Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus Members Participate in I/ITSEC Panel

By Shane Klestinski, Associate Editor

 

Members of Congress representing the Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Caucus discussed relevant issues facing the M&S community during the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 2.

 

Retired Navy Vice Adm. Sean Buck, the new National Training and Simulation Association president, moderated the discussion. Panel members included: Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District, Rep. John Rutherford of Florida’s 5th Congressional District, Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Darren Soto of Florida’s 9th Congressional District, and Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida’s 10th Congressional District.

 

Buck began the session by explaining that Scott and then-Rep. Randy Forbes established the bipartisan caucus in 2005 that focuses on M&S technologies. Buck went on to outline why he considered this discussion especially important, noting that a significant portion of the M&S industry’s sales are based on government funding, both to the Defense Department, and other federal agencies. He also pointed out that the interaction at I/ITSEC represented an opportunity to collaborate and hear the participants’ points of view on M&S, as well as their constituencies from various districts.

 

“This could be is a jumping-off point for those who are attending for the first time, to start a dialogue and better appreciate what’s needed from the folks out in the world, and we can hear from [industry] where you need help up on the hill to further your efforts and your respective companies,” Buck said.

 

After initial comments, Buck asked the panel about artificial intelligence (AI), specifically with respect to its benefits and concerns, and how legislation could support its effective and safe application.

 

“AI is a tool… as you’re using this tool, what are the results you’re getting – and what are you using it for?” Scott said. “We need to regulate what [people are doing] with AI, not so much AI itself.”

 

Soto noted benefits of using AI use M&S, such as the advantages of using digital twins to make wargame simulations more efficient to protect forces and enhance success in combat and defense. He went on to address some inherent negatives, warning attendees against letting their kids use AI to write book reports, lest they risk seeing “striking errors” in those assignments, and he acknowledged that “a lot of folks don’t understand [AI, and] it’s scary.” Soto also said that while AI had the potential for disruptions in white-collar, professional services, it did create other opportunities in other areas.

 

“Overall, it will make us more efficient and allow us to be more accurate in how we defend the nation, but we need to be on guard because AI sometimes gets it wrong,” Soto said. “At the end of the day, [AI] is only as good as the underlying data that’s utilized to help us and guide us in these decisions.”

 

The conversation later turned to mechanisms and processes the caucus uses to invite noncaucus members to support M&S-oriented legislation, Bergman emphasized the importance of relationships and pointed out the bipartisan nature of the M&S Caucus. Scott said that voters simply reaching out to their elected officials directly could be especially useful in getting desired results.

 

“I think the most effective way to get a representative in the caucus is to have someone from their district suggest they join the caucus,” Scott said.

 

Buck then asked the panel a question from the audience on how the caucus could ensure or oversee that K-12 and university curriculums were agile enough to keep up with the demands of industry in the areas of AI, machine learning, and virtual reality, given the rapid pace of tech advancement. Scott explained the difficult nature of that issue, given that the federal government generally avoids injecting itself into academic curriculum as a matter of policy.

 

Rutherford concurred with Scott and recalled a trip to a middle school in Jacksonville, Florida, that featured a “shuttle launch” wherein there was no actual launch, but the school electronically received all the data from the previous launch. He said the program was “amazing to watch,” and noted that students were working with factors such as the health of the astronauts, fuel load, and other aspects involved in the simulation.

 

“These kids were learning through doing,” Rutherford said. “Having the ability [to have those opportunities] is important. If you want those things in your district, go make it happen.”

 

Frost added that many government investments in M&S “don’t exist within a vacuum,” and those investments often encourage school districts and outside organizations to “level up” their work to ensure that students are competitive for future opportunities. He went on to cite the University of Central Florida’s status as the top school for modeling and simulation, as well as NeoCity Academy’s efforts to ensure students’ preparation for a future workforce.

 

“We need this now more than ever because of the investments we’re seeing, for example, [from] the Chips and Sciences Act,” Frost said. “We’ve seen massive investment come to Central Florida and it’s why the industry is moving there.”

 

Rutherford later addressed a question regarding the Department of Homeland Security expanding the use of M&S for training, wargaming and decision-making due to its diverse mission set.

 

“I think there are all sorts of opportunities for modeling and simulation,” Rutherford said. “The simple task of carrying a gun and being able to use it with proficiency is one thing, but the other issue is making those ‘shoot, don’t shoot’ decisions… there are so many applications, driving is another [among other] high-liability training areas.”

 

In Rutherford’s final comments, he advised M&S companies to invite their representatives to visit their places of business to help them understand the importance of the M&S industry’s work and the realities they are facing.

 

“All of you live in a district somewhere – get your representative to come tour your facility,” Rutherford said. “I challenge you to educate us [members of Congress]… on what’s going on in the small business world, not just the prime movers. That’s an important step that I think sometimes gets left out.”