The National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) was honored to participate in this year's Simulation and Modeling for Autonomous Ground Vehicles (SAMS AGV) conference hosted by Mississippi State University's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS). This premier event brought together academia, industry, and government to discuss the critical role of modeling and simulation in advancing autonomous ground vehicle technology for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense.
Our Chief Operating Officer, Colonel (Retired) Warren Sponsler, presented NAMC's perspective on how our consortium and member organizations are leveraging modeling and simulation tools to support the Army's modernization priorities. His insights highlighted the innovative work being done across our network of nearly 500 member organizations, spanning traditional defense contractors, non-traditional players, small businesses, academic institutions, and non-profits.
A key focus of the conference was addressing the challenges of effectively utilizing modeling and simulation to achieve the Army's developmental and modernization goals for autonomous ground vehicles. As an industry-led organization dedicated to fostering cutting-edge ground vehicle technologies, NAMC is uniquely positioned to help bridge gaps and drive collaboration in this space.
One of the key takeaways from the SAMS AGV conference was the crucial role that academia plays in pushing the boundaries of autonomous ground vehicle technology. Universities like Mississippi State, which is a proud NAMC Member, through centers such as CAVS, serve as vital hubs of innovation and basic research. Their work often lays the foundation for breakthroughs that can be further developed and applied by industry partners. NAMC recognizes the immense value that academic institutions bring to our consortium, providing cutting-edge research, fresh perspectives, and a pipeline of talented engineers and scientists.
We want to emphasize the opportunity for academic institutions to join NAMC, participate in our opportunities, and collaborate with industry partners. This membership allows universities to engage directly with defense-related projects, access funding opportunities, and form valuable partnerships with leading companies in the field. The collaborative atmosphere at SAMS AGV, where academic researchers shared insights alongside industry and government counterparts, exemplifies the kind of ecosystem NAMC strives to foster. By bridging the gap between academic research and practical application, we can accelerate the development of autonomous technologies that will shape the future of defense mobility.
We were particularly excited that this year's SAMS AGV conference was held in conjunction with the Automotive Research Center's Annual Program Review for the first time. This expanded format allowed for even richer discussions and cross-pollination of ideas.
The keynote address by Colonel Ryan Howell, Chief of Staff of the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team at Army Futures Command, provided valuable strategic context for our ongoing work. His remarks underscored the Army's commitment to leveraging advanced modeling and simulation capabilities as it develops next-generation autonomous systems.
NAMC is proud to serve as a nexus for innovation in ground vehicle technologies, connecting our diverse membership with opportunities to support critical defense priorities. Events like SAMS AGV are invaluable for fostering the kind of collaborative problem-solving needed to overcome technical challenges and accelerate the delivery of autonomous capabilities to our warfighters.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners in government, industry, and academia to push the boundaries of what's possible in autonomous ground vehicle technology. The insights and connections gained at this year's conference will undoubtedly help inform and shape NAMC's ongoing efforts to drive innovation in this critical domain.