Defense Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis: Meeting the Challenge

Modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) is a crucial tool for military affairs. MS&A is one of the announced pillars of a strategy for transforming the U.S. military. Yet changes in the enterprise of MS&A have not kept pace with the new demands arising from rapid changes in DOD processes and missions or with the rapid changes in the technology available to meet those demands. To help address those concerns, DOD asked the NRC to identify shortcomings in current practice of MS&A and suggest where and how they should be resolved. This report provides an assessment of the changing mission of DOD and environment in which it must operate, an identification of high-level opportunities for MS&A research to address the expanded mission, approaches for improving the interface between MS&A practitioners and decision makers, a discussion of training and continuing education of MS&A practitioners, and an examination of the need for coordinated military science research to support MS&A. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Introduction2 The Changing Landscape3 New Challenges and Directions for MS&A4 MS&A and Decision Making5 Education, Training, and Professional Practice in Defense-Related MS&A6 Moving ForwardAppendix A Serious Games and Their Role in Defense Modeling, Simulation, and AnalysisAppendix B Social Behavioral ModelingAppendix C ComposabilityAppendix D Committee Membership BiographiesAppendix E Acronyms