Dr. Dan Javorsek, Col(ret), is currently the Chief Strategy Officer for Scientific Systems, and a member of the Department of War Science, Technology and Innovation Board (STIB).
Dr. Javorsek is also an accomplished military test pilot with over 2000 hours of experience in operational, prototype, and demonstrator aircraft during 25 years of service in the US Air Force. Throughout his career he flew over 50 aircraft including Form 8 and combat mission ready qualifications in the F-16, F-22, F-35, F-117, a prototype, and a demonstrator aircraft.
Between operational and flying test assignments he performed duties as a program manager in DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office (STO) and was a researcher with both the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Counterproliferation Center (NCPC) where he developed classified analytical software for nuclear weapon counterproliferation.
Dr. Javorsek received his Ph.D. in Physics from Purdue University and is an accomplished author with over 90 publications including one patent on a rocket engine.
Presentation Title:
Tools to Teammates: Cognitive Augmentation for Combat in the 21st Century
Presentation Abstract:
Autonomy is hard…building it responsibly for combat is even harder.
After a career as a test pilot in the US Air Force, I imagine a future where deterrence hinges on human machine teams working as one. On the modern battlefield whoever integrates these new AI tools the fastest, and most effectively, wins.
But delivering autonomy software to elevate human performance for competitive advantage comes with unexpected challenges.
After a review of the lessons learned from ongoing research efforts to operationalize AI for air combat, we find trust plays a critical role as we transition legacy systems from Simple Tools to Collaborative Teammates. By analyzing the partnerships formed in teams working with animals such as horses or dogs, we find optimal performance is achieved when the relationship reaches a state of symbiotic harmony between very different, but complementary, teammates.