Professor Ying Zhao Connects NPS Researchers with UK Colleagues in the Defence Science and Technology Lab
Dr. Ying Zhao, NPS Research Professor in the Information Sciences Department, participated in the Navy Engineers and Scientists Exchange Program (ESEP) from December 2021 to November 2022 at Defence Science and Technology Lab (Dstl), UK.
- Dstl is an executive agency of the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), providing world class expertise and delivering cutting-edge science and technology for the UK and allies. Dstl is similar to DARPA within the US, with thousands of in-house scientists, engineers, and an annual budget of approximately 7 billion pounds.
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The exchange highlighted multiple ways NPS might collaborate with Dstl:
- Participate with Program Agreements based upon existing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Dstl, including the TTCP (the technical cooperation program) for RD&E within the “five eyes” countries, various US/UK bilateral agreements, and AUSUK
- Collaborate in R&D activities
- Exchange scientists and experts to facilitate technology development and operationalization.
Why it matters: Collaborating with world class defense research institutions such as Dstl accelerates NPS institutional learning. Plus, our allies and partners also benefit from working with NPS faculty and warrior-scholars focused on applied, classified, and interdisciplinary research.
Two technology exchange workshops during this yearconnected researchers from NPS (both faculty and students) with researchers from Dstl.
- NPS and Dstl programs were briefed to a broader audience including the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
- Participants discussed topics and collaboration potential in future data sciences and novel AI applications.
Applying Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to Defense: Dr. Zhao worked on a Dstl project titled “Design and Develop AI to Command a Virtual Agent for Integrated Air Defence System (IADS)” at the Novel Simulation Division.
- Zhao and her Dstl colleagues studied and demonstrated nine categories of AI/ML and artificial general intelligence (AGI) techniques for this project.
- Multiple new projects were funded based on the report.
The NWSI Impact: NWSI facilitated Dr. Zhao’s participation in the ESEP, through a grant from the Naval Research Program. The NWSI team is also integrating some of the contacts and expertise generated from the exchange into ongoing and future efforts at NPS in artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics. (See below.)
What’s Next: Dstl’s principal scientist Dr. Deborah Fish will give an invited talk on AI/ML efforts and military applications at the upcoming Naval AI Summit, to be held on the NPS campus March 13-16.
- The NPS team is also looking into other research collaborations, including follow-on personnel exchanges and collaborative R&D projects between NPS faculty and Dstl.
If you are interested in these activities, contact Dr. Ying Zhao, 408-218-8484.
Lead AI Course Enhances Commanders’ Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Warfighting
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NPS hosted the second Lead AI Course on February 13-15. This course was led by Dr. Mathias Kolsch, Associate Professor of Computer Science, and designed for senior leaders in the Department of Defense and senior civilian employees to receive executive-level exposure to matters concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
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Over three days, military and civilian leaders at the O-5 and O-6 level were introduced to the following concepts:
- The core concepts and terminology of AI and ML
- Successful practices and expectations for AI/ML-involved programs
- Use cases for AI and ML in their commands
- Key differences between AI/ML programs in the private sector and the DoD, especially where the DoD programs face additional hurdles
- How AI/ML affects the warfighter and how it affects the course participant’s role
- How AI and ML affect the future of warfighting, national security, and defense
- Responsible AI and what the DoD’s ethics principles mean in practice
- Bias, weaknesses, and limitations in AI technology
- The power and limitations of large language models such as ChatGPT
- What the Naval AI Effort has been planning and staging.
Why it matters: Kolsch noted that bringing senior leaders from across the services and DoD together was the catalyst for in-depth conversations and information exchange about best practices, experiences, and insights regarding AI adoption in the DoD. These events are great as all participants walked away smarter from this engagement!
Improving the series: The original Lead AI Course was conducted in partnership with Stanford University and the Defense Innovation Unit. Now, NPS is continuing the course to expose more leaders and tailor the content to naval-unique uses and context.
- The most recent course welcomed 32 registered participants plus half a dozen observers and other attendees.
- Kolsch was pleased to see that the level of leadership in attendance was well chosen, based on the degree to which the course format and material resonated and informed participants.
The NWSI Impact: NWSI helps organize and support both the Lead AI courses and the quarterly AI Summits to help grow and inform a wider network of military and NPS minds to focus on AI and ML solutions. Staff from NWSI were available on site to assist with the course.
What’s next: The fifth quarterly Naval AI Summit will be hosted at NPS on March 13-16.
NPS Representatives Create Connections at WEST 2023 Conference
Representatives from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation recently attended the WEST 2023 conference, co-hosted by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), in San Diego, California. The conference brought together industry leaders with military decision-makers and operators to explore the latest platforms, leading-edge technologies, and state-of-the-art networking capabilities that support naval operations and discuss the challenges facing our Department of Defense. Read more from NPS and the NPS Foundation.
Technology Trends and Decision Advantage in Defense [Podcast]
Public Sector Future
NPS President VADM (Ret.) Ann Rondeau talks with podcast host AT Ball about the impact of emerging technologies on the defense landscape.
