MODSIM World 2025 Recap
The 17th Annual International MODSIM World Conference convened in Norfolk, Virginia from 18–20 August 2025, bringing together leaders from government, defense, industry, and academia to explore the future of modeling and simulation (M&S).
This year’s theme, Forging the Future: Bridging the Gaps through Modeling & Simulation, underscored the industry’s vital role in tackling complex challenges across technology, policy, workforce development, and global security. Over three dynamic days, attendees engaged in keynote presentations, expert panels, technical paper sessions, immersive exhibits, and networking events designed to spark collaboration and accelerate innovation.
The conference opened with welcome remarks from Claire Hughes, Conference Chair and Portfolio Manager at Design Interactive, alongside VADM Sean Buck, USN (Ret.), President of the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA). Scholarships were awarded in honor of RADM James Robb, celebrating students who represent the future of the M&S workforce. Day one highlights included Accelerate & Innovate – Transforming Defense Partnerships and Acquisition, a high-energy panel featuring leaders from NATO, the U.S. Navy, and industry pioneers, followed by Wargaming at the Crossroads, which examined the evolving relationship between traditional defense wargaming and cutting-edge simulation tools. The evening concluded with the popular One-Minute Spotlight, giving participants just 60 seconds to pitch their capabilities, followed by a networking social in downtown Norfolk.
Day two launched with an industry keynote by Dr. Jennifer Riley, Director of RDT&E at Design Interactive, who explored the future of cognitive engineering and AI-powered training. Later, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the Congressional Keynote, highlighting the importance of M&S in strengthening education, workforce readiness, and national security. A major draw was the Simulation Century panel, where thought leaders examined the opportunities and risks of AI integration within the intelligence community. The afternoon featured Teaching a New Dog Old Tricks – Partnering with AI for Creating Training, a roundtable that showcased how generative AI is revolutionizing readiness through simulation. The day ended with a great networking reception, where attendees connected over live demonstrations and exhibits.
On the final day, MODSIM turned to Future Visions in Medical Simulation, an expert panel exploring the integration of immersive VR/AR, haptics, and AI into healthcare and military training. Paper sessions throughout the day highlighted advances in digital twins, adaptive learning, operational readiness, and space simulation. The annual STEM event welcomed local students to experience hands-on demonstrations, sparking interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The conference concluded with Peering Over the Horizon – How Immersive, Spatial and AI Technologies Are Reshaping Industrial Production, a forward-looking discussion featuring leaders from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Unity, Newport News Shipbuilding, and MergePlot. Closing remarks from Claire Hughes and Vance Souders, announced as Conference Chair for MODSIM World 2026, capped off a successful event.
“MODSIM World 2025 was about more than imagining the future—it was about forging it, together,” said Claire Hughes, Conference Chair. “By bridging gaps between domains, disciplines, and communities, we’re building resilient solutions that will shape what comes next.”
With record engagement across government, industry, academia, and international partners, MODSIM World 2025 reaffirmed its role as the premier platform for advancing modeling and simulation worldwide.