesThe Air Force requires technical skills and expertise across the entire range of activities and processes associated with the development, fielding, and employment of air, space, and cyber operational capabilities. The growing complexity of both traditional and emerging missions is placing new demands on education, training, career development, system acquisition, platform sustainment, and development of operational systems. While in the past the Air Force's technologically intensive mission has been highly attractive to individuals educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, force reductions, ongoing military operations, and budget pressures are creating new challenges for attracting and managing personnel with the needed technical skills. Assessments of recent development and acquisition process failures have identified a loss of technical competence within the Air Force (that is, in house or organic competence, as opposed to contractor support) as an underlying problem. These challenges come at a time of increased competition for technical graduates who are U.S. citizens, an aging industry and government workforce, and consolidations of the industrial base that supports military systems. In response to a request from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering, the National Research Council conducted five fact-finding meetings at which senior Air Force commanders in the science and engineering, acquisition, test, operations, and logistics domains provided assessments of the adequacy of the current workforce in terms of quality and quantity.