Governor Jeb Bush Presents 2006 Governor's Award To Colonel Walter Augustin, USMC, Navair, Orlando

~~ Award recognizes excellence in nationwide simulation & modeling innovations ~~

ORLANDO — Governor Jeb Bush today joined leaders from the nation’s simulation and modeling industry to present Colonel Walter H. Augustin, USMC, with the 2006 Governor’s Award for Modeling and Simulation. Recognized for his team’s exemplary work on the Combined Arms Command and Control Training Upgrade System (CACCTUS), Colonel Augustin leads training system program development at the Marine Corps Systems Command in Orlando.

In its eighth year, the Governor’s Award is provided annually by the National Training & Simulation Association (NTSA) to recognize an organization, program, project, or individual for outstanding achievement in the field of modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T). The annual awards ceremony is held in conjunction with the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando.

“I am honored to present the 2006 Governor’s Award to Colonel Augustin and his team for their incredible work in developing CACCTUS, a revolutionary program aimed to increase levels of training and preparedness of our men and women in uniform,” said Governor Jeb Bush. “The groundbreaking work in the modeling and simulation industry is truly phenomenal and supplies cutting-edge, life-saving technologies applicable in both military and commercial training settings.”

The award-winning CACCTUS is based on an evolutionary spiral development program designed to provide realistic combined arms training for Marine air, ground, and expeditionary brigades. When integrated into a live, virtual training environment, CACCTUS provides superior war games fire support training and integrates real-time conflict detection and exercise data to generate organic feedback thereby providing trainees with a common operational picture of the battlefield to plan and execute fires.

“It’s an honor to work with such distinguished colleagues from throughout the modeling, simulation and training industry. This year’s award submissions were of extraordinary quality and innovation, and are an excellent indicator of the superior work being done in this sector,” said NTSA President, Rear Admiral Fred Lewis, (USN Ret). “As the global leader in modeling, simulation and training, we have much to be proud of, and I join Governor Bush in saluting the achievements of Colonel Augustin and in thanking the entire MS&T field for their contributions to our nation’s efforts.”

Florida has been the geographic focal point for MS&T research and development since the 1960s. Beginning with the establishment of Army and Navy simulation and training systems commands in Orlando, and followed by the development of major theme parks that utilize simulated “real life” technology, Florida is now considered the world hub of critical talent in this cutting-edge technology. Today, Florida serves as home to the Orlando-based National Center of Excellence for Simulation and Training, which includes the National Center for Simulation, the University of Central Florida Institute for Simulation and Training, and several military simulation and training commands. Formed in 1985, the Center of Excellence is a partnership among the nation’s leading military simulation operations to research, develop, test, evaluate, acquire, coordinate, and support training systems for DoD, government agencies, industry, and academia.

Governor Bush has made diversifying Florida’s economy a top priority, placing particular emphasis on enhancing the state’s military and defense-related sector, and fostering the development of emerging and high technologies. According to the American Electronics Association, Florida leads the Southeast and ranks 4th nationally in high-tech employment. Defense-related innovations and spending in Florida provides a $44 billion economic impact, employing over 714,000 Floridians and promoting significant technology transfer to the commercial sector.

For more information on Governor Bush’s economic development initiatives, please visit www.myflorida.com.