INCOSE Chicagoland
Chapter
The premier systems engineering professional society serving the greater Chicago–Milwaukee–Madison area. Educating, promoting, and connecting SE professionals.
About Our Chapter
The INCOSE Chicagoland Chapter was officially accepted into INCOSE at the International Workshop on February 7, 2010. We serve as the premier systems engineering professional and social society for the greater Chicago–Milwaukee–Madison area.
We welcome all INCOSE members and would-be members interested in joining. Our chapter name is not intended to convey boundaries on membership — you do not need to be an INCOSE member to participate in our events and join our mailing list.
The Chicagoland Chapter has received multiple INCOSE Chapter Circle Awards recognizing our efforts and contributions to the systems engineering community.
Our Mission & Goals
We believe that systems engineering principles and practices offer the best solution for organizations competing in today's global marketplace, and that the proper application of SE can directly contribute to the betterment of our region.
Educate
Improve the systems engineering work environment by educating business leaders and corporate management regarding the business case and key success factors for SE projects.
Promote
Promote the benefits of systems engineering and INCOSE while establishing liaisons and synergistic partnerships with key institutions, organizations, and individuals.
Connect
Meet monthly at multiple locations across our geographic area with webcasted technical meetings for members who cannot attend in person.
Chapter Leadership
Our Board of Directors guides the chapter's mission to educate, promote, and connect systems engineering professionals across the Chicagoland area.
Dale Brown
President
Liberato Garced-Torres
Vice-President
Mike Gut
Secretary
Bob Parro
Director At-Large
Randy Iliff
Director At-Large
Gary Oswald
Program Chair
Meetings & Events
We meet monthly, normally the third Thursday of each month, at multiple locations across our geographic area. All technical meetings are also webcasted for remote attendees.
Chapter Meeting — March 2026
Defining Needs and Requirements for Resilient Systems
March 19, 2026 • 6:00 – 8:45 PM CT • Extended Session
Resilience is a fairly new topic in the SE world. As such, few understand the concept and need to address resilience when defining needs and requirements. This presentation addresses defining needs and requirements for resilient systems in practical terms such that attendees can immediately apply concepts and do the activities that will help them develop resilient systems.
Topics include understanding the need to address resilience, assessing current system resilience levels, analyzing adversities that could cause loss of mission or assets, defining concepts for avoidance, withstanding, and recovery, and defining both design controls and operational requirements.
Presented by
Lou Wheatcraft
Co-Chair, INCOSE Requirements Working Group
Senior Consultant & Managing Member, Wheatland Consulting, LLC
Location
1501 E. Woodfield Rd., Suite 300E
Schaumburg, IL 60173
3rd Floor Conference Room
+ Online via Zoom
Agenda
About the Speaker
Lou Wheatcraft is an international expert in systems engineering with over 50 years' experience, including 22 years in the United States Air Force. Lou has taught over 200 requirement seminars and is a principal author of several RWG manuals and guides including the NRM, GtNR, GtVV, and the newly released GtWR v4.
Upcoming Event
Coming Soon
Stay tuned for our next chapter meeting. Details including topic, speaker, date, and location will be announced soon. Follow us on LinkedIn or check back here for updates.
Recordings & Publications
Access past meeting recordings, presentations, and chapter publications on INCOSE Connect — the collaboration platform for INCOSE members.
INCOSE Connect
Our chapter maintains a library of recorded presentations, meeting materials, and publications on the Chicagoland Chapter page within INCOSE Connect. Browse past topics and catch up on sessions you may have missed.
- Past meeting recordings
- Presentation slides and materials
- Chapter publications and newsletters
INCOSE membership required for full access to recordings and documents.
Get Involved
Whether you're an experienced systems engineer or just exploring the field, we'd love to have you. You don't need to be an INCOSE member to attend our events or join our mailing list.
Partner Organizations
We build strong relationships with professional societies and organizations across the Chicagoland area to advance systems engineering together.