Specialty engineering capabilities such as human systems integration (HSI), manufacturing and quality (M&Q), reliability and maintainability (R&M), and system safety engineering (SSE) are considered and applied throughout the life cycle of DoD systems. DoD engineers apply knowledge from the specialty engineering disciplines at concept definition, early in design, and continuing through sustainment, to balance total system cost, schedule, and performance.  In addition, value engineering achieves essential functions at the lowest life cycle cost consistent with required performance, quality, reliability, and safety. 

 The Executive Director for Systems Engineering and Architecture (SE&A) provides for development, policy, and guidance related to specialty engineering capabilities, focusing on delivering practices, technical assessments, tools, and workforce competencies that catalyze the efforts of DoD engineers. Specialty engineering capabilities support the DoD mission by ensuring current and future forces are operationally ready.