Designing Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence for Decision Advantage in C3 Operations

Courtney’s research expertise is in forensic cyberpsychology, behavioral analysis, and human-centered design of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology with health and defense applications. Courtney’s research applies foundational psychoanalytic theory to understand the national security, ethical, and societal implications of psychological responses to cyber-enabled information ecosystems and emerging technology such as AI. She further specializes in understanding the mechanisms of human-machine teaming, cognitive security, malign influence, and coercive control, through the application of human-centered design principles to build exploratory decision support technologies and human system analysis of the lived experience of key stakeholder populations.

The focus of Courtney’s research is on developing a human-centered AI research portfolio and testbed in SEAL's Command, Control, and Communications Division (C3D). This portfolio and testbed will support exploratory and applied research and development in human-AI teaming concepts that will address current operational needs in the C3 environment. Courtney’s first set of projects, one of which is funded through the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Exploratory Models of Human-AI Teams (EMHAT) program, support the exploration of approaches to develop human digital twins (HDTs) of C3 operators in specific operational roles. These HDTs will be leveraged to then design and assess potential artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) solutions developed to mitigate cognitive burden and risk experienced by the C3 operator during battlespace operations. This exciting research explores AI-based solutions as new technologies that will assist C3 operators with operational tasks in a very cognitively demanding, complex air battle management context. This presents a unique opportunity to make an immediate, positive impact on the C3 community's operational experience and effectiveness.

Join the Slack Q&A with Courtney beginning Friday, September 27th on the #tech-connects channel.