The 2024 Learning Multiverse Conference:

AI-Enabled Immersive Technologies (IM-TECH) in Workforce Training and Education

George Mason University, Van Metre Hall

3351 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22201

September 12, 2024
IMTech2024Logo

Augmented Reality (AR)

Mixed Reality (MR)

Virtual Reality (VR)

Extended Reality (XR)

Wearables

Accessible Learning

Personalized Learning

AUGMENTED REALITY (AR)

MIXED REALITY (MR)

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)

EXTENDED REALITY (ER)

WEARABLES

ACCESSIBLE LEARNING

AI-ENABLED IM-TECH

Augmented Reality (AR)

Mixed Reality (MR)

Virtual Reality (VR)

Extended Reality (XR)

Wearables

Accessible Learning

Personalized Learning

About The Learning Multiverse: Immersive Technologies (IM-TECH) in Training and Education

The 2024 Learning Multiverse Conference: AI-Enabled Immersive Technologies in Workforce Training & Education, probes the dynamic interplay between immersive technologies (IM-TECH) – encompassing Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR) – and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping workforce training and education. IM-TECH allows employees to engage in various workplace scenarios to enhance skills safely through direct experience. These innovative technologies offer rich, interactive learning experiences well beyond traditional methods.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how IM-TECH, partnered with AI, is revolutionizing workplace training and education. The conference will feature relevant use cases and demonstrations that illustrate the transformative role of these technologies in training and development. Researchers and practitioners from academia, government, and industry will share their expertise and discuss the implications of pairing IM-TECH and AI, and the enhanced ability to augment learning and transform workplace educational methodologies.

At IM-TECH 2024, participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Analyze/examine the deployment of IM-TECH and the impact of incorporating AI into workplace training and education
  • Explore advanced learning theories, methodologies, and evidence-based practices that empower IM-TECH tools
  • Discuss the alignment of IM-TECH with adult learning strategies, constructivist theory, and cognitive load management
  • Explore how the incorporation of IM-TECH and AI-enabled IM-TECH can optimize learner engagement and outcomes
  • Examine the importance of real-world context and developing an employee’s sense of presence in virtual environments to the successful transfer of skill

Tentative Agenda

7:45 am – 9:00 amBreakfast
9:00 am – 9:15 amWelcome Remarks by George Mason University (GMU) Leadership: Liza Wilson Durant
9:15 am – 10:00 amKeynote: Anders Gronstedt; Gronstedt Group
The Future of Workplace Learning in the Virtual Reality Space
10:00 am – 10:15 amCoffee Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am

Morning Panel: Generative AI from IM-TECH Perspective – Technologies on the Horizon – Government Research/Use Cases

  • Kammy Sanghera – Moderator; GMU
  • Haarmann Hendrik – Panelist; NSA
  • Amanda Bullock – Panelist; Air Force Research Lab
  • Gregory Bernard – Panelist; National Security Innovation Network, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Erika Bauer – Panelist; Defense Digital Service (DDS) at the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO)
  • Nicole Chelonis – Panelist; Defense Acquisition University (DAU)
11:15 am – 12:00 pm

Featured Research Presentation: AI-Enabled Immersive Research

Worker-AI Teaming to enable ADHD Workforce Participation in the Construction Industry of the Future

12:00 pm – 12:45 pmNetworking Lunch
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm

Afternoon Panel: Immersive Technologies in Industry – Applications, Tools, Technologies

  • Patty McDonald – Moderator; SEI
  • Antonio Mañueco – Panelist; SEI
  • Douglas Fajardo – Panelist; Xennial
  • Shane Parreco – Panelist; Aktïga
  • Panelist from Apple (TBD)
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm

Debate: Ethical Use of AI, Learning Design Process for IM-TECH, Cybersecurity

  • Jacquelyn A. Poapst – Debate Coach/Moderator; GMU
  • Jordan Higgins; MITRE/GMU
  • Sophia Moshasha; World Bank
  • Daniel Santos; Brightline
  • Steve Sheets; Leidos
2:45 pm – 3:00 pmBreak
3:00 pm – 4:20 pm

Featured Technologies: Demo Slam

  • C2 Technologies
  • Apple
  • Xennial
  • George Mason University (GMU)
  • DicomDirector
  • Shenandoah University
  • Defense Acquisition University (DAU)
  • MITRE
4:20 pm – 4:30 pmClosing Remarks: Nada Dabbagh (GMU – CEHD)
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

IM-TECH Booths/Tables:

  • C2 Technologies
  • Xennial
  • GMU – Learning Design & Technology Students (IM-TECH Project A)
  • GMU – Learning Design & Technology Students (IM-TECH Project B)
  • DicomDirector
  • Shenandoah University
  • DAU (Defense Acquisition University)
  • Gronstedt Group
  • MITRE
  • Gronstedt Group
  • GMU – BioEngineering Students, The Power of VR in Physical Rehabilitation
  • GMU – Computer Science Students

Our Speakers

Brenda Bannan, PhD

Professor, Division of Learning Technologies and the Learning Technology Design Research Doctoral Program, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University

Dr. Brenda Bannan is a Professor in the Division of Learning Technologies and the Learning Technology Design Research Doctoral Program in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Dr. Bannan’s current work centers on leveraging emerging technologies, learning science, user experience design, design research and human-machine partnerships to inform both the human system and the smart technology system.  Her current research interests encompass instrumenting live simulation training and other instructional, virtual and physical contexts with intelligent, unobtrusive devices leveraging AI, IoT systems and multimodal learning analytics.

