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ADL Initiative Returns to In-Person I/ITSEC 2021

November 22, 2021

I/ITSEC 2021 Conference artwork with 3-d computerized person running

With a theme of Innovating and Accelerating Training: Adapting to an Unexpected Future!, the I/ITSEC conference returns to Orlando on 29 November to 3 December 2021, and the ADL Initiative will participate in several ways. Program leadership and R&D team members will present technical papers, moderate two signature event roundtables, and provide a technology tutorial. In addition, the ADL Initiative will be featured in the exhibit hall and will host our annual ADL Global Partnership Network meeting prior to the conference’s official opening.

Technology Tutorial

On Monday, 29 November, ADL specs and standards expert, Andy Johnson, will lead a tutorial on the Experience Application Programming Interface (xAPI), cmi5 data standard, and use of xAPI Profiles. This tutorial (21023) is planned from 0800-1100 in Room 310C.

Signature Events

On Tuesday, 30 November, ADL Initiative Director Sae Schatz, Ph.D., will moderate the Chief Data Officer Roundtable signature event, with CDO representatives from across DoD. The roundtable will focus on critical aspects of DoD’s data strategy and DoD’s wider efforts to transform into an agile, data-centric organization. This session is scheduled for 1600-1730 in Room 330EF. Panelists include:

  • Portia Crowe, Ph.D. - Chief Data Strategist, Accenture Federal Services

  • Erica L. Dretzka - Director of Data Management and Analytic Infrastructure, Chief Data Office, Strategic Integration, Department of Defense

  • Col Ryan Kehoe - Deputy Chief Data Officer, Department of the Air Force

  • Tom Sasala, SES - Chief Data Officer, Department of the Navy

On Thursday, 2 December, Dr. Schatz will moderate a panel on Talent Data. Senior leaders from the DoD Chief Information Office, Army, Air Force, and US Chamber of Commerce Foundation will participate in this special event. They will discuss data-driven personnel readiness, with emphasis on how DoD and the government (and society writ large) can modernize our talent ecosystem using modern systems and data-centric methods. This session is scheduled for 1030-1200 in Room 310AB. Panelists include:

  • Lora Muchmore, SES - Chief Innovation Officer, Office of the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer

  • Lieutenant Colonel Kristin Saling, USA - Chief Analytics Officer, Army Talent Management Task Force and Acting Director, Army People Analytics

  • Naomi O. Szekeres - Principal, Pensarus, Senior Advisor, Public Consulting Group

  • Chief Master Sergeant Erik C. Thompson, USAF - Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph

  • Jason R. Weiss - Chief Software Officer, Department of Defense

Paper Presentations

Two technical papers will be presented on Wednesday, 1 December:

  • Total Learning Architecture Data Model for Analytics and Adaptation (Paper 21358) by Brent Smith, Sae Schatz, Ph.D., and John Turner. 1030-1100 in Room 320A.

  • Bridging the SCORM and xAPI Gap: The Role of cmi5 (Paper 21177) by Brian Miller, Tammy Rutherford, Alicia Pack, Rustici Software; Andy Johnson, ADL Initiative. 0830-0900 in Room 320D.

Exhibit Hall Presence

An ADL Initiative exhibit is planned in Booth #3154 during exhibit hall hours on 29 November through 2 December. ADL Initiative personnel will be present to answer questions and discuss their work on DoD digital learning modernization, including the Total Learning Architecture and components being developed to enable a Department-wide interoperable learning ecosystem.

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