Defense Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis

Modeling, simulation, and analysis (MSA) is a crucial tool for military affairs. MSA is one of the announced pillars of a strategy for transforming the U.S. military. Yet changes in the enterprise of MSA have not kept pace with the new demands arising from rapid changes in DOD processes and missions or with the rapid changes in the technology available to meet those demands. To help address those concerns, DOD asked the NRC to identify shortcomings in current practice of MSA and suggest where and how they should be resolved. This report provides an assessment of the changing mission of DOD and environment in which it must operate, an identification of high-level opportunities for MSA research to address the expanded mission, approaches for improving the interface between MSA practitioners and decision makers, a discussion of training and continuing education of MS&A practitioners, and an examination of the need for coordinated military science research to support MSA.