Program Management in Defense and High Tech Environments

Managing technical programs successfully is as much art as it is science. This book illuminates the entire life cycle of the program—from customer’s original concept to successful completion. It offers an overview of the entire process and includes helpful ideas and insights into why programs and program managers can fail. Much more importantly, it provides insights as to how program managers can succeed. The book also deals directly with identifying scope creep—both internal and external.

Charlie McCarthy, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Manhattan College, joined a large electronics company. His second assignment on their Professional Development Program became permanent, and Charlie began his "first career" as a systems/digital design engineer. For most of his career, his work has been in nuclear instrumentation and control systems, for both commercial and government power plants.

As much as Charlie loved electrons and diodes, he loved working with people more, and gradually grew into technical and project leadership roles. Charlie’s technical and analytical interests and his interest in people found a happy overlap in program management. Along with growth in experience and technical competence, he earned a master’s of science in electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. He has successfully managed a wide range of projects and programs, from those with one or two people to large, complex hardware and software programs involving over 50 engineers and operations personnel.