Steve MacLaird with OMG

Scott MacKenzie interviews Steve MacLaird, Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Strategy at OMG, about the organization's role in developing and maintaining standards for various industries. OMG, which has been around for over 35 years, has created standards like CORBA, used in 5 billion devices worldwide. They focus on adaptable standards, such as the Software Communication Architecture (SCA) and Systems Modeling Language (SysML), which have been adopted and modified by NASA and the Department of Defense. MacLaird emphasizes the importance of collaboration with government, industry, and academia to identify and address evolving needs. OMG's standards are free and accessible, encouraging broad participation and influence in their development.

Action Items

• [ ] Finalize the release of the RFP for the Statistics Metadata Interface Interoperability standard.
• [ ] Promote the upcoming release of the Standard Business Report Model standard.
• [ ] Continue engaging with government, industry, and academia to identify their needs for new standards.

Outline

OMG Q1 Meeting Introduction and Purpose

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the Industrial Talk Podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry innovations and the people behind them.
• Scott thanks the audience for their support and highlights the importance of problem-solving and collaboration in the industry.
• The podcast is broadcasting from the OMG Q1 meeting in Reston, Virginia, and Scott encourages listeners to visit omg.org for more information.
• Scott introduces Steve, the senior vice president of government and industry strategy at OMG, and sets the stage for a discussion on government and industry strategy.

Steve's Background and OMG's History

• Steve provides a brief introduction, mentioning his role at OMG and his responsibilities in government, industry, and university engagement.
• OMG has been around for over 35 years and has developed standards like the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), which is widely used in various technologies.
• CORBA is used in numerous devices, including cell phones, laptops, submarines, and satellites, with over 5 billion instantiations worldwide.
• Scott asks Steve about the process of engaging with government, industry, and universities, and Steve explains the hands-on approach of meeting people and understanding their needs.

Government and Industry Collaboration

• Steve shares his experience in developing software-defined radios and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the military.
• He describes how these technologies were used in Afghanistan, allowing special operations personnel to see what was on the other side of a mountain using a laptop and a drone.
• OMG's standards, such as the Data Distribution Service (DDS), have been adopted by NASA for launching rockets and by the Department of Defense for communication architecture.
• Steve emphasizes the importance of collaboration with various government agencies, including the Department of Defense, NASA, and the Office of Federal Financial Research.

Adapting Standards to Changing Needs

• Scott inquires about how OMG keeps its standards up-to-date with rapidly changing government needs.
• Steve explains that OMG does not build shelfware and regularly reviews its standards to ensure they remain relevant.
• He provides an example of how the software communication architecture (SCA) was adapted by NASA for space use and later updated for terrestrial applications.
• OMG's Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is another example of a standard that has been adopted by Congress for model-based systems engineering in both the Department of Defense and NASA.

Engagement and Influence in Standard Development

• Steve discusses his role in engaging with government, industry, and academia to identify needs and develop relevant standards.
• He shares an example of how the Space and Missile Center adopted an alert and alarm system for satellites after evaluating an existing standard used by the C4I defensive military group.
• OMG's standards are available for free on its website, encouraging membership and collaboration in the standard-setting process.
• Scott asks about OMG's marketing efforts to keep users informed about updates and new standards, and Steve mentions regular marketing campaigns and awareness efforts.

Trust and Data Interoperability

• Scott and Steve discuss the growing demand for standards in the era of AI and data interoperability.
• Steve highlights the importance of trust in data and the need for standards to ensure data quality and provenance.
• OMG is working on a standard for statistics and metadata interoperability, which will help address questions about data origin and changes.
• The standard business report model, expected to be released in June, will also help in understanding the context and quality of data.

Ontology and Precise Definitions

• Steve explains the concept of ontology, which is crucial for precise definitions in AI and data management.
• Ontology helps in asking the right questions to get the right information, especially in different environments like agriculture, logistics, and space.
• OMG has a group dedicated to precise definitions, which can be challenging and complex.
• Scott expresses his admiration for the passion and dedication of OMG members in solving complex problems.

Contact Information and Final Thoughts

• Scott asks Steve how people can get in touch with him, and Steve provides his email address and mentions his active presence on LinkedIn.
• Scott wraps up the conversation, emphasizing the importance of OMG's work and encouraging listeners to visit omg.org to learn more.
• Scott encourages listeners to be bold and brave, collaborate, and solve problems, highlighting the impact of OMG on everyday life.
• The podcast concludes with a reminder to stay tuned for more conversations and to connect with Industrial Talk for future opportunities.