By Sean Green | STRIKEWERX Marketing and Communication Director
BOSSIER CITY, La. — Five ideas from Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen have been selected to compete at the Command’s Strike Tank innovation event.
Strike Tank is the command’s annual “pitch” competition to identify the most innovative ideas from across the command by leveraging the culture of innovation among Strikers.
Strike Tank takes Airmen’s creative solutions straight to AFGSC’s top leadership, generating visibility and advocacy to scale the solution.
Five ideas will be “pitched” to a panel of AFGSC senior leaders at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. The panel of AFGSC and local business leaders will declare two winners from the command.
The projects selected for the 2023 Strike Tank are:
- HMMWV Low oil shut-off – Capt. Matt Matuszak, Minot AFB, North Dakota
- B-52 Engine Covers – Capt. Kyle Forry and Lt. Col. Stephen Kroft, Minot AFB, North Dakota
- Creating a Digital Open Environment: Generative Practice Tests – Lt. Oscar Klempay, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
- Linking Acquisition Systems to Streamline Contract Awards – Staff Sgt. Gabriel Robison, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
- Striker Cargo – Capt. Christopher Ford, Dyess AFB, Texas
The AFGSC Office of the Chief Scientist will monitor all submissions for alignment to the 2024 Air Force-wide Spark Tank competition.
Winning ideas will be provided with the resources and funding to drive them towards successful implementation.
“This is the fourth year our office has sponsored an event to recognize the finest in Airman innovation. We have found that Global Strike Command Airmen consistently demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness in solving problems they encounter in daily operations,” said AFGSC Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Senft. “The ideas selected for this event illustrate how the culture of innovation is spreading through the entire command, serving to improve readiness and reduce operational costs.”
Prior to the event, AFGSC will invite all wing finalists to the STRIKEWERX Innovation Hub at the CIC to prepare for the event. After receiving professional pitch coaching and practice, they will present their solutions to the judges and spectators.
Each finalist will have three minutes to explain the challenge and pitch their solution. They then have two minutes to answer questions from the judges.
This year’s Strike Tank event will be held Oct. 26 and released to the public on AFGSC social media channels following the event.