Support for Modeling and Simulation and the Save Our Simulation Initiative

Defense is the third largest industry in Florida and one of the most important employers in Central Florida. The 7th Congressional District is home to the nation’s largest cluster of modeling and simulation (M&S) companies. All branches of the armed forces along, private industry and academia work together in order to strengthen and prepare our nation’s war fighters. This industry accounts for a $3 billion economic impact and employs 12,500 people in the region. 

Rep. Mica launched an aggressive campaign named the Save Our Simulation (SOS) initiative. Working with community and industry leaders, Congressman Mica has embarked on a mission to keep Orlando at the forefront of the M&S industry, even as we face military cutbacks. Their work has made significant progress in helping to promote and utilize this technology because it provides a financially effective yet strategically viable tool to keep our nation’s armed services manpower training at the peak of readiness while reducing costs considerably during this downsizing of the military.

A significant accomplishment of this effort resulted in the inclusion of language inserted into the National Defense Authorization and Appropriations bills. Also, by successfully facilitating meetings between industry leaders, Defense Department officials (including the Secretaries of the Armed Forces branches), key leaders in the House and Senate and decision makers at the Department of Homeland Security, Congressman Mica and the SOS team have strengthened support for simulation activities.  Through these efforts and continued work, Orlando will remain the worldwide leader in the modeling & simulation industry.
 
In addition to our military's primary modeling and simulation agencies, our region is home to the leading U.S. manufacturers of Navy sonobuoys, aircraft, chemical and biological agent detectors, missile components, and boats used by fire/rescue, police and counter-narcotics agencies.