VADM Robert M. Gaucher

The 2026 conference marks NTSA’s 60th anniversary and centers on the U.S. Army lead-service theme, “Beyond the Battlefield: Training Readiness and Lethality for All-Domain Dominance!” The program combines executive presentations, technical papers, tutorials, professional development workshops, special events, and Next Big Thing talks focused on modeling, simulation, training, education, AI, autonomous systems, synthetic environments, operational test and evaluation, acquisition modernization, digital engineering, digital twins, cyber and information warfare, and the defense industrial base. Featured content includes an Industry Keynote by Brandon Tseng, President & Co-Founder, Shield AI; a Featured Government Keynote by Amy Henninger, SES, Ph.D., Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), DoW; and senior-leader discussions involving LTGEN Austin, USMC; MAJ GEN Cropsey, USAF; and MAJ GEN Smith, USSF. Special events include the Congressional M&S Caucus; Digital First discussions on defense acquisition through AI, digital engineering, simulation, and digital twins; Building an AI Ready Military Force; a Naval Aviation Flag Officer Panel; NATO mission-space digital twins; Air Force maintenance training; cyber, electromagnetic, wargaming, and information warfare; and program briefs on training acquisition and the All-Domain Marine. The program also includes perspectives from government, industry, academia, and international partners.

The program focuses on training readiness and lethality for all-domain dominance, with papers, tutorials, workshops, special events, and exhibits on modeling, simulation, training, and education. Topics include military AI and autonomy; synthetic training; digital engineering and digital twins; defense acquisition and sustainment; wargaming; human performance and extended reality; cyber and electronic warfare; and skilled-trades workforce development for national security. Senior-leader discussions address translating operational needs into training capabilities, acquisition priorities, military AI, and service modernization. Other sessions cover NATO mission-space digital twins, small-arms direct-fire science and technology, data-driven readiness, and digital engineering ecosystems. The conference is hosted by the National Training and Simulation Association, an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association. Attendance is open to Five Eyes partners, NATO member countries, and countries that profess neutrality.

The conference focuses on translating congressional mandates in the National Defense Authorization Act into industry responses and aligning industry capacity and capability with Navy construction plans, status, and priorities. Its agenda covers U.S. naval and maritime policy; Navy priorities for SDF investments in the MIB/SIB; the state of the public shipyards; the Ford Class Aircraft Carrier Program; shipyard procurement needs; and AUKUS. A lunch presentation is titled “Global Risk Assessment.”