John Bell is super smart—but he can also be super self-deprecating.
“My job is to be the chief nerd for the company,” he said.
As Mission Technologies’ chief technology officer, he has one core philosophy that’s shaped his career and continues to guide the division’s strategy: “I’ve always looked for things I can use.”
The message is clear: in a world increasingly cluttered with emerging tech, it’s not about what’s fascinating—it’s about what’s functional. With the evolution of technology advancing faster than ever, Bell outlines exactly where Mission Technologies is headed.
Artificial Intelligence
“AI is transforming our weapons systems and operations—across everything we do,” Bell said, highlighting a plan to democratize AI across the organization, empowering employees to use it for everything from proposals to hardcore tech R&D. However, he also offers a reminder: “Everything you type in public AI chat tools goes into the cloud … nothing you type is private or secure. And the answers you get may not be correct.”
His advice? Treat AI’s answers with critical thinking—they may sound right, but that doesn’t mean they are.
Modeling and Simulation
With rapidly evolving weapons systems and advanced sensors, one of the greatest challenges isn’t just building the tech—it’s training warfighters to use it. That’s where modeling and simulation steps in.
“Satellites are watching everything,” Bell said. “Often, the only way to train our teams safely and securely is through simulation.”
He underscores the importance of tying simulated environments together with live-force training: “Blending real-world and virtual operations is extremely powerful and is going to be a significant growth area for Mission Technologies.”
In a world where digital warfare moves as fast as code, modeling and simulation is becoming not just a support system, but a security necessity.
Autonomy
Autonomous, uncrewed vehicles—like HII’s REMUS underwater platforms—are becoming the future of the warfighter’s toolkit. Bell highlighted how autonomy technologies, fueled by AI, have already reshaped conflict zones such as Ukraine.
“All-domain vehicles are on the horizon,” he noted, emphasizing how modeling and simulation continues to be instrumental in all domain autonomous systems development.
Satellites
Bell pulled back the curtain on a lesser-known shift in the space domain: “Satellites are now capable of maneuvering and intercepting other satellites.”
What used to be passive platforms are now active players in a new kind of orbital chess. Picture satellites that have “little arms that can reach out” and start pulling another’s wires or bump into another’s orbit. Space warfare is becoming an increasingly kinetic and competitive domain.
“As technology engineers, we tend to chase after shiny objects,” he said, “but I’ve always focused on what’s directly applicable to the work we are performing.”
Bell’s relevance-first mindset was forged early in his career. Fresh out of Old Dominion University, while studying atmospheric science at NASA Langley, Bell witnessed the launch of a space shuttle carrying the very satellite his team had worked on. Watching the live data stream in for the first time, that moment opened the door to a deeper interest in how emerging technologies support real-time missions, especially through modeling and simulation.
His background eventually expanded beyond computer science into simulation systems and advanced engineering—forming a uniquely well-rounded foundation for his current role as Mission Technologies’ CTO.
At the heart of Bell’s mission is education. “We want people to understand how technology impacts your job,” he said. “I want to help the whole organization gain a better understanding of technology and how it’s relevant.”
