Draft:Ricardo Valerdi

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Citizenship	Mexico, United States
Fields	Systems Engineering, Cost Estimation, Sports Analytics
Institutions	University of Southern California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Arizona
Doctoral Advisor	Barry Boehm
Doctoral Students	Matthew Dabkowski, Mitchell Kirshner
Website	https://sie.engineering.arizona.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/ricardo-valerdi

|700x700px]] Ricardo Valerdi is a Professor in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering at the University of Arizona.  His research focuses on systems engineering, cost estimation, and sports analytics.  He was the Founder and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Enterprise Transformation and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics.  He is a Fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and a foreign member of the Mexican Academy of Engineering. Previously he was a visiting fellow of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, a visiting professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a Fulbright Scholar at Universidad Carlos III of Madrid (Spain). Valerdi is also UA’s Faculty Athletics Representative, serving as a liaison to the Big 12 and NCAA.

Work

After earning his Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2005, Ricardo Valerdi began his academic career as a faculty member in the Engineering Systems Division at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he worked from 2005 to 2011. During his time at MIT, Valerdi focused on systems engineering, cost estimation, and the development of decision-making tools for large-scale systems. He contributed to several high-profile research projects, including collaborations with the Department of Defense and NASA, which aimed to improve the efficiency and reliability of complex engineering systems.

In 2011, Valerdi joined the University of Arizona as a faculty member in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering. There, he continued his research in systems engineering while also taking on roles that emphasized community engagement and educational outreach. In addition to his academic duties, Valerdi served as an ombudsmen for the university as well as Faculty Athletics Representative. Science of Sport, a non-profit organization designed to bridge the gap between sports and STEM education for K-12 students, was founded by Valerdi in collaboration with Tech Launch Arizona in 2014. Valerdi was promoted to Department Head of Systems and Industrial Engineering in 2023, after serving as interim in the role for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Valerdi has been instrumental in developing the university's engineering programs and has served as a mentor for numerous graduate students. His work has been recognized with several awards, and he has published extensively in the field of systems engineering. Valerdi's research and teaching efforts have had a significant impact on both the academic community and the broader public, particularly through his initiatives to make STEM education more accessible and engaging for younger audiences.

Science of Sport

Ricardo Valerdi is the founder of Science of Sport, a non-profit organization that focuses on using sports as a platform to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts to K-12 students. Established in 2013, the organization aims to engage students who might not otherwise be interested in STEM subjects by leveraging their enthusiasm for sports. Science of Sport partners with schools, community organizations, and professional sports organizations to provide curriculum development, teacher training, and hands-on activities that demonstrate how STEM concepts apply to real-world sports scenarios. The program covers a wide range of sports, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and track and field, to illustrate topics such as physics, statistics, and biomechanics. Since its inception, Science of Sport has impacted thousands of students across the United States, aiming to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals by showing them how science and sports intersect in meaningful ways.

Education

Ricardo Valerdi earned his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. His dissertation contributed to the development of the Constructive Systems Engineering Cost Model (COSYSMO), a parametric model designed to estimate the cost, effort, and schedule of large-scale systems engineering projects. COSYSMO has since become widely used in both industry and government to improve the accuracy of cost estimation for complex systems. Valerdi also holds an M.S. in System Architecture and Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Prior to his graduate work, he completed his B.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of San Diego, where he built a strong foundation in technical problem-solving and analytical thinking. His education in both systems and electrical engineering has been integral to his research and contributions in systems engineering, cost estimation, and STEM education outreach.

Awards and Honors

Ricardo Valerdi has received numerous accolades throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to systems engineering, cost estimation, and STEM education. His awards highlight both his academic achievements and his influence in international engineering communities. Below are some of the prestigious honors he has received:

 Best paper award, Journal of Systems Engineering

• International Council of Systems Engineering, Summer 2016

Foreign Member

• Mexican Academy of Engineering, Summer 2016

NCAA MindMatters Concussion Education Program winner

• Spring 2016

Frank Freiman Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cost Estimation and Parametric Modeling

• Highest award given by the International Cost Estimating & Analysis Association, Fall 2015

Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) Distinguished Visiting Fellow

•  Fall 2014

 Best paper award, 11th Conference on Systems Engineering Research

• Spring 2013

Best journal article of the year, Defense Acquisition Research Journal

•  Summer 2012