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Brenda Bannan, PhD

Brenda Bannan, PhD

Professor, Division of Learning Technologies and the Learning Technology Design Research Doctoral Program, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University

Erika Bauer

Lead Product Designer / Digital Service Expert, Defense Digital Service (DDS), CDAO

Erika Bauer is Digital Service Expert and Lead Product Designer & Researcher who helps manage user research, product design and deliverables within Defense Digital Service (DDS) at the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). At DDS she’s worked closely with her team to incorporate customer feedback, manage delivery, innovate and ship UX for DDS’s c-UAS program. She also co-lead product discovery, customer research and design collaboration with contractors, the military services and DCSA to deliver an MVP solution for Insider Threat. Currently she’s working with her team on product discovery and researching solutions to support the Combatant Commands.

Prior to DDS, Erika worked on supply chain e-commerce solutions at Boeing and collaborated on product design with business owners and airline customers. Erika was also a Senior Designer at Microsoft where she worked on product design experiences for an audio workstation app and new avatar UX for both Xbox and HoloLens Mixed Reality. At Amazon, Erika was a Lead Designer on core product teams, designing and launching multiple experiences on Amazon Fire products and the Kindle reader.

Erika has spent almost two decades working on product teams and helping launch innovative products for Fortune 500s in the Silicon Forest and in the Silicon Valley at companies including Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Sony, as well as the original devices team at Barnes & Noble. In Silicon Valley, she was on award winning Android design and development teams and had a reading experience trademarked; she was also included on a patent at Microsoft for music software.

Erika is interested in improving lives with products and technology, and she joined DDS since it’s a place where she can realize that goal, making a tangible difference to the warfighter and the Department of Defense.

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Erika Bauer

Erika Bauer

Lead Product Designer / Digital Service Expert, Defense Digital Service (DDS), CDAO

Gregory M. Bernard, DSc

Director, CHDS

Dr. Gregory Bernard is the Director of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Bernard is a CHDS alumnus and graduated in 2012 with a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies. His CHDS Master’s thesis was titled “Whistleblowing in a Wikileaks World: A Model for Responsible Disclosure in Homeland Security.” He was also a co-founder of the CHDS Homeland Security Experimental (HSx) program.

Before taking the helm at CHDS, Bernard worked for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), a component of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), where he served as the Talent Portfolio Director. He also previously served as Acting Managing Director for the organization. As NSIN Talent Portfolio Director, Bernard led a team responsible for changing the way the DOD solves problems by building a diverse network and delivering innovation programming designed to solve national security problems by matching them with non-traditional problem-solving communities, primarily in venture and academia.

Bernard has worked with the U.S. government since 2003, when he joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) as a contractor working on the Homeland Security Grant Program. He left his contracting firm in 2005 and joined ODP as a federal program manager.

In 2007, Bernard was approached by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to help establish their Office of State and Local Affairs. In addition, he has worked in the Operations Support Directorate, developing state and local preventative radiological/nuclear detection capabilities; he has served as a risk assessment subject matter expert; and he has worked as Principal Deputy Assistant Director for Architecture and Plans, providing leadership and oversight of the organization responsible for the development, analysis, and enhancement of the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA).

In 2016, Bernard served as the senior DHS representative to the first U.S.-China Counter Nuclear Smuggling dialogue and frequently briefed Congressional members and staff on national security risk and the GNDA. His last post at DHS was as the Acting Innovation Officer and Acting Chief of Strategic Analysis for the National Risk Management Center within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Bernard received a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Civil Security, Leadership, Management, and Policy in 2016 from New Jersey City University. His dissertation was titled “Who is Professor Plum: A Framework for Defining Non-State Adversaries.”

A native of Maryland, Bernard currently lives in Monterey, CA with his wife and two daughters.

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Gregory M. Bernard, DSc

Gregory M. Bernard, DSc

Director, CHDS

Timothy Boe

US EPA Office of Research and Development

Timothy Boe is a Geographer with the US EPA’s ORD. Timothy’s work primarily focuses on response and cleanup issues following chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents. He has also been developing computer-based decision support tools to aid decision makers in responding to wide-area contamination incidents. Before joining the EPA, Timothy worked as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow where he conducted research on wide area CBRN remediation. Timothy has an M.S. and a B.S. in Applied Science from Arkansas Tech University.

