NTSA webinar sets the stage for I/ITSEC 2025

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

November 25, 2025

 

The National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) hosted a webinar titled “Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance” on Nov. 18, offering an early look at the focus areas shaping the 2025 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

 

I/ITSEC is the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) event. It occurs annually the week after Thanksgiving and draws thousands of MS&T professionals to the Orange County Convention Center, including high-ranking civilian and military officials, C-suite executives and senior academics from leading research institutions.

 

Moderated by retired Navy Vice Adm. Sean Buck, NTSA president, the panel included Rodney Stevens, SES, program executive officer for the Training Directorate at AFLCMC; Col. Corey Klopstein, U.S. Space Force, program executive officer for OTTI; Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler, program executive officer for U.S. Army PEO STRI; Capt. Robert Betts, executive officer at NAWCTSD; and Col. Wynndee Young, program manager for training systems at PM TRASYS.

 

Following opening remarks, the panel answered questions submitted before and during the event. Topics included open architectures, synthetic environments, interoperability, cognitive training, data-enabled readiness and faster acquisition pathways.

 

Each executive highlighted areas where industry innovation could accelerate service modernization, improve training realism and help prepare future warfighters for increasingly complex operational environments.

 

Buck opened the session by outlining the structure of the webinar and emphasizing that the discussion would focus on key technologies and modernization challenges rather than program-specific issues.

 

“Our goal today is to give industry a clear view of the challenges and opportunities shaping service training portfolios,” Buck said. “We want you to understand not only what we’re focused on today, but where we’re going in 2025.”

 

Stevens began by underscoring the Air Force’s focus on readiness, noting that senior Air Force leadership has emphasized the need for purposeful and realistic training across the force.

 

“Readiness is at the core of everything we’re doing,” Stevens said. “We need training environments that mirror the complexity, scale and speed of operations our airmen will face.”

 

Stevens pointed to advanced modeling, simulation and synthetic environments (MS&S) as essential for multi-domain mastery and preparing airmen for rapidly evolving operational demands.

 

He previewed significant Air Force participation at I/ITSEC 2025, including senior-level engagements and panels addressing simulators, open architectures and enterprise synthetic environments.

 

“The Air Force is coming to I/ITSEC with a strong presence because we want to accelerate solutions that help us train smarter and fight smarter,” Stevens said. “We’re focused on capabilities that enhance decision-making, integrate across domains and deliver measurable improvements to readiness.”

 

Klopstein followed with an update on the Space Force’s training enterprise, describing efforts to build interconnected, scalable physical and digital ranges that support full-spectrum test and training.

 

“We’re building a foundation that supports full-spectrum readiness across the space domain,” Klopstein said. “To prepare Guardians for the future fight, we need environments that are dynamic, data-driven and tightly integrated across missions.”

 

Klopstein emphasized the importance of unity of effort among Space Force commands and the need for immersive, high-fidelity environments that strengthen readiness and resilience in the space domain. He noted that his portfolio’s capabilities are designed to prepare Guardians for advanced tactics development and future contested environments.

 

“Our success depends on collaboration, and we’re looking for partners who can help us move fast and innovate responsibly,” Klopstein said. “We need solutions that can scale across missions, strengthen our digital infrastructure and keep pace with the evolving demands of the space domain.”

 

Beeler provided an overview of the Army’s training and instrumentation portfolio, which includes a large testing, training and threat replication mission supporting soldiers worldwide.

 

“The Army trains everywhere, all the time, and our systems have to be ready to support that,” Beeler said. “Interoperability and modernization remain the cornerstones of our mission.”

 

Beeler highlighted the scale of Army training modernization efforts, the importance of interoperability and STRI’s ongoing work to deliver systems that support both U.S. and partner-nation readiness.

 

“We’re looking for solutions that are flexible, scalable and capable of supporting soldiers in any operational environment,” Beeler said. “They must enhance readiness and adapt to the challenges our forces face in real-world operations.”

 

Betts outlined the Navy’s priorities as NAWCTSD continues to modernize training systems for aviation, surface and undersea communities. He emphasized human factors integration, fleet-aligned training modernization and the continued shift toward ready-relevant learning environments.

 

“For the Navy, it all comes down to delivering training that is tightly aligned with fleet needs,” Betts said. “Human factors, readiness analytics and adaptable learning environments are central to how we prepare sailors.”

 

Young closed the service introductions with an update on Marine Corps training systems, highlighting efforts to modernize and integrate training, improve operational realism and strengthen industry partnerships.

 

“Marines need training that reflects the missions they’re executing today and the ones they’ll face tomorrow,” Young said. “We’re investing in capabilities that improve decision-making, build resilience and strengthen unit readiness.”

 

As planning for I/ITSEC 2025 continues, NTSA encouraged industry partners to focus on capabilities that enhance interoperability, support scalable training architectures and help ensure operational dominance in future contested environments.