SCS
joins NTSA to Honor the First Certified M&S Professionals
PROCLAMATION:
Vince Amico Day
Call
for Contributions: The Golden Anniversary of SCS
SCS joins
NTSA to Honor the First Certified M&S Professionals
On Tuesday January 29, 2002, two parallel
ceremonies took place in both Orlando, Florida (at the I/ITSEC planning meeting)
and in San Antonio, Texas (at WMC02) to honor the first ever class of certified
modeling and simulation professionals.
The Modeling and Simulation
Professional Certification Commission (M&SPCC), under the auspices of the
National Training Systems Association (NTSA), is responsible for developing and
providing professional certification of simulation specialists. The purpose of
this certification is to create an identity for and build cohesiveness across
the modeling and simulation (M&S) community by establishing guidelines for
determining professional competency. These guidelines cover three core
competencies: model-based disciplines such as physics, engineering, human
behavior, or biology; the use of empirical based methodologies such as
statistics and experimental design; and computer technology and computer
science. In addition to these core competencies, a professional must exhibit a
degree of knowledge supporting a common basis for communications, cooperation
and methodical exchanges across the diverse M&S community. This community
includes discrete systems simulation, continuous systems simulation, and
real-time systems simulation.
These two award ceremony
events are the first in a series of recognition ceremonies to take place in
various cities across the United States throughout the upcoming year. These
events recognize two groups: Pioneers and Charter Members. Pioneers are members
of the Implementation Group, Certification Board and Exam Subcommittee who led
the establishment of the M&SPCC and its subsequent certification process.
Charter Members were nominated by their peers to participate in the first two
rounds of certification. During the certification process, these individuals
were required to present proof of their qualifications and activities within the
modeling and simulation community. By the fall of 2002, certification will open
to all members of the M&S community who hold sufficient credentials (based
on education, work experience and community standing) and pass the certification
exam.
The following were granted the
title of Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional
Pioneer:
Dr. Steven
Gordon
Mr. G.V. (Vince) Amico
Dr. Amy Henninger
Dr. Louis Birta
RADM Frederick Lewis, USN (Ret.)
Dr. Helena Szczerbicka
Dr.
Michael Macedonia
Mr. Jeffrey Wallace
Mr. Henry C. Okraski
Dr.
Michael Zyda
Mr. Harry Thompson, III
CAPT William (Mark) Yerkes, USN
(Ret.)
The following were granted the
title of Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional Charter
Member:
Dr. Christian
Bauer
Mr. Joseph Celano
Dr. Linda Brent
Dr. Thomas Clarke
Mr. Denis Clements
Mr. Joseph Gauthier
Mr. Michael Conti
Mr.
Kevin Curley
Dr. Steven Gordon
Mr. David Gross
Mr. Gregory
Hansen
Mr. William (Bill) Harris
Dr. Amy Henninger
Mr. Kenneth
Kelly
Mr. Henry C. Okraski
Dr. Michael Proctor
Dr. Elizabeth
Sheldon
Mr. Roger Smith
Mr. Jerry Stahl
Dr. Jeffrey Steinman
Mr. Harry Thompson, III
Mr. William Turner
CAPT William (Mark) Yerkes,
USN (Ret.)
The nomination and election process for the Certification
Board has now been finalized, and this Board will be responsible for reviewing
and approving the applications and files of applicants to the Certification
Program.
For more information on this
exciting new program for the modeling and simulation community, and to register
for the next possible certification exam, go to http://www.simprofessional.org/.
PROCLAMATION:
Vince Amico Day
Whereas Vince Amico
started his career in simulation when he joined the Special Devices Center in
1948 as a Project Engineer in the Flight Trainers Branch; and
Whereas he served with great distinction and in positions of increasing
responsibility with the federal government in Orlando, including Senior
Executive Service assignments as Director of Engineering and as Director of
Research; and
Whereas Vince Amico retired from the Naval Air Warfare Center Training
Systems Division in 1981 and continued his career as a simulation technology
consultant and as Industrial Affiliates Coordinator for the Department of
Computer Science at the University of Central Florida; and
Whereas he has been a strong supporter of UCF and the Institute for
Simulation and Training, and has been instrumental in getting the IST section of
the UCF Library up and running; and
Whereas Vince Amico has served as a Member of the Board of the Society of
Computer Simulation, including service as Vice President for Conferences; and
Whereas Vince Amico has served for many years as a founding Member of the
Board of Directors of the Orlando-based National Center for Simulation and as
Chairman of the NCS Technical Committee; and
Whereas he has been one of the prime movers behind growing the simulation
industry nationwide and in Central Florida, including development of masters
and PhD programs in simulation at UCF, developing a professional certification
program for simulation professionals, and creating a new set of industrial
classification (SIC/MAICS) codes for the simulation industry; and
Whereas Vince Amico has been the recipient of many professional honors,
awards, and recognition, including the Interservice/Industry Training,
Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) Lifetime Achievement Award and the
Society for Computer Simulation Presidential Award; and
Whereas NCS has created a new scholarship for deserving high school
seniors who will study simulation technology, and such scholarship to be named
The Vince Amico Scholarship in honor and recognition of the many years of
service to our community; and accomplishments of Vince Amico; and
Whereas Vince Amico has unselfishly dedicated his professional life to
the advancement of simulation technology and to training and education at all
levels;
Now, therefore I, Glenda E. Hood, Mayor of the City of Orlando, do hereby
declare Wednesday, December 12, 2001 as Vince Amico Day in the City of
Orlando.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto have set my hand and caused the Seal of
the City of Orlando to be affixed this 12th day of December, 2001.
Glenda E. Hood, Mayor
Call for
Contributions: The Golden Anniversary of SCS
In 2002, SCS will enter its 50th year of
dedicated service to the now vast domain of computer-based modeling and
simulation. The SCS Board of Directors is planning for a grand celebration
focusing on the history of SCS, and including a retrospective of the M&S
industry over those years at the 2002 Summer Computer Simulation Conference
(July 14-19, 2002 in San Diego, CA).
Those with a story or artifact to share about the technological
breakthroughs and the people and the events that led us to the present state of
modeling and simulation technology are invited to participate in the planning of
this historical event. Among the contributions that could be made to this
collection are letters, memoranda, publications, and memorabilia of all kinds
that are relevant to the history of the field of computer simulation, including
the history of related professional societies. The SCS is planning substantial
contributions to this event, and hope that after this celebration has ended,
this collection will be an important resource for individuals interested in the
history of modeling and simulation technology.
If you would like to participate in any way, please contact Steve Branch,
SCS Executive Director, at SBranch@scs.org
or Jeffrey Wallace, VP of Membership, at membership@scs.org.