JANUS’ Cordula Robinson Reflects on Her First I/ITSEC
12/17/2025
JANUS Research Group (JANUS) attended the annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) held in Orlando, Fla. during the first week of December. Organized by the National Training & Simulation Association (NTSA), an affiliate subsidiary of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), I/ITSEC is the most comprehensive look at where the industry is going and how technological breakthroughs are shaping modeling and simulation, training, education, analysis, and related disciplines.
If you’ve never been, you may wonder what I/ITSEC is really like. We recently asked our very own Dr. Cordula Robinson, a first-time I/ITSEC attendee and presenter, to share her thoughts on the conference.
“This year marked my first trip down to Orlando for I/ITSEC, and what an introduction it was. Back in early 2025 when I volunteered to write a paper, I had no idea that clicking into I/ITSEC’s submission portal would be the start of something this energizing and expansive.
“From the moment I arrived, I felt the steady pulse of a community deeply committed to advancing training and simulation. What stands out most is the sheer amount of voluntary service that drives the conference. Esteemed professionals—leaders in their fields—show up year after year to review papers, chair sessions, guide committees, mentor newcomers, and support innovation. Calling it ‘impressive’ doesn’t do it justice. I/ITSEC feels a bit like a professional Thanksgiving: a gathering devoted to celebrating meaningful work, exchanging ideas, and lifting each other up.
“The immersion doesn’t stop with the people. The booths, the demonstrations, the papers, the research, the talent—it’s all inspiring. You can go from discussing emerging learning frameworks to stepping into the cockpit of a next-generation simulator in a matter of steps. (Yes, I flew an F-35 simulator. There’s no going back.)
“What truly made the experience memorable was the teamwork. Many JANUS team members supported my paper presentation. When the Q&A kicked in, I watched them instantly identify who needed follow-ups and where conversations should continue. It was seamless, intuitive teamwork—the kind that makes the dream work.
“Between the learning, collaboration, and sheer fun of exploring what’s possible in training and simulation, I was blown away. I’m already planning for next year: generating ideas, new concepts, and future directions with the JANUS team. I’m looking forward to building on all that this first experience sparked.”
Dr. Robinson authored and presented the paper, “Space Weather AI into Warfighter Kill Chains Toward Operational Dominance.” For more information about her work, check out our earlier blog on News | JANUS Research Group. For more information about our Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) business unit, of which Dr. Robinson is a part, we invite you to explore Atmospheric and Environmental Research | JANUS Research Group.
