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.

  • The "Proceedings Paper Track" features peer-reviewed contributions that present findings, insights, and lessons learned from the research, development, testing, deployment, and operational use of AI-enabled capabilities within the military and national security community. Accepted papers will be published in the official MORS 2026 Artificial Intelligence Workshop Proceedings.

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.

Exhibitors

Come demonstrate your company’s capabilities, share innovations, and build lasting relationships as you connect directly with our diverse community of national security professionals, government analysts, academic leaders, and industry experts within the defense AI and analytics space.

All exhibitions at this workshop will take place on the Technology Demonstration Day taking place 20 April from 0900 until 1700 ET at RAND in Pittsburgh, PA.

Only companies working in AI will be selected to exhibit. Participation will be offered on a first-come, best-fit basis.

Interested companies are first asked to contact Katherine Miller at kmiller@mors.org or complete the online exhibit request form . Then companies will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire to determine if they are a good fit for exhibiting at this targeted workshop.

The planning committee will review all exhibitor requests and companies will be notified if they have been approved to exhibit.

Availability and space is limited — we encourage early interest and registration.

Deadline to register as an exhibitor is 20 March, 2026.

Looking for more ways to engage with attendees?

Position your brand at the forefront of innovation with one of our exclusive branding opportunities!

This workshop will offering high-visibility branding opportunities throughout the event. Align your brand with cutting-edge ideas, meaningful conversations, and the future of artificial intelligence while engaging directly with a highly targeted, influential audience.

Branding/Exhibitor Prospectus (PDF)

Price (Per Exhibitor Package)

  • $3500

Setup

  • One 6ft Table
  • Two Chairs

Abstracts

The planning team is now seeking abstracts for presentations. The deadline to submit abstracts is 10 March 2026

Submit Abstract

Tracks

  1. Command and Control (Unclassified)
    The command and control (C2) track covers a broad range of human-machine teaming tasks. Topics of interest include the application of AI to: battlespace management and situational awareness, course of action (COA) generation, cross-domain tasks, resilience in distributed and denied environments, geospatial reasoning, and failure modes.
    Dr. Brian Connolly, brian.j.connolly.aero@gmail.com
  2. Sustainment/Contested Logistics (Unclassified)
    The Sustainment / Contested Logistics track explores how AI-enabled solutions can maintain force readiness and support across degraded, denied, or adversary-influenced environments. We highlight approaches that reduce risk to supply chains, accelerate maintenance, and improve sustainment decision-making at the tactical through strategic levels. Submissions from government, industry, and academia that translate innovation into operational advantage are strongly encouraged.
    Mr. Benjamin Moyer, benjamin.d.moyer@outlook.com
  3. Warfighting and Planning (Unclassified)
    Warfighting and Planning, explores the transformative potential of AI in enhancing military decision-making, operational planning, and adaptive strategies for modern conflicts. The track will delve into AI-driven methodologies for scenario simulation, force allocation optimization, and battlefield analytics, including the application of Large Language Models to inform warfighting doctrines. Participants are encouraged to submit papers and presentations that bridge AI advancements with practical applications in joint and coalition environments, fostering collaboration across government, industry, and academia.
    Dr. Kasthuri Kannan, kasthuri.kannan@armywarcollege.edu
  4. Critical Infrastructure (Unclassified)
    The Critical Infrastructure Track will highlight the use of emerging techniques in artificial intelligence (AI) for the analysis, protection, and recovery of critical infrastructure systems which are vulnerable to both deliberate attacks and non-deliberate hazards. This is especially important as stakeholders move toward the integration of AI into operational technology (OT) environments that manage essential public services, introducing significant risks to the broader interconnected infrastructure network.
    Ms. Kathleen Hill, khill@spa.com
  5. Kinetic Effects/Targeting and Fires (Unclassified)
    The Kinetic Effects/Targeting and Fires (Track 5) track can entail a wide range of autonomous or human-machine teaming tasks and the application of AI within these, but not limited to focus areas: Optimal and prescriptive target-weapon pairing, battle damage assessment via open source and organic assets data collection, plain language orders (interpretation, prioritization and dissemination), risk/cost to mission assessments, battle space weapon system synchronization and conservation of assets, and in flight or dynamic retargeting.
    Mr. Xavier Lugo, xman2486@gmail.com
  6. Personnel, Finance, Business Operations, and Acquisition (Unclassified)
    This track focuses on applying advanced data and AI methods to business operations across personnel, finance, and acquisition, highlighting applied research, practical use cases, lessons learned, and decision-support tools that improve efficiency, accountability, and strategic agility in defense organizations.
    Mr. Kurt Pasque, kurtpasque@gmail.com
  7. Intelligence and Special Operations (Secret)
    Intelligence and Special Operations Track: This track will focus on technologies and methodologies that explore the integration of AI to enhance intelligence gathering and analysis for improved operational effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience. Participants will examine real-world applications of emerging AI technologies to advance mission-critical capabilities for the intelligence and special operations communities.
    Ms. Sheila Alemany-Blanco, Sheila.AlemanyBlanco@ll.mit.edu
  8. Non-Kinetic Effects (Cyber, Information Operations, Electronic Warfare, and Space) (Secret)
    The Non-Kinetic Effects track explores how AI can be applied to model, assess, and enhance interdisciplinary analysis across cyber, information, electronic warfare, space, and other informational domains. The track will showcase advances in machine learning, quantitative modeling, and decision-support frameworks, while examining the strategic implications of their use by both state-based adversaries and non-state actors.
    Mr. Christian Becker, christian.r.becker.civ@army.mil
  9. Counter AI (Secret)
    The Counter-AI track will focus on technologies and methodologies that detect, counter, and mitigate threats to AI-enabled systems. Participants will explore cutting-edge research, operational insights, and collaborative approaches in Counter-AI to ensure resilience and maintain decision advantage in an AI-contested environment.
    Mr. Kenneth Alperin, Kenneth.Alperin@ll.mit.edu

