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National Security Institute (NSI) and Office of Strategic Research Initiatives (OSRI)

AUGUST 2026 INTERNAL NEWSLETTER Division of Research and Economic Development

oduinnovate.org

FEATURED PICTURE OF THE MONTH

The CSICS team got together for their annual retreat at TopGolf Virginia Beach where they reflected on successes of the past year, while looking ahead to this upcoming year.

August Newsletter DIVRED Corner Across NSI & OSRI Publications NSI & OSRI In The Upcoming Events

DIVRED Corner Employment Recognitions

ROSS GORE CSICS 14 YEARS

News

MATTHEW KYTE DIVRED 13 YEARS

LAURA COSTADONE ICAR 3 YEARS

RUSSELL CZACK VDMC 5 YEARS

TRANG LE ICAR 2 YEARS

August Newsletter DIVRED Corner Employee Transitions

DIVRED’s

Mark Beard has been promoted to

Technology & Facilities Support Specialist

DIVRED’s Jessica Zimmerman has been promoted to

VMASC’s Jose Padilla

Research Content & Engagement Manager

has been promoted to

Research Professor

New Hires

Kouhyar Tavakolian, Ph.D.

Pantea Tavakolian, Ph.D.

Navid Mohammad

has joined the Frank Reidy

has joined the Frank

Mirzaei, Ph.D.

Research Center for

Reidy Research Center

has joined HEAL as a

Bioelectrics as the

for Bioelectrics as an

Research Assistant

Executive Director

Assistant Professor

Professor

Monthly Awards & Proposals

Pre-Awards and Contract Awards

*NOTE: THESE AWARDS ARE AS OF 8/24/26 - PRE-AWARDS ARE SUBMITTED PROPOSALS JAN

FEB

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG

PreAwards

1.1M

4.2M

2.1M

21M

15.6M

7.9M

41M

Contract Awards

430K

70K

359K

1.2M

687K

330K

821K

12K

Across NSI & OSRI

CSICS Retreat August 4, 2026 The CSICS team got together for their annual retreat at TopGolf Virginia Beach where they reflected on the successes of the past year while looking ahead to this upcoming year. Each team member shared their research priorities, project plans, and goals for the year. They also made time for a little friendly competition on the driving range!

Joshua Behr on Podcast August 12, 2026

VMASC Research Professor Dr. Joshua Behr was recently on The PIO Podcast with Robert Tornabene. Dr. Behr shared insights into the complex human and community behaviors during emergencies. He talked about how recovery can span years, the importance of tailored communication, and the role of simulation in improving disaster management. Check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hiddencomplexity-of-disaster-recovery/id1546723850?i=1000782886871

Across NSI & OSRI VMASC attends MODSIM World August 17-19, 2026 VMASC and DivRED team members attended the 2026 MODSIM World in Alexandria, VA. They met and networked with leaders from government, industry, military and academia, all interested in how modeling and simulation ideas can transition quickly into operational outcomes. VMASC also sponsored the opening reception, which is a highlight every year!

Across NSI & OSRI Jessica Johnson Paper Selected as HPAE Nomination for Best Paper I/ITSEC 2026 August 17, 2026 VDMC’s Jessica Johnson’s paper, Hidden Brittleness in High Performers: Skill Transfer Fragility in Simulation-Based Training, was selected as the Human Performance and Engineering Committee’s selection for Best Paper Nominee 2026. It was also accepted for presentation and publication at I/ITSEC 2026. Each Subcommittee selects one paper to nominate. Her paper will be read by members of the Best Paper Committee, which is composed of Industry, Academic, and Government members. One paper will be selected as the I/ITSEC 2026 Best Paper. Her author team will be recognized at the Speakers Reception and will be presented with plaques recognizing their accomplishment, and a group photo will be taken. The winning paper will be announced at the I/ITSEC Banquet and Awards Ceremony. Please congratulate Jessica on her nomination!

Across NSI & OSRI SATTL’s Ben Cherry Recognized for Volunteer Service August 20, 2026 SATTL’s Ben Cherry recently received a letter from the Virginia Beach City Manager and Mayor recognizing his three years of volunteer service with the City of Virginia Beach, especially his work with the Virginia Beach Police Department. Ben currently serves as Secretary for the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association of Virginia Beach (CPAAAVB), where he assists with communications between association members, city offices, and those involved with the department’s citizen police academies. He also volunteers at community events by assisting with traffic and event management and serves as a role player during scenario-based officer training, including active-threat exercises. Some of the events Ben has supported include VBPD’s Trunk or Treat, the Neptune Festival, the East Coast Surfing Championships, and Parks and Recreation’s Celebrating Children event. The citizen police academies give various individuals from around Hampton Roads an opportunity to learn about VBPD by field trips and various demonstrations. The CPAAAVB helps support public safety initiatives not only throughout VBPD but throughout the city as well. Ben has also worked as a volunteer with Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services, Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Across NSI & OSRI

Senator Tim Kaine Staffers Tour August 21, 2026 Kaitlin Kleiber, Senior Defense Policy Advisor, and Molly Sanders, Defense Legislative Fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s Office visited and toured the VMASC building to learn about the new National Security Institute, VMASC, CSICS, and SATTL. They also toured the SEALab, 5G Lab, and SATTL area.

