Special Keynotes
Opening Keynote
Will Roper
Chief Executive Officer, Istari, Former Air Force Acquisition Chief
Luncheon Keynote
Bradley Friel
Senior VP of Multi-Modal Planning and Environment,
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Summit Chair
Bev Seay
Southeast Regional Director,
National Security Innovation Network, DoD
Morning Keynote
Simone Babb, CVP, GISP
Chief Innovation & Emerging Technologies Officer,
Orange County, FL
Vitor Lopes Pereira, M.Sc.
Senior Product Sales Manager – Digital Twin – Americas
Ansys Inc.
Full Panel Information
Digital twins, also known as simulations utilizing field-based data, are moving into the application phase as government agencies and private corporations continue to evaluate and validate the potential returns on investment of this critical technology. This panel session will explore and discuss technologies that are leading the way in both analysis and design of complex systems and how digital twins can play a role in product lifecycle. Use cases discussed will include a broad range of operational technologies including transportation, manufacturing, and energy. Future areas of focus both for the development and implementation phases of these technologies will also be discussed.
Increasing Value through the Application of Digital Transformation
Moderator
Grace Bochenek, Ph.D.
Dir. & Prof., IST | School of Modeling, Simulation and Training
The Details
Join Orange County Government, National Center for Simulation, and our Host Sponsor, Duke Energy, for the 2023 Florida Simulation Summit at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
The Florida Simulation Summit highlights the strong progress, synergy, and development of the Orlando region’s multi-billion-dollar modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T) industry. Our region likes to showcase the ease of collaboration between businesses, researchers, and the military, which is one of the major reasons it is recognized as an epicenter for the MS&T industry.
Following this year’s keynotes and panel discussions, attendees are invited to visit the new Brightline Fast Train in Terminal C! Brightline is coming to The City Beautiful and its new Orlando train station will connect 170 miles of track from Central Florida to the rest of South Florida!
The National Center for Simulation — with government, academic, and 345 plus industry members — is committed to promoting modeling and simulation technology expansion, supporting education and workforce development, and providing business development support to our members.
As such, we are looking forward to promoting what we feel is the next big expansion of our ecosystem with the continual push toward the digital transformation of our economy. No matter what sector you work in — cyber, defense, energy, finance, gaming, healthcare, homeland security, manufacturing, optics, photonics, space, or transportation — the addition of sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is transforming the way we do business. When done correctly, the collection, storage, distribution, consumption, and protection of data are making the return on investment of the digital transformation too big for companies to ignore.
We have closed registration for this year’s Florida Simulation Summit.
If you have questions, please contact Neal Finkelstein at drnealfink@simulationinformation.com.
Meet Bev Seay
Meet George Cheros
Known as a world epicenter for M&S, Orlando has developed as a center of excellence over the last 20 years that is unmatched, thriving on the confluence of industry, military and university research.
George is passionate about NCS’ extensive STEM education programs, including the newest one, Central Florida STARBASE, to develop the workforce of the future. He also serves on a number of advisory boards associated with his position at the National Center for Simulation. And, for the past four years, Florida Trend magazine selected him to their prestigious Florida 500, a collection of the state’s most influential business leaders.
Prior to joining NCS, George had a long career in business that began in finance and marketing positions at General Foods Corporation (Kraft Heinz) in White Plains, N.Y. These responsibilities were a broad range of finance and strategic marketing positions including capital budgeting, product development, brand management and corporate mergers/acquisitions. Subsequently, he served as Division Controller and Director of Strategic Planning for Darden Restaurants, and had financial responsibility for 200+ restaurants accounting for revenues of over $500 million.
Immediately prior to joining NCS, he was a founding partner of a consulting/venture organization that strategically partnered with mid-market companies to solve complex business issues. In addition, the company participated in joint ventures with real estate developers and arranged financing for commercial real estate transactions.
He holds both a bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Central Florida.
Meet Simone Babb
Simone Babb serves as Orange County’s Chief Innovation and Emerging Technologies Officer. In this role, she is responsible for driving and managing innovation initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation throughout the organization, creating public/private partnerships to leverage technology and position Orange County as a leader in the innovation economy.
Simone has over 20 years of combined Technical, Transportation Planning, and Geographic Information (GIS) experience in both the public and private sectors. She has led several statewide Connected Vehicle and emerging technology deployment initiatives as a Systems Manger consultant and has led cross-functional teams to design, test and launch new products and business models.
Simone graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. As a certified GIS and Connected Vehicle Professional, she highly values employing applications for data capture and analytics, as well as data visualizations for planning and problem solving. She enjoys hands-on engagement in challenging projects from inception to completion. Through her vision, successful technological deployments can serve to benefit efficiency relative to ongoing business operations, stimulate economic development, and serve the safety and well-being of our community.
