Cognitive Engineering methods were developed to enable human factors practitioners to understand and systematically support the cognitive work of people working "at the sharp end of the spear." Military members for whom DoD acquisition organizations develop systems are the quintessential "sharp end of the spear." This panel is proposed to share present-day experience from military and industry reflecting how pervasively Cognitive Engineering is contributing to research and development for the highly complex military systems being operated under conditions of stress, time pressure, and uncertainty today. The implications for human factors practitioners will be highlighted, both in terms of practices to continue and areas for improvement.