Design Centers
Digital Engineering Aerospace and Defense Systems Design Center
Digital Engineering Aerospace and Defense Systems Design Centers (DEDC) are designed to
prepare a future-ready aerospace and defense workforce with transformational digital
engineering skills. In partnership with UTEP-W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation and the
National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining, the Aerospace Center has
developed three DEDCs to include DEDC @El Paso, DEDC @Huntsville, Alabama, and DEDC
@Youngstown, Ohio.
Digital engineering is a transformational systems development process that digitally threads concept, design, manufacturing, operations, post-life, and retirement to enable connected
manufacturing that builds systems better. The Department of Defense has adopted a Digital Engineering Strategy that requires a transformation of the culture and workforce in order to adopt and support digital engineering across the lifecycle. The DEDC takes on this task through project-based, experiential learning that combines classroom learning, experimental and
computational exercises, and eDesigning, eBuilding, and eTesting aerospace and defense
research and technology development projects.