Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation

30/10/2026

U.S. Air Force Uses Virtual Reality to Improve B-52 Air Refueling Training.

The United States Air Force is incorporating a virtual reality ( ) training device into the of B-52 Stratofortress student , helping them prepare for aerial refueling, one of the bomber’s most demanding flying tasks, before they take to the air. The system provides an accessible way to practice aerial refueling without requiring a tanker, a flying aircraft or the associated operating costs.
Known as the Experiential Air Refueling Lightweight Simulator ( ), the device is being used at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where the B-52 Formal Training Unit prepares new pilots. According to the Air Force, students who trained with the device after it was integrated in the syllabus have been able to secure contact with the tanker “on their very first live flight.”

For full story, visit: https://theaviationist.com/2026/10/22/usaf-virtual-reality-to-improve-b-52-air-refueling-training/

Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation
Team Orlando

The U.S. Air Force is using virtual reality to help B-52 student pilots master aerial refueling before their first live flight, reducing the time, sorties

28/10/2026

Steering the Future: Sunsetting Spark Tank and Modernizing DAF Innovation

Since its inception in 2017, the Department of the Air Force ( ) Spark Tank has empowered warfighters to solve operational challenges through grassroots ingenuity. Thanks to the support of 24,000 Airmen and Guardians, over 3,500 novel ideas have influenced readiness enhancement, modernized legacy systems, and directly contributed to high-stakes operations.

While the initial focus was cultivating a culture of tactical innovation, the landscape has changed. Today, our primary challenge in the DAF is scaling these innovations with the velocity required to outpace our adversaries.

We heard your feedback. To meet this demand, we at DAF are modernizing our innovation ecosystem to empower all corners of the force. Moving forward, we are shifting our focus from the quantity of ideas and submissions to the quality of impact, creating and fostering measurable, purpose-driven solutions.

Thank you to the dedicated innovators, evaluators, mentors, and senior leaders who have supported this effort over the last nine years. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Services, MAJCOMs, FLDCOMs, and DRUs as we build the future of enterprise innovation.

If you have been involved in any Spark Tank event in any capacity we would like to hear from you! Help refine the future state of our Airmen and Guardian innovators by completing the feedback form below: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/vehNUTWqV2

United States Air Force
AFWERX
SpaceWERX DOD
Team Orlando

27/10/2026

Air Force Cadets Explore Human-Machine Teaming Through Research

Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, , are using humanoid and quadruped to study how emerging influence human behavior and decision-making.
The research helps cadets apply classroom knowledge and prepares them to work with systems as future officers.
At the academy's Effectiveness Research Center, faculty and cadets study how trust, communication and cooperation influence human-machine teaming.
The school's Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership uses three platforms to study how people interact with increasingly autonomous teammates: Pepper, a humanoid robot, and two quadruped robots, Vision 60 and Spot.

For full article, visit: https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/4630437/air-force-cadets-explore-human-machine-teaming-through-research/

United States Air Force
Team Orlando

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets are using humanoid and quadruped robots to study how emerging technologies influence human behavior and decision-making, research that is preparing them to work with

23/10/2026

Did you miss the first Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA Surgical Competition Industry Day hosted at the Central Florida Tech Grove in September, then join their second, fully virtual session to learn more about the competition.

It will occur Nov. 4 from 4-6 PM (Eastern) and will only be offered by Webinar (online).
While there is no registration fee for the webinar, registration is limited by the webinar capacity, and early registration is strongly recommended as attendance will be limited to the first 1000 registrants.

Hope to see you there!

Registration link: https://events.sa-meetings.com/website/100055/home/

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division ( )
Team Orlando

21/10/2026

AI Adoption: Are Air Force and Space Force Ready and Willing?

United States Air Force and United States Space Force leaders are calling for and to enthusiastically embrace artificial intelligence and apply emerging tools to their work. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe even went so far as to say those who don’t embrace “will end up in someone else’s rearview mirror.”

