At Soar, we believe that helping enhance human thinking doesn't begin with software. It begins with humans. That is why we pride ourselves in bringing together the knowledge leaders to create unique and creative solutions to help solve challenges ranging from life saving to cost saving and beyond.
Dr. Michael van Lent, Chief Scientist, leads research and development of artificial intelligence for training and serious games, transitioning research into engineered solutions. Dr. van Lent received a PhD at the University of Michigan in 2000. Prior to receiving his PhD, he worked at the Navy Center for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence (NCARAI) at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. He joined the Institute for Creative Technologies in 2001, where he became the Associate Director for Games Research and a Research Associate Professor in the Computer Science department at USC. Dr. van Lent has participated the design and development of many immersive training applications including Full Spectrum Warrior, Full Spectrum Command, the Joint Fires and Effects Trainer System (JFETS), and ELECT BiLAT. He serves on various editorial boards and edits IEEE Computer's Entertainment Computing Column.
Mr. Dallas joined Soar Technology, Inc. to oversee the company's business development and customer coordination activities within the federal government. Mr. Dallas brings over 25 years of extensive executive experience in the federal government. He was a Senior Analyst and a Personal Assistant to the Commander, Second Fleet where he designed, tested, and implemented warfighting processes adapted for use in large multinational operations, and was awarded a Letter of Commendation for helping to transition Naval operations from the Cold War to the new asymmetrical threat. He also held senior positions at the Office of Naval Research and the Defense Advanced Projects Agency, where he played a leading role in the research, development and advancement of information technologies to support the maritime community, and traveled and worked extensively in Europe and Asia. In the private sector, Mr. Dallas directed business activities relating to the federal government for Saffron Technology, and for Veridian ERIM International, leading the creation of information technologies supporting data collection, information sharing and knowledge generation. Mr. Dallas holds BSE (1979) and MSE (1986) degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Ms. Harding leads the technical staff and the execution of scientific and technical projects for Soar Technology, Inc. Previously, she served as Director of Logistics and Finance Systems for Borders Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, where she worked for over six years. Prior to that, Ms. Harding worked for Vector Research, Inc. for 16 years in various capacities. Her roles included technical project manager for a variety of projects within the company's military modeling and simulation group and Operations Director for the company's Healthcare Planning Division which performed software development, information systems design and development, and modeling and simulation work for the military medical community. Ms. Harding received dual MBA and MSE (Industrial Systems Engineering) degrees from the University of Michigan at Dearborn in 1999 and a BS (Mathematics) from the University of Michigan in 1986.
Mr. McLaughlin is responsible for developing advanced concepts for important market spaces and achieving transition. Previously, he was the Technology Innovation lead for Lockheed Martin and responsible for radical new programs concepts for research agencies such as the design of augmented reality goggles for soldiers in urban conflicts. He has been active in the research community as evidenced by his presentations at conferences on a variety of subjects including: behavior recognition, influence operations planning , Conceptual Spaces for passive computing, and acoustic monitoring of surgery. Mr. McLaughlin has developed a training course for capture management and strategy for acquisition of government R&D. Pat was a mentor for Technology Transition as part of San Diego’s Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology. He has a Masters degree in Operations Research from Claremont Graduate School, and a bachelors degree in Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College.
