GW-ITEA Overview

---

The George Washington Chapter of the International Test and Evaluation Association (GW-ITEA) was chartered on March 6, 1981 in the District of Columbia. Per its charter, GW is an educationally oriented, not-for-profit technical society. Its purpose is to further the professional and technical interests of the local government and commercial test and evaluation community.

Since inception, GW has twice been acclaimed by the International Test and Evaluation Association as the organization's most outstanding chapter and is perennially cited as a Superior Chapter. GW is the largest of the 29 chapters composing the association. Along with four other chapters; Francis Scott Key, Southern Maryland, Tidewater and Wright, GW forms the ITEA Eastern Region. Since its establishment in 1981, the Chapter has grown from an initial affiliation of 14 individuals to its present membership of over 400. This membership figure represents approximately 20-percent of the total ITEA enrollment.

A key membership component are GW's seven corporate sponsors. Individual and corporate members of the GW Chapter are drawn from all over the greater Washington DC metropolitan area and reflect the depth and breadth of the local Federal, contractor, industrial and educational Test and Evaluation community. Because of its location in the Nation's Capitol, the Chapter enjoys unique access to many of the T&E community's decision makers both in government and private industry.

Every year, the Chapter engages in a busy schedule of events. As an active supporter of the association's mission, GW has several times hosted or co-hosted the annual ITEA National Symposium. A highly successful Corporate-sponsored luncheon program is used to help finance a unique test and evaluation industry related scholarship fund as described on our education page. Eight luncheons a year are hosted with guest speakers ranging from high-ranking government and industry officials, to program managers and testers from the field. Speakers have also included Members of Congress and foreign officials having significant connections to, or influence over test and evaluation issues. These luncheons generally occur on the third Thursday of each month except June, July, August and December.

Almost every year, GW convenes a forum designed to allow industry and government to cross-fertilize ideas and views on major trends and events affecting the test community. These conferences usually last two days, feature panels, question-and-answer periods and guest speakers. The panels are composed of members drawn from government and industry sources and address specific topics of concern to the community such as, "Industry/Government Perspective on Applying Modeling and Simulation Technology" and "An Open Forum on Test and Training 2020." Attendance at these conferences is open to members and non-members alike. To facilitate the discussion of relevant issues before and after the conference, GW also maintains an online discussion group dedicated to Crosstalk. Often the results of the forum are published and delivered to senior officials.

A periodic newsletter is published and sent to each GW Chapter member about eight times a year to keep them informed of important test and evaluation issues occurring at the local and regional level. Members and non-members alike are encouraged to submit articles for inclusion in the GW Newsletter.

In accordance with ITEA by-laws, the organization's elections for officers are held every two years. Officers and members of the Chapter's Executive Committee normally meet the first Wednesday of each month at 5:15 P.M., at 4850 Mark Center Drive, 10th floor conference room, in Alexandria, Va.

News & Notes

Monthly Luncheons:
When scheduled, luncheons are held at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va., from 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Hope to see you there!

Monthly Meetings:
GW-ITEA monthly officers meeting are held the first Wednesday of each month at 5:15 P.M., at 4850 Mark Center Drive, 10th floor conference room, in Alexandria, Va.