With the growth of complexity and interconnectedness, systems engineers find themselves on the frontiers of engineering. Furthermore today’s systems engineers also need to balance legal, regulatory and social requirements. Fortunately, the practices, tools, and workforce are maturing to address these challenges. For the more experienced systems engineers, it is a time to reflect on how far we have come—because we truly have—and to partner with the next generation. For our newer colleagues, it is an exciting time to enter the field, and solve problems at the micro level, macro level, and global level. This presentation will attempt to motivate both groups, set the stage for the day, and presage the deeper presentations that will follow.