Government leaders discuss immersive technologies at VRARA Immersive Technology Summit

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

May 12, 2026

Senior leader representatives of the Department of Defense (DoD) branches of service highlighted extended reality (XR), simulation and artificial intelligence (AI) during a panel session at the fourth annual Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit, held April 15 at the Central Florida Tech Grove and hosted in partnership with the VR/AR Association (VRARA) Central Florida Chapter.

Supported by the U.S. Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS) and the University of Central Florida, the event brought together government, industry and academic leaders to explore the future of immersive technologies in modeling, simulation and training (MS&T).

The annual summit serves as a premier forum for examining how immersive technologies are being developed and deployed across defense and commercial sectors. This year’s theme, “Mission-Ready Immersion: XR, Simulation and AI Powering the Next Generation of MS&T,” guided a program of panels, presentations and hands-on demonstrations showcasing operational applications and emerging capabilities.

The government leaders panel brought together senior representatives from key DoD training and simulation organizations, offering a cross-service perspective on advancing training systems, immersive environments and readiness modernization across the joint force.

Panelists included Brett Telford, deputy director of AFAMS; Col. Ted Stokes, director of STE CFT Futures Training Directorate; John Meyers, executive director of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD); and Brian Raymond, deputy commander of USSF STARCOM Delta 10.

To kick off the discussion, panelists emphasized how XR, simulation and AI are reshaping training pipelines and operational readiness across the services. Telford noted these technologies are now central to how warfighters are prepared for complex operational environments, marking a shift in how training capability is delivered and scaled.

“XR has moved from experimentation to mission-essential capability, fundamentally changing how we prepare warfighters for complex environments,” Telford said. “It is now an integral part of how we build readiness across the force.”

Stokes highlighted integration at scale, emphasizing the importance of connecting training environments to better reflect real-world mission conditions and improve interoperability across systems.

“The future of training depends on our ability to connect live, virtual and constructive environments into a unified learning ecosystem powered by data and AI,” Stokes said. “That level of integration is what will enable truly adaptive and scalable training across the joint force.”

Meyers focused on long-term modernization, explaining the shift toward more connected and realistic training environments that better support operational needs and readiness outcomes.

“We are building interconnected digital ecosystems that mirror operational reality and improve decision-making under pressure,” Meyers said. “The goal is to ensure training systems evolve alongside the missions they are designed to support.”

Raymond emphasized space domain readiness, noting the increasing importance of immersive tools in preparing operators for contested and rapidly evolving mission environments.

“Immersive simulation is becoming essential to preparing Guardians for contested environments, where speed, realism and adaptability define readiness,” Raymond said. “It enables more realistic mission rehearsal and strengthens decision-making in complex scenarios.”

Raymond also highlighted how immersive capabilities are increasingly being integrated into broader training and mission planning efforts, supporting a more connected approach to readiness development across domains and services.

“As we look at the future of training, the value is not just in simulation itself, but in how it connects to the wider ecosystem of data, platforms and mission systems,” Raymond said. “That integration is what will allow us to train more effectively for the complexity of tomorrow’s operational environment.”

Across the panel, leaders identified shared challenges including interoperability, data integration and sustaining innovation within defense acquisition systems. Stokes emphasized that these challenges are not just technical, but structural across how systems are developed and fielded.

“We continue to see friction when systems are built in isolation, because interoperability and data flow have to be designed in from the beginning — not bolted on after the fact,” Stokes said. “If we want to sustain innovation, we have to align acquisition, data architecture and training requirements from the start.”

Meyers also pointed to the difficulty of maintaining consistency and coherence across rapidly evolving digital training environments, particularly as services adopt different systems and approaches at varying speeds.

“A major challenge is ensuring that as we modernize, we don’t create new silos between platforms or between the services themselves,” Meyers said. “Interoperability has to extend beyond technology — it has to include governance, standards and shared intent across the enterprise.”

Despite these challenges, the panel expressed strong agreement that immersive technologies are already delivering measurable improvements in training effectiveness and operational readiness. Telford underscored the impact is already being seen in operational training environments, where immersive tools are transitioning from experimentation into sustained capability.

“We are seeing real performance gains as XR is integrated into training pipelines,” Telford said. “It is improving realism, accelerating proficiency and enhancing how we prepare warfighters for complex operational scenarios.”