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink opened AFA’s annual Air, Space, and Cyber Conference with the comments of a true believer, saying the department is “putting more than 300 AI tools into the hands of our people.”

“I use them every day,” Meink said. “This includes tools that streamline work for nearly 150,000 Airmen, and for our Guardians, data fusion tools that turn millions of data points into actual information.”

For full story, visit: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/ai-adoption-air-force-space-force-ready-willing/

Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation ( )
Team Orlando

Air Force and Space Force leaders are urging Airmen and Guardians to embrace AI tools, though experts warn of technical and cultural hurdles.

16/10/2026

Inaugural X-62 Research Symposium represents demand for America’s first AI X-Plane at Air Force Test Pilot School.

More than 80 individuals from industry, academia and the joint force converged on the historic Air Force Test Pilot School campus at Edwards Air Force Base for the inaugural X-62 Research Symposium. The three-day summit quickly set the foundation for future research in autonomy-enabled combat aviation through the nation’s first AI X-plane.

The summit included briefings from the Department of the Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA, the Air Force Research Laboratory - AFRL, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, among others. Operational aircrew from an Air Combat Command fighter squadron also shared recent real-world operational perspectives on bridging the gap between pilot trust and machine learning.

With a sprint goal of establishing three future flight test concepts that could be executed on the X-62 from fiscal 2027 to 2028, stakeholders collaborated on a final proposal of more than 30 concepts, a reflection of the substantial, previously untapped demand for the X-62 across the joint enterprise.

“The X-62 Summit was the first time we convened stakeholders across the spectrum of capability development of autonomy tools for combat aviation,” said Col. Maryann Karlen, commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School. “We were awed by the level of positive responses and interest. This demonstrates, without a doubt, the demand for testbeds like the X-62.”

To read the full story, visit: https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Display/Article/4624974/inaugural-x-62-research-symposium-represents-demand-for-americas-first-ai-x-pla/

Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation ( )
Team Orlando

In August 2026, more than 80 individuals from industry, academia and the joint force converged on the historic Air Force Test Pilot School campus at Edwards Air Force Base for the inaugural X-62

15/10/2026

Want to learn more about our new Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation (AFAMS) commander and his professional background?
Tune in to the latest "AIM on MS&T" podcast, where he shares insights into his career, experiences, and vision for advancing Air Force readiness through modeling and simulation.

Team Orlando
United States Air Force

Our newest episode of the "AIM on MS&T" is out now!

AFAMS Commander Discusses Advancing Air Force Readiness Through Modeling & Simulation.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oXG9YRqWcrwPT1BN1gaPP?si=KpYk0CZxTYquDOLF1jJnfQ

09/10/2026

Senior leadership from the Department of the Air Force in Washington, DC spent the day immersed in Central Florida’s modeling, simulation, and training ecosystem as part of the Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation ( ) guidon unfurling event this week in .

Dr. Eliahu Niewood, Director of the Integrated Capabilities Office and Director of Studies and Analysis for the Department of the Air Force (SAF/SA), his Deputy Director Col. Jun Oh, and Mr. Mark Stankiewicz, acting United States Air Force Director of Modeling and Simulation, used the visit to gain a closer look at the region’s cutting-edge capabilities. Escorted throughout the day by AFAMS Commander Lt. Col. Christopher Hergenreter and senior AFAMS leaders, the team engaged with key partners across the Central Florida Tech Grove following the unfurling ceremony (see yesterday’s post) with a discussion with Navy CDR. Denver White, Director of Research and Technology at the The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division ( ). Together, they explored emerging technical partnerships and the growing role of joint modeling and simulation efforts in future operational readiness.

From there, the delegation traveled to the University of Central Florida ( ) for a meeting with UCF President Dr. Alexander Cartwright and Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, UCF’s Modeling and Simulation Director and CEO of the Pegasus Research Institute. Conversations centered on AFAMS–UCF collaboration, the university’s role in advancing modeling and simulation research, and new opportunities to connect academic innovation with operational needs, followed by a short tour of UCF’s M&S facilities.

