1. An apparatus for managing test procedures for a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation environment, the apparatus comprising: an input interface for receiving input from a user; and a first processor coupled to the input interface and in operable communication with the HIL simulation environment, the first processor configured to: generate a test sequence comprising a plurality of test procedure references based on input from the user, wherein each test procedure reference corresponds to a test procedure that comprises instructions for issuing commands to, and receiving data from, the HIL simulation environment, and wherein each test sequence comprises instructions for creating a desired operating condition for the simulation environment using operational data and diagnostic data; and sequentially execute each referenced test procedure within the generated test sequence in cooperation with the HIL simulation environment, in response to a command from the user.