2020 MS&T Industry Awards - The Pioneer Award finalists

The defense S&T community plays an essential role in supporting military commanders’ development and maintenance of capability and readiness. Within this community there are individuals who have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate outstanding and significant technical and social leadership. This Award recognizes their contribution to the defense S&T community.

Waymon Armstrong

Waymon Armstrong is founder and CEO/President of Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS), a global services and solutions company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with operations in Huntsville, Alabama; Washington DC; and San Antonio, Texas. A visionary in the simulation and training industry and the Central Florida community since 1997, Armstrong is recognized for his commitment to the MS&T industry and for his ingenuity, entrepreneurial skills, and community leadership. ECS has brought massively multi-player games, mobile technologies, and VR/AR for military and first responder training to the defense market. As Chair of the Orange County Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on MS&T, his efforts resulted in the acquisition of multiple partnership buildings in the Research Park. A keynote speaker at the 2015 I/ITSEC, Armstrong gave voice to Small Business as he discussed the perils and successes of being in business serving the Department of Defense and responding to challenging budgets and changing requirements. He has also been a frequent speaker at other local, national and global events related to MS&T. He has testified before the House Aviation Sub-committee on safety and security, and the State of Florida's House Select Committee on security. He currently serves as a director on the University of Central Florida Research Foundation board, and previously served as a board member of the Digital Media Alliance of Florida, and on the Metro Orlando Military Affairs Advisory Committee, the Sunshine Chapter of AUSA, and Valencia Community College's Digital Media Technology Advisory Committee. He has also chaired the Orange County (Florida) Mayor’s Modeling, Simulation and Training Blue Ribbon Commission. He was recently honored as the Entrepreneurial Vanguard - Mid-Florida Business Hall of Fame by the Junior Achievement of Central Florida, and he is passionate about STEM, developing our next generation of leaders, and supporting our warfighters.

Robbie Phillips

Robbie “Rob” Phillips has dedicated the past 25 years to advancing military mission readiness through modeling and simulation. Rob has 10 years of work experience in Business Development and 15 years in systems and software engineering. Currently, Rob is a Principal Business Development Analyst and Senior Technical Manager for Lockheed Martin Training and Logistics Solutions headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Rob's focus is fostering the growth of science and technology in the fields of live and synthetic training solutions and sustainment. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Rob held a variety of Engineering and Business Development positions with increasing responsibility at international military mission systems and training companies including Thales (ADI Limited), Boeing Australia Limited and Emirates Advanced Investments (EAI) and its subsidiaries. Through his career, he has designed, developed and supported countless training and simulation solutions including: live training products, modernization of virtual tactical trainers for soldiers and pilots, and operational command centers. Rob has actively participated in the NATO Urban Combat Advanced Training Technologies (UCATT) Working Group since 2016, introducing new technology into live

training such as augmented reality and supporting the integration of vehicle live training systems and the interoperability of EXCON with LVC systems. Rob engages with all facets of the M&S community including senior military leaders, acquisition communities, traditional and non-traditional industry, engineers, and the scientific community. He is a mentor to young engineers and STEM students, guest lecturer, small business mentor, and advisor to senior defense leaders. Most importantly, Rob is dedicated to communicating the ‘so what’ factor. Regardless of the M&S technology, he always advocates the benefits of an applied technology to the training and simulation domain.

Jan Uebersax

A strategic architect of S&T systems, Jan Uebersax holds a Master of Science in Defence Simulation & Modelling, has worked for and taught a number of courses for NATO Modelling and Simulation Center of Excellence (2010-2013), and served the Swiss Armed Forces in multiple S&T positions since 1994, culminating in spearheading the design, development, implementation and strategic positioning of S&T as the training landscape of the future (2009- 2015). In his Joint Army Staff appointment he redefined field manuals to establish S&T within the SAF Training Centers’ curricula, both on operational and strategic levels (2009). In 2010 he led the strategic development of the SAF’s future S&T landscape, targeted for 2020 to 2030. He was also Chair Simulation for Training & Operation Group, a follow on to his position as Chair of the NATO Training & Simulation Working Group (2006-2013). Also, a delegate to the NATO Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence (M&S CoE) (2010- 2013) and to the NATO Modelling & Simulation Group (NMSG) (2011-2013). In a journey from military S&T instructor and strategist, to his regular speaking engagements as an internationally recognized authority, and to his current professional business career as an S&T systems and product development strategist with RUAG Simulation & Training, Jan Uebersax remains a passionate advocate of S&T’s vital role within the defense and security landscape. Jan Uebersax has a true passion for military Simulation & Training. With over 26 years in the field, he strongly believes that S&T is the ideal means for saving lives, for preserving physical assets, and for protecting innocents. He states, “Saving lives is our goal for every simulation and training system designed. The need to prepare armed combat and security forces as realistically and as realistically as possible is crucial.” Jan Uebersax remains simulation-focused on furthering the interests of the S&T community, in both a military and civilian capacity.

MS&T invites all subscribers to vote for their favorite candidate, limited to one voting session per subscriber each program year. The 2020 Winners as selected by MS&T subscribers will be announced in MS&T’s Awards Issue (3), publishing in mid-August and at   https://www.halldale.com/mst-awards-2020.

Click to vote for your choice for winner of each category https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSTAwards2020.

Voting ends on Thursday, July 16, at 9pm UTC/5pm EDT.