Old Dominion and JFCOM sign R & D agreement

The U.S. Joint Forces Command and the Old Dominion University Research Foundation announced the institutions signed a cooperative research and development agreement that will utilize ODU's capabilities in modeling and simulation to create training environments for soldiers. Although no money will be exchanged as part of the three-year agreement that includes two one-year options, both institutions said they will benefit from sharing knowledge, personnel and facilities.

JFCOM wants access to the capabilities of ODU's coveted Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center to create more realistic and useful simulated warfare theater environments in order for soldiers to be better prepared when sent into the field. "What we've recognized is that the CRADA sets conditions for us to explore how we can leverage and advance to make our fighting forces more effective and our expenditure of resources more efficient," said Mike McGinnis, executive director of VMASC and a retired Army brigadier general.

(Compiled from Inside Business, May 9, 2008)