NCS to Induct First Class of M&S Hall of Fame

By Dolly Rairigh Glass

The National Center for Simulation, as part of the celebration of its 20th year anniversary, will present for induction, the inaugural class of the NCS Modeling and Simulation Hall of Fame on March 26, 2014, in a special ceremony at the Orange County Convention Center.

Army Gen. (Ret.) Paul Gorman is among the first inductees. Gen. Gorman was a strong advocate for training and simulation throughout his career. He supported revolutionary training simulation for the Army as early as the implementation of the MILES system; and also impacted early systems such as SIMNET and the “live, virtual, constructive” paradigm.

“As a strong supporter of simulation and its use in training our warfighters, I am pleased to be part of the National Center for Simulation’s Modeling and Simulation Hall of Fame,” said Gorman. “I have long held that all training, short of combat is simulation. I applaud the National Center for Simulation in elevating the use of modeling and simulation for our military and civil sector as well.”

The Hall of Fame will honor men and women who have made meaningful contributions to improving, changing or enhancing modeling and simulation in any of the disciplines included in its diverse use. Including Gorman, the inaugural class is as follows:

Vince Amico – Training simulation technology pioneer for the Navy
Luis de Florez, RADM, USN – Institutionalized synthetic training within the Navy during WWII
Dr. Richard C. Dehmel – Scientist who developed and implemented the first mathematical flight models for simulations
The Honorable Lou Frey – Congressman champion of Orlando defense simulation cluster
Priscilla Getchell – WWII Link Trainer instructor serving in the WAVE Corps
Paul Francis Gorman, General, USA (Ret) – Revolutionized Army training and the effective use of simulators
Dr. John C. Hitt – Academic pioneer and advocate for modeling and simulation
John P. Jumper, General, USAF (Ret) – Set distributed mission training policy for Air Force
Edwin Albert Link – Inventor of the Link Trainer and “father” of simulation technology
Albert Henry Marshall – Key pioneer whose inventions led to the development of the MILES system

“We’re excited to recognize these ten passionate and dedicated people who have made significant contributions to the growth of Modeling and Simulation,” said NCS President and CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret) Tom Baptiste.

“It’s an honor to be included with such a prestigious group,” said Congressman Lou Frey, Jr., a Republican who represented central/east Florida from 1969-1979. “I have been passionate about this industry for more than 40 years and was fortunate to be in the right position at the right time, enabling the industry to keep its roots in Central Florida.”

Frey was a second-term Congressman who fought a three-week battle with the Secretary of the Navy in 1971 to keep the Naval Training Device Center (NTDC) in Orlando. He enlisted the help of the Nixon Administration and the Attorney General, resulting in the NTDC staying put, which is now known as the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD).

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who will be in attendance for the ceremony, in partnership with Orange County Convention Center leadership, has graciously offered an area in the Orange County Convention Center that will permanently house the NCS Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence, along with the Hall of Fame. The area, Destination Lounge, will soon be built-out to showcase Central Florida’s key industries to the 1.4 million visitors to the convention center each year.