[CESG] [EXTERNAL] RE: CCSDS Resolution SEA-R-2023-10-001, appointment of Marcus Wallum as the SEA Security WG Deputy Chair

Wed Oct 11 16:45:34 UTC 2023

Hi Daniel (et al),

I agree that the Org & Proc doc is a little confusing on this matter (and others, I might add).  The reason is that the Org & Proc is organized along the lines of “responsibilities”, for each of the categories; CMC, CESG, AD, WG chair.   But what we have been trying to do is to discuss a “procedure”, which in this case cross cuts: WG, AD, CESG, and CMC.  So yes, we are trying to find all the “procedure threads” and pull them out of a “responsibility” document.  I would note that there are some “procedure” parts in the Org and Proc too, such as CESG Meetings, Sec 5.2.3 or On-line Voting, Sec 5.3, but not in this case.

My own re-statement of what I believe is accurate is this:

  1.  AD asks WG and CMC for candidates (Sec. 2.3.3.4)
  2.  CMC is given a month to respond (Sec 2.3.3.4, which sometimes results in a one month séance during which there is dead silence)
  3.  AD selects from the available candidates (Sec 2.3.3.4) and asks the CESG to approve / concur (Sec. 2.3.2.3.n)

As you note, it is often the case that the AD will ask the WG if they have an obvious candidate, but there is no mention of “agree upon”.  In practice that’s a good thing to do, but it is not stated. The WG, after all, is our experts in that field of technical subject matter.  If there is more than one candidate (a very lucky and unusual situation in my experience) then the AD has to make a choice.  There is no stated process nor guidance for doing this, so you are free to use any process you wish.  I tend to favor an extremely murky crystal ball, but other options are available.  That’s a joke, of course.  If there are choices and there is a question of who might make the best candidate I tend to go ask trusted experts who know the field better than I do.

I will make a different, but somewhat related, point, since we are having this discussion.  There is nothing in the CCSDS Org and Proc doc about trying to maintain anything like appropriate balance among agencies.  In this context it is always of interest that Klaus-Juergen, and the CESG chairs who preceded him, have always reported at the Plenary meetings on Agency participation statistics.  This is a demonstration that the various Agencies are actually invested in, and support, what we do.  But the focus in the Org & Proc is on picking the best candidates for any position (at all levels).  And that is someone who has (quoting from the WG Chair, Sec 2.3.3.4):

“Candidates for selection as WG chairs must be recognized as a leading technical expert in the field covered by that WG. Candidates may come from any organization (including industry) and do not have to be employees of space agencies. “
The point I am trying to make here, even though it is not written anywhere, is that sometimes we may make candidate choices to try and maintain some acceptable level of organizational balance as well.  This is just sensible because it is a way of helping to ensure that all of the significant contributing member agencies actively demonstrate that they are invested in the CCSDS organization and our products by supporting key leadership positions.

Thanks, Peter

From: Daniel Fischer <Daniel.Fischer at esa.int>
Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 9:02 AM
To: Ignacio Sanchez-Aguillar <Ignacio.Aguilar.Sanchez at esa.int>, Peter Shames <peter.m.shames at jpl.nasa.gov>, CCSDS Secretariat <secretariat at mailman.ccsds.org>
Cc: CESG <cesg at mailman.ccsds.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: CCSDS Resolution SEA-R-2023-10-001, appointment of Marcus Wallum as the SEA Security WG Deputy Chair

Hi all,

Just to remark that for the MOIMS SM&C deputy chair appointment, I did follow what is written in 2.3.3.4 (I made a typo in my mail this morning by referring to 2.3.2.3…should have been 2.3.3.4), at least the way I understand it. In simple terms, the procedure according to my interpretation is (for an existing WG):

  1.  WG and AD to agree on candidate
  2.  AD to send a mail to CMC with the proposed candidate asking for additional nominations (30 days time)
  3.  If no additional nominations are received, after 30 days, AD to proceed with requesting a CESG poll. If there are additional candidates actually 2.3.3.4 is very unclear on how to proceed (I did not have the case yet).

Is my understanding correct?

Cheers
Daniel

ESA – European Space Agency
Daniel Fischer  I  Head of Ground Segment System and Cybersecurity Engineering
Ground Segment Engineering and Innovation Department
Directorate of Operations
ESOC I Robert-Bosch-Str. 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
Tel: +49 6151 902718
Daniel.Fischer at esa.int<mailto:Daniel.Fischer at esa.int>   I   www.esa.int<https://urldefense.us/v3/__http:/www.esa.int/__;!!PvBDto6Hs4WbVuu7!KvF9p2altA9mSyOGUxWFg27gi2fu8aGHLhtwyIiK_N3JLYQKvDRvqSdRGW2QtvTb7NDIFyy28SsFgTpgW5NCzdz1Z6iF-EBdlw$>

From: CESG <cesg-bounces at mailman.ccsds.org> On Behalf Of Ignacio Aguilar Sanchez via CESG
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 3:17 PM
To: Shames, Peter M (US 312B) <peter.m.shames at jpl.nasa.gov>; CCSDS Secretariat <secretariat at mailman.ccsds.org>
Cc: CESG <cesg at mailman.ccsds.org>
Subject: Re: [CESG] CCSDS Resolution SEA-R-2023-10-001, appointment of Marcus Wallum as the SEA Security WG Deputy Chair
Importance: High

Dear Peter, Daniel and CESG colleagues,

I would like to raise a point concerning the appointments for WG Chairs and Co-chairs as per CCSDS Org & Proc, A02.1-Y-4c2.

