Army CPE ST3 Celebrates Two Rising Leaders as NTSA Top Under 40 Awardees
The U.S. Army Capability Program Executive for Simulation, Training, Test and Threat (CPE ST3) proudly announces that two standout members of its civilian workforce, Raquel Duran and William “Cory” Bogler, have been selected as National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) Top Under 40 awardees for 2026. This honor recognizes emerging leaders from across government, industry, and academia who are shaping the future of modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T).
CPE ST3 Deputy Lee James III described the recognition as a testament to the exceptional talent developing within Army program offices. “Top Under 40 winners are exceptional leaders, contributors, and volunteers in the MS&T community,” James said. “Their hard work and dedication are valued not only by those of us at CPE ST3, but by the selection committee comprised of leaders across Government, industry, and academia. We are incredibly proud of both Raquel and Cory for this outstanding achievement.”
Shaping the Future of Training Systems
As a lead computer engineer in the Project Lead International Program Office (PL IPO) International Training Simulation Sustainment and Live (ITS2L) office, Duran has earned widespread recognition for her exceptional technical leadership and devotion to shaping the next generation of the MS&T community. Known for her relentless commitment to engineering excellence and mission-focused problem solving, Duran serves as a trusted technical advisor on high visibility aviation training systems. Her efforts have accelerated acquisition transitions by up to 30 percent, strengthened simulator fidelity for specialized aviation platforms, and identified millions in cost savings, contributions that directly enhance warfighter readiness.
Duran said the NTSA recognition holds deep meaning on both a personal and professional level. “Being selected for the 2026 NTSA Top Under 40 Award is truly humbling,” she said. “Personally, it means a great deal because my family has been the backbone of what I do, and I would not be where I am without their support and encouragement. Professionally, I’m grateful to my current leadership for nominating me and for their trust and support. This recognition is not just a reflection of my efforts, but of all those who have invested in me and supported me along the way.”
Her influence is equally felt through her rigorous technical evaluations, which have consistently reduced programmatic risk and ensured defensible contract awards. Beyond her direct program responsibilities, she has emerged as a leader within the workforce, serving as PL IPO’s representative for super intelligence (SI) integration. She regularly coaches engineers and acquisition professionals on modern SI-enabled tools, building confidence, capability, and technical fluency across her organization. Her selection into the FY26 U.S. Army Leadership Development Program highlights her growing leadership impact.
Duran noted, “My leadership philosophy has evolved throughout my time at CPE ST3 since 2017. Army leadership development programs such as iDEAL reinforced my belief that leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Trust, empathy, and adapting to the individual are essential, because the mission is always important, but taking care of people is what makes the mission possible.”
“Raquel embodies the innovation, integrity, and mission focus that define an emerging leader worthy of the NTSA Top Under 40 award,” James said. “Her contributions inspire confidence in both our programs and our future workforce.”
Among her many accomplishments, one stands above the rest. Duran reflected, “If I had to choose one accomplishment that means the most to me, it would be supporting the 160th SOAR pilots through realistic, mission-focused training. Their mission is uniquely demanding, and for them, training is everything. Hearing that the simulator training is highly realistic and, in some cases, has helped save lives really puts the importance of this work into perspective.”
Duran’s commitment extends well beyond the Army enterprise. Her extensive volunteerism within the I/ITSEC Human Performance Subcommittee has strengthened the conference’s annual technical rigor. In the most recent cycle, she reviewed more than 70 abstracts and papers, ensuring that only the most well-developed research reached global audiences.
She also continues to invest deeply in STEM outreach across Central Florida, coordinating hands-on events that spark passion for engineering among younger generations. “What motivates me most is the opportunity to invest in the future of our country,” she explained. “As a mother, that is especially meaningful to me because I want to help inspire and develop the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers. The mutual exchange — kids learning from us, and us learning from their creativity and curiosity — is incredibly rewarding.”
This year, she led the Central Florida SeaPerch Competition, supporting more than 200 students and earning praise from educators and parents alike.
Looking ahead to the Army year at I/ITSEC 2026, Duran added, “I’m excited to connect with the broader simulation community, attend paper presentations, and learn more about innovative work shaping the future. I’m also interested in seeing how AI/SI continues to evolve and how it can be applied in practical ways to improve what we deliver.”
As ST3’s SI Integration representative, she views SI as both an enabler and a challenge. “SI is a tool in the toolbox,” she said, “but also a transformational technology, similar to electricity in the way it can reshape how we work. It helps us move faster, improve workflows, and ultimately deliver better capability to the warfighter. But humans must remain in the loop. Judgment, oversight, and trust are essential.”
Transforming Cyber Training Across the Joint Force
Bogler, senior test officer for Product Manager Cyber Readiness and Training (PdM CRT), was selected for his extraordinary professional, technical, and volunteer contributions to cyber training modernization. Known throughout the MS&T community as an innovator and dedicated mentor, he has shaped some of the Army’s most critical cyber training capabilities.
