NCS News Desk

From the Orlando Sentinel: “Only a month after it was announced, the Army’s latest multibillion-dollar simulation training deal is becoming a magnet for new companies seeking to join a key Central Florida industry. STOC II – the Simulation and Training Omnibus Contract II – has sent a buzz through the region’s high-tech training community. More than 120 companies nationwide were selected to compete for scores of contracts potentially worth $17.5billion during the next 10 years to modernize the Army’s stock of war-game simulators. Some of the players are already opening new offices in Orlando to boost their chances of winning […]

Awards were made to 142 different companies across the Full & Open and Small Business Set-Aside Lots. A complete listing of all contract awardees by Lot:

From the ASD-Network: Army aviation commanders discussed the importance of continual training and the value of unmanned aerial vehicles in the field at the Association of the United States Army’s Aviation Symposium and Exposition Jan. 8. Col. Daniel Ball, chief of G-3 aviation, United States Armed Forces Command, led a panel discussion on the commander’s perspective of Army aviation in the field. Training, both in flight and on the ground, as well as the support of unmanned aerial vehicles are integral to mission success the panelists said. A great asset for Soldiers in rough terrain is the UAV — in […]

The laws of attraction were at work when government corporation Airservices Australia needed to introduce a new air traffic control tower simulator as part of its training program at the Airservices Australia Learning Academy. Airservices used a ‘pull’ approach to partner with simulation specialists Adacel, drawing intellectual energy to their Air Traffic Control Tower Simulator project, allowing the two to build trust and a rapport that went above and beyond a contractor relationship. The AirTraffic Control Tower Simulator project was designed to teach new, cross-stream and refresher trainees in a better, faster and more cost effective manner. Initiated in September […]

Henry C. Okraski of Winter Park, Fla., a consultant for the simulation industry, has received the Golden Knight Award from his alma mater, Clarkson University. Presented each year during Reunion Weekend, Clarkson’s most prestigious alumni award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves either by service to Clarkson through Alumni Association activities or have demonstrated outstanding career achievement, bringing distinction to themselves and to Clarkson. Okraski of Winter Park Receives Clarkson University’s Top Alumni Honor Potsdam, N.Y. — Henry C. Okraski of Winter Park, Fla., a consultant for the simulation industry, has received the Golden Knight Award from his […]

From the Orlando Sentinel: Military training contractor Raydon Corp. has snagged a contract potentially worth $46 million to perform various support services for war-game simulators used by the armed forces, the company said Tuesday. The Daytona Beach-based high-tech company beat a number of bigger rivals to win the three-year deal, which involves testing, maintaining and upgrading ground-vehicle simulators for the Army, Army National Guard and Marine Corps, officials said. Terms of the new contract call for the company to provide “life cycle” work on simulators that train soldiers and Marines in convoy operations, gunnery marksmanship, Abrams tank operations and Bradley […]

Thanks to the Orlando Business Journal for this news: Lockheed Martin Corp. announced it has entered an agreement to acquire Universal Systems & Technology Inc., also known as Unitech. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Lockheed Martin’s simulation, training and support division in Orlando will manage Unitech’s 400 employees. Unitech is a Centreville, Va.-based training and simulations, homeland security and technical solutions provider to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. agencies, according to a release, “The acquisition of Unitech positions Lockheed Martin to benefit from increasing […]

Medical Simulation Corporation (MSC) announces a new partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) to provide simulation training and education services for USF Health hospital partners and for local and national health professionals seeking continuing medical education. The MSC SimSuite Education Center is located at Tampa General Hospital, a major teaching affiliate of USF Health. USF Health SimSuite(R) Center at TGH to Enhance Clinical Skills Development DENVER, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Medical Simulation Corporation (MSC) announces a new partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) to provide simulation training and education services for USF Health hospital partners and […]

From the Maryland Community Newspapers Online: Hundreds of emergency personnel descended on the National Naval Medical Center last week trying to save 76 victims of a terrorist attack. But Suzanne Patterson just tried to make them look as gruesome as possible. Patterson was the special effects artist responsible for the “blood and guts” at the Bethesda Hospitals’ Emergency Preparedness Drill on Oct. 30, which simulated a Sarin gas and bomb attack outside Navy Med’s Uniformed Services University to test the readiness of local, federal and military personnel. Her company, Military Moulage Combat Injury Simulation, has worked for the New York […]

Advancements in science and technology that support full-spectrum operations, like exoskeletons, were discussed Wednesday at the annual meeting and exposition of the Association of the United States Army. The forum “Busting the Low-Tech Myth: Army S&T Support to Full Spectrum Operations” provided presentations on how experimental and applied technologies show the Army has advanced across the board, from recruiting to technology in theater. Oct 09, 2008 BY Jacqueline M. Hames WASHINGTON (October 9, 2008, Army News Service) – Advancements in science and technology that support full-spectrum operations, like exoskeletons, were discussed Wednesday at the annual meeting and exposition of the […]