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Timothy Boe

Timothy Boe

US EPA Office of Research and Development

Amanda Bullock, PhD

AI Lead, Air Force Research Laboratory

Dr. Amanda Bullock is an AI Lead at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), where she spearheads digital transformation initiatives involving AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. She holds a BS in Statistics from Eastern Kentucky University and an MS in Applied Statistics from Wright State University. Amanda earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering, specializing in Statistical Signal Processing, from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2013. She has extensive teaching experience in mathematics and data sciences at multiple universities and served in a prestigious Fellowship at the Army Research Laboratory. Amanda has played significant roles in civil service, including as Project Engineer for the LEGACY program and Deputy Chief Data Officer in the AFRL. She is currently focused on reducing business toil through AI innovations, connecting AFRL with DoD and industry efforts, and enhancing workforce skills in AI and analytics. Her research interests span Enterprise Architecture, STEM education, and advanced analytics. Amanda is dedicated to driving innovation and modernization in the Air Force through her expertise in AI and analytics.

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Amanda Bullock, PhD

Amanda Bullock, PhD

AI Lead, Air Force Research Laboratory

Nathan Carr, PhD

Adobe Fellow, VP

Dr. Nathan Carr is an Adobe Fellow/VP leading the Adobe Research organization in computer graphics for 2D vector and 3D design. His research organization focuses on inventing the next generation experiences for creative designers. These deep innovations have transformed Adobe’s leading creative suite of products which include Photoshop, Illustrator, Firefly, Substance, AfterEffects, Fresco, among others.

Recently his team has focused on breakthrough science in generative imaging technology including Generative AI, forward and inverse 2D and 3D rendering, which includes the capture and understanding of shape, material, lighting, and animation. These technologies are unlocking the next generation of photographic, video, and immersive editing workflows and expanding the palette of tools for creative designers. By combining forward and inverse techniques, new intelligent assistive systems can increase the velocity of the design process across all media types including vectors, images, 3D, and video.

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Nathan Carr, PhD

Nathan Carr, PhD

Adobe Fellow, VP

Nicole Chelonis, PhD

Information Technology Program Manager, DAU

Dr. Nicole Chelonis joined DAU in 2021 and is focused on providing leadership in the modernization efforts of the DAU technology infrastructure, including helping to shape how DAU uses xAPI and generative AI in its total learning architecture.

Before entering civil service in the Department of Defense, Dr. Chelonis spent twenty years in public higher education. Most recently, she served as the Director of Digital Learning at Fitchburg State University where she continues to teach graduate courses focusing on education technology and AI use in the classroom.

A dedicated lifelong learner, Dr. Chelonis holds a PhD in Leadership, an MA in Adult Education from Pennsylvania State University, and a BS in Information Technology. She is currently pursuing an MA in clinical mental health counseling.

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Nicole Chelonis, PhD

Nicole Chelonis, PhD

Information Technology Program Manager, DAU

Woei-Chyi Chang

PhD Candidate, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University

<span class=”TextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″ lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US” data-contrast=”auto”><span class=”NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW84191448 BCX0″>Woei-Chyi Chang is a</span><span class=”NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW84191448 BCX0″> Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University </span><span class=”NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW84191448 BCX0″>Lyles School of Civil Engineering</span><span class=”NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW84191448 BCX0″> under the supervision of Dr. Sogand Hasanzadeh.</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> His research </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>focuses on human-autonomy teaming in future construction </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>by deploying AR/VR/MR</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>/XR</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>, wearable sensors,</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> and</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> ML/DL</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> techniques</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> to comprehensively understand workers’ subjective and objective behaviors </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>during the interaction with autonomous technologies on future jobsites</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>.</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> Specifically, he strives to enhance </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>trust</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>-building, communication,</span> <span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>safety</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>, and inclusivity</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″> of worker-autonomy teaming </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>within the construction industry. On the other hand, Woei-Chyi is pursuing a dual master’s degree </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>at Purdue University </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering</span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>, with the concentration on computer engineering, Internet of Things, and digital twin </span><span class=”NormalTextRun SCXW84191448 BCX0″>development.</span></span><span class=”EOP SCXW84191448 BCX0″ data-ccp-props=”{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":278}”> </span>

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Woei-Chyi Chang

Woei-Chyi Chang

PhD Candidate, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University

Nada Dabbagh, PhD

Professor and Director of the Division of Learning Technologies, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University

Nada Dabbagh is Professor and Director of the Division of Learning Technologies in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. Dr. Dabbagh teaches graduate courses in instructional design, e-Learning, digital pedagogy, and design research in the Learning Design and Technology (LDT) master’s program and the Learning Technologies Design Research (LTDR) doctoral specialization. Dr. Dabbagh’s research focuses on the pedagogical ecology of technology-mediated learning environments with the goal of understanding the social and cognitive consequences of learning systems design. Specific research interests include online learning, interaction design, and Personal Learning Environments or PLEs.

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Nada Dabbagh, PhD

Nada Dabbagh, PhD

Professor and Director of the Division of Learning Technologies, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University

Bobbie DeLeon, EdD

Visiting Professor, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University

Dr. DeLeon is visiting professor at George Mason University. Her assignment in the College of Education and Human Development is focused on innovative learning technologies. In her civil service career, she serves as Learning Director for the Defense Systems Management College at the Defense Acquisition University. Dr. DeLeon completed her EdD in human and organizational learning at the George Washington University. Her research focused on experiential learning methods in leadership training and development.

