A Best Practice for Developing a MOSA-based Reference Architecture

Following the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) is a requirement for systems developed for the US Department of Defense. MOSA is a combination of acquisition and engineering/architecting methodologies, involving improving interoperability and reuse across programs, expediate technology refresh, facilitate innovation, enhance competition, open markets to smaller players and more. In this presentation we will focus on the one aspect of MOSA: the development of open reference architectures. Whilst also touching on a “best practice” that uses modularity to drive interface definition and thereby create MOSA-aligned Reference Architectures, the key foundations of MOSA to the Gray Box concept. Dr. Steve Davidson, Chief Scientist for Systems Architecture at The MITRE Corporation, has been the chief architect on MOSA-based projects relevant to the US Air Force, Navy, and the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense.  Steve has been called one of the “founding fathers” of SOSA (the Sensor Open Systems Architecture), served as the Chair of its Architecture Working Group and as the Vice-Chair of the SOSA Consortium’s Steering Committee (the governance body).  He was also deeply involved in The Open Group’s FACE (Future Airborne Capability Environment) Consortium and served as the Chair of its Enterprise Architecture Standing Committee for several years.  Steve has also helped shape several other Open Systems Architectures including DirecNet, OMS, and VICTORY. The Open Group: https://www.opengroup.org/ Follow The Open Group on Social Media: Twitter: @TheOpenGroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/20614/