Northport, NY – May 12, 2007 – The Secure Decisions division of Applied Visions, Inc. has been awarded the first phase of an Air Force research contract, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, to develop new tools and techniques for training cyber warriors. Secure Decisions will research and develop SimBLEND (Simulation-Based Learning Environment for Network Defense), an innovative training environment integrating game-based simulations and computer-based courseware for training Computer Network Defense (CND) specialists. SimBLEND will incorporate its training and realistic simulations into standards-based learning environments. This allows SimBLEND CND training to be integrated into existing training programs, and its content to be reused across multiple learning management systems.

This award was made by the Air Force Research Laboratory Human Effectiveness Directorate, Warfighter Readiness Research Division (AFRL/HEA), based in Mesa, AZ. AFRL/HEA’s mission is to research, demonstrate, and transition leading-edge human performance methods and technologies to help warfighters dominate the decision environment.

“We believe that combining simulation with traditional network defense learning methods will lead to improved performance. Coupling this with a game-based environment will increase practice time and training retention,” said Dr. Anita D’Amico, Director of Secure Decisions. “The project reflects considerable insight by AFRL-HEA, and addresses a serious need within the Air Force’s network defense community. We also see a direct path to commercialization, since CND issues faced by the Air Force are similar to those faced in other Security Operation Centers.”

Secure Decisions has assembled a team of specialists to complement its own expertise. Partner Distributed Infinity will provide game-based designs from their Cyber Attack Prediction System (CAPS) developed for DoD; and Warrior, LLC – creators of the program for Information Systems Survivability at the University of Maryland – will contribute their expertise in instructional design for defense and information systems applications.

The team will also leverage an existing cooperative research relationship between Secure Decisions’ parent Applied Visions and the Naval Postgraduate School, using the NPS-supported open-source Delta3D gaming simulation engine to create dynamic cyber warfare simulations in a game-like environment.

About Secure Decisions and Applied Visions

The Secure Decisions division of Applied Visions, Inc. (AVI) focuses on research and development in areas related to national security including information assurance, infrastructure protection, cyber security, and intelligence analysis. AVI provides software engineering and research services for government and commercial customers, specializing in visual solutions to complex defense, national security, and business problems. AVI serves DoD, DARPA, DHS, and elements of the intelligence community, along with prominent technology and Fortune 1000 firms.

Contact Dr. Anita D’Amico.
For information about Applied Visions visit http://www.avi.com/.