The team then toured the future home of the Virtual Environment for Tactical Training Systems (VJETTS), an AFAMS–U.S. Navy (NAWCTSD) partnership designed to deliver next-generation, end-to-end , , and capabilities across , , and traditional combat domains. Led by Glenn Harris, NAWCTSD Test and Evaluation Division Head, and Aaron Judy, NAWCTSD T&E Director and Chief Test Engineer, the visit highlighted how VJETTS will provide a test, evaluation, and analysis environment for capabilities across the services before they are fielded.

In the afternoon, AFAMS and SAF/SA leaders joined members of Team Orlando and collaborative partners such as the National Center for Simulation ( ) and the National Training and Simulation Association ( ) for in-depth discussions on ongoing initiatives and future opportunities in the Central technical corridor. NAWCTSD Deputy Technical Director Michael Merritt led the session, which underscored the strength of the region’s collaborative ecosystem.

During the visit, the senior leaders also met with AFAMS staff to discuss the agency’s future missions and priorities and recognize some of our team members' recent successes and accomplishments. AFAMS’ recent move under SAF/SA marks a pivotal moment for the agency, underscoring a clearer, more focused direction for our mission. Building on this new assignment, AFAMS is set to refresh and expand and strengthen its work with Team Orlando, the University of Central Florida, and industry partners throughout the region to better drive forward innovation in modeling, simulation, and training to better support the United States Air Force and United States Space Force’s future operational needs.

08/10/2026

The Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation ( ) marked a significant new chapter yesterday with a special Air Force Guidon “Unfurling” Ceremony at the Central Florida Tech Grove, commemorating AFAMS’ recent realignment under SAF/SA.

During the ceremony, Dr. Eliahu Niewood, Integrated Capabilities Office and Director of Studies and Analysis (SAF/SA) for the Department of the Air Force came down from Washington, D.C. to present the new guidon to AFAMS’ new Commander Lt. Col. Christopher Hergenreter. The event formally recognized the agency’s updated mission and organizational alignment, while underscoring its growing role in supporting the Department of the Air Force through , , , and .

The SAF/SA Guidon Unfurling Ceremony carries deep United States Air Force tradition. When a unit is inactivated, restructured, or redesignated, its previous colors are formally cased, symbolizing the close of one chapter. The unfurling and posting of a new guidon marks the beginning of another, reflecting a new designation, mission, and command alignment. For AFAMS, the unfurling of the SAF/SA guidon symbolizes the agency’s integration within the Directorate, unity of effort, and continued commitment to advancing the Department of Air Force M&S mission.

More than a ceremonial milestone, the event signaled both a transition in senior leadership and a renewed sense of purpose for AFAMS. With its new alignment under SAF/SA, and new directive to be the DAF's front door to M&S, the agency is looking ahead to closer collaboration with Team Orlando, academia, and industry partners across the region as it strengthens and advances its mission for the future.

07/10/2026

Are you ready to lead the advancement of modeling and simulation across the Department of the Air Force?
An exciting opportunity is now available to serve as the Chief Modeling and Simulation Officer ( ) within the Department of the Air Force Headquarters Directorate of Air Force Studies and Analysis at the .
This influential position offers the opportunity to help shape national priorities, advance and capabilities across the Department, and inform critical national decisions. It also provides a meaningful platform for professional growth, leadership, and lasting impact.
If you are a senior modeling and simulation professional ready to contribute at the highest levels, click the link below to learn more, apply, and share this opportunity with qualified members of your network.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/886240500/preview?_gl=1*gbnjff*_ga*MTQyNzczNzIwNi4xNzkwMjUzNzYz*_ga_5222X8D281*czE3OTAyNzI1ODUkbzMkZzEkdDE3OTAyNzczMjYkajYwJGwwJGgw/

United States Air Force
Air Force Agency for Modeling & Simulation ( )
Team Orlando

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