Erin Kelly Harwood
Charleston
Summary
Strategic and innovative Enterprise Architect with over 15 years of experience aligning IT capabilities with business goals across Navy, federal, and defense sectors. Proven ability to lead architecture transformation initiatives, develop enterprise standards, and implement model-based systems engineering practices. Adept at guiding federated architecture teams, developing reusable assets and roadmaps, and briefing executive leadership to drive mission and business outcomes.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Engineer
NAVWAR
04.2025 - Current
- While serving as the Chief Architect, I am also dual hatted as the Chief Engineer in acting capacity.
- Automating tasks to reduce labor costs and increase productivity.
- Performing process assessments and collaborating with stakeholders to provide resolutions for engineering issues.
- Contributing to requirements gathering and analysis for design and production projects.
- Developing testing process improvement opportunities and presenting to stakeholders for review.
Chief Architect
NAVWAR
05.2023 - Current
- Leading architecture modernization for BCAT I Defense Business System using Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), digital engineering, and enterprise architecture strategies.
- Forging organizational change management by integrating siloed architecture and requirements teams across multiple internal and external stakeholder groups using effective communication skills, automated tools and standard architecture frameworks.
- Representing the program office in executive strategy engagements and workshops, briefing enterprise architecture and technical strategy priorities to senior executive service-level leadership.
- Developing measurable and traceable technical roadmaps for program solutions including staffing recommendations, technology assessments, investment alignment to business gaps and requirements, and architecture centered design and discipline.
Enterprise Requirements Tech Warrant Holder
NAVWAR
10.2016 - Current
- Appointed as Technical Process Owner (TPO) by NAVWAR Chief Engineer for Enterprise Requirements Management (ERM) policy, and the enterprise-wide process and guidance for adoption and implementation.
- Authored and implemented the ERM/MBSE policies and standards used across NAVWAR and Program Executive Office (PEO) Programs.
- Providing enterprise architecture and requirements governance and briefs to senior technical leaders on risk management and compliance.
- Leading and participating as the subject matter expert in systems engineering technical reviews to ensure alignment of engineering practices with end user needs.
Lead Enterprise Architect
NIWC Atlantic
04.2022 - 12.2023
- Migrated legacy architecture viewpoints to newer technologies, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency of engineering tasks.
- Complied with regulatory guidelines such as Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF), Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) and Systems Modeling Language (SysML) in design architecture, ensuring adherence to strict privacy and security laws.
- Led a multi-disciplinary team of more than nine architects to redefine problems and reach solutions based on different perspectives.
- Designed internal process improvements to automate repetitive tasks, shortening data delivery times.
- Established fundamental Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts and stood up the Architecture Review Board and the Program Office community of interest for architects.
Model Based Systems Engineering Lead
NIWC LANT
10.2017 - 04.2022
- Developed the Command Operations Center Division's first MBSE and Digital Engineering capability using DoDAF/UAF methodologies.
- Mentored engineers and implemented modeling standards to manage system baselines and deployed system configurations.
- Led the MBSE rollout for the Shore Platform program office, supporting international command's operational lifecycle configuration and risk management.
Alfoat Architecture Technical Requirements Lead
NIWC LANT
10.2014 - 09.2015
- Developed positive working relationships with stakeholders to effectively coordinate work activities.
- Conducted research to identify and evaluate new cross domain solutions technologies and concepts.
- Created detailed reports on market survey and findings to recommend cross domain solutions for afloat platforms.
- Recommended centralized repository approaches for enterprise requirements management and analysis using model-based concepts before they were enforced.
Enterprise Architecture Project Lead
NIWC LANT
10.2012 - 09.2014
- Led multiple projects, (e.g. Navy Data Center Consolidation, Naval Operations Warfighting Mission Campaign Studies, and Workforce Planning Investigation) each with a team of engineers and contractors, in order to conduct capability based assessments and campaign studies for Navy warfighting missions.
- Conducted executable modeling for analyzed, courses of action to produce outputs from modeling parameters.
- Presented findings with risks and impacts around cost, training and performance per course of action to make recommendations and influence Program Objective Memorandum (POM) Budget decisions on the fiscal years' cycles.
- Documented our processes for these mission engineering, capability assessments to standardize and target competency training for the organization.
Principal Consultant
Trinity Systems Engineering, LLC
05.2009 - 09.2012
- Compiled projects' data and gave professional presentations highlighting projects cost, schedule and performance metrics.
- Conducted thorough reviews of operations to devise and deploy improvement strategies.
- Collaborated with clients from concept through final delivery of systems engineering services.
- Liaised with client leaders and workforce to better document and recommend how mission engineering methodologies can transform the business and individual competencies.
Operations Manager
Benefitfocus.com
01.2007 - 05.2009
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Reported issues and bugs with software to the IT developers for resolution.
Education
Mid-Career Leadership Program
NIWC LANT
Charleston, SC09-2020
Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) - Systems Engineering
International Council On Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
06-2014
Certified Professional Requirements Engineering -
International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB)
01.2010
Bachelor of Arts - History
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC01-2004
Study Abroad - History of South Africa & Service Learning
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
Johannesburg, Republic Of South Africa01-2004
Skills
- Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Governance
- Federated Architecture & Reusable Frameworks
- IT Standards & Policy Development
- Model-Based Systems Engineering
- Digital Engineering & Transformation
- Stakeholder Engagement & Briefings
- Tools: Cameo Systems Modeler, MS Office, SAP/ERP, JIRA, CAMEO Requirements Modeler
- Top Secret Clearance
Technical Contributions
- Developer: NAVWAR Agile Requirements Management Process & Model, 2021.
- Author: NAVWAR Enterprise Requirements Framework, 2017.
- Co-Author: NAVWAR Information Dominance Enterprise Architecture Volumes I-II, 2015.
Leadership And Awards
- On the Spot, Integrated Product Team Member, 2022.
- On the Spot, 'The Goose & Maverick', 2021.
- On the Spot, Mission Engineering, 2021.
- Employee of the Month, Architecture, Requirements & Modeling Competency, 2020.
- Lightning Bolt Team Excellence, NAVWAR Information Dominance Enterprise Architecture, 2014.
Timeline
Chief Engineer
NAVWAR
04.2025 - Current
Chief Architect
NAVWAR
05.2023 - Current
Lead Enterprise Architect
NIWC Atlantic
04.2022 - 12.2023
Model Based Systems Engineering Lead
NIWC LANT
10.2017 - 04.2022
Enterprise Requirements Tech Warrant Holder
NAVWAR
10.2016 - Current
Alfoat Architecture Technical Requirements Lead
NIWC LANT
10.2014 - 09.2015
Enterprise Architecture Project Lead
NIWC LANT
10.2012 - 09.2014
Principal Consultant
Trinity Systems Engineering, LLC
05.2009 - 09.2012
Operations Manager
Benefitfocus.com
01.2007 - 05.2009
Mid-Career Leadership Program
NIWC LANT
Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) - Systems Engineering
International Council On Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
Certified Professional Requirements Engineering -
International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB)
Bachelor of Arts - History
North Carolina State University
Study Abroad - History of South Africa & Service Learning
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
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