Special Seminar: Marie Ivanco

Title

Informing strategic decision-making through systems analysis

Abstract

The Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate (SACD) at NASA Langley Research Center enables well-informed decision-making by use of integrated analysis and assessments of complex space systems, architectures, and portfolios. SACD provides a broad range of systems analysis capabilities to every NASA Mission Directorate and major office in the Agency, across a broad range of NASA projects from drones, to hypersonic vehicles, to Mars missions and beyond. Capabilities include the conception and analysis of campaigns, integrated architectures, missions, and vehicles; technology assessments and gap analysis; strategic and decision analysis; systems integration; and decision support. This presentation provides an overview of how systems analysis is used to inform strategic decision-making for NASA science missions. Mission-level, architecture-level, and portfolio-level examples are provided to illustrate the use of systems analysis across science projects of varying scope. Examples showcase selected systems analysis methods, to include probabilistic analysis, utility assessments, modeling, structured expert judgement elicitation, and tradespace analysis.

Bio

Marie Ivanco is a Senior Aerospace Engineer in the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. She co-leads a team that provides strategic and mission analysis for NASA’s science missions. Her work encompasses many aspects of space mission design and analysis, with a special focus on Decision Science applied to aeronautics projects.

Ms. Ivanco started her career at NASA Langley in 2014 as an analyst, prior to becoming co-lead and mission analysis lead for the MESCAL lidar study, a joint study between NASA and the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES). From 2018-2021, Ms. Ivanco led the definition and implementation of a novel assessment method for the candidate architectures of the Aerosols, Clouds, Convection, and Precipitation (ACCP) study, precursor to the Atmospheric Observing System (AOS) mission. The method enabled the assessment of 100+ architectures and down-selection of an observing system composed of 11 sensors on two orbits, within the $1.6B cost cap, with >90% consensus across 100+ participants, 6 months ahead of schedule. She also initiated the tailoring and application of this method to the Surface Deformation and Change study.

Ms. Ivanco currently supports the development of Strategic Analysis products for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and for NASA’s Earth Science Division. She is also currently contributing to the development of a probabilistic risk assessment method to address laser eye safety for spaceborne and airborne lasers.

Ms. Ivanco earned a B.A. in Political Science and Foreign Affairs from Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Lyon, France, a M.A. in International Public Management / International Law from La Sorbonne Law School, Paris, France, and a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. At NASA, Ms. Ivanco was awarded a Group Achievement Award for the Advanced Near Net Shape Project, the Early Career Achievement Medal, and the Exceptional Achievement Medal.