NTSA and I/ITSEC briefing explores emerging technology strategies for MS&T at TSIS

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

The National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) hosted a session titled “NTSA I/ITSEC 2025 Next Big Thing: Emerging Technology Strategy for MS&T,” at the Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS), June 17.

 

TSIS is one of the key gatherings for the modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) community. Within Florida, it is second in scale only to the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

 

The symposium serves as an annual forum for representatives from industry and the U.S. military to discuss training and simulation requirements. Officials from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force present updates on current and future procurement needs. Topics included acquisition strategies, timelines and funding priorities.

 

Moderated by Bob Kleinhample, CEO of PioneerSim and director of the NTSA Next Big Thing Committee, the session focused on how emerging and future-focused technologies may shape MS&T capabilities across defense and allied domains.

 

“Next Big Thing is all about what’s next, right? It’s not about what’s here right now or the coolest gadget today,” Kleinhample said. “It’s a showcase of what we expect to see in the next few years: technologies that could reshape training and operational models.”

 

Sam Burns, engagement manager at Oliver Wyman Aerospace and Brian Stensrud, technical fellow at CAE USA, contributed insights. The discussion is part of NTSA’s broader initiative to anticipate future capability needs by exploring technologies in early stages of development rather than focusing solely on those nearing deployment.

 

The I/ITSEC Next Big Thing (NBT) initiative identifies emerging trends and low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) with the potential to transform the MS&T community. By accelerating adoption of these innovations, NBT aids government, industry and academia stay ahead of evolving challenges.

 

“Originally, the program centered around a single annual theme. In 2024, we opened it up to encourage broader participation and a more open-ended submission process,” Kleinhample said. “This created greater opportunity for diverse ideas across government, industry and academia.”

 

Burns stressed the importance of focusing on long-term innovation rather than immediate, production-ready solutions. Instead of spotlighting mature products already slated for deployment, the discussion centered on identifying technologies in earlier stages of development.

 

“This panel is not designed as a venue for showcasing products that are already production ready,” Burns said. “Rather, it’s a platform to assess ideas that may impact the training community over the next three to five years.”

 

Burns added that evolving acquisition strategies, especially for software and digital platforms, could speed up technology adoption across defense initiatives and reshape how simulation tools integrate into larger operational systems.

 

“Current changes in acquisition pathways, especially regarding software and digital systems, could accelerate the adoption of certain technologies within defense programs,” Burns said. “These changes will also influence how simulation capabilities integrate into broader operational frameworks.”

 

The discussion highlighted how the training ecosystem has expanded beyond traditional instruction to include product development, mission planning, integration and sustainment. Air Force programs and Critical to X (CTx) initiatives have begun decoupling training, software and systems engineering from legacy hardware-centric models.

 

A key theme was expanding how commercial technologies enter defense applications. Separating software from hardware enables scalability and better supports human-system integration. Burns noted that software using commercial methods and digital platforms is increasingly central to modernization.

 

“We want to see demonstrations and concepts grounded in credible technical or research development, not just formal slideshows,” Burns said. “The goal is substance over style, to surface meaningful contributions to the future of simulation and training.”

 

The discussion also covered legislative and structural reforms impacting acquisition, such as efforts to streamline authorities, integrate experimentation and accelerate requirement development. These reforms may create new opportunities for training and simulation technologies within capability development cycles.

 

Technically, the panelists highlighted artificial intelligence, autonomy, digital engineering and cloud-based systems as cross-cutting areas poised to influence all phases of MS&T. The goal is aligning emerging technologies with mission outcomes while managing trade-offs across capability portfolios.

 

“These technologies are not just isolated innovations,” Stensrud said. “They’re foundational enablers that will redefine how we approach training and simulation across every domain, ensuring adaptability and relevance in rapidly evolving mission environments.”

 

From a strategic perspective, panelists noted the need for government and industry to improve fluency in non-traditional contracting mechanisms and market access strategies such as OTAs, SBIRs and cooperative agreements, to engage innovators and bring emerging capabilities into programs of record.

 

Key technology areas include digital engineering for system modeling and AI tools to personalize training. The discussion also touched on space domain needs like satellite operations, as well as cybersecurity and C2 modeling for multi-domain threat scenarios.

 

Logistics and sustainment emerged as another growing area of interest. As military operations rely more on complex supply chains and interdependent systems, simulation could play a larger role in planning and forecasting as digital logistics platforms evolve.

 

“Simulation in logistics isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about resilience,” Stensrud said. “By modeling complex supply chains, we can anticipate disruptions before they happen and ensure mission continuity in dynamic operational environments.”

 

The discussion acknowledged that rapid tech change brings both opportunities and challenges. Collaboration across defense, industry and academia remains uneven, particularly in aligning timelines, risk and performance goals. Clearer pathways for early-stage tech exploration are increasingly vital.

 

Regarding program participation, Kleinhample said NTSA continues to accept concept proposals for future “Next Big Thing” sessions. The program prioritizes discussion-driven formats, working demonstrations and concepts grounded in credible technical or research development over formal slideshows or promotional briefings.

 

“If you’re involved in early-stage technology development relevant to MS&T, please reach out,” Kleinhample said. “We want to hear your ideas; help shape future sessions and foster innovation that can benefit the entire community.”