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Bobbie DeLeon, EdD

Bobbie DeLeon, EdD

Visiting Professor, College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University

Liza Wilson Durant, PhD

Professor, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement

Dr. Liza Wilson Durant serves as the Associate Provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement at George Mason University and Professor and Associate Dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement in the College of Engineering and Computing.  She works to build meaningful partnerships across the university with external corporate, government, academic, non-profit, and global entities to support the mission of the strategic objectives of the University.  She also serves as the Director of the Northern Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI).  Prior to her appointment as associate provost, she served as chair of the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering where she has been a faculty member since 2010.  She received her BS and MS degrees from Cornell University and Stanford University respectively and her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the Johns Hopkins University.

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Liza Wilson Durant, PhD

Liza Wilson Durant, PhD

Professor, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement

Behzad Esmaeili, PhD

Associate Professor, School of Industrial Engineering, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University

Dr. Behzad Esmaeili is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment at Purdue University School of Industrial Engineering and Lyles School of Civil Engineering. He actively conducts research in human factors, decision-making, and risk management. His research on construction safety has been nationally and internationally recognized more than once, most notably in the 2014 Prize Award for Innovation “Jaume Blasco,” 18th International Congress on Project Management and Engineering (ICPME), New Scholar award from the Construction Industry Institute in 2014, Best Paper Award from the Construction Research Congress in 2016, Best Academic Award from the Construction Industry Institute in 2016, and the best paper award from ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering 2018. Dr. Esmaeili actively serves on the Construction Industry Institute’s Safety Community of Business Advancement (CII SCBA) and AFH10 committee at the Transportation Research Board (TRB).

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Behzad Esmaeili, PhD

Behzad Esmaeili, PhD

Associate Professor, School of Industrial Engineering, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University

Douglas Fajardo

Founder & CEO, Xennial

Xennial is Douglas’ third startup. The company focuses on building Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) enterprise products, solutions, and platforms for corporate and academic organizations. In 2005, Douglas’ second startup was acquired by WPP, the largest global holding company of marketing, advertising, and digital agencies. During his 13-year career with WPP, Douglas was CEO for the Miami units of RMG Connect, Casa, and Mirum.

Douglas leads a team of 40 people working with global clients, such as CAE, the largest aviation training company in the world, as well as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Xennial is also collaborating with leading Higher Ed institutions, such as the University of Miami, University of Massachusetts, and University of Virginia, to build groundbreaking immersive learning solutions.

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Douglas Fajardo

Douglas Fajardo

Founder & CEO, Xennial

Ravi Garimella

Technical Director, C² Technologies 

Ravi Garimella is an experienced professional with more than 20 years of demonstrated work history in Programming, eLearning, Section 508, Virtual Reality, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and a Certified Project Manager (PMP) with Government, Commercial, and corporate industries. As the Technical Director at C² Technologies, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the production staff, which includes graphic designers, programmers, 3D modelers, and quality assurance. Mr. Garimella is involved in all aspects of the software development life cycle and is well-versed in SCORM and xAPI. Ravi is mission-focused, responsive, detail-oriented, organized, and customer service-driven with a “can-do” attitude. He has worked as a Project Manager with many Federal agencies and commercial clients.

Mr. Garimella earned his Master’s degree in Education Technology from Bloomsburg University, including certificate courses on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Bots.

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Ravi Garimella

Ravi Garimella

Technical Director, C² Technologies 

Anders Gronstedt, PhD

President, The Gronstedt Group, Inc.

Anders Gronstedt, Ph.D., is a pioneer in extended reality training simulations. As president of The Gronstedt Group, he leads the development of high-fidelity simulations that accelerate learning at scale for the world’s largest employers, including the U.S. Navy, Walmart, Pfizer, Novartis, Takeda, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. Gronstedt, a former marketing professor at the University of Colorado, is a thought leader in the industry, regularly speaking at conferences and contributing to the Harvard Business Review.

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Anders Gronstedt, PhD

Anders Gronstedt, PhD

President, The Gronstedt Group, Inc.

Hendrik Haarmann, PhD

Senior Cognitive Scientist, NSA

Dr. Hendrik Haarmann is a senior cognitive scientist currently working in the NSA Office of Innovation (PhD, Psychology, 1993, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands). He has basic and applied research and consultancy expertise in the areas of learning and performance and neurodiversity. In his theory-driven research on the nature of human memory and its brain mechanisms, Dr. Haarmann has combined experimentation, neuro-computational modelling, neuroimaging, and neurofeedback. This approach has informed Dr. Haarmann’s applied research and consultancy work on enhancement of the learning and performance of professional workers, for example through critical and creative thinking training, artificial intelligence, immersive extended reality technology, and mindfulness for enhanced stress and resilience and sense making. He is a recognized thought leader with a record of highly impactful scholarly publications, numerous presentations at international conferences, and invited and plenary talks and has provided frequent consultancy across the US intelligence and defense community. Dr. Haarmann has previously held positions at the National Cryptologic University (NCU), the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL), and Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences (HESP), at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Psychology, the Nijmegen Institute for Cognition and Information (NICI) and the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands.

