Advancing Wargaming with General Charlie Lyon: The ICEBREAKER Initiative

Over the past year, Professor Trenton Ford has collaborated closely with Major General (Ret.) Charlie Lyon to advance the integration of artificial intelligence into wargaming education and research at William & Mary. This partnership has centered on the development and classroom deployment of the ICEBREAKER AI tool, a system designed to enhance both the realism and analytical rigor of strategic wargames.

Collaboration and Course Integration

General Lyon, an adjunct lecturer and former U.S. Air Force Major General, has been instrumental in bringing real-world defense perspectives to the university's wargaming curriculum. Together, Ford and Lyon have worked to embed the ICEBREAKER AI tool into courses such as GOVT 404 and GOVT 391, providing students with hands-on experience in digital wargaming environments. The tool was introduced to students, who then participated in rehearsals and live gameplay, with each team interacting directly with the AI system to inform their strategic decisions.

ICEBREAKER: From Prototype to Classroom

The ICEBREAKER project began as a prototype leveraging large language models to support scenario adjudication and simulate the decision-making of world leaders. Under Ford's guidance and with Lyon's operational expertise, the tool evolved to support full-scale classroom wargames. Students used ICEBREAKER to submit moves, receive AI-generated responses, and analyze outcomes, providing a unique blend of human and machine-driven strategy.

Key Features and Innovation

Research, Development, and Impact

The collaboration has not only enhanced classroom learning but also contributed to broader research goals. The ICEBREAKER initiative is part of a larger effort to position William & Mary as a leader in digital and AI-enabled wargaming, with the potential for future engagement with the Department of Defense and other national security stakeholders. The project has involved faculty and students from both the Government and Data Science departments, fostering interdisciplinary innovation and providing a foundation for future external funding and research opportunities.

Looking Forward

General Lyon and Professor Ford continue to refine the ICEBREAKER tool, using feedback from classroom deployments to improve its capabilities. Their partnership exemplifies the power of combining military experience with academic innovation, and their work is paving the way for the next generation of digital wargaming at William & Mary and beyond.