Across NSI & OSRI Farewell to SATTL’s Star Sherry August 26, 2026 VMASC and SATTL said farewell to SATTL’s Spectrum Testing and Operations Manager, Star Sherry, as she begins an exciting new chapter at the Navy Information Warfighting Development Center. We will miss her but wish her the very best of luck and continued success on this next adventure!

Across NSI & OSRI When Coaching Can Help

By Jessica Galassie:

A coaching moment

Coaching can start before a crisis. It is often most useful in ordinary but important moments: when a decision is unclear, a role has expanded, a conversation feels difficult, or the workload no longer feels sustainable. At ODU, coaching supports faculty and staff as they navigate the human side of research, innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.

A research staff member is asked to coordinate a cross-unit project. The opportunity is exciting, but expectations are unclear, meetings are multiplying, and stakeholders hold different assumptions. In coaching, the person might explore:

What role am I being asked to play—and what role do I want? Start with the situation Where do expectations need clarification? What conversation or boundary would create You do not need a perfect question or a fully formed alignment? goal. What practical step can I take this week? A conversation can begin with: The coach does not solve the project. The coach “I need to think this through.” helps the person identify choices, strengthen “I feel stuck or I am carrying too much.” self-awareness, and decide how to move forward. “I want to handle this differently.” That is the heart of coaching: helping someone “I know I need to make a shift.” access their own clarity, confidence, and direction. A coach does not tell you what to do. Coaching creates space to slow down, sort through What coaching develops complexity, notice patterns, clarify what matters, and choose a next step aligned with your goals, Clarity in complex situations • Confidence in values, and context. decisions •Communication and leadership presence • Role clarity and boundaries Common entry points •Prioritization and focus • Resilience during Stepping into more responsibility change Preparing for a difficult conversation Making decisions under uncertainty You do not need to wait until something is broken. Clarifying roles and expectations Managing workload, boundaries, and Coaching can begin with curiosity—Sign up at sustainability this link : https://tinyurl.com/LeadershipCoachingODU Moving from overthinking into action Or you can reach out to us by email if you have questions: leadershipcoaching@odu.edu

Publications VDMC’s Jessica Johnson Has Papers Accepted for Two 2026 Conferences Paper 1 Human Factors and Ergonomics ASPIRE international conference, October 2026, Reno NV, paper in journal proceedings and poster presentation Title: Engineering Total Demand: A Neuroergonomic and Cognitive Engineering Framework for Joint Cognitive Work Simulation Design Author: Jessica Johnson, Ph.D. This paper introduces Total Demand (TD), a cognitive engineering framework that models operational work as the interaction of cognitive, motor, environmental, and technological demands, and translates those demands directly into simulation design. Through the concept of Joint Cognitive Work States (cognitive engineering and neuroergonomic foundational constructs), the framework enables simulation designers to diagnose how trainees regulate performance under increasing complexity using embedded behavioral measures that can later be validated with neurophysiological data. The impact of this work is the introduction of a prospective, systems-based approach to simulation design that moves neuroergonomics beyond measuring workload after training towards engineering training environments that deliberately cultivate adaptive cognitive performance using ML, computer vision, etc. Paper 2 Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics International Conference paper proceedings and paper presentation: Hawaii December 2026 Title: From Physical Fidelity to Cognitive Fidelity: A Neuroergonomics Evaluation of Simulation-Based Training for Maritime and Manufacturing Domains Author(s): Jessica Johnson and Lawrence Obiuwevwi Summary: Introducing separate Cognitive Fidelity and Physical Fidelity indices, the study examines simulations replicating authentic decision making, cue utilization, and consequence structures consistently outperform visually realistic simulations, particularly for far-transfer tasks. The impact of this work is a paradigm shift in simulation design, providing evidence that training should prioritize reproducing the cognitive demands of work rather than its appearance, while positioning neuroergonomic measures and multimodal sensing as a new standard for evaluating simulation assessment and validation.