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Hendrik Haarmann, PhD

Hendrik Haarmann, PhD

Senior Cognitive Scientist, NSA

Lana Hashem

Data Analytics Engineering Master’s Student, George Mason University

My name is Lana Hashem, and I am a recent bioengineering graduate currently completing an accelerated master’s degree in data analytics engineering at George Mason University. In this project, I focused on the software engineering aspects, specializing in creating, coding, and manipulating VR software and environments. I also designed and performed testing procedures, particularly concentrating on synchronizing VR systems with treadmills and ensuring the accuracy of VR environments displayed on headset screens. My dedication to precision and innovation drives me to develop reliable and functional VR applications that push the boundaries of technology.

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Lana Hashem

Lana Hashem

Data Analytics Engineering Master’s Student, George Mason University

Jordan Higgins

Lead Human Centered Engineer, MITRE; Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University

Jordan has been designing websites and digital experiences since the early days of the World Wide Web. Inspired and excited by the potential for people to connect with each other around the world, Jordan went to work as a web designer helping people realize the potential of the web as a new medium for entertainment, education, and business.

Today Jordan is a Lead Human-Centered Engineer at MITRE, bringing experience in human-centered design and UX strategy and research to creating innovative solutions for national defense, health, and other public sector sponsors. Previously he lead immersive design at U.Group, working with the public sector, nonprofit, and commercial customers to explore how emerging technologies like AR/VR, AI, and machine learning can change the way we learn, collaborate, and visualize data about the world around us.

Before that Jordan worked in user experience and digital strategy for the Department of Defense and the United States Senate. At the United States Senate, he helped senators and committees unlock the potential of their websites and social media channels to better engage and communicate with constituents.

An active member of the design and XR community, Jordan has served as the President of UXPA DC, co-organizer of DCUX, and a member of the W3C Immersive Web Working Group. Jordan holds a BIS in Interaction Design from George Mason University and an MS in Management of Information Technology from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.

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Jordan Higgins

Jordan Higgins

Lead Human Centered Engineer, MITRE; Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University

Sungsoo Ray Hong

Assistant Professor, Information Sciences and Technology

Sungsoo Ray Hong’s research mission is to develop a human-AI collaboration system that can practically improve users’ productivity and creativity in specific domains. He applies research methodologies in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) to design, build, and evaluate future human-AI collaboration artifacts that seamlessly fit human mental models. He is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Information Sciences at George Mason University. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Washington, Human-Centered Design and Engineering.

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Sungsoo Ray Hong

Sungsoo Ray Hong

Assistant Professor, Information Sciences and Technology

Antonio Mañueco

Managing Principal Consultant of AI and Technology, SEI

Antonio Mañueco, SEI’s National Technology and AI Practice Lead, brings over 20 years of software, data, and processes expertise. He designs and architects cloud-agnostic and hybrid-ready technical workloads, integrating identity, security, and metrics to unlock business potential.

Adept at presenting complex concepts simply, Antonio bridges the gap between business and technology. His technical depth and practicality drive innovation effortlessly. Antonio guides organizations to capitalize on technology while minimizing complexities and risks, streamlining processes without overspending on software licenses.

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Antonio Mañueco

Antonio Mañueco

Managing Principal Consultant of AI and Technology, SEI

Sophia Moshasha

Vice President, VR/AR Association DC Chapter; Co-Founder, XR Women

Sophia Moshasha is determined to fast-track the integration of immersive and emerging technologies. Behind the scenes, on camera, and center stage, she propels multiple initiatives dedicated to elevating education and engagement with XR across diverse industry domains.

With roles spanning as a producer and Virtual Red Carpet host for The Polys – WebXR Awards, a Special Correspondent for the WebXR Summit Series, and a co-host of the VR/AR Association podcast, Sophia has conducted extensive interviews with innumerable XR pioneers and innovators.

Her journey encompasses pivotal contributions that have steered the application of these technologies and propelled the entire industry forward. Notably, her path has led her through stints with Meta’s Public Policy team, the Air Force’s Small Business Innovation Program, and representation of a diverse spectrum of immersive technology enterprises offering solutions tailored to diverse industries.

Since 2017, her active engagement in the immersive technology community includes serving as Vice President of the DC Chapter of the VR/AR Association, co-founding XR women—an international collective driving female representation in technology—and co-founding Ready Player Golf, the pioneering Virtual Reality Charity Golf Outing. This initiative has successfully raised funds for MSF (Doctors Without Borders), XRSI (the XR Safety Initiative), and Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF).

Sophia’s dynamic presence has resonated across global networks through years of dedicated involvement in the XR community. She plays a vital role in guiding policy and standards setting organizations like the VR/AR Association, Congressional Reality Caucus, Metaverse Standards Forum, and the National Training and Simulation Association. Her efforts equip these entities to comprehend the immersive technology landscape, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the burgeoning interest in adopting these technologies.

