Mark Toukan

In this report, the authors use 11 case studies to create a typology of the barriers that impede U. S. security cooperation with highly capable allies and partners; identify some of the more specific barriers in the air, space, and cyber domains; suggest mitigation strategies for each of these barriers; and propose a preliminary approach for implementing some of these mitigation strategies.

The Department of the Air Force wants to invest in advanced training technologies--such as augmented and virtual reality, gaming, and synthetic training environments--to maintain an asymmetric advantage over competitors. In this report, the authors construct a framework for training technology transfer and lay out potential barriers and enablers associated with each step. They also examine six use cases from across the U. S. Department of Defense.

This report identifies promising advanced training-technology investments and steps that the U. S. Department of the Air Force can take to track and integrate them. The authors assess the technology landscape using a quantitative modeling approach, stakeholder perspectives on these technologies and developmental priorities, and an expert panel's analysis of the maturity, benefits, applicability, and adoption barriers for a subset of technologies.

Most U. S. Air Force (USAF) medical personnel care for patients with ailments far less complex or urgent than the trauma-related injuries they would see in war, and the USAF must ensure that these personnel receive the training and experience they need for high-casualty environments. The authors present findings, recommendations, and a prototype framework to suggest readiness activities and policies that could be employed to prepare personnel for war.

Amid increasing concerns about the current readiness assessment system, the U. S. Air Force is evolving its training infrastructure to adapt for operations in contested and denied environments, an increased pace of warfare, and the potential loss of superiority across multiple domains. The authors explore how addressing readiness assessment gaps can help inform related decisionmaking.

The U. S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) must develop and sustain mission-critical knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) among airmen, guardians, and civilians. Yet training and education is costly. This report describes how computational cognitive models can deliver personalized and adaptive training that enhanced learning gains and reduced training time for mission-critical KSAs, with emphasis on second-language learning, for the DAF.