Applied Systems Thinking Institute Created by Stevens and Analytic Services Inc.

WASHINGTON, April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Stevens Institute of Technology and Analytic Services Inc. have formed a new research, development and education venture, the Applied Systems Thinking (ASysT) Institute. This collaborative endeavor expands the partnership established more than a year ago when Stevens began delivering graduate level education onsite at Analytic Services' headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

On March 13, 2007, Stevens' President, Dr. Harold J. Raveche, and Analytic Services' CEO, Dr. Ruth David, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the New York Yacht Club launching the new Institute.

"The purpose of this memorandum is to advance the scientific basis and theoretical understanding of the field of systems thinking, and to translate this understanding into pragmatic applications that enhance the security of our nation," said Raveche.

"This partnership will emphasize the application of systems thinking principles to problems of national significance while simultaneously developing an educational enterprise for all levels of leadership, as well as practitioners, throughout the national security, homeland security, intelligence, and public safety communities," said Dr. Dinesh Verma, Dean of Stevens' School of Systems & Enterprises. "We will deliver on that partnership through the Applied Systems Thinking Institute."

"Analytic Services has a long and rich history of public service within the national security, homeland security, intelligence and public safety domains, while Stevens is a recognized leader in Systems and Enterprise Architecting, Engineering and Integration research and education," said David. "Joining forces to strengthen our nation's vital security missions is a natural step."

The ASysT Institute will operate under the leadership of two directors, one each from Analytic Services and Stevens. Randy Beardsworth, Vice President for Human Capital and Corporate Communications at Analytic Services and former Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, and Dr. Arthur Pyster, Distinguished Research Professor at Stevens and former Senior Vice President at SAIC and Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Federal Aviation Administration, will be the co-directors of the Institute.

To advance the understanding and practice of systems thinking, the ASysT Institute will:

   -- Develop and deliver graduate level courses in systems thinking and
      related disciplines, including systems and enterprise architecting and
      governance, complex systems, agile enterprises, and resilient
      enterprises, with an emphasis on the national security, homeland
      security, intelligence and public safety domains;
   -- Develop and deliver executive seminars of tactical and strategic value
      to executives in the national security, homeland security,
      intelligence and public safety communities on topics relating to the
      principles and application of systems thinking and related
      disciplines;
   -- Conduct collaborative research programs focused where systems thinking
      and related disciplines intersect with the national security, homeland
      security, intelligence and public safety domains; and
   -- Conduct cross-domain and industry exchange meetings and forums on
      topics relating to technology, engineering, and management of
      importance to large enterprises.

  About Analytic Services Inc.

Established in 1958, Analytic Services Inc. is a not-for-profit public service institution that provides objective studies and analyses to inform decisions that shape the Nation's future. Services are delivered through two operating units. The ANSER operating unit has a nearly fifty-year history of providing analyses to the national security community in critical areas such as joint operations, anti-terrorism/force protection, science & technology, and operations analysis & management. In 2004, Analytic Services won the competition to create the Department of Homeland Security's congressionally mandated Federally Funded Research and Development Center and established the Homeland Security Institute (HSI). For additional information about Analytic Services, please visit http://www.anser.org/.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis(R), involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value. Stevens offers baccalaureates, master's and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 1,850 undergraduate and 2,980 graduate students, and a worldwide online enrollment of 2,250, with a full-time faculty of 140. Stevens' graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at http://www.stevens.edu/. For the latest news about Stevens, please visit http://www.stevensnewsservice.com/.