Her influence extends to prominent media platforms including Forbes, ABC, CGTN, and the American Dream TV series, where she has shared her insights. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Taking the next step in her tech advocacy, Sophia is now running for the State Senate in District 39. Her goal is to better equip legislative officials with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities emerging technologies provide.

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Sophia Moshasha

Sophia Moshasha

Vice President, VR/AR Association DC Chapter; Co-Founder, XR Women

Mohammad F. Obeid, PhD

Mirza Endowed Chair in Global Learning and Associate Professor, Shenandoah University

Mohammad F. Obeid, Ph.D., is the Mirza Endowed Chair in Global Learning and Associate Professor at Shenandoah University. He currently serves as the Director of the Virtual Reality Design (BS) program as well as Co-Director of the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCiL). In those capacities, he leads various initiatives exploring the utility of simulation and virtual learning environments for training and decision making in many domains. He holds a PhD and MS in Modeling and Simulation Engineering from Old Dominion University and a BS in Industrial Engineering from the German-Jordanian University. His research and recent career revolve around synthetic environments and medical-oriented simulations. In a general sense, his interests encompass extended reality (XR) platforms, interactive and predictive simulation, and computer-assisted interventions.

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Mohammad F. Obeid, PhD

Mohammad F. Obeid, PhD

Mirza Endowed Chair in Global Learning and Associate Professor, Shenandoah University

Dolly Oberoi

Founder, C² Technologies

Dolly Oberoi, founder of C² Technologies, has greatly contributed to the aerospace and defense industry through her work in immersive technologies, AI, analytics, and IT. A pioneer and thought leader, she transformed traditional learning environments with immersive technologies and devised transformative enterprise-wide solutions to enhance organizational and individual performance. As an entrepreneur, she’s completed over 18,000 projects for 130+ clients, employing 500+ staff in 22 global locations, and has been recognized with over 200 industry awards.

Apart from her business accomplishments, Oberoi is an active mentor for budding entrepreneurs, running an incubator and accelerator, and hosting entrepreneurship boot camps for women and students. She serves on numerous academic and corporate boards, including George Mason University, Barnard College of Columbia University, and the TiE Global Board. An internationally recognized figure, she represented the U.S. on trade delegations and served under President Obama’s administration. Oberoi’s numerous accolades include the National Defense Industry Association’s Business Leader of the Year and the GovCon Entrepreneur of the Year. She holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University.

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Dolly Oberoi

Dolly Oberoi

Founder, C² Technologies

Patty Gilbert McDonald, PhD

Principal Concept to Delivery Consultant, SEI; Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University

Patty is a thought leader in learning design, change management, software product management and project management methodologies and how to systematically adapt strategies to meet the needs of her SEI clients. Most recently, Patty has become a trusted SEI advisor with connecting learning design science to companies struggling to adopt new AI-Technologies in their organizations.

More importantly, Patty is a proud alum of George Mason University and holds a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on Instructional Technology. Patty shares her 25+ years of experience leading teams through the full life cycle of product development as an adjunct faculty member in the Learning Design and Technology Program at George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development.

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Patty Gilbert McDonald, PhD

Patty Gilbert McDonald, PhD

Principal Concept to Delivery Consultant, SEI; Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University

Shane Parreco

Founder and CEO, Aktïga

Shane is the founder and CEO of Aktiga, a spatial software development company based in Asheville, NC. Aktiga focuses on building accessible 3D content and immersive applications for the future of the web. Shane’s team authored an important white paper on eXtended Responsive Web Design (XRWD) that is set to influence immersive web design for many years to come.

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Shane Parreco

Shane Parreco

Founder and CEO, Aktïga

David B. Pearlstone, MD, MBA

CEO, DicomDirector

Dr. Pearlstone is the CEO of DicomDirector, a start-up in digital medical imaging that creates three-dimensional holograms, viewable on any AR/VR device, from CT or MRI scans for doctors to use in diagnosis, treatment planning and intra-operative guidance. Most recently, he was Executive Director of HealthHavenHub, a not-for-profit digital healthcare incubator in New Haven, CT, and a partner at HealthVenture, LLC. Prior to joining HealthVenture, Dr. Pearlstone served as Medical Director for Vitas Healthcare of Connecticut. Previously he has served as Chief of the Division of Breast Surgery and Director of Breast Services at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, in Hackensack, New Jersey, and Associate Chairman of Surgery, Chief of Surgical Oncology, and Director of Surgical Research at Lincoln Hospital in New York City.

He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and received his B.Sc. from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.  Following a research fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Vanderbilt, he received his MD from New York University School of Medicine in 1989. He completed his residency in general surgery at NYU; during his residency he spent two years as a Clinical Research Fellow in the Surgical Metabolism Laboratory at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center under Dr. Murray Brennan, where he published extensively in the field of cancer cachexia. He then went on to complete a clinical fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Pearlstone practiced clinical and academic surgical oncology for many years, serving on the faculty of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, as well as Yale University School of Medicine. He has worked in biomedical technology transfer since 2002, serving on the faculty of Clemson University College of Engineering in Clemson, SC, and the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. In 2010, Dr. Pearlstone received his MBA from the Leadership in Healthcare program at the Yale University School of Management.

