Rep. Daniel Webster receives Congressional Champion Award at Capitol Hill event

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

March 17, 2026

U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-11) was honored with the Congressional Champion Award during a luncheon held on Feb. 24 in Washington, D.C. The recognition marks the first time the National Center for Simulation (NCS) has presented the award, highlighting Webster’s decades of support for modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) initiatives.

The Congressional Champion Award recognizes leaders whose policy leadership and advocacy have advanced the mission and impact of NCS and the broader MS&T community.

Webster’s advocacy for the simulation community spans multiple levels of government, including leadership roles in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate before his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives.

His efforts have helped strengthen the infrastructure, funding and policy support behind the industry that anchors Central Florida’s simulation technology ecosystem, which includes government, academic and private sector partners.

“For decades, the National Center for Simulation has brought together partners across the public and private sectors to strengthen our national defense, advance space exploration, and expand opportunities in education and workforce development,” Webster said. “I am grateful to NCS for this recognition and for its continued leadership in helping position Central Florida as a global leader in this critical field.”

As Speaker of the Florida House, Webster led the appropriation effort to build the University of Central Florida’s Partnership One facility, a key hub supporting the region’s growing MS&T sector. He was also instrumental in securing state funding for NCS as Majority Leader of the Florida Senate through UCF and the Florida High Tech Corridor.

Webster has continued to champion MS&T in Congress, issuing proclamations and inserting language in the National Defense Authorization Act that demonstrate the importance and value of the field to national defense and technological innovation.

In the FY2025 appropriations cycle, Webster sponsored a $2.1 million Community Project Funding request for a proposed modeling and simulation small business accelerator led by NCS. The initiative was designed to help small companies develop simulation technologies and improve access to Department of Defense contracting opportunities.

George E. Cheros, president and chief executive officer of NCS, said Webster’s longstanding leadership and advocacy have played an important role in advancing the modeling and simulation community.

“Congressman Webster has been a steadfast champion of the modeling and simulation community for many years,” Cheros said. “His leadership and support have helped strengthen the partnerships and investments that keep Central Florida at the forefront of innovation in modeling and simulation.”