Meet Michael Tschanz
Michael leads a multidiscipline team which develops mathematical/physics models for transportation, ride and animatronic systems, custom software/network applications, and robotics. The responsibilities for this team include the development of optimization algorithms, servo controllers, and interactive/immersive experiences. Michael’s background includes designs of numerous attractions at various Disney theme parks including Test Track®, Mission: SPACE®, Toy Story Mania!®, and Expedition Everest®. Michael also designed the velocity profiles at worldwide locations of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™.
Michael is leading Disney’s patented Scientific Data Analytics initiative focused on digital twins and attractions predictive maintenance. Prior to Disney, Michael developed precision guidance algorithms and aerospace sensor simulations for Texas Instruments. He is also a professional jazz/classical pianist. Michael earned his BSEE from Ohio Northern University and a MSEE from the University of Texas Arlington. Further studies included a preparatory scholarship at the Cleveland Institute of Music in classical piano performance.
Bradley E. Friel
Bradley E. Friel serves as Senior Vice President of Multi-Modal Planning and Environmental for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). He oversees all planning and environmental activities for Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport.
Mr. Friel joined the GOAA staff on February 2, 2001, as the manager of Transportation and Land Use Planning. In this role, he provided key leadership in airport facilities planning, environmental planning, land use planning, compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and development of the Airport Master Plan.
Prior to this, he worked as a principal planner for the City of Ocoee, Fla. and as a project manager for Transportation Consulting Group in Winter Park, Fla.
Mr. Friel is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). In 2013, he achieved the status of Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.), an accreditation awarded to those who have demonstrated their knowledge, comprehension and understanding of aviation management.
Mr. Friel graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and subsequently earned a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University.
The Honorable Dr. Will Roper
The Honorable Dr. Will Roper is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of technology startup Istari, Inc. Backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Istari is building the world’s first engineering metaverse, where all technology – from software to satellites – is created and certified completely digitally. Making innovation lightyears faster, cheaper, and greener is Istari’s mission.
A Distinguished Professor at Georgia Tech, Will is also a board member and advisor of numerous startups and investment firms, senior advisor at McKinsey & Co., member of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Board, and U.K. Royal Air Force Honorary Group Captain.
Will previously served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, overseeing $60 billion of annual technology development and operations for 5,300+ aircraft and satellites. A career innovator, he spearheaded the U.S. military’s first uses of artificial intelligence, digital engineering, venture capital investments, hypersonics, and sustainable aviation.
Prior to this, he founded the Pentagon’s secretive Strategic Capabilities Office, creating over $1.6 billion of advanced prototypes annually, including the world’s largest drone swarm unveiled on CBS’s 60 Minutes and at SXSW. Will began his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the Missile Defense Agency’s chief futurist.
Will has received the Pentagon’s and Air Force’s highest awards for public service. His features in Wired, Popular Mechanics, McKinsey & Co. reports, and his Matrix-inspired guide to digital engineering,“There is No Spoon,”continue to drive thought on technology and innovation.
He holds a bachelor’s and master’s in physics from Georgia Tech and doctorate in mathematics from Oxford University, where he studied string theory as a Rhodes Scholar.
Mayor Jerry L. Demings
Mayor Jerry L. Demings is a native of Orlando. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida State University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Orlando College, now Everest University. He served as Orlando’s first African American Police Chief and first African American Orange County Director of Public Safety. In 2008, he was elected the first African American Sheriff and Constitutional Officer in the history of Orange County and was re-elected in 2012 and 2016. On August 28, 2018, Mayor Demings was elected the first African American Mayor of Orange County and was sworn in as Mayor on December 4, 2018. The Mayor was re-elected in 2022. He is the chief executive for over 8,000 county employees with a budget of $7.2 billion.
Christine Kefauver
Christine Kefauver has over 30 years of Transportation Planning and Policy experience in the public and private arena. Christine’s focus at Brightline is to lead the efforts to connect Orlando to Tampa upon our completion to Miami. Previously Christine was the operations lead for HDR Engineering for the Southeast. In addition, Christine served as the Transportation Policy Advisor for Mayor Dyer at the City of Orlando for seven years. While at the City, Christine focused her efforts on advancing Central Florida’s first commuter rail line, SunRail and Florida’s High Speed Rail Program.
Christine serves on the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is the Transportation Co-Chair for the Tampa Bay Partnership and is a member of the Orlando Economic Partnership.
Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Maryland and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Central Florida.
Meet Sean Fitzgerel
Prior to PTV, Sean had 15 years of experience in transport modeling/planning, data analytics, software development, and client management. The bulk of his experience has been with detailed modeling of operations and ITS systems, with unique experience in connected vehicle testing and developing novel methods for testing and simulating technology. He has worked with local, city, state, and federal departments of transportation in the United States, private development corporations throughout the world, and international road authorities in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Russia.
