The University of Central Florida has appointed Carolina Cruz-Neira, a globally recognized expert in virtual reality and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, as executive director of the Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) and interim director of the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST). PRI leads university-wide interdisciplinary research across digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, national defense, space and quantum computing. IST is a key driver of Central Florida’s modeling, simulation and training ecosystem.

Cruz-Neira, who also leads IST’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab and is the Agere Chair in Computer Science, steps into these leadership roles at a time of rapid innovation and opportunity across industries that rely on simulation technologies. These include defense, healthcare, education and advanced manufacturing.

Internationally known for creating the CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), Cruz-Neira has played a central role in advancing how virtual environments are used in real-world applications. Her appointment reflects UCF’s continued investment in interdisciplinary research that improves decision-making, workforce training and human performance.

She will serve as executive director of the PRI, UCF’s interdisciplinary research hub located in the Central Florida Research Park. Surrounded by more than 125 companies and government organizations — including the multi-service Team Orlando collaborative — PRI is strategically positioned to lead research collaborations across prominent tech industries.

“PRI is designed to bring together talent from across UCF and across sectors,” Cruz-Neira says. “Its proximity to industry and government partners enables us to move quickly from research to real-world impact. Whether we’re building digital twins for manufacturing or advancing simulation tools for national defense, PRI will be a home for collaborative innovation.”

“This is an exciting time for modeling and simulation. These technologies are evolving beyond traditional defense use and into areas that affect daily life such as education, healthcare delivery, energy and urban infrastructure,” Cruz-Neira says. “What makes IST stand out is its ability to combine cutting-edge research with meaningful impact. I’m honored to help lead our teams as we expand that reach.”

As interim director of IST, Cruz-Neira will guide the institute’s applied research programs in simulation, immersive training and multi-domain operational environments. She will also collaborate with federal agencies, commercial partners and academic institutions to support national workforce development and innovation priorities.

“Our research is designed to solve problems that matter,” Cruz-Neira says. “Whether it’s improving data-driven AI models, training resilient and agile space domain workforces, or designing next-generation complex defense systems…, the work we do is felt well beyond the lab. That’s what drives me and what makes IST such a special place.”

Cruz-Neira joined UCF in 2020 to help expand the university’s leadership in immersive technology and applied computing. She is recognized internationally as a pioneer in the fields of virtual reality (VR), interactive visualization and digital twins; for translating research into practice through open-source initiatives and technology commercialization; and for intersecting her work with the arts and humanities through performances and museum installations. Her innovations have facilitated improvements in training, design reviews, safety and operations across industries and government.

She has founded several successful applied research centers, including the Virtual Reality Applications Center at Iowa State University, the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise at the University of Louisiana and the Emerging Analytics Center at the University of Arkansas.

Cruz-Neira was the first person inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for immersive technologies and VR and has been inducted to the U.S. Congressional Record. She is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a member of the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Academy. She has been recognized by both the AWE XR Hall of Fame and the Modeling & Simulation Hall of Fame. In 2024, she was named a Spark Star by the Museum of Discovery for her decades of STEM leadership. In addition, she is an ACM Computer Pioneer. She’s received the IEEE VR Achievement Award and the International Digital Media & Arts Society Distinguished Career Award, among many national and international recognitions.

She serves on national and international technology boards and government advisory committees, and she is widely regarded as a leader in building interdisciplinary teams that drive innovation and economic competitiveness.

Cruz-Neira holds a doctoral degree in computer science and brings more than 35 years of experience as a researcher, entrepreneur and higher education leader.

About the Pegasus Research Institute

PRI is UCF’s interdisciplinary research hub focused on collaborative solutions for national challenges in AI, digital twins, quantum computing, space, cybersecurity and more. Located in the Central Florida Research Park, PRI is embedded in one of the country’s most active research ecosystems, adjacent to leading federal agencies, military organizations and more than 125 commercial partners.

About the UCF Institute for Simulation and Training

IST is a nationally recognized research center that creates innovative modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) solutions to meet the needs of defense, industry, healthcare and education. Located in Orlando, the world’s MS&T epicenter, IST brings together experts in engineering, human factors and domain research to advance tools that improve readiness, safety and decision-making. Learn more at ist.ucf.edu.