Air Force Special Operations Command has consolidated all of its training units under the Air Force Special Operations Training Center, a new organization that formally stood up Oct. 6 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The AFSOTC will be responsible for all mission qualification training of operators of AFSOC’s gunships, Combat Talon airlifters, PC-12 light transports, U-28 special transports, unmanned aerial vehicles, and nonstandard aviation, Col. Paul Harmon, the center’s commander told the Daily Report during an interview Oct. 10. (Some Air Force Reserve Command airmen already transferred to Hurlburt to augment AFSOTC.) The center, he said, will also be in charge […]

On the eve of an upgrade expected to more than triple its capability, the IBM high performance computing cluster housed at the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) is operating around the clock at close to 100 percent capacity. The University of Central Florida installed the system through two Army grants totaling $2.6 million. The “Stokes HPC,” named in honor of Cambridge mathematician and physicist Sir George Gabriel Stokes (1819-1903), began operation in May. Users from UCF physics, math, computer science and nanoscience immediately saw results from the cluster’s 28-node, 224 processing core hardware, designed to enhance problem solving for […]

From Palm Beach Post writer Laura Green: Next school year, the first generation of Florida students can begin to earn a diploma from local public schools entirely online, without ever setting foot in a classroom from kindergarten through 12th grade. A new state law requires districts to create their own full-time virtual schools, collaborate with other districts or contract with providers approved by the state. The law is believed to be the most wide-ranging virtual mandate in the nation. “The rest of the country will be watching to see how it goes,” said Julie Young, president and chief executive officer […]

Air Force Office of Scientific Research-sponsored researchers are creating a virtual reality environment that would allow numerous UAV operators to interface with it to control multiple, semi-autonomous UAVs effectively and without current limitations in areas like situational awareness. This environment includes advanced physical- and eye-tracking systems and voice interfaces. Air Force Office of Scientific Research-sponsored researchers are creating a virtual reality environment that would allow numerous UAV operators to interface with it to control multiple, semi-autonomous UAVs effectively and without current limitations in areas like situational awareness. This environment includes advanced physical- and eye-tracking systems and voice interfaces. It also […]

The Orlando Sentinel has an article about a game designed to help save lives in theme parks: “If terrorists ever attack a Florida theme park, a video game developed by recent University of Central Florida graduates in a cramped downtown Orlando office could help make sure that doctors and surgeons can properly treat burn victims.” Burn Center: Orlando team’s game will help save lives in disasters Etan Horowitz | Sentinel Staff Writer September 4, 2008 If terrorists ever attack a Florida theme park, a video game developed by recent University of Central Florida graduates in a cramped downtown Orlando office […]

Orlando Sentinel staff writer Richard Burnett writes about a recent Raydon contract win: “The Army’s training-contract agency in Orlando has awarded Daytona Beach-based Raydon Corp. a deal potentially worth $53 million to produce anti-IED training technologies. Raydon’s initial contract in the program is worth $20.5 million. If the Army exercises all options, the deal could be worth $53 million, according to the company.” Click here to read the full article at orlandosentinel.com

From ASD-Network.com: AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that its family of Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations (TADSS) has been selected to support training for Army National Guard units operating the RQ-7B Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS). Awarded by the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation in Orlando, Fla., the initial order, valued at $11.9 million, includes 25 high fidelity Shadow Crew Trainers (SCT) and interactive multimedia instruction. Including four option years, the contract has a total potential value of $31.1 million. AAI produces […]

From ASD-Network.com: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will produce a Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) Reconfigurable Vehicle Simulator and the Reconfigurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer (RVTT/CCTT-RVS) for the U.S. Army, providing Soldiers with the latest skills to defeat adaptive and intelligent adversaries. The initial one-year contract valued at $37 million has three options which, if exercised, could bring the total contract value to $147 million. “Reconfigurable trainers fulfill one of the Army’s desires to increase home station training giving soldiers more time with their families,” said Jim Craig, vice president of the Ground, Maritime and Civil Solutions business at Lockheed Martin Simulation, […]

From airforce-magazine.com : “Air Combat Command said Monday (Aug. 18) that it wants to install a formal training unit for MQ-1 and MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle operations at Holloman AFB, N.M. Currently the service has only one FTU, which is at Creech AFB, Nev.” Click here to read the full article

From the Orlando Business Journal: “Simulation training technology company Raydon Corp. has been awarded three contract renewals from the U.S. Army worth more than $6 million.” Orlando Business Journal Tuesday, August 19, 2008 – 2:39 PM EDT Simulation training technology company Raydon Corp. has been awarded three contract renewals from the U.S. Army worth more than $6 million. The first renewal, worth about $3.6 million, was issued to provide Virtual Combat Convoy Training capabilities in Alaska and Hawaii. The second renewal, worth about $2 million, will provide similar services in Germany. The third renewal, worth nearly $500,000, was for Route […]