U.S. Navy awards $18.4M to Aptima

Aptima has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy worth up to $18.4 million to develop numerous training advances to improve naval force readiness. As part of the Navy’s mission to prepare a more agile force, Aptima will assist the U.S. Navy’s Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) with a progressive agenda to research, develop and insert new learning technologies and methods of instruction. These advances will support Ready Relevant Learning, the Navy vision outlined in Sailor 2025 for providing the right training at the right time in the right way.

The contract includes developing advanced capabilities formeasuring sailor performance and delivering adaptive, customized point-of-needtraining and instruction.

“At the heart of the Navy’s model for continuous learning ishuman performance measurement, which has gone from a little-used and largelysubjective practice, to being recognized as a key enabler of sailor readiness,”said Janet Spruill, Aptima’s vice president. “Now with the ability tounderstand an individual’s knowledge, skills, and abilities, learning systemscan tailor and deliver the optimal training experience anytime, anywhere it’sneeded.”

The contract will benefit instructors, curriculum developersand students at the Center for Surface Combat Systems in Dahlgren, Virginia,one of 11 learning centers within the Naval Education and Training Command.Currently, U.S. and Foreign sailors come to CSCS’ schoolhouse, the AEGISTraining and Readiness Center, co-located in Dahlgren, Virginia, to gain theknowledge, ability and skill to operate and maintain the AEGIS Combat System,an integrated naval weapons system designed to track and guide weapons todestroy enemy targets. The new capabilities will allow sailors to receive theright training at the right time, while improving training throughput andinstructional methods over time.

To aid CSCS in their advanced learning initiatives, Aptimawill build on and extend past work with the Navy and the other services. In additionto the research and development, Aptima will employ its A-Measure suite ofsoftware to help CSCS capture, track, analyze, store, understand and visualize sailorperformance in real time.

“With the advances in training technologies, such as Live-Virtual-Constructive-Gamingenvironments, and the proliferation of sensors and analytics, the foundation isin place to create truly personalized instruction and job support,” Spruilladded. “By leveraging data and analytics we can better create, customize andscale the learning experience, resulting in more efficient use of trainingresources as well as increased proficiency.”

Contact work will be performed in Virginia and at Aptima’sOrlando FL facility, where it further expanded in 2016.