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The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference (I/ITSEC) was the venue for our Leadership Orlando session on Thursday. The Members of Class 86 didn’t have to travel far to participate in the largest modeling & simulation conference in the world because it was held right here in Central Florida at the Orange County Convention Center.
The Central Florida Region boasts the highest concentration of modeling, simulation and training related activities in the nation. We are home to the UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training, the National Center for Simulation, significant modeling and simulation activities for all four branches of the armed forces, and hundreds of entrepreneurs and emerging businesses who develop systems and technologies supporting a variety of industries including the military, government, healthcare, public service (firefighters and police), entertainment/attractions and the private sector.
Class Members were greeted by 2013 I/ITSEC Conference Chair, Cyndi Turner, General Dynamics Information Technology; and Program Chair, Brent Smith, Engineering & Computer Simulations, Inc. (ECS). Countries around the world were represented at the Conference which included10 percent more exhibitors (550) than last year’s show.
RADM Jim Robb, USN (Ret.), President of the National Training and Simulation Association, focused on the importance of the MS&T Industry here in Central Florida, acknowledging that Central Florida is the epicenter for modeling, simulation & training worldwide.
The stage was set with presentations made by senior executives/commanders representing the military, academia and the private sector including: CAPT Steve “Snak” Nakagawa, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD); Randall P. Shumaker, Ph.D., UCF Institute for Simulation & Training; and Peter Morrison, Co-CEO, Bohemia Interactive Simulations.
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Participants then had free time to explore the Conference Floor with full access to the extensive exhibit hall. Class Members had the chance to pilot (and sometimes crash) helicopters, shoot M16s, and enter virtual worlds to participate in ground assaults – all in simulation, of course! Real life demonstrations of systems that translate to the private sector in the areas of healthcare, fire and EMT training and others showed Class Members how impactful these technologies are in our everyday lives.
At times it was hard to distinguish the enthusiasm of the Leadership Orlando participants from that of the hundreds of high school students who were also in attendance to take advantage of the opportunity to test their skills on the latest in cutting-edge simulation technology. Exposure to these types of career opportunities will surely have a positive influence on future military personnel, engineers, scientists and technicians for years to come.
Leadership Orlando Class 86 saw not only the power of the MS&T Industry in our region, but also the unique asset that we have right here in Central Florida – the Orange County Convention Center – showcasing our region to the world. Special thanks to Centerplate and Leadership Orlando graduates Doug Conner (LO 62), Terry Ross (LO 84) and Jack Griffith (LO 85) for hosting Class 86 to a world-class lunch at I/ITSEC. You are the best!
Thomas L. Baptiste, Lt. Gen. U. S. Air Force (Ret.), President of the National Center for Simulation; and Joe O’Connell, VP of Business Development for Engineering & Computer Simulations, Inc.; wrapped up the session with a discussion on upcoming challenges for our community in the form of potential decisions by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), and the important work of the “Blue Ribbon” Commission on MS&T, stressing the reasons our community needs to work with the Defense Task Force to protect this regional asset.
If you have been looking for the “right” time to participate in Leadership Orlando, or know someone who should be in the room for these discussions, now is indeed the perfect time to be a part of America’s largest Community Leadership program, Leadership Orlando. Preparing for the future of our region is up to each of us. Now is the time to learn about the issues, participate in the difficult conversations and help in guiding our future.
Class 87 begins in March 2014, with John M. Lewis, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of LYNX, serving as Class Chair. The online enrollment form and the full schedule may be accessed at www.LeadershipOrlando.org. Should you have questions, contact Kathy Panter at 407.835.2499 or via email at Kathy.Panter@ideastoresults.org.
About Leadership Orlando
Developing regional leaders is important to the future success of the Central Florida Region. That is why “Regional Leadership” is a primary line of business for the Central Florida Partnership. With over thirty years of proven success, Leadership Orlando, America’s largest “Community Leadership Program,” continues to encourage, cultivate and recruit emerging leaders to better serve the Central Florida Region.
Working together with Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) focused on Regional Entrepreneurship, BusinessForce (Public Policy Advocacy), and myregion.org (Regional Research & Resolves), the Central Florida Partnership is moving “Ideas to Results.”
