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Richard Burnett
SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
May 22, 2001
The region's lead simulation business trade group said Monday it has selected industry
veteran and local politician Russel E. Hauck as the group's next executive director.
Currently the mayor of Altamonte Springs and chairman of Lynx, the local transportation
agency, Hauck will become chief of the National Center for Simulation effective June 1,
the group said.
Most recently, the 53-year-old New York native was vice president for operations of
Systems Research Group Inc., an Orlando-based developer of training systems.
He will replace Relf Crissey, who is retiring after a 21/2-year stint as executive
director. The former Lockheed Martin Corp. business development executive will be a
consultant to the center during the transition.
Hauck joined the board of the mostly volunteer organization late last year and was
chairman of the group's communications committee. As executive director, he and an
associate director will be the only paid staff of the organization.
"Russ brings us a wealth of experience in simulation," said Hank Okraski,
chairman of the trade group. "We have been searching for a person of his caliber to
replace Relf, who expressed his desire to retire some time ago."
As the linchpin organization for the local simulator industry, the center has 200 members
from government, private industry and academia, including out-of-state organizations.
Central Florida's simulation-training industry develops computer-based war-game technology
for all branches of the military.
With an estimated 150 companies, agencies and research facilities employing about 17,000,
the region is widely recognized as having the largest cluster of simulation technology
work in the nation.
Hauck said he expects to broaden the group's mission and membership.
"To become more nationally recognized, we expect to reach out to other simulation
centers in the U.S. and establish more widespread networking," he said. "One of
our biggest challenges as we go forward is how to be both a national center while at the
same time still helping to grow the Central Florida industry."
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Richard Burnett can be reached at rburnett@orlandosentinel.com
Copyright (c) 2001, Orlando Sentinel
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