Software Engineering Institute

August 27, 2013—Kenneth Nidiffer, director of Strategic Planning for Government Programs at the SEI, has been recognized with an Outstanding Contribution Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society. Nidiffer earned the award for his role in authoring the Software Extension to the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. This publication will provide more than 500,000 project management professionals with IEEE Computer Society endorsed software engineering processes. Making the award was 2013 IEEE President, David Alan Grier.

"You have provided more than half a million international project management professionals with the tools to address managing software-intensive projects," said Don Shafer, vice president of the IEEE Computer Society Professional Activities Board. "Your outstanding team effort enables international technology development so much needed in today's world."

The Software Extension to the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge was a two-year joint effort between the IEEE and Project Management Institute (PMI) to extend the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to address practices applicable to projects to develop new software and modify existing software. The authoring team comprised eight representatives established in the community. They delivered the Software Extension on time and on budget, and the project met the requirements that both IEEE and PMI demand for this type of international document.

"This IEEE award is important to me due to its potential impact on a target audience of 500,000 professionals," said Nidiffer, who has been with the SEI since 2007. Nidiffer has significant experience as an author on major documentation efforts in the field of systems and software engineering, and teams on which he has served have recently been honored by the International Council on Systems Engineering, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Stevens Institute of Technology.

"Software intensive systems are the fabric of our modern society," said Nidiffer. "The community knows a lot about software project management methods, processes, and technologies, but it does not practice them very well. Hopefully the Software Extension to the Guide for the Project Management Body of Knowledge will make a significant difference."

Nidiffer has 48 years of experience in the fields of software and systems engineering and acquisitions. He began his career in the United Sates Air Force, where he achieved the rank of colonel and last served as director of Mission Critical Computer Resources in the Air Force Systems Command. Prior to joining the SEI, Nidiffer was vice president and technical fellow at the Systems and Software Productivity Consortium, Inc. He has also served in leadership roles with Northrop Grumman Corporation and Fidelity Investment Systems as director of engineering operations and senior vice president respectively. Nidiffer is author of numerous articles, technical reports, and other publications, and he has held academic posts at the Defense Systems Management College and George Mason University. He is a member of numerous professional associations, and he has served in a variety of leadership positions. Many times recognized for his service, Nidiffer was honored earlier this year with the President's Volunteer Service Award and the National Military Family Association Service Award.

"You have provided more than half a million international project management professionals with the tools to address managing software-intensive projects," said Don Shafer, vice president of the IEEE Computer Society Professional Activities Board. "Your outstanding team effort enables international technology development so much needed in today's world."

The Software Extension to the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge was a two-year joint effort between the IEEE and Project Management Institute (PMI) to extend the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to address practices applicable to projects to develop new software and modify existing software. The authoring team comprised eight representatives established in the community. They delivered the Software Extension on time and on budget, and the project met the requirements that both IEEE and PMI demand for this type of international document.

"This IEEE award is important to me due to its potential impact on a target audience of 500,000 professionals," said Nidiffer, who has been with the SEI since 2007. Nidiffer has significant experience as an author on major documentation efforts in the field of systems and software engineering, and teams on which he has served have recently been honored by the International Council on Systems Engineering, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Stevens Institute of Technology.

"Software intensive systems are the fabric of our modern society," said Nidiffer. "The community knows a lot about software project management methods, processes, and technologies, but it does not practice them very well. Hopefully the Software Extension to the Guide for the Project Management Body of Knowledge will make a significant difference."

Nidiffer has 48 years of experience in the fields of software and systems engineering and acquisitions. He began his career in the United Sates Air Force, where he achieved the rank of colonel and last served as director of Mission Critical Computer Resources in the Air Force Systems Command. Prior to joining the SEI, Nidiffer was vice president and technical fellow at the Systems and Software Productivity Consortium, Inc. He has also served in leadership roles with Northrop Grumman Corporation and Fidelity Investment Systems as director of engineering operations and senior vice president respectively. Nidiffer is author of numerous articles, technical reports, and other publications, and he has held academic posts at the Defense Systems Management College and George Mason University. He is a member of numerous professional associations, and he has served in a variety of leadership positions. Many times recognized for his service, Nidiffer was honored earlier this year with the President's Volunteer Service Award and the National Military Family Association Service Award.

The official release of the Software Extension to the Guide to PMBOK is scheduled for this month.