Hotel

Hyatt House Pittsburgh/Bloomfield/Shadyside

5335 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224

The block expires on/reservations can be made until March 30, 2026

Registration


Register Now, Pay Later:

Register Payment Options Refund Policy

Take advantage of the option to register now and pay later with the “invoice me” option at checkout. This option will display in the credit card dropdown menu on the checkout page. If you need assistance registering, please contact Ms. Karla Lee-Riviere, karla.lee-riviere@mors.org.

*Note: This can only be used to purchase registration fees. This can not be used for social events, lunches or membership.

Employer 4 Day Meeting
MORS Government Sponsor* Member $550
MORS Government Sponsor* Non-Member $650
U.S Federal Government Member $600
U.S Federal Government Non-Member $700
National Research Partner Member $618
National Research Partner Non-Member $718
All Others Member $650
All Others Non-Member $750

*Government Sponsor organizations include: Center for Army Analysis, HQDA/DCS Program G-8; Marine Corps Combat Development and Integration; Naval Operations, N81; Secretariat of the Air Force, Studies and Analysis SAF/SA; and OSD, A&S.

Poster Session

The Poster Session at MORS AI Workshop invites submissions showcasing cutting-edge research and innovative applications of artificial intelligence across all domains of national security, defense operations, and strategy. This interactive forum provides an opportunity to present novel AI methodologies, proof-of-concept demonstrations, experimental results, and emerging concepts in areas such as command and control, sustainment/contested logistics, warfighting and planning, critical infrastructure, kinetic effects, targeting and fires, operations (personal, business, finance) and acquisition. Posters that bridge theoretical advances with real-world military utility, including work suitable for joint, interagency, and coalition contexts, are especially welcome.
We encourage submissions from government, industry, academia, and international partners at all career stages, including student research and early-stage projects.

Contact: Dr. Kasthuri Kannan, kasthuri.kannan@armywarcollege.edu

Specifications

Only one poster per presentation is permitted.

Posters should be designed for clear visibility from a distance, using large fonts (e.g., title at least 72 pt, section headings 48–60 pt, body text 24–36 pt), high-contrast colors, and a logical layout (e.g., introduction, methods, results, conclusions).

The maximum poster size is 48 inches wide by 36 inches high (landscape orientation preferred, but portrait is acceptable if it fits within these dimensions). Posters larger than this may not fit on the boards provided.

Please bring your printed poster to the session for mounting. We look forward to your contributions!

Paper Track

Overview

The "Proceedings Paper Track" features peer-reviewed contributions that present findings, insights, and lessons learned from the research, development, testing, deployment, and operational use of AI-enabled capabilities within the military and national security community. Papers in this track emphasize analytical rigor, practical relevance, and real-world impact, bridging theory and application across the AI lifecycle. Contributions span government, academia, industry, and international partners and address both technical and organizational challenges.

