Mikel D. Petty, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Computer Science Senior Scientist,
Modeling & Simulation,
ITSC

Contact

301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
Campus Map

Biography

Prior to joining UAH, he was Chief Scientist at Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center and Assistant Director at the University of Central Florida's Institute for Simulation and Training. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida in 1997.

Dr. Petty has worked in modeling and simulation research and development since 1990 in areas that include verification and validation methods, simulation interoperability and composability, human behavior modeling, multi-resolution simulation, and cybersecurity simulation. He has published over 250 research articles, chapters, and papers and has been awarded over $17 million in research funding. He served on National Research Council and National Science Foundation committees on modeling and simulation, is a Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional, and served for five years as Editor-in-Chief of the scholarly journal SIMULATION: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International. He has advised fifteen graduated Ph.D. students in four different academic disciplines: Modeling and Simulation, Computer Science, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Computer Engineering. His former students include the first two people to receive Ph.D.s in Modeling and Simulation at Old Dominion University and the first five people to receive Ph.D.s in Modeling and Simulation at UAH. His Erdős number is 3.

Curriculum Vitae


Education

  • Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Central Florida, 1997
  • M.S., Computer Science, University of Central Florida, 1988
  • B.S., Computer Science, California State University Sacramento, 1980

Honors & Awards

  • Editor-in-Chief's Recommended Computer Science Papers list, Heliyon journal (Elsevier), for "A Multi-Resolution HEALPix Data Structure for Spherically Mapped Point Data", 2018.
  • Leidos Technical Publication Competition Award, Refereed Journal Papers - Computer and Information Science category, for "Automated Search-Based Robustness Testing for Autonomous Vehicle Software", 2017.
  • Simulation Education Award for "Outstanding Educational Action in Modeling & Simulation", American Indian Higher Education Consortium, 2014.
  • IEEE Standards Association Standard Development Award for the development and approval of IEEE Standard 1730.1TM-2013.
  • Nominated for ODU Batten College of Engineering and Technology, "Excellence in Research" Award, 2004.
  • IEEE Standards Association Working Group Chair Award, 2001.
  • University of Central Florida Institute for Simulation and Training Distinguished Researcher Award, 1993.

Expertise

  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Computational Complexity
  • Discrete Mathematics

Recent Publications

  • S. Govindaiah and M. D. Petty, “Applying Reinforcement Learning to Plan Manufacturing Material Handling”, Discover Artificial Intelligence, Springer, Vol. 1, Iss. 1, December 2021, Article 8, doi:10.1007/s44163-021-00003-3.

  • K. L. Foster and M. D. Petty, “Estimating the Tactical Impact of Robot Swarms Using a Semi-Automated Forces System and Design of Experiments Methods”, Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, and Technology, Sage, Vol. 18, No. 3, July 2021, pp. 247-269, doi:10.1177/15485129211008532.

  • J. A. Bland, M. D. Petty, T. S. Whitaker, K. P. Maxwell, and W. A. Cantrell, “Machine Learning Cyberattack and Defense Strategies”, Computers & Security, Elsevier, Volume 92, May 2020, doi:10.1016/j.cose.2020.101738.

  • J. A. Bland, M. D. Petty, T. S. Whitaker, K. P. Maxwell, and W. A. Cantrell, "Machine Learning Cyberattack and Defense Strategies", Computers & Security, Volume 92, May 2020,doi:10.1016/j.cose.2020.101738.

  • J27] D. A. O'Neil and M. D. Petty, "Heuristic Methods for Synthesizing Realistic Social Networks Based on Personality Compatibility", Applied Network Science, Vol. 4, No. 19, April 2019,doi:10.1007/s41109-019-0117-4.

  • J26] W. A. Cantrell, M. D. Petty, S. L. Knight, and W. K. Schueler, "Physics-Based Modeling of Crowd Evacuation in the Unity Game Engine", International Journal of Modeling, Simulation, and Scientific Computing, Vol. 9, Iss. 4, August 2018, doi:10.1142/S1793962318500290.

  • [J25] R. W. Youngren and M. D. Petty, "A Multi-Resolution HEALPix Data Structure for Spherically Mapped Point Data", Heliyon, Vol. 3, Iss. 6, June 2017, doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00332.

  • [J24] K. M. Betts and M. D. Petty, "Automated Search-Based Robustness Testing for Autonomous Vehicle Software", Modelling and Simulation in Engineering, Vol. 2016, August 2016, 15 pages,doi:10.1155/2016/5309348.

  • M. D. Petty, S. E. Barbosa, and J. R. Hutt, "Using a mock simulation event and Monte Carlo simulation to compare alternative network architectures for distributed training simulation", Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, and Technology, Vol. 13, No. 3, July 2016, pp. 307-320,doi:10.1177/1548512916641526.

  • [J22] G. S. Reed, M. D. Petty, N. J. Jones, A. W. Morris, J. P. Ballenger, and H. S. Delugach, "A Principles-based Model of Ethical Considerations in Military Decision Making", Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, and Technology, Vol. 13, No. 2, April 2016, pp. 195-211,doi:10.1177/1548512915581213.