Hume Seminar Series: Utilizing Algorithm Prototyping to Evaluate Technology Performance in A DoD Mission Context

About the Event

The Department of Defense annually invests billions in defense technologies to ensure national security, with a significant portion of these innovations originating from research institutions and evolving into deployable systems. Given the high cost associated with field testing these technologies—approximately $200 million per experiment—the discipline of Mission Simulation and Analysis has emerged as a vital field. This approach leverages virtual simulations and sophisticated algorithms to predict system performance in tactical environments, thereby streamlining the development process and reducing costs. This presentation will highlight the critical role of Mission Simulation and Analysis within systems engineering, focusing on its application in optimizing defense technologies. By detailing recent projects and advancements, the talk aims to showcase the intersection of applied mathematics and engineering, demonstrating how virtual simulations contribute to the refinement and efficacy of defense systems prior to deployment. Through this discussion, attendees will gain insights into the innovative processes that bridge theoretical research and practical implementation, underlining the importance of this discipline in enhancing national defense capabilities.

About the Speaker

Dr. Julia Anderson-Lee

Anderson-Lee is a native of White Plains, NY and is currently an engineer at L3Harris Technologies, Inc.  She received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Spelman College, an HBCU for women in the heart of Atlanta, GA and her doctoral degree in applied mathematics from Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!).  Her career in industry began at Boeing in Charleston, SC working on the 787 program as an NDE and measurement engineer.  She has worked in modeling and simulation for the past 6 years working on air-to-air mission modeling solutions at Northrop Grumman. Currently in her role as a manager at L3Harris she supervises a team of engineers as they use modeling and simulation to answer design questions that inform our customers about our technologies performance in enabling mission success. Julia always enjoys using her mathematics in various fields with various applications and continues to work towards doing that every day.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Sarah Downer at humecenter@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.