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IDA Ideas (Podcast Transcript) – Defense Applications for Behavioral Neuroscience

April, 2025 | 3004575

IDA Ideas guest Sujeeta Bhatt joins host Rhett Moeller to discuss behavioral neuroscience and how this field applies to Department of Defense interests such as interviews and interrogations, human-machine teaming and non-lethal weapons.

IDA Ideas guest Sujeeta Bhatt joins host Rhett Moeller to discuss behavioral neuroscience and how this field applies to Department of Defense interests such as interviews and interrogations...

Melanie Sineath Receives the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence

April, 2025 | 25-31

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 2025) — Melanie Sineath, the Program Administrator for the Information Science and Technology (ISAT) Study Group at IDA’s Systems and Analyses Center (SAC), is the recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence. This award recognizes superior performance by staff members who contribute significantly to IDA’s success.

David Carlson Receives the 2025 Kerr Award for Excellence in Research

April, 2025 | 25-29

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 2025) — David Carlson is the recipient of the 2025 Julie B. Kerr Award for Excellence in Research. The award is named in honor of a former researcher in IDA’s Center for Communications Research in La Jolla, California. It is given to an employee who has demonstrated research excellence and exceptional achievement in the IDA research community.

2024 W.Y. Smith Award for Excellence

April, 2025 | 25-28

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 2025) — The 2024 W. Y. Smith Award recipients are Mike Anstice, Vince Bass, Karen Bussenger, Mark Cumberland, John Frost, Jason Greer, Sam Hui, Trenton Jones, Amanda Stephens, Nia Stores, Josh Timity, Adam Willett and Paris Williams. This award recognizes extraordinary individual or group contributions to IDA from the wide range of non-research staff members who contribute mightily to our success.

A National Strategic Computing Reserve to Aid Disaster Response

March, 2025 | 3004579

Access to federal computing resources can help research communities provide significant societal benefits during and after natural and manmade catastrophes. However, determining how such resources should be allocated and managed can be complex. This summary describes a tabletop exercise where experts discussed how to harness federal computing resources for relevant research communities during two hypothetical disasters.

Revisions to NOAA's Space Weather Scales

March, 2025 | 3003755

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) introduced three space weather scales (SWS) in 1999 as a way to communicate current and future space weather conditions, and their possible effects on people and systems, to the public. IDA’s Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) assisted NOAA in the revision and eventual deployment of the revised SWS, which are currently used worldwide to initiate hazard preparedness and mitigation operations. STPI engaged multiple stake...

An Introduction to Capabilities and Limitations of Large Language Models and Generative AI Technology

March, 2025 | 3004372

Machine learning tools open a plethora of opportunities in content creation. This summary clarifies the capabilities and limitations of these tools and how human guidance is still needed, specifically when considering ethics, credibility and safety.

Ron Jolly Joins IDA as Vice President, Corporate Operations

March, 2025 | 25-21

ALEXANDRIA, VA (March 2025) — Ron Jolly joined the IDA team on March 8, 2025, as the Vice President, Corporate Operations.

“I am delighted to welcome Ron to IDA’s leadership team and to have him lead our corporate operations efforts,” said IDA President Norty Schwartz.

Chris Green Joins IDA as Vice President, Center for Communications and Computing

January, 2025 | 25-12

ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 2025) — Chris Green joined the IDA team January 13, 2025, as the Vice President, Center for Communications and Computing (CCC).

“I am delighted to welcome Chris to IDA’s leadership team and to have him lead our centers,” said IDA President Norty Schwartz.

IDA Ideas (Podcast Transcript) – Challenges in Critical Mineral Tradeoffs

January, 2025 | 3003960

IDA Ideas guest Ashley Nunes joins host Rhett Moeller to discuss the complexities that critical minerals present, including the global tradeoffs and policy goals relating to these rare, yet essential, resources. Ashley is a researcher at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, an IDA-operated federally funded research and development center.

IDA Ideas guest Ashley Nunes joins host Rhett Moeller to discuss the complexi...

Review of Entitlements for Deployed Members

January, 2025 | 3003958

As part of the Fourteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, IDA reviewed the rationale for operationally-oriented compensation and evaluated whether it extends to members serving in NDS priority areas. The report also assesses the risk for members serving in NDS priority areas, combat zones or qualified hazardous duty areas and estimates how changing eligibility for operationally-oriented compensation impacts cost and retention. 

What China’s Presence in Cislunar Space Represents to the U.S.

December, 2024 | 3003829

This summary describes IDA’s research on China’s cislunar space activities, a component of the nation’s broader plan to establish a long-term presence in space. It also notes the effect these intentions have on the U.S. and provides possible response options.