TSIS 2025 opens with welcome addresses from NTSA and NDIA-CFL leaders

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

The National Training and Simulation Association held the 2025 Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) in Orlando, Florida, at the Rosen Centre Hotel, June 17-18.

 

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 presented updates on current and future procurement needs. Topics included acquisition strategies, timelines and funding priorities.

 

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).

 

Vice Adm. Sean S. Buck, USN (Ret), president of National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) and Tara Kilcullen-Oliva, president of the National Defense Industrial Association – Central Florida Chapter (NDIA-CFL) delivered opening remarks.

 

“Our goal is to give you a great return on investment for your commitment to come here,” Buck said. “My biggest message is, thank you for the work that you do, and you continue to do. I wish you all a very, very successful, informative and collaborative symposium.”

 

Buck noted that attendance approached 1,000 participants, a figure he said was particularly significant given the ongoing challenges many government personnel face when seeking approval for travel.

 

“This has been a crazy year with lots of uncertainty, lots of new rules and regulations on the government side,” Buck said. “To get a thousand folks and to get representation from all the services and from industry, shows that it’s still healthy, and I applaud your efforts to use your respective chains of command, the processes in place and go forth and ask to come, receive permission to come and actually visit Orlando and participate.”

 

Buck encouraged attendees to reflect on the past year — where things stood then, where they are now, and how the community has navigated uncertainty.

 

“We need you,” Buck said. “We need all of you to continue to do the work that you’re doing, to continue to make our military and our services the best in the world to be able to continue to keep our nation safe and protect the values that we all appreciate.”

 

Buck said by connecting with program managers, government officials and industry representatives during scheduled breaks, attendees can ask specific questions, gain deeper insights, and build professional relationships.

 

“This is a very evolving community, and I encourage you to get out and meet people and make partnerships,” Buck said. “Take advantage of those breaks so that you can get in front of the program managers and or their teams and truly get the answers to the questions that you have to generate the new business that you’re looking for.”

 

Kilcullen-Oliva said attendees were there to learn about the latest training and simulation system requirements being procured by the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and other joint organizations.

 

“The presentations you’re going to hear over the next two days will help you identify mid- and long-term requirements, as well as training needs, acquisition priorities and strategies from our key leaders in this community,” Kilcullen-Oliva said.

 

Kilcullen-Olivia said flexibility and adaptability will be essential for industry partners seeking to align their solutions with evolving government demands.

 

“This landscape is ever changing,” Kilcullen-Olivia said. “You’re going to hear from some of our distinguished industry leaders and government experts who are going to form several panels that are going to discuss the challenges you face in the community.”