Cognitive Systems Engineer

ES Vorm, PhD

Principal, ES Vorm & Associates, LLC

I help defense and research organizations evaluate high-risk technology, design the studies that prove it works, and connect the lab to the operators who’ll use it.

What I bring

The human side of advanced technology.

Twenty years in uniform, from Fleet Marine Force corpsman with Marine special operations to Navy aerospace experimental psychologist, followed by senior research roles at DARPA, ONR, NRL, NAVAIR and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Today I lead the Enduring Atmospheric Platforms Programme for the UK’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), and advise government, academic and industry teams on programs where advanced technology has to work for real people under real constraints.

More about me →

Now

Leading ARIA’s Enduring Atmospheric Platforms Programme

As Science & Technology Lead, I run a £70M, multi-year UK program to prove that low-cost, long-endurance aircraft can hold station above commercial airspace and deliver regionally scalable high-altitude communications.

Services

What I do

Program Evaluation & IV&V

Independent assessment of high-risk R&D: evaluation design, metrics, test campaigns and readiness calls.

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Human-Machine Teaming & Trust in AI

How people come to trust, misuse or reject intelligent systems, and how to design and test for calibrated trust.

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Lab-to-Fleet Liaison

Connecting researchers with the operators, units and test populations their science is meant to serve.

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Research Design & Proposals

Problem framing, experimental design, metrics and proposal shaping for DoD and ARIA-style funders.

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Training

SafeGuarding AI for operational audiences. Briefing the BLUF for scientists and engineers.

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Leadership Observation & Feedback

Structured observation and candid, behavior-specific feedback for academic and research leaders.

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Also available for expert consultations and advisory roles. See all services →

Current work

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (UK)
Science & Technology Lead, Enduring Atmospheric Platforms Programme, 2026–2029
University of Minnesota · Office of Naval Research
Operational integration and transition, neurocognitive resilience research
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Fleet integration, Space Sciences Division

Previously

DARPA · Office of Naval Research · Naval Research Laboratory · Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division · Office of the Secretary of Defense · Joint Artificial Intelligence Center · NATO

Selected work →

Let’s talk about your program.

Tell me what you’re building, testing or trying to field.