Accepted papers will be published in the official MORS 2026 Artificial Intelligence Workshop Proceedings .


Contact: Dr. Eva K. Lee, evalee-gatech@pm.me

Call for Reviewers – MORS 2026 Artificial Intelligence Workshop Proceedings

The Military Operations Research Society (MORS) invites qualified professionals to serve as peer reviewers for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Workshop Proceedings. Reviewers will assess submitted manuscripts based on relevance, technical quality, originality, clarity, and practical impact for military and national security applications of artificial intelligence and autonomy.

MORS seeks reviewers with expertise in artificial intelligence, autonomy, data analytics, operations research, human–AI teaming, testing and evaluation, policy and governance, and operational employment of AI-enabled capabilities. Reviewers are drawn from government organizations, academia, federally funded research and development centers, industry, and international partner organizations.

Reviewer contributions are critical to maintaining the analytical rigor, operational relevance, and overall quality of the MORS AI Workshop Proceedings.

Individuals interested in serving as reviewers should submit their information below:

Call for Proceedings Papers

Important Dates

  • Paper Submission Deadline: 7 March 2026
  • Notification of Acceptance: 1 April 2026
  • Presentation in the poster session (Day 2 or Day 3) at the AI Workshop: 20–23 April 2026
  • Final Camera-Ready Papers Due: 15 May 2026

Aims

The 2026 MORS Artificial Intelligence Workshop aims to advance the responsible, effective, and operationally relevant integration of artificial intelligence and autonomy across the military and national security enterprise. The workshop and its proceedings seek to strengthen the connection between research, development, and real-world application by capturing and disseminating rigorous analyses, practical experiences, and lessons learned.

Specifically, the aims are to:

  • Build a shared body of knowledge that enables analysts and practitioners to research, develop, field, evaluate, and apply AI-enabled capabilities for decision advantage
  • Surface real-world insights and lessons learned from across the AI lifecycle, including successes, challenges, and failures
  • Foster cross-sector collaboration among government, industry, academia, and international partners
  • Inform policy, governance, and operational decision-making related to AI adoption and use
  • Identify current challenges and future directions for data, analytics, and AI integration in defense and national security contexts

These aims guide the selection of workshop content and proceedings papers and emphasize contributions that demonstrate analytical rigor, operational relevance, and practical impact.

Scopes and Themes

The workshop proceedings will feature papers presenting findings, insights, methodologies, and lessons learned across the AI lifecycle, including—but not limited to:

  • Research, design, and development of AI-enabled capabilities
  • Testing, evaluation, validation, and verification of AI systems
  • Operational deployment and use of AI in military and national security contexts
  • Human–AI teaming, trust, and decision support
  • Data, analytics, and infrastructure challenges for AI adoption
  • Policy, governance, ethics, and responsible AI
  • Interoperability, scalability, and transition to operations
  • Case studies highlighting successes, challenges, and failures

Submissions are encouraged from U.S. and international government organizations, academia, federally funded research and development centers, and industry.

Submission Requirements

  • Paper Length: 6–8 pages, including figures, tables, and references
  • Format: IEEE conference paper template
  • Submission Types:
    • Full technical papers
    • Applied case studies
    • Lessons-learned or best-practice papers
    • Methodological or analytical frameworks
  • An accepted paper will require workshop registration, and presentation at the poster session.

Rejected papers can be presented as posters.

Review Criteria

All submissions will undergo peer review based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance: Applicability to AI and autonomy challenges in military or national security contexts
  • Technical Quality: Soundness of methods, analysis, and conclusions
  • Originality: Novel insights, approaches, or lessons learned
  • Practical Impact: Utility for analysts, operators, decision-makers, or policymakers
  • Clarity and Organization: Clear presentation, logical structure, and effective communication

Acceptance Standards

To be accepted, papers must:

  • Meet length and formatting requirements
  • Clearly articulate the problem context and contribution
  • Provide defensible findings, insights, or lessons learned
  • Demonstrate relevance to operational or strategic decision advantage
  • Receive appropriate organizational and security approval

Acceptance decisions will consider overall quality, relevance, and balance across workshop themes.

Registration and Event
Ms. Karla Lee-Riviere 
karla@mors.org | 703-933-9070

Co-Chair
Dr. Nate Bastian

Co-Chair
Mr. Tom Goode

Co-Chair
Mr. Dave Saranchak