# Fundamentals of Project and Program Management Course Canonical URL: ## Overview Learn and practice the knowledge and skills essential to your duties as a FAC: P/PM Level I Project and Program Manager in this five-day instructor-led virtual course. As a member of an Integrated Project Team (IPT), you will gain hands-on experience by eliciting stakeholder requirements, developing and communicating solutions, developing a project management plan, developing and executing an acquisition plan, and monitoring and controlling performance. Participants need to complete the entry-level web-based FPM 120A and FPM 120B- Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management to meet training requirements. To earn a Certificate of Completion, participants must attend all class sessions and achieve a score of 80% across all coursework and assessments, including examinations, quizzes, and participation in case studies. Participants who do not meet this standard must re-enroll at their own expense. ## What you'll learn - Examine program/project performance in terms of budget, schedule, and scope. - Integrate multiple roles and responsibilities necessary to make critical program/project business decisions. - Justify program/project management decisions as part of problem-solving exercises. - Develop elements of key program/project management deliverables to plan a program or project throughout its life cycle. - Define the process for developing program requirements and performance work statements that define the project, addressing roles and missions. - Connect principles of systems engineering to monitoring and controlling a program/project. - Interpret information in case studies, real-world scenarios, and project summaries to address an organizational need. ## Prerequisites To effectively engage with the course material, students should have a basic understanding of project management principles and familiarity with tools such as Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and business case development. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Introduction - Overview of course structure, objectives, and certification path. - Introduction to the project lifecycle and key phases. - Discussion of course expectations, grading policy, and team dynamics. - Review of foundational project management principles. - Participant introductions and goal-setting exercises. #### Module 2: The Integrated Project Team (IPT) - Roles and responsibilities within the IPT framework. - Strategies for effective team collaboration and consensus building. - Stakeholder and communications management planning. - Conflict resolution using the Thomas-Kilmann Model. - Development of a Team Operating Agreement (IPT Charter). #### Module 3: Justifying the Solution - Conducting a Business Case Analysis to justify project initiation. - Identifying capability gaps and developing high-level requirements. - Using Market Research and Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). - Differentiating between material and non-material solutions. - Building and defending a business case with cost-benefit analysis. #### Module 4: Developing Requirements - Refining high-level into detailed technical requirements. - Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Dictionary. - Applying requirement traceability and verification principles. - Using performance-based requirements for better outcomes. - Developing project requirements through exercises and team planning. #### Module 5: Planning the Acquisition - Understanding the Project Management and Acquisition Plans. - Writing Performance Work Statements and Source Selection Plans. - Evaluating proposals based on technical and cost factors. - Applying market research and QASP (Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan). - Analyzing ethical considerations in acquisition activities. #### Module 6: A Systems Engineering Approach - Introduction to systems thinking and engineering methodologies. - Developing system-level and item-level requirements. - Designing, testing, and evaluating technical solutions. - Managing technical risk and risk response strategies. - Applying lessons learned to achieve best-value system integration. #### Module 7: Monitoring and Measuring Performance - Developing Implementation Plans and transitioning solutions. - Using Earned Value Management (EVM) to track project performance. - Establishing baselines for cost, schedule, and scope. - Creating and applying management plans (risk, scope, quality, etc.). - Understanding the transition to Operations and Maintenance phase. #### Module 8: Course Summary and Post-Test - Review of key concepts from project life cycle and management tools. - Summarizing takeaways from case studies and exercises. - Post-test assessment with 40 questions (1 hour, open book). - Instructions for applying for certification and maintaining CLPs. ## Instructors ### Anna Garcia-Durr — Instructor Ms. Garcia-Durr is a highly respected acquisition expert and retired U.S. Army officer with over 35 years of combined military and federal civilian service in logistics, contingency operations, and acquisition leadership. A former Contingency Contracting Officer, Anna brings operational insight from combat zones, austere environments, and disaster response operations directly into the training environment. She held senior leadership roles across the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives—managing multi-billion dollar portfolios and overseeing mission-critical procurement in domestic and international settings. She is also a seasoned instructor and mentor, having trained hundreds of acquisition professionals, CORs, and program teams to exceed performance and compliance goals. She equips today’s acquisition professionals with the insight, precision, and mission-driven mindset needed to confidently lead and execute procurements in any acquisition environment. Anna holds a Juris Master in Corporate Compliance and Contracts and graduate certificates in Contract Management and Program/Project Management. Her certifications include Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM), DAWIA Level III (Contracting), and FAC-C / FAC-COR Level III. ### Jeff Hysen — Instructor Jeff Hysen has been with GSUSA since 2020, teaches numerous classes, and has received several awards for his work. Before joining Graduate School USA, Jeff was an Assistant Regional Counsel with the General Services Administration for 31 years. At GSUSA, Jeff served as the lead counsel on Ethics issues for the National Capital Region and worked on numerous projects across various fields. In addition to his work with GSUSA, Jeff is a podcast host and stand-up comedian. ### Melanie Dooley — Instructor Melanie Dooley is a seasoned expert in federal acquisition and contracting with more than three decades of experience spanning government, industry, and education. She has built a distinguished career as both a practitioner and educator, serving as a Vice President of Acquisition Policy for SAIC, a managing editor for the _Federal Contracts Report_ at Bloomberg BNA, and an instructor and curriculum developer for Graduate School USA. Her background includes deep knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes, the federal budget and appropriations cycle, and the intricacies of acquisition policy. She has also cultivated an exceptional ability to translate complex policy and contracting issues into practical guidance, having trained members of the defense and civilian acquisition workforce at all levels. In addition to her leadership roles, Melanie brings corporate strategy experience, extensive editorial expertise from her years in the trade press, and a strong record of shaping acquisition policy within a major defense contractor. She is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) and a Fellow of the National Contract Management Association, where she has held leadership roles including VP of Programs and Fellows Chair. With an MBA from Georgetown University and a reputation for clarity, rigor, and real-world insight, Melanie has become a trusted resource to federal professionals, corporate leaders, and students alike. ### Alan McCain — Curriculum Program Manager Alan McCain is a retired combat veteran who served as both an Air Force enlisted member and a Navy officer. He brings over 30 years of experience spanning federal and commercial budgeting, auditing, programming, operations, global logistics support, supply chain and inventory management, as well as major IT acquisition. He possesses extensive, hands-on budget and audit experience across Federal, State, and Local government operations, including work within the Executive Office of the President and the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., among others. Alan’s consulting background includes strategic planning and business development with the District of Columbia government, multiple federal agencies, Lockheed Martin, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Certified Government/Defense Financial Manager (CGFM/DFM), holds a Teaching Certification from Harvard University’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and earned an Executive MBA in International Business from The George Washington University. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1900