Special Events

2026 Special Events

The Simulation Century: Digital Twins and AI in Space

This is our 15th annual session to address the growing issue of managing the human/machine interface as we hurtle towards the Singularity and the Metaverse. We will continue our discussion of how to achieve fluency with smarter balance between humans and machines to optimize outcomes. The Simulation Century Panel presentations this year will focus on the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI and simulation in the intelligence community.

Moderator: Richard Boyd, CEO, Ultisim

Panelists:

  • Richard Boyd, CEO, Ultisim
  • Dr. Jeffrey Arnold, Executive Vice President, Science and Technology, ENTARIAN
  • Dr. Christa Peters-Lidard, Deputy Director for Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geophysics in the Earth Sciences Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

The Digital Engineering-Simulation Flywheel: Turning Models Into Mission Advantage

Digital engineering is the use of authoritative, connected digital representations to inform system design, development, analysis, and decision-making across the lifecycle. Perfect fit for modeling and simulation tech, right? Nonetheless, digital engineering and modeling and simulation are too often treated as adjacent disciplines: the former focused on authoritative system representation, the latter on experimentation and analysis. This panel explores a more impactful view, where digital engineering and simulation form a reinforcing flywheel. Digital models and representations enable more mission-relevant, connected, and reusable simulations; those simulations, in turn, generate evidence that improves designs, validates concepts, and informs acquisition. Drawing on perspectives from defense digital engineering, digital twins, and model-based mission engineering, the panel will examine how this flywheel can move M&S from a supporting activity to front and center as an engine for speed, integration, and mission impact.

Moderator: Dr. Benjamin Bell, General Manager, Advanced Capabilities Engineering, LLC

Panelists:

  • Richard Boyd CEO, UltiSim
  • Daniel Hettema, Director of Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation, OUSD R&E
  • Dale Ormond, Senior Advisor, Kompozition

One-Minute Spotlight

In this dynamic session, presenters distill their professional essence into a single slide and 60 seconds. Presenters will introduce themselves, outline their services or capabilities, and share their conference goals. Whether you’re a researcher, entrepreneur, or industry professional, this rapid-fire spotlight ensures maximum impact in minimal time.

Host: Luke DeVore, Managing Partner, Voltron Group

Bridging Innovation to Capability: Operationalizing the Defense Innovation Ecosystem

What does it really take to turn innovation into mission impact? Join leaders from Tech Grove, TechPort, and the Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Program for an interactive discussion that challenges conventional thinking and explores how breakthrough technologies move from concept to operational capability. Through audience engagement, real-world scenarios, and candid conversation, attendees will gain practical insight into navigating the defense innovation ecosystem and accelerating technology transition for warfighter success.

Moderator: VADM Sean Buck, USN (Ret.) President, National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA)

Panelists:

  • Amber Reep, Director, University of Central Florida Tech Grove
  • Brian Shipley, Director, DON SBIR/STTR Programs
  • Richard Tarr, Director, Southern Maryland Tech Bridge / TechPort

WarMatrix & Gemstone Briefings

WarMatrix is an advance, AI powered, wargaming approach creating and integrated analytical environment enabling commander/ operator in the loop capability to rapidly test operational and tactical courses of action. Gemstone is a government owned, open-source, platform enabling authenticated access to common analysis workflows, simulation frameworks, curated data sources, and compute, simplifying modeling, simulation, and analysis for the DAF and DoW.

Speakers:

  • Sean Litton, Strategic Engineering Lead, DAF Modeling and Simulation Execution Office
  • Lt Col Jason Sutherlin, USAF, Program Manager, WarMatrix
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