Publications ICAR’s Laura Costadone Publishes Paper on harnessing crowdsourced data to capture visitor perceptions and economic benefits of recreation Title: From reviews to value: harnessing crowdsourced data to capture visitor perceptions and economic benefits of recreation Authors: Laura Costadone and Shan Zhang

ABSTRACT

Quantifying the recreational value of protected natural areas is essential for sustainable management, conservation financing, and informed decision-making. Traditional approaches, such as on-site surveys, are often costly, spatially limited, and constrained by regulatory barriers. This study evaluates the potential of crowdsourced user-generated data to jointly assess visitor perceptions and the economic value of nature-based recreation, using Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia, USA) as a case study. We integrated georeferenced photographs and textual content from four platforms (Flickr, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and AllTrails) with supplementary survey data to analyze visitation patterns, visitor sentiment, cultural ecosystem services, and recreational value using the travel cost method. Sentiment analysis revealed predominantly positive visitor perceptions, particularly associated with aesthetic appreciation, wildlife encounters, and recreation. Crowdsourced data identified 1,289 visits with known visitor origins, capturing a broader and more geographically diverse population than surveys alone. Travel cost estimates derived from crowdsourced data yielded an average per-trip cost of US$527, compared to US$91 from surveys, resulting in an annual recreational value of US$74.7 million versus US$13.0 million. These findings demonstrate that integrating multiple crowdsourced platforms enhances recreation assessment along two complementary dimensions: the experiential dimension, defined as the subjective quality of visitor experiences captured through sentiment analysis, and the economic dimension, quantified through travel cost modeling to estimate recreational value. This approach expands spatial coverage, improves origin characterization, and offers a scalable, cost-effective complement to traditional methods for valuing nature-based recreation.

NSI & OSRI In The News ICAR In The News: Flooding ICAR’s Executive Director Dr. Jessica Whitehead was interviewed by various print and TV media outlets about the flash flooding that Norfolk experienced on August 4th where some neighborhoods received more than 6 inches of rain in a 2-hour period, causing extensive inundation and traffic disruptions. Dr. Whitehead noted that the heavy rainfall coincided with a high tide, limiting how quickly stormwater could drain into surrounding waterways. Why Norfolk flooded so quickly Tuesday: ODU expert says it wasn't just the rain: https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/norfolk/whynorfolk-flooded-so-quickly-tuesday-odu-expert-says-it-wasnt-justthe-rain Norfolk hit by ‘1 in 100-year’ rainfall event, officials say: https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/08/05/norfolk-flooding-100-yearevent/ River meets the road: Jet skier takes advantage of Norfolk flooding: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/river-meets-the-road-jetskier-takes-advantage-of-norfolk-flooding/ Understanding Tuesday's flooding rainfall in Norfolk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMrqgnRSC5Y

NSI & OSRI In The News Keeping Tomorrow’s Wireless Networks Safe When It Matters Most odu.edu August 12, 2026 By Wende Whitman and Jessica Zimmerman When you make a phone call, stream a video or rely on GPS to get where you’re going, you expect the network behind it to work — and to work securely. As wireless technology moves beyond 5G toward 6G, that expectation becomes even more important. These future networks will support everything from emergency response systems and connected vehicles to virtual reality and smart infrastructure. At Old Dominion University, researchers are working to make sure the “brains” behind these networks can be trusted. In a new scholarly book chapter, Sachin Shetty, Ph.D., a professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering and director of the University’s Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS), and Safdar Hussain Bouk, Ph.D., a research assistant professor, also at CSICS, explore a growing concern in future wireless systems: what happens if the artificial intelligence (AI) running the network is tricked? To make this concept more accessible, the researchers point to one of the key innovations expected to power next-generation wireless systems: AI-driven network slicing, which allows a single network infrastructure to create multiple customized and secure virtual networks for different users and applications. Modern wireless networks increasingly rely on AI to manage traffic and balance competing demands. One key tool is network slicing, which allows multiple virtual networks to run on the same physical system. That means first responders, hospitals, businesses and everyday users can all share the same network without interfering with one another and receive their respective tailored services.

NSI & OSRI In The News Portsmouth approves new approach to treat gun violence like a public health emergency By: Naomi Washington Posted 5:07 PM, Aug 28, 2026 PORTSMOUTH, Va. — After a shooting, police typically respond to the scene, investigate what happened and work to identify those responsible. Portsmouth leaders want to expand that response. City Council unanimously approved Project IMPACT on Monday, a proposed strategy from Portsmouth’s Crime and Gun Violence Prevention Commission that would bring multiple city agencies and community partners together after certain shootings to address both the violence and the conditions surrounding it. The proposal is not in effect yet. Cullen said the council vote approved the proposal, and the city will still have to put the framework into operation. Project IMPACT stands for Interagency Multidisciplinary Prevention, Analysis and Community Transformation. The proposal treats gun violence more like a public health emergency than an isolated criminal justice issue. Under the plan, a multidisciplinary team would convene within 24 hours of certain shootings, including shootings that result in an injury or death and shootings at commercial establishments. Other violent crimes could also trigger a response at the direction of the chief of police or director of public safety. Old Dominion University's Center for Mission Engineering is also expected to play a role by using data to help Portsmouth determine where to direct resources and which strategies could be most effective. "We'll make sure that, again, from the data that fully informed decisions are made based on the data and strategies can be developed for investment and for changes that get to the mission success," Thomas Irwin, director of the center, said. Cullen said Project IMPACT would not require new city staff initially because the agencies involved already have personnel who could participate.