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By Marco Santana Orlando Sentinel
January 29, 2015
The military continues to move toward simulations and away from live-action training as a way of saving money, according to a report released Thursday that should encourage regions such as Central Florida that boast a strong simulation industry, entrepreneurs say. The study, conducted by the business-research company Government Business Council, showed that the U.S. Air Force, by increasing its use of simulators, will save $1.7 billion from 2012 to 2016. The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, will see $119 million annual savings by shifting to simulators.
“It’s a validation for what we are doing in Orlando,” said Waymon Armstrong, CEO of Orlando’s Engineering & Computer Simulations. “It’s good for all of us here.” Defense contractor Lockheed Martin is an anchor of Orlando’s simulation industry, which also includes a large number of entrepreneurs who have built simulation-related startups. Every year, the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference draws exhibitors from across the country to Orlando.
“The region is invested in growing this sector and helping diversify the economy,” said Angela Alban of SIMETRI, which builds training modules for medical simulations. “Studies are important because they give us the on-the-ground truth about the industry. We want a litmus test of where we are and what areas we can strengthen.” The email survey heard from 310 Department of Defense training and simulation experts inside and outside the military. Of those, just 23 percent believed that training levels as they stand will be enough to prepare the military.
Alban, who serves on the board of the National Center for Simulation, say the military numbers are important for the industry. However, at the same time, simulation continues to grow in other areas. “The report shows so much potential for this region to grow, especially in modeling, simulation and training,” she said. “We rely a lot on the government, but we are starting to see the technologies transition to other industries.”
The national study, underwritten by NCS member Rockwell Collins, can be viewed here.
