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SPADE: Scenario-based Performance Assessment for Dynamic Environments

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-07-C-6744
Agency Tracking Number: F061-030-1350
Amount: $750,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF06-030
Solicitation Number: 2006.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2007-03-22
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-04-22
Small Business Information
12 Gill Street Suite 1400
Woburn, MA 01801
United States
DUNS: 967259946
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Emily Wiese
 Human Factors Engineer
 (781) 935-3966
 ewiese@aptima.com
Business Contact
 Margaret Clancy
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (781) 496-2415
Email: clancy@aptima.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

There are numerous challenges associated with maintaining high-quality performance in complex operational environments. For Air Weapons Controllers (AWCs), maintaining high levels of proficiency is a critical and challenging task because of the complexity of the domain. AWCs are primarily responsible for enhancing the situational awareness of the fighter pilots with whom they are working. Opportunities for practicing skills for maintaining situational awareness are often limited by requirements for full crews of human teammates, qualified instructors, and access to full-up simulation platforms. Even in Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) training research exercises, the focus of training is often not on the AWC. The AWC primarily serves a supporting role to the pilots during DMO exercises. Thus, assessment and feedback of the AWC’s performance is often a peripheral activity for the instructor. What formal methods of assessment that do exist involve analyses of observed performance that do not provide immediate feedback to trainees. To meet these challenges we propose developing Scenario-based Performance Assessment for Dynamic Environments (SPADE), a vignette-based tool for assessing AWC performance before and after a DMO exercise. Based on MECSM products, SPADE will provide competency-based training and assessment opportunities to AWCs in order to supplement and maximize current DMO training.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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