Imagine engineers, program managers, shipyards, Sailors and Marines designing aircraft, analyzing parts, creating new tactics, training and models — all together in real time, without ever leaving their office.
All this is possible in a virtual world, a computer-based 3-D simulated environment. Virtual worlds, such as OpenSim, MOSES or AvayaLive Engage, enable real-time, synchronous, remote human interaction via avatars.
Members of NAVAIR’s Leadership Development Program (NLDP) are using virtual worlds to increase their collaboration by networking, connecting and creating through voice and text chat.
“We are exposing our future leaders to the potential of virtual world technologies through virtual conversations and interactions, so they can learn how to infuse this technology into their programs and work,” said Pamela Jamieson, deputy director of NAVAIR’s Total Force Strategy & Management Department. “One way we offer in-world conversations is through NLDP’s monthly ‘fireside chats.’”
To date, NLDP has held five virtual fireside chats in Second Life with NAVAIR technical and leadership personnel from all over the U.S. Employees log into the virtual Patuxent River base in Second Life as their personally created avatars, meet with other NLDP participants and guest speakers at a virtual fire pit and spend an hour chatting about the new NAVAIR University, the “Federalist Papers,” job rotations or the current NAVAIR environment. Using their avatars, they can also explore training simulators and other NAVAIR facilities.
“We are finding alternative venues to connect up and down the organization to get input from everyone in the organization,” said Gary Kessler, executive director for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, who participated in the Jan. 22 fireside chat. “By going to these open architectures, we can stay ahead of threats and do it at a lower cost, leveraging the best and brightest ideas inside the government and across academia and small businesses so we can continue to deliver world-class products and services to our Sailors and Marines.”
Mechanical Engineer Don Balcom said he enjoys the relaxed social networking environment of the virtual world the best, while P-3 Assistant Program Manager, Systems Engineering Kerry Westervelt said being exposed to cutting-edge technology and skill development will help keep employees on the front end.
“Because technology is forever changing the way we operate and do business, it is critical that NAVAIR’s developing leaders be technology visionaries and be well informed of where technology can lead us in the next few years,” Westervelt said.
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