Senior Team Orlando leaders discuss how XR and AI are transforming MS&T

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

The Central Florida Tech Grove hosted the 3rd Annual VR/AR Association (VRARA) Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit in Orlando, Florida, April 10.

 

This conference and technology expo for government and business leaders event focused on immersive technologies, and it featured representatives from Team Orlando’s military services on the “How XR and AI is Transforming MS&T DoD Senior Leaders” panel. Participating in the panel were Navy Capt. Tim James, commander of the Naval Aviation Warfare Center Training Systems Division; Air Force Col. Anthony Graham, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation commander; Marine Col. Marcus Reynolds, chief of Program Manager for Training Systems; and Jeremy Lanman, Ph.D., assistant program executive officer for Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

 

The conversation focused on the accelerating integration of extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) into immersive training environments, highlighting both the potential and challenges of deploying these technologies at scale.

 

“We want to use AI to simulate a thinking enemy,” Reynolds said. “Our goal is to leverage AI and machine learning to create a profile of a Marine and present them with various scenarios. This forces the Marine to adapt in real time and use critical thinking to overcome challenges.”

 

The panel emphasized how AI-driven simulations can adjust based on user decisions, providing a more personalized and dynamic learning experience. Combined with XR, these systems offer immersive, cost-effective training for use in classroom and operational environments.

 

“What excites me more isn’t just the training aspect, it’s the potential to integrate this technology into performance support,” James said. “It would make everything faster and safer. The ability to use this technology would be a game changer for the training industry.”

 

Lanman suggested the importance of used data collected from instrumentation sensors. He said collecting data is not enough, and what matters is how training coordinators process and interpret the data.

 

“We want to develop capabilities that allow the data collected from instrumentation sensors to be effectively utilized,” Lanman said. “Eventually, we’ll reach a point where we can automate our scenarios and create dynamic, free-form terrains using models.”

 

The discussion also turned to the pressing need for new technologies within the Air Force to address ongoing challenges in training, particularly the shortage of qualified pilots. Graham said the increasing demand for military aviation training must evolve to keep up with both the quantity and quality of pilots needed.

 

“The Air Force doesn’t have enough pilots, and we need to figure out how to train them faster while ensuring we’re producing high-quality pilots,” Graham said. “This is something the Air Force needs, alongside the integration of new technologies.”