Author: Jochen Boy

As part of the EN/NAS9300 series of standards, the LOTAR Basic and Common Parts Working Group are developing a new recommended practices document concerning metadata requirements for a LOTAR archival package, which will be published as Part 021 of the EN/NAS 9300 series of standards.

The LOTAR standards are developed from the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model (ISO 14721), which provides a conceptual framework for Archive systems. Using the OAIS reference model and the LOTAR basic and common Parts (EN/NAS 9300-001, 002, 003, 005, 007, …) as a process guideline, Part 021 establishes a minimum set of metadata for an archive in support of business and regulatory requirements for long-term archiving of digital product data. In particular it establishes the metadata requirements common to all domains (3D Mechanical CAD and PMI, Composites, MBSE, Electrical Harness, PLM) and establishes the framework for a common approach in the individual domain parts (100, 200, etc.).

OAIS defines certain minimum classes of metadata that should be held in an archive which support the trust in, the access to, the context of and the relationships between the elements of the content information (model data).

The new Part 021 has been developed by the Basic and Common Parts Working Group led by Jeff Klein (Boeing), together with Torben Lindeman (Airbus), Jochen Boy (PROSTEP) and Stephen Mackey (Penwern), an archiving and digital preservation consultant.

Part 021 is currently in external ballot with ASD-STAN and AIA and it is anticipated that it will be published in the second half of 2026.

This Memorial Day, PDES, Inc. honors the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their courage and sacrifice are the foundation of the freedoms we enjoy today—and is the inspiration behind our mission to support a stronger, safer future through technological excellence.  From the American Revolution to today, innovation has empowered the Warfighter to protect our nation.

At PDES, Inc., we work with leading standards organizations to develop, test and implement interoperable manufacturing standards used by the Industrial and Military manufacturing sectors, which serve the American Warfighter. From quality management systems to advanced composite materials and precision machining processes, the standards we support meet the highest benchmarks for performance, safety, and interoperability.

We honor the legacy of those who have fallen by contributing to a future where technological superiority supports national security and global peace.

On this solemn day of remembrance, we extend our gratitude to the families of the fallen and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the Industrial and Military Manufacturing sectors.

We remember. We honor. We advance.

—The PDES, Inc. Team

PDES, Inc. is pleased to announce that Juan Carlos Mendo (The Boeing Company) and Kyle Hall (Airbus) have been selected as the co-recipients of the 2026 Brad Rigdon Technical Management Award. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional technical management in executing complex PDES, Inc. programs and honors the legacy of Brad Rigdon, whose leadership helped advance STEP from early development to global implementation.

For the first time, there are co-recipients who are co-leaders in the  Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) project.  Juan Carlos Mendo and Kyle Hall have worked in close partnership to guide one of the most complex and strategically important initiatives within PDES, Inc. As co-leaders, they have demonstrated that effective technical management is not only about execution, but also about building alignment across diverse organizations and disciplines.

Through their leadership, the MBSE Working Group has successfully brought together a broad network of standards development organizations, including PDES, Inc., ISO, OMG, prostep ivip, Modelica, and INCOSE. Their ability to coordinate across these communities—each with its own processes, priorities, and timelines—has enabled meaningful progress toward addressing critical challenges in MBSE interoperability and long-term data preservation.

A key milestone achieved under their leadership is the completion and external ballot submission of LOTAR Part 500, which establishes foundational concepts for the long-term archiving and retrieval of MBSE information. This accomplishment reflects not only strong technical direction, but also disciplined planning, coordination, and execution across a highly distributed team.

Juan Carlos and Kyle have also demonstrated exceptional skill in managing complex technical efforts by effectively leveraging the expertise of a diverse team. They consistently assign responsibilities to the most qualified contributors, anticipate and mitigate challenges related to multi-organization collaboration, and maintain clear, realistic roadmaps that keep work aligned with strategic goals. Their proactive communication and thoughtful coordination ensure that progress continues even in the face of competing schedules and resource constraints.

Equally important is their commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment. They are widely respected for their professionalism, fairness, and ability to bring out the best in team members. By encouraging open dialogue, recognizing contributions, and maintaining a positive and engaging atmosphere, they have built a high-performing team that delivers impactful results for the broader MBSE community.

Their combined leadership, technical insight, and dedication exemplify the spirit of the Brad Rigdon Technical Management Award. Together, Juan Carlos Mendo and Kyle Hall have demonstrated how strong partnership and effective management can drive progress on some of the most challenging technical initiatives within PDES, Inc. PDES, Inc. congratulates Juan Carlos Mendo and Kyle Hall on this well-deserved recognition and thanks them for their continued leadership and contributions to advancing model-based systems engineering and interoperability.