Richard Landers Awarded DOD Naval Research Grant of $1,853,971
Richard Landers’ project titled “Automated and Adaptive Coaching Using Large Language Models” received a $1,853,971 grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), an executive branch agency of the Department of Defence (DOD).
This project acknowledges the challenges the Navy faces in fostering a learning culture essential for leadership development. A potential solution is a formal coaching program that can enhance leaders' skills and capabilities. The Navy currently uses a peer coaching program, but it is limited by the quality and availability of peer coaches. Advances in technology, particularly AI and large language models (LLMs), offer promising solutions for more efficient coaching programs that can provide safe, immediate, expert coaching services without burdening Navy personnel. This project aims to create an AI-based leadership coaching platform, named CAPTAIN, tailored for midshipmen at the US Naval Academy. This platform will provide real-time, effective coaching while adhering to ethical guidelines and Navy values. The project's success could lead to a permanent AI-assisted coaching solution, improving leadership development and supporting the Navy's strategic goals.
Richard Landers, PhD, John P. Campbell Distinguished Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and the director of the TNTLAB at the University of Minnesota.
Composed by Madison Stromberg, communications assistant.
