Editor’s Note: This Q&A with Dr. Benjamin Bell, President of Eduworks Corporation – Government Solutions and MODSIM World 2018 Conference Chair, was originally shared in NTSA’s newsletter. Dr. Bell discusses with NTSA what we can expect at this year’s show and how the mod-sim industry is continuing to be a crucial part of the training and simulation community. MODSIM World 2018 will specifically exhibit growth in the areas of 5G, cybersecurity, and space commercialization among military branches.
NTSA: What are the basic goals of MODSIM World 2018?
Dr. Benjamin Bell, President of Eduworks Corporation – Government Solutions and MODSIM World 2018 Conference Chair
Dr. Bell: MODSIM World is a vibrant conference designed and scaled to be a platform for developing business relationships and connections. Our goal is to allow government officials to interact with the people and the technologies that are behind the latest advances in the modeling and simulation industry, and to enable industry and academia to interact with government both during the conference, and also during our numerous networking activities.
NTSA: What are some of the highlights of this year’s MODSIM World?
Dr. Bell: This year we are bringing back some of the special events that have been very popular at MODSIM World – including the Simulation Century panel, Senior Leader Panel, and Virtual/Augmented Reality innovation corner. We are also very excited to have some outstanding keynote speakers including Mr. Robert Burns, deputy director of Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), Brigadier General Mark Odom, Director of Concept Development and Learning Directorate at the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC), Dr. John Tangney, division director at the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Rep. Bobby Scott.
NTSA: How does MODSIM fit into the larger picture of modeling and simulation today?
Dr. Bell: MODSIM World 2018 reaches across application domains of modeling and simulation, so it attracts decision-makers and thought leaders from an array of communities. MODSIM World is a very collegial conference and makes for a great forum for communal interactions and meaningful dialogue. Our speakers and events span a broad range of contemporary modeling and simulation approaches and applications and we strive for a rich and diverse technical program.
NTSA: Where do you see MODSIM headed in future years as M&S applications diversify and the technology itself further matures?
Dr. Bell: A key driver for future MODSIM World conferences will be mobile M&S capabilities achievable using 5G; there are numerous possibilities, and MODSIM World provides an excellent venue for exploring them. Related application sectors will also be a factor in future MODSIM World years: automotive applications, cybersecurity, combating sea level rise, medical care and space commercialization will be among the numerous growth areas leveraging M&S technologies.
The Modern Military Training team is pleased to be attending MODSIM World 2018. If you’re interested in connecting with us on-site, please reach out to our editorial team. To stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in modern military training, subscribe to our newsletter.
