Svetislav (Steve) Petrusevic
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center, Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems – Project Management Office XM30 Combat Vehicle Program
TITLE: Systems engineer
YEARS OF SERVICE IN AAW: 16
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: Practitioner in engineering and technical management; Foundational in program management
EDUCATION: M.S. in systems engineering, The Johns Hopkins University; Master in Management, Walsh College Business School; B.S. in mechanical engineering, Oakland University
AWARDS: Civilian Service Commendation Medal (2021)

EMBRACE UNCERTAINTY

by Cheryl Marino

As a systems engineer, Svetislav (Steve) Petrusevic believes that every role is an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and build on it. He approaches each new project with a mindset shaped by experience, ready to adapt, grow and seize the possibilities that come with change.

“My position entails performing systems engineering disciplinary work—acting as the bridge between technical teams and project goals and ensuring that all parts of a system work harmoniously to achieve desired outcomes,” explained Petrusevic, whose current responsibilities at the Project Management (PM) Office XM30 Combat Vehicle Program, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center, are leading the overall effort in the development of the XM30 Digital Twin. The XM30 is the next-generation Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, designed to replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. And “digital twin” refers to an evolving digital model of the combat vehicle itself, constantly updated with real-time data from sensors and other sources.

“PM XM30 is at the tip of the spear in the digital engineering [digital acquisition] for the U.S. Army, and is revolutionizing how the Army designs, develops and sustains systems, enabling faster, more efficient and more effective delivery of capabilities to support national defense,” Petrusevic explained. “By leveraging digital tools and processes, the Army can better address the challenges of modern warfare and maintain technological superiority.”

Petrusevic’s greatest satisfaction in being a part of the Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) is knowing that his work directly supports the warfighters who defend the nation, contributes to the Army’s readiness and modernization and plays a vital role in ensuring mission success. “The sense of purpose, pride and impact that comes with my current role is unparalleled, making it a deep passion for serving the country and supporting the Army,” he said.

Petrusevic joined the AAW in 2009 when the Joint Project Office (JPO) Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program was hiring to fill critical positions. “My decision to join the AAW was driven by our nation’s involvement in two wars—Iraq and Afghanistan—and our warfighters needed multidisciplinary engineers to support and field MRAPs to enhance their safety and effectiveness,” he said.

Prior to joining the AAW, Petrusevic worked as a systems engineer at BAE Systems, where he gained valuable experience in the automotive industry as a computer aided design (CAD) designer and project engineer.

“During my time in the automotive sector, I developed a deep understanding of the capabilities of digital engineering tools and their ability to streamline the launch of vehicle systems within tight timelines,” he said. “By bringing my expertise from the automotive industry to the Army AAW, I have been able to accelerate the needs of PM XM30 by integrating and implementing digital engineering tools to drive efficiency and innovation.”

During the MRAP program’s early days, vehicles were fielded under Urgent Material Release (a process to rapidly provide materiel to Soldiers to address operational, training or readiness needs or to close capability gaps), and Petrusevic explained the project manager [PM] faced challenges in understanding the integration and build details of each MRAP variant. “The PM even described configuration management [CM] as his ‘Achilles heel,’ highlighting its significant weaknesses at the time,” he said. So Petrusevic joined the JPO MRAP Caiman team as a configuration manager, leveraging his engineering background to address these challenges. “My role focused on strengthening the CM processes by managing changes, maintaining accurate records and facilitating collaboration. This effort helped the JPO MRAP Caiman team deliver high-quality products and services while minimizing risks and disruptions.”

The most significant point in Petrusevic’s career was participating in the Public-Private Talent Exchange (PPTE) Digital Engineering Program, which provided valuable insights into the transformative power of digital engineering. “This approach fosters enhanced collaboration, minimizes risks and accelerates the delivery of systems with greater efficiency,” he said. “Additionally, the program offers the flexibility to apply digital engineering expertise across various acquisition programs, regardless of where they are in their acquisition life cycle, ensuring impactful contributions at every stage.”

“I have brought all of the lessons learned during the 6-month PPTE developmental at Siemens Corporation [to my current role as systems engineer]. The PPTE Digital Engineering Program has helped me understand the strengths, weaknesses and capabilities of such digital engineering tools that could be integrated and implemented into the PM XM30 digital engineering tools portfolio,” Petrusevic said. Adding that he would consider taking the Carnegie Mellon University – Data Driven Leadership course, “since PM XM30 is leading digital engineering efforts and data is important.” As well as Leadership Excellence and Acquisition Development to prepare for any program management roles.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned over the course of my career is the value of adaptability. Early in my career, I faced a situation where a project’s requirements changed drastically midway through development. Initially, I struggled to adjust, but I quickly realized that being flexible and open to change was essential to success,” he said. “I learned to embrace uncertainty, focus on solutions and remain calm under pressure.”

Petrusevic said between work experience and training opportunities he’s had throughout his career, his best advice for junior acquisition personnel is to “be opened minded, and if there is an opportunity knocking at the door—open it!”

“Faces of the Force” highlights the success of the Army Acquisition Workforce through the power of individual stories. Profiles are produced by the Behind the Frontlines team, working closely with public affairs officers to feature Soldiers and civilians serving in various Army acquisition disciplines. For more information, or to nominate someone, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/submissions/.”