Rondeau believes that that military-civil fusion has a very different look in the United States and that “we need to have an equivalence to it, without compromising who we are. We need a radical reinvention of a military-civil innovation relationship to lower the existing barriers. [...] So I would tell you is that we’ve signed 30 such CRADAs, with partners ranging from Microsoft to Xerox to AT&T and the panoply of other companies… instead of a military industrial base, why not think about a military industrial network that really takes advantage of the current environment.” Read more--and listen to the full podcast.
Adapting Navy Medicine For Future Warfighting: Scenario Thinking For Combat Casualty Care
Art Valeri, Jay Yelon, Juanita Hopkins, and Seamus Markey | CIMSEC
This article resulted from a group project for Naval Postgraduate School course GB3400: Critical Thinking for Strategic Leadership.
In May 2018, the Chief of Naval Operations directed a comprehensive review of Navy Medicine’s ability to support Distributed Maritime Operations and Expeditionary Advanced Basing Operations across all warfighting domains. An effective strategy must anticipate the future environment. Although history shows that accurate forecasting is nearly impossible, scenario thinking can help prepare for multiple alternative futures. Medical planning for future conflicts is a vital component of support of the National Security Strategy. Using lessons learned from past conflicts and predicting the needs of injured or ill service members are vital for planning. Although attention to conflict in the Pacific appears to be a priority, as it aligns with the national strategy, the Navy and Joint medical leadership must also prepare for various possibilities. Within our discussion, we will use scenario thinking as a framework to identify key questions for analysis. Read more.
Spring Naval Artificial Intelligence Summit
March 13, 2023 to March 17, 2023
The Naval AI Summit facilitates cross communication, information-sharing, and promulgates lessons-learned from across government, academia, and industry. The Spring AI Summit features solution-oriented workshops to address the Naval AI Task Forces' key findings around data, infrastructure, and competency that currently limit the DoD from scaling AI.
Time: 0800-1700 PST
Location: NPS Campus: 1 Monterey Circle, Monterey CA 93943
Registration open for in-person or virtual attendance with government email only.
Event Information
Shipbuilding Acquisition Case Study Workshop: US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (Webinar)
Acquisition Research Program at NPS
15 March 2023
Join facilitator Bob Mortlock for a webinar case study discussion on shipbuilding challenges faced by the U.S. Coast Guard. Dr. Mortlock's case studies are based on real-world defense acquisition programs and have been published in peer-reviewed journal articles and/or technical reports. This webinar is open to defense acquisition professionals at the unclassified level. Register now.
NWSI Seapower Conversation: Dr. P.W. Singer, Useful Fiction – The Talk
20 March 2023 – 0900-1030
Glasgow Hall 102 and ZoomGov
Dr. Peter W. Singer is a bestselling author and consultant for groups that range from the US military to Hollywood, whose recent book Ghost Fleet (ghostfleetbook.com) broke new ground in creating the genre of what has been called “useful fiction” – described as the deliberate blending of narrative and nonfiction in packages that range from books and short stories to bespoke illustrations, videos, and graphic novellas. Whatever the form, there are three primary attributes that make it so useful – understanding, action, and connection. Register here.
Joint Interagency Field Experiments (JIFX) 23-3
1 - 5 May 2023
NPS Field Laboratory at Camp Roberts
Focus Area: Autonomous Logistics Enabled by Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, including the following concentration areas:
- Logistics in a contested environment
- Autonomous resupply and cargo delivery
- Undersea vehicle maintenance, monitoring, and prediction systems
- Artificial Intelligence based UXO detection
- Runway detection methods and systems
- Fully autonomous unmanned cargo delivery and resupply missions of food, fuel and water
For more information about JIFX events and submissions requirements, visit our How to Participate page.
Rapid Innovation Design Challenge
NPS is excited to announce the Rapid Innovation Design Challenge for 2023, focusing on how workflow process automation can address local community climate change challenges. Schools and students are invited to envision, develop, and design innovative solutions that unleash the power of technology to solve problems in their communities. Through engagement with NPS student mentors and industry experts, student will engage in scaffolded learning activities that ask teams to consider how science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) can be used to create meaningful solutions with global impact.
The Design Challenge is open to students in grades 9-12. The curriculum instruction and solution development are designed to be accomplished over a 2.5-month period to fit you and your students' needs. Participants will create low code or no-code custom applications for their challenge solutions.
Key Dates
- School Group Registration Open Until April 1, 2023
- Design Challenge Period: February 1 - April 30
- Design Challenge Judging Period: May 1 - 12
- Winners Announcement Event: May 19
Learn more.
20th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium
10-11 May 2023
Monterey, California
The Annual Acquisition Research Symposium provides a forum for the presentation of scholarly acquisition research, as well as for dialogue between scholars and acquisition policy-makers and practitioners. Research papers and presentations are given on recently completed and on-going Departments of Defense and US Navy (DoD/DON)-sponsored projects conducted by researchers at a variety of research institutions. Senior DoD/DON acquisition officials serve as panelists or keynote speakers to present their critiques and comments on research papers and priorities.
This year features keynote speakers Nick Guertin, Director, Operational Test & Evaluation, and Bill LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment.
See the full program and register.
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