Get Ready for 2021 I/ITSEC

It’s time for the MS&T industry to get ready for Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), coming to the Orange County Convention Center Nov. 29 thru Dec. 3, 2021. This year’s conference is planned as a hybrid event with both onsite participation and some portions of the program being held virtually.

I/ITSEC is the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training event. It consists of peer-reviewed paper presentations, tutorials, special events, professional workshops, commercial exhibits, a serious games competition, and STEM events for teachers and secondary students.

The conference is organized by the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA), which promotes international and interdisciplinary cooperation within the fields of modeling and simulation (M&S), training, education, analysis, and related disciplines at this annual meeting. The NTSA is an affiliate subsidiary of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).

Rear Admiral James Robb, USN (Ret), president of NTSA said, “NTSA is thrilled to be back to hosting I/ITSEC in person this year! The show floor is filling fast, and the planning team is putting together a program jammed with fantastic content. We continue to see exceptional support from all the Services and many other agencies.”

After checking the exhibit floor diagram on the I/ITSEC website, Team Orlando News recommends companies and organizations who are interested in exhibiting to contact I/ITSEC soon. The show floor is looking great with only a few remaining booths available.

I/ITSEC veterans know that a lot of effort and planning goes in months ahead of time to make this conference the premier MS&T event each year. Work starts by the leaders and committees almost as soon as the previous year’s event concludes. Multiple meetings, phone calls, and countless hours of work are involved in selecting the themes, papers, and special events each year.

Last month the committee and subcommittees met to review papers and proposed special events. This year’s I/ITSEC will bring to its attendees 122 peer-reviewed papers; 10 professional workshops; 23 tutorials; and 35 special events.

Eliot Winer, I/ITSEC 2021 Program Chair said, “The 2021 program is packed with exciting content. Our broad range of activities including papers, tutorials, workshops and special events will appeal to basic scientists, M&S experts, managers, gamers, and academics.”

Jennifer Arnold of Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. is this year’s Conference Chair. Recognizing the hard work that goes into I/ITSEC planning she remarked, “The 2021 conference team has created an incredible program in line with our theme: Innovating and Accelerating Training: Adapting to an Unexpected Future. We are looking forward to seeing all our I/ITSEC family and friends in Orlando, November 29.”

The service leads for the 2021 event are the Navy and Marine Corps. NAWCTSD Commanding Officer, Capt. Dan Covelli’s team is fully engaged in preparation. “I am excited that the Navy and Marine Corps team will serve as the lead services for I/ITSEC 2021,” said Covelli. “We are currently living in an era of rapid change and technological growth. The global COVID-19 pandemic has challenged society, and certainly those of us in military simulation and training, to truly live and work with innovation at the forefront. With that in mind, I’m truly looking forward to seeing what the future holds for our profession at I/ITSEC 2021.”

I/ITSEC registration opens this week and attendees can find registration information on the I/ITSEC website.