Abstract: Over the last dozen years, advances in machine learning have heralded and accelerated new generations of AI breakthroughs with much of the innovation happening outside DoD and government. Since, the US’ ability to compete in the 21st century depends, in part, on US leadership in data, analytics, and AI, DoD’s task is to adopt these innovations wherever they can add the most military value and drive their diffusion across the enterprise. This talk will discuss the Navy’s approach to AI adoption and its hierarchy of AI needs and will emphasize the aspects of the Navy and its mission that shape the environment for and demands on desired AI solutions.
Bio: Dr. John Seel, SSTM, is the distinguished scientist/engineer for Naval Data Sciences. In this role, he is currently focused on improving AI/ML, autonomy and data science capabilities within the surface navy and improving autonomous capabilities of unmanned systems.
Prior to assuming these duties, Dr. Seel served as department head of the Weapons Control and Integration Department at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). During his time as department head, he built and nurtured NSWCDD capability across the department portfolio, with a strong focus on data science, autonomy, and AI/ML.
Before becoming a department head, he served as the distinguished scientist/engineer for Warfare Systems Software SSTM. In this role, Dr. Seel led research in the areas of advanced computing technologies, including multicore determinism for weapon systems, computing architectures, reusable software frameworks, design patterns, development of automated test tools, large-scale data fusion and pattern recognition algorithms, and prototyping of autonomous decision algorithms and technologies.
Dr. Seel has also served as the deputy chief engineer for Nuclear Weapons Surety and branch head of the Nuclear Weapons Surety Technical Authority Branch for Strategic Systems Programs and at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where Dr. Seel was the director of the Emerging Capabilities Division of the Rapid Reaction Technology Office in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Rapid Fielding).
Dr. Seel has led teams in developing operational technologies, products and doctrine resulting from operational user requirements and mission needs statements. He applied a multi-discipline approach to identify technical solutions and transitions to the acquisition community including the deploying numerous systems to Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States Marine Corps Infrastructure Disruption Guide, Signals Intelligence projects, and other projects with varying degrees of hardware, software and soft systems (human, political, and economic). He has served as a member of the team that drafted Critical Infrastructure Protection documentation for the White House, which provided threat support by identifying future vulnerabilities to United States Critical Infrastructure. He led teams working on stability operations and support operations on behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Prior to joining the civil service, Dr. Seel served in the U.S. Army.
He is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He earned a bachelor’s in computer science from Tennessee Technological University, a master’s in systems engineering from George Mason University and a doctorate of philosophy in systems engineering from George Washington University.
Dr. Seel’s awards include the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.