Military Operations Research Society

Overview:

Gaming Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD – defined as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological agents) will be a three-day course focused on developing and executing games related to WMD in all its forms. While the basics of WMD capabilities and game design will be discussed, this will be a course focused on the intersection of WMD and gaming. It will not be either a WMD or gaming course; for those topics see other offerings.

Objectives:

• Understanding the unique attributes of WMD and how they affect game design, both for games focused on WMD as well as WMD played in other games.
• How to integrate technical data and information into games.
• Games as a tool for response preparedness, both at the tactical and operational level of war.
• Building games on WMD policy, deterrence, as well as countermeasures and response.
• Unique attributes of chemical, biological, or nuclear games including a discussion of the various forms of nuclear games and their application to other agents.

Overview:

The MORS Certificate in National Security Risk Analysis is a five-day course designed for all levels of analysts seeking to understand the basic concept of risk as it relates to national security. Probability, uncertainty, consequences, fear, and human control all come into play when it comes to security risk. 

The course will start by exploring typically fuzzy problems and move them towards quantitative risk evaluation. Throughout the course, participants will survey several quantitative risk methodologies, including calibrated probability elicitation, various probability simulation techniques, graph-based methods, and artificial intelligence, among others.  

Objectives:

Our expert instructors will introduce participants to a variety of key tools and methods used in risk analysis as it pertains to national security. Participants will learn quantitative risk evaluation, build probability models, compute the value of information, and survey best practices for communicating risk. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Conceptualize national security risk problems
• Structure adversarial risk problems with shifting evidence
• Survey quantitative risk methodologies
• Use Monte Carlo Simulation for risk analysis
• Communicate risk to executives, analysts, and the public

Requirements: Computer with Excel and administrative privileges to download SIPMath (a simulation tool) and Netica (Bayesian network / Influence diagram)

Overview

MORS is proud to host the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Workshop, the next step in advancing knowledge and practice in AI and autonomy for the military and national security community. Building on the successes of our 2019 and 2021 AI-focused workshops, this event will continue to capture and share concrete lessons learned while building a body of knowledge that enables analysts to research, develop, field, and apply AI-enabled capabilities for decision advantage.

What to Expect

This four-day workshop offers a blend of tutorials, demonstrations, keynotes, and in-depth discussions designed to accelerate the integration of AI into operational practice:

• Day 1 (20 April; Unclassified):  Hands-on tutorials and technology demonstrations, plus a tour of a local organization working various AI efforts. Tutorials, technology demonstrations, and tour attendance are included in the MORS workshop fee.  Each tutorial can accommodate up to 40 students.
• Days 2 & 3 (21–22 April; Unclassified):  Two keynotes plus presentations on the findings, insights, and/or lessons learned from the research, design, development, testing, deployment, and use of AI-enabled capabilities across the military and national security community. Talks and posters will be from U.S. government and international organizations, academia, and industry. There will be multiple networking breaks between the track sessions and end-of-day networking and poster sessions.
• Day 4 (23 April; SECRET):  One keynote plus presentations on the findings, insights, and/or lessons learned from the research, design, development, testing, deployment, and use of AI-enabled capabilities across the military and national security community. Talks will be from U.S. government and international organizations, academia, and industry. There will also be multiple networking breaks between the track sessions.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is designed for professionals engaged in the development, application, and evaluation of AI within the defense and national security communities, including:

• Military analysts and operators exploring the operational use of AI-enabled systems.
• Government leaders and policymakers shaping the future of AI for national security.
• Researchers and academics advancing AI science and methods.
• Industry experts and developers creating and deploying AI technologies.
• International partners collaborating on AI and autonomy challenges.

Objectives

Participants will leave the workshop with:

• A deeper understanding of AI-enabled tools, systems, and applications across defense and national security contexts.
• Exposure to real-world lessons learned from research, development, deployment, and use of AI.
• Opportunities to engage in cross-sector collaboration among government, industry, academia, and international partners.
• Insights into current challenges and future directions for accelerating data and analytics in AI.
• Practical knowledge gained from tutorials, demonstrations, and classified discussions  to support decision advantage.

Attendance & Security

• Open to U.S. citizens and Five Eyes (FVEY) partners (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom).
• Other U.S. Allies may attend at the discretion of MORS.
• Non-U.S./Non-FVEY attendees will be notified if their registration or clearance is not accepted.
• SECRET clearance required for participation on 23 April.

This course will be taking place across 4 consecutive Fridays: 24 April, 1 May, 8 May, and 15 May.

This course is intended for operations research analysts wishing to learn about the methods and techniques that underpin campaign analysis. Campaign analysis is unique in its challenge to analyze long timelines, large geographical areas, heterogeneous assets, parallel and sequential heterogeneous missions, and multiple factions.

Throughout the course, participants will be provided with:

• An overview of campaign analysis
• How it's applied in the community
• A description of common campaign tools
• A review of applicable MS&A techniques
• A demonstration of building elements of a campaign model

This course is not tool-specific, but will focus on application of fundamental operations research techniques to campaign analysis.

The MORS Certificate in Wargaming is a five-day course designed to enhance analyst capability and knowledge in multiple aspects of professional games, including research, design, development, execution, analysis, and reporting. Through a combination of lectures and exercises, participants will learn the theory behind wargames before diving into research design and execution. Building on Peter Perla’s theory of the “Architect, Artist, and Analyst” model for game designers, the course includes material that covers each style of wargame design. The course culminates in a practicum where participants will be divided into teams to develop and execute their own game for an assigned analytical problem.

MORS has partnered with Virginia Tech to offer this certificate. Participants will receive a number Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion, in accordance with the number of contact hours determined by Virginia Tech.

Objectives

Our expert instructors will guide participants through the key aspects of wargaming and aid them in creating their own game on the final day of the course. Along the way, participants will learn about the following:

• Defining a wargame
• A brief history of wargames
• Building blocks of game design
• Adjudication
• Strategic gaming
• Wargame graphics
• Game analysis

For 60 years the annual MORS Symposium has been the national security operations research community’s premier forum to exchange insight, examine emerging research, and address the most complex analytic challenges facing our nation. Each year, the Symposium brings together roughly 1,000 operations research and analytic professionals representing military, government, industry, and academia to share best practices, sharpen analytic approaches, and strengthen professional relationships in a collaborative environment. At its core, this work is focused on supporting the warfighter with high-quality, decision-ready analysis.

The Symposium begins with learning-focused Monday Tutorials and CEU Courses, followed by multiple days of deep, content-rich Working Group sessions and panels. Throughout the week, participants present in-progress work, share completed studies, discuss future analytic priorities, and explore new techniques and methods. The MORS Symposium continues to be the best venue to present, discover, and advance the latest developments in operations research and analysis while building the connections that drive national security impact year-round.