Auburn University

Games and Strategy

Dr. Dan O’Leary is an award-winning Lecturer in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Auburn University, where he applies nearly three decades of experience building high-tech software products to academia. As co-founder of a successful independent game development studio, Dan oversaw the release of 45 games across 12 platforms over 23 years, gaining invaluable insights into creating engaging interactive experiences. Dr. O’Leary’s research focuses on improving learning outcomes through advanced visualization, spatial computing, and artificial intelligence. His recent Ph.D. dissertation examined the effectiveness of augmented reality in manufacturing assembly training, with broad implications for skill acquisition.

At Auburn, Dan teaches software and product development, along with AI/ML and corporate finance. He has collaborated with Air University on multiple projects and served as an instructor for the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps. His deep technical and practical expertise spans real-time 3D graphics, data science, and artificial intelligence. Thanks to a lifelong fascination for modeling and simulation of all type and objective, together with his unique blend of industry experience, academic research, and technical knowledge, Dan offers valuable perspectives on the future of wargaming and simulation in military contexts.