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David B. Pearlstone, MD, MBA

David B. Pearlstone, MD, MBA

CEO, DicomDirector

J. Regner

Design Lead, Defense Acquisition University

J. Regner is the instructional design lead at the Defense Acquisition University’s (DAU) Defense Systems Management College (DSMC). In this role, he helps professors refine and develop their materials, techniques, classes, and courses to ensure that DSMC learners receive a world-class instructional experience. Additionally, J. is leading DAU’s AI transformation effort. As the lead for this effort, J. and his team of volunteers developed and implemented a diffusion of innovation plan to encourage, train, and support DAU employees as they integrate Copilot for Microsoft 365 into their daily work habits.

J. has a master’s in Educational Technology from James Madison University. He previously worked as an instructional designer for the Carilion Clinic hospital group and as a high school educator. His previous EdTech conference talks regarded creating authentic assessments with technology, democratizing the learning experience using technology, and improving presentations with research-based instructional design principles.

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J. Regner

J. Regner

Design Lead, Defense Acquisition University

Daniel J. Santos

Chief Operating Officer, Brightline Interactive

Daniel J. Santos (Dan) is the Chief Operating Officer at Brightline Interactive, where he spearheads the integration of the real and digital worlds using groundbreaking AI and immersive 3D technologies. With over 25 years of experience in advanced technology sectors, both domestically and internationally, Dan has pioneered first-of-a-kind programs that transform industries and enhance operational efficiency.

At the heart of Brightline Interactive's mission, Dan champions the development of a digital twin-based decision support system that leverages AI, Universal Scene Description (USD), and mixed reality to revolutionize decision-making and workforce training. This innovative system analyzes extensive data sets to present critical information in an intuitive, spatially-aware format, allowing for seamless interaction with digital twins via mixed reality interfaces. By implementing hardware-agnostic solutions, this transformative technology is accessible from any device, furthering Brightline's commitment to operational adaptability and resilience.

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Daniel J. Santos

Daniel J. Santos

Chief Operating Officer, Brightline Interactive

Kammy Sanghera, PhD

Executive Director, Institute for Digital InnovAtion

As Executive Director of the Institute for Digital InnovAtion, Dr. Sanghera and her team support the research community in the pursuit of cutting-edge work to shape the future of our digital society, promoting equality, wellbeing, security, and prosperity.

Before assuming the IDIA role, Dr. Sanghera served as the Executive Director of STEM Outreach for the Volgenau School of Engineering. She was also the Associate Chair of the Information Sciences and Technology department. Dr. Sanghera was a founding member of Virginia’s Governor Northam’s STEM commission. She serves on the executive board of the Northern Virginia Computer Science Teachers’ Association. Dr. Sanghera received the NCWIT Extension Services award to implement systemic change to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation of women in technology and engineering undergraduate programs. Her efforts have positively contributed to the Go Virginia Tech Talent Pipeline initiative, where she worked closely with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Fairfax County Government Office, Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Dr. Sanghera is also an active member of the Students and Technology in Academia, Research, and Service (STARS) program and the National Center of Women in Technology (NCWIT). She has worked on the Sisters Rise Up grant by Reboot Representation.

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Kammy Sanghera, PhD

Kammy Sanghera, PhD

Executive Director, Institute for Digital InnovAtion

Steve Sheets

Software Engineer, Leidos

Steve Sheets is a long time developer of desktop, mobile and now VR apps. During these years, he has worked at Apple, Leidos, Meta, America Online, US Government, and other organizations, as well as spending considerable time as an independent developer. He has been active in the VR/AR community leading MagFest VR talks, organizing DV VR Meetups and presenting talks on the future of VR/AR.

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Steve Sheets

Steve Sheets

Software Engineer, Leidos

Gavin Smiga

Bioengineering Alum, George Mason University

My name is Gavin Smiga, and I hold a B.S. in Bioengineering with a concentration in Nanomedicine and Biomaterials from George Mason University (GMU). As a native of Northern Virginia, I have a deep connection to the local community. During my time at GMU, I served as the project manager for our capstone project, which focused on developing a Virtual Reality Platform for Gait Rehabilitation.

I am passionate about researching and developing more effective treatments for diseases and injuries, utilizing both physical rehabilitation techniques and advanced drug therapeutics. Driven by a strong desire to contribute my skills and knowledge to innovative projects, I am excited about the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the field of biomedical engineering.

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Gavin Smiga

Gavin Smiga

Bioengineering Alum, George Mason University

Kirubel Tadesse

Bioengineering Student, George Mason University

My name is Kirubel Tadesse. I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and moved to the United States in 2016. I started my college career at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) where I earned my A.S. in Engineering. I then transferred to George Mason University to pursue a B.S. in Bioengineering. While completing my senior year, I also enrolled in the accelerated Master’s program at George Mason to earn an M.S. in Data Analytics Engineering, which I am on track to complete by Spring 2025.