Meet Chengli He
Meet Danny Williams
Vitor Lopes Pereira, M.Sc.
Prior to joining Ansys, Vitor worked at Halliburton in the Oil & Gas industry for 10+ years, particularly focused on hybrid digital twins R&D for well construction design & automation. Starting off as a Drilling Fluids Engineer in Offshore Brazil, he later transitioned to Global R&D in Houston. There, he progressed through the Technology organization as an R&D Engineer, Technical Advisor, Product Owner, Team Lead and finally Technology Manager responsible for the Digital Twin development team. During this time, Vitor successfully initiated, developed, deployed, and scaled several digital twin programs, had several patents issued and industry papers presented on the topic of drilling optimization and is considered an SME (Subject Matter Expert) for Hybrid Digital Twins.
Vitor holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, both with emphasis in Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling and simulation for process optimization.
Meet Grace Bochenek, Ph.D.
Director & Professor, IST | School of Modeling, Simulation and Training
Senior Advisor, Applied Research Initiatives
Fascinated by next-generation technology and the future workforce, Dr. Grace M. Bochenek is a visionary leader with deep roots in modeling, simulation, and training.
She became director of UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training and the School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training in April 2021.
As director, she plans to capitalize on UCF and IST | SMST’s 40-year history as early innovators in human-centered modeling and simulation research and expand the program using innovative, integrative, and inspirational force across the campus in both research and academics. In early 2023, she became UCF’s senior advisor to expand the university’s Applied Research programs.
Her 30-year experience prior to joining UCF, Dr. Bochenek included senior positions in the Department of Energy and Department of Defense as a member of the federal government Senior Executive Service. She served as Acting Secretary of Energy in 2017. She also previously served as Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, NETL, and within the Department of Army, she was the Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Army Materiel Command and the Director of the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.
Dr. Bochenek is well-versed in science and technology investment strategies, commercialization and performance, technology maturation and integration, and performance analyses with an emphasis on strategic alliances, partnerships, and global/international programs.
Her awards include the Presidential Rank Award as Meritorious Executive, a Silver Medal from the National Defense Industry Association, and decorations for Exceptional Civilian Service from both Departments of Army and Energy.
Ross Murello
Ross first began his journey in aviation with several airlines, before landing at JetBlue as an Inflight Crewmember. Shortly after, he joined JetBlue University as part of the team that launched the Advanced Qualification Training program for the Inflight Operation. He now leads the Learning Innovation team with a specific focus on utilizing technology and modernization to provide an unparalleled training experience.
Carly Rohrig Huffman
Carly Rohrig Huffman is a Sr. Staff Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin Enterprise Operations, Corporate Engineering. She leads the Corporate Digital Twin Strategy implementation with emphasis on establishing Digital Twin foundations that will enable interoperability and reuse across the breadth of the Lockheed Martin portfolio.
With more than 23 years of experience, Carly has held positions in multiple Lockheed Martin business areas on programs spanning land, sea, and space. She has extensive experience working directly with US Government and international customers at all levels. This insight across the business spawned her passion for transformation of the enabling technologies as well as the business processes.
Carly received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. She has been recognized for her efforts through numerous awards from Lockheed Martin for her leadership and technical excellence, including Extraordinary Engineering Award (2021), Innovation Award (2017), Eastern Range Employee of the Year (2014), and Diversity Leadership Award (2013).
Alex Pazos
Alex Pazos has over eighteen years of experience in the Computer Vision, Safety, and Security IT Space, focusing on camera streaming platforms and video analytics and optimizing edge-to-cloud infrastructure workloads. He has worked at industry leaders like Dell, Samsung/Hanwha, and GE.
The Details
Date: May 10, 2023
Location:
Hyatt – Orlando International AirportDay of Event Parking: Valet $9 / Self-parking $6
Parking vouchers will be available at the event registration desk.
*See detailed parking maps/instructions below
$49 Early Bird (thru May 4)
$89 after May 4 & Event DayPrice includes program, breakfast & lunch, and Brightline tour
Details:
7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Registration & Networking
BreakfastMorning Session 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Opening Remarks –
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, George Cheros and Bev SeayKeynote – Dr. Will Roper, Istari
Panel #1 – Digital Transformation Technologies and Their Uses
Orange County Update – Simone Babb11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Morning Break/
Exhibitor Time11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Panel #2 – Increasing Value through the Application of Digital Transformation12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
LunchAfternoon Session 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Keynote – Airport of the Future
Bradley FrielOrlando’s New Brightline Fast Train –
Christine Kefauver2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Exhibitor Time
Brightline Fast Train Official Tour