Based on recent CMC and CESG correspondence (Optical WG Chair, SEA Sec Deputy Chair, MOIMS SM&C WG Deputy Chair) there seem to be at least two ways in which a WG Chair and Co-chair can be nominated.

In SLS we follow the (lengthy) process dictated by Sec. 2.3.3.4. It involves CMC. Such process is identified as a Cor. 2 in the document, which I interpret as a most recent modification.

In SEA and MOIMS reference is made to a specific CESG responsibility identified by Section 2.3.2.3, n) “Approving WG Chairs and Deputy Chairs”.

It shall be mentioned that such responsibility is the first sentence found in Sec. 2.3.3.4

As far as I understand, the absence of alternative candidates to those proposed by an Area Director can only be formally established by applying the procedure in Sec. 2.3.3.4.

In the case of the Optical WG Chair, following the mailing to CMC I have received a request a few days later from one of our main space agencies asking for the remaining time they had to propose a candidate. I referred to Sec. 2.3.3.4 and the 30 calendar days established for an existing WG.

I believe we should discuss this point as soon as possible and hopefully agree on what the applied procedure shall be.

Kind regards,

Ignacio

Ignacio Aguilar Sánchez
Communication Systems Engineer
Electrical Engineering Department

European Space Research and Technology Centre
Keplerlaan 1, PO Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Mob.+31641360257
Fax  +31715655418
Email: ignacio.aguilar.sanchez at esa.int<mailto:ignacio.aguilar.sanchez at esa.int>
www.esa.int<https://urldefense.us/v3/__http:/www.esa.int/__;!!PvBDto6Hs4WbVuu7!KvF9p2altA9mSyOGUxWFg27gi2fu8aGHLhtwyIiK_N3JLYQKvDRvqSdRGW2QtvTb7NDIFyy28SsFgTpgW5NCzdz1Z6iF-EBdlw$>

From: CESG <cesg-bounces at mailman.ccsds.org<mailto:cesg-bounces at mailman.ccsds.org>> On Behalf Of Shames, Peter M (US 312B) via CESG
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:02 PM
To: CCSDS Secretariat <secretariat at mailman.ccsds.org<mailto:secretariat at mailman.ccsds.org>>
Cc: Marcus Wallum <Marcus.Wallum at esa.int<mailto:Marcus.Wallum at esa.int>>; Howie Weiss <Howard.Weiss at parsons.com<mailto:Howard.Weiss at parsons.com>>; CESG <cesg at mailman.ccsds.org<mailto:cesg at mailman.ccsds.org>>
Subject: [CESG] CCSDS Resolution SEA-R-2023-10-001, appointment of Marcus Wallum as the SEA Security WG Deputy Chair

Dear CCSDS Secretariat,

Resolution: Appointment of Marcus Wallum as the SEA Security WG Deputy Chair

The Systems Engineering Area,

CONSIDERING that the position of SEA Security WG Deputy Chair is open,
And that ESA has nominated Marcus Wallum, who has been an active member of the WG, to fill that position,
And that Marcus has the necessary experience in the WG and excellent credentials.
And RECOGNIZING that responsibility for recommending a WG Deputy Chair is an AD responsibility,
And that approving the WG Deputy Chair is a CESG responsibility (CCSDS Org & Proc, A02.1-Y-4c2, Sec 2.3.2.3 CESG Responsibilities, Clause n)

RESOLVES to request CESG to approve the appointment of Marcus Wallum as the SEA Security WG Deputy Chair, and

REQUESTS that a CESG poll be conducted to accomplish this.

This message is intended only for the recipient(s) named above. It may contain proprietary information and/or protected content. Any unauthorised disclosure, use, retention or dissemination is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately. ESA applies appropriate organisational measures to protect personal data, in case of data privacy queries, please contact the ESA Data Protection Officer (dpo at esa.int<mailto:dpo at esa.int>).
This message is intended only for the recipient(s) named above. It may contain proprietary information and/or protected content. Any unauthorised disclosure, use, retention or dissemination is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately. ESA applies appropriate organisational measures to protect personal data, in case of data privacy queries, please contact the ESA Data Protection Officer (dpo at esa.int).
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