I have been working as a Research Assistant at the Applied Biosensing Lab in the Bioengineering department for over a year. Additionally, I am a fellow at the GMU Center for Adaptive Systems of Brain-Body Interactions (CASBBI) NRT, where I will participate in a multidisciplinary team to tackle a challenge in our community.

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Kirubel Tadesse

Kirubel Tadesse

Bioengineering Student, George Mason University

Linton Wells II, PhD

President and CEO, Global Resilience Strategies

Dr. Linton Wells II brings more than twenty years of leadership experience at the interface of policy and technology. Recent research has focused on international cyber resilience and critical infrastructure protection, building resilience in the space domain, countering disinformation in complex information environments, and supply chain risk management, as well as the policy implications of accelerating, converging technological change in areas like biotechnology, robotics, augmented intelligence, advanced manufacturing, information technology, nanotechnology, and energy. This includes the national security implications of the replacement of labor by automation and artificial intelligence, and the ability to reduce pressures for migration and marginalization by building resilience at community levels.

While in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he served as acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (ASD NII) and Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Information Officer (CIO) in which roles he oversaw the Defense Department’s $30 billion budget for information technology and related areas. Other senior positions have overseen Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I), as well as the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). From 2010 to 2014, he led the Center for Technology and National Security Policy, a research center at National Defense University (NDU). In 2014, he completed 51 consecutive years with DoD. He is the President and CEO of Global Resilience Strategies—”Be prepared to bounce forward better,” Visiting Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at NDU, Chairman of the Advisory Group to the C4I & Cyber Center at George Mason University (GMU), Executive Advisor to GMU’s Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities, and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

In twenty-six years of naval service, Dr. Wells served in a variety of surface ships, including command of a destroyer squadron and guided missile destroyer. He also acquired a wide range of experience in operations analysis; Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Middle East affairs; and C3I. Born in Luanda, Angola, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and oceanography. He attended graduate school at Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) degree in mathematical sciences and a Ph.D. in international relations. He is also a graduate of the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies in Tokyo. He served on the National Advisory Council of the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Wells has written widely on security studies in English and Japanese journals. He also co-edited a series of books on leader development and international security transformation. He received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Distinguished Government Service from Johns Hopkins University and has thrice been awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

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Linton Wells II, PhD

Linton Wells II, PhD

President and CEO, Global Resilience Strategies

Doug Wilson, PhD

Assistant Professor, Learning Technologies, George Mason University

Dr. Wilson serves as Assistant Professor of Learning Technologies at George Mason University, where he provides instruction to graduate students in the Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) Program. In 2023, Dr. Wilson assumed duties as Academic Program Coordinator for the Learning, Design, and Technology Program, offering both the M.S. degree and eLearning Certificate. Before joining George Mason, Dr. Wilson taught graduate-level instructional design and educational technology courses online in the Higher Education and Learning Technologies program at Texas A&M University, Commerce. At Southern Methodist University, Dr. Wilson designed and built academic and training courses for SMU’s Center for Teaching and Learning. His teaching experience includes more than 10 years as a professor of journalism and writing at Richland College. Dr. Wilson’s credentials include a Ph.D. in Learning, Design, & Technology from The Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Dr. Wilson’s current research interests include augmented and virtual reality, learning experience design, instructional design, and online teaching and learning. Prior to becoming an academic, Dr. Wilson was a major market television news reporter.

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Doug Wilson, PhD

Doug Wilson, PhD

Assistant Professor, Learning Technologies, George Mason University

Craig Yu, PhD

Associate Professor of Computer Science, George Mason University

Lap-Fai (Craig) Yu is an Associate Professor at the Computer Science Department at George Mason University, where he leads the Design Computing and Extended Reality (DCXR) group. He works on computer graphics, vision, human-computer interaction, and virtual reality, particularly in AI and data-driven techniques for computational design. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles with an Outstanding Recognition in Research Award. His research has been featured by New Scientist, the UCLA Headlines, and the IEEE Xplore Innovation Spotlight; and has won Best Paper Honorable Mention Awards at 3DV and CHI conferences. He received an NSF CRII award and an NSF CAREER award for his research on computational design and virtual reality. He served as a member of the Panel on Assessment of Humans in Complex Systems of the National Academies. He regularly serves on the technical program committees of ACM SIGGRAPH, ACM CHI, and IEEE Virtual Reality.

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Craig Yu, PhD

Craig Yu, PhD

Associate Professor of Computer Science, George Mason University

Liuchuan Yu, PhD

PhD in Computer Science, George Mason University

Liuchuan Yu is pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science at George Mason University under the guidance of Professor Craig Yu. He conducts research on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), to enhance human performance. He is skilled in Python, Unity, Meta Quest 2/Pro, Microsoft HoloLens 2, and networked multiplayer development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in remote sensing, a master’s degree in software engineering, and a master’s degree in computer science. He possesses over 5 years of industry experience as a software engineer. He is passionate about driving innovations at the intersection of XR and AI to create immersive and transformative experiences.

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Liuchuan Yu, PhD

Liuchuan Yu, PhD

PhD in Computer Science, George Mason University

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