Reflecting on the recognition, Bogler shared, “Receiving the NTSA Top Under 40 Award is a tremendous honor. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented people across government, industry, and the international training and simulation community, and I've learned something from every one of those experiences. For me, this recognition reflects the collective efforts of the teams I've worked with and our shared commitment to preparing warfighters for the challenges they'll face. I'm proud of the work we've accomplished and look forward to continuing to help advance the training capabilities our warfighters need.”
As senior test officer for the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE), Bogler spearheaded the development of “Cloudsmith,” a pioneering hybrid-cloud architecture designed to enhance the platform’s scalability, resilience, and operational availability. His architecture now underpins the execution of some of the Department of War’s largest cyber exercises, supporting more than 19,000 allied users across 28 major events including Cyber Shield, Cyber Guard, Cyber Yankee, and Cyber Flag.
When asked what drives his passion for shaping technical standards across the MS&T enterprise, Bogler explained, “The DoW is full of really talented people who make amazing advances in their crafts. The development of technical standards is our mechanism to spread folks’ work around so that it benefits the Acquisition community as a whole instead of specific programs. More selfishly, I’ve also learned a ton by getting to interact with smart people from outside of CPE ST3. I’d recommend standards development efforts to any engineers who are serious about advancing their domain and becoming more well-rounded.”
Bogler’s technical vision has extended well beyond systems design. He authored eight of eleven Army Agile Software Test playbooks for the ASA(ALT) Agile Software Test Integrated Product Team, establishing new standards for software‑driven acquisition. His groundbreaking work designing Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) Value Assessment metrics was later adopted by Army Headquarters as required metrics for all SWP programs. These contributions have reshaped the Army’s approach to testing and accelerated the delivery of critical cyber capabilities to warfighters.
His leadership extends onto the global stage. In a milestone achievement, Bogler coordinated the first ever hardware-in-the-loop connection with allied cyber forces for the Cyber Flag exercise series. Working overnight alongside international partners, he overcame significant technical barriers to deliver an unprecedented coalition training event, setting the foundation for future multinational cyber readiness.
James said, “Cory exemplifies the volunteerism, professional impact, and leadership that NTSA seeks to honor. His sustained and measurable contributions demonstrate both the strength and future potential of an NTSA Top Under 40 honoree.”
Bogler’s volunteerism is itself noteworthy. This year he reviewed over 70 I/ITSEC papers, mentored authors through final publication, and co-chaired a technical session. He lectures at the University of Central Florida, coaches colleagues on advanced AI/SI practices, and builds custom tools that translate operational test feedback into usable data for engineers, work that directly accelerates product development timelines.
Discussing the impact he hopes his volunteer work has on the community, Bogler said, “Paper reviews and author mentorship are small personal investments that can lead to significant returns for the DoW. These activities are also great introductions to new engineering domains. For example, I learned a ton about Naval operations and training during my time as a reviewer. I hope that my involvement contributes in some way to a scientific breakthrough in the future, and that it inspires others to consider writing or reviewing academic papers.”
When asked about the challenges of scaling PCTE to support more than 19,000 allied users, Bogler added, “Scaling PCTE has been a complicated and extended process. It required us to change our technologies, architectures, staffing, processes, and partners. I think the hardest part of this process has been adopting a mindset of change. It’s easier for folks to choose a goal or endpoint, then move in a straight line until they get there. We’ve found that we can support our user base more effectively, however, by being open to changing the desired endpoint (and the process by which we reach it). This mindset has enabled PCTE to change course to support emerging capability gaps and maintain relevancy in a domain that can change on an hourly basis. Agility is just as important as velocity.”
Bogler also continues to integrate advanced AI/SI concepts across the cyber training domain. “I am an SI optimist,” he said, “and believe that responsible application of this technology will significantly change the way that the Warfighter conducts training and wartime activities. I expect that, for starters, SI will allow trainers and trainees to focus more on their craft and less on the administrative work that exists around training. As time goes on, I expect that more and more tasks will be automated, with humans remaining in the driver’s seat as decision makers. This should yield an increase in task consistency and speed, and a shortened timeline for domain mastery.”
Looking ahead to I/ITSEC 2026, Bogler noted, “I/ITSEC affords ST3 engineers the ability to observe the state of the art for MS&T technologies without the burden of in-depth research. PMs and engineers should take advantage of this opportunity by identifying tech gaps on their programs and making a plan to do some research on the show floor. With any luck, you’ll find a great solution! This year I intend to investigate technologies that will help us integrate electronic warfare effects into cyber operations during training.”
A Community Investment in the Future
Both honorees describe their work not simply as a job, but as a commitment to the warfighter and the MS&T community.
As CPE ST3 prepares for the Army year at I/ITSEC 2026, the organization celebrates Duran and Bogler not only for their achievements, but for the trail they are blazing for future generations.
“NTSA’s recognition of Raquel and Cory highlights the innovation, professionalism, and mission focus that drive our organization forward,” James said. “Their achievements represent the very best of ST3 and the future of the MS&T community.”
Duran and Bogler will be formally recognized during a Top Under 40 awards ceremony at I/ITSEC 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
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