[CMC] My intention to retire from CCSDS and JPL

[Shames, Peter M (US 312B)]

Dear CCSDS Management Council (CMC) and Engineering Steering Group (CESG),

For some time now my answer to the occasional “When do you plan to retire?” question has been “In a year or two.”   This note is to inform you that the answer to that question is now “Early in 2025, probably as early January.”  I have not yet established a fixed date, but that time-frame is what I am planning toward.

I’ve been working within CCSDS since 2000, so you could say that I have a lot invested in the organization.  My intention is to make this transition as smooth as possible.  For planning purposes I want you all to be aware of the several different roles that I have, since all of them need to be filled, but not necessarily by a single person.


  1.  Systems Engineering Area (SEA) Director:  This involves all of the usual duties of any AD, plus the Systems Engineering Area has the identified role, in the CCSDS Org & Proc (A02.1-Y-4c), of being the sole Area in what is called the “Systems Domain”
     *   The Systems Engineering Area (SEA) covers system-wide engineering aspects that are so pervasive that they span both the Informatics and Telematics Domains. The AD has the prerogative to define, in alignment with the CCSDS Strategic Plan, the set of projects that this Area contains at any point in time.
     *   The SE Area currently includes: Security WG, Systems Architecture WG, Delta-DOR WG, and Time Management WG, plus SANA responsibilities.
  2.  Systems Architecture WG Chair:  The SAWG provides key cross cutting documents, including the Reference Architecture for Space Data Systems (RASDSv2, now in Agency Review), the Space Communications Cross Support Architecture documents (ISO layers 1-4, ARD is now in update, ADD is due next), the Application and Support Layer Architecture (ISO layers 5-7, ASL was published in Nov 2020), and the Reference Architecture for Space Information Management (RASIM, which is now starting to be updated).
  3.  Space Assigned Numbers Authority (SANA) Steering Group Chair (SSG):  Responsible for providing operational and policy guidance to the SANA and the SANA Operator.  Editor for the SANA Policy and Procedures documents (SANA Procedures, Registry Management Policy, and WG Guidelines for SANA).  Nominally assigned to the SEA AD, but could be another Area Director with an interest in the SANA.

The Fall 2024 meeting in London is the last meeting where I expect to be present and operating as the SEA AD and SAWG Chair.  I also expect that there will be the usual call for candidates for these two elected positions.  I intend to be available to help mentor whoever gets elected into these positions between the time that they are appointed and when I retire.

It has been an honor and a privilege to be given these roles and to work with our really excellent international team of CCSDS colleagues.  I have valued all of the inter-personal discussions and interactions, even the “challenging” ones.  They all represented opportunities for personal growth, learning, and contributing to space exploration, and those attributes, in the end, feel like what is best about CCSDS.

And now I’m making plans to go sailing…

Best regards, Peter Shames



Peter Shames
Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS)
Systems Engineering Area Director
Jet Propulsion Laboratory / Interplanetary Network Directorate
4800 Oak Grove Drive
MS 301-490
Pasadena, CA 91109

peter.m.shames at jpl.nasa.gov<mailto:peter.m.shames at jpl.nasa.gov>
C: 818-687-7901
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