Airmen Ideas
Air Force Global Strike Command is seeking good ideas to close Command gaps quickly and affordably.
Innovation starts with Airmen’s ideas. Your willingness to work with experts and the latest technology will mean innovative solutions.
Idea Realization Stakeholders
Office of the Chief
Scientist
AFGSC/ST is tasked with leading innovation efforts for the Command
- It has a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), located in Bossier City, LA
- The PIA allows CIC to engage academia and industry on behalf of government to accelerate tech transfer and licensing
- The STRIKEWERX Innovation Hub is located on the first floor of CIC and helps the Science and Technology Office realize innovation efforts
STRIKEWERX
The STRIKEWERX Innovation Hub connects people and resources across government, industry and academia to solve Air Force Global Strike Command’s most difficult problems.
- Unique approach provides fast, non-traditional pathways to scout the best solutions from industry, academia and Airmen
- Challenges, Design Sprints, and Fusion events promote collaboration to provide unique solutions in a streamlined process
- We provide Airmen access to experts, acquisition coaching, and engineering and technical support
Spark Cells & A9 Directorate
Spark Cells enable Airman-led innovation.
- Grass roots innovation groups at the wing level
- Safe place for idea generation
- Squadron Innovation Funds (SIF)—HAF funding to enable innovation
- Work for the Wing Commanders and are focused on the commanders’ priorities.
- A9 coordinates between Spark Cells and works transition hurdles
FIND YOUR SPARK CELL LEAD HERE
FAQs
What Is a Design Sprint?
- Start with Spark Cell idea to scale up for multiple bases
- 5-day process
- Refine the idea with a professional design or approach
- Pair the Global Strike Command subject matter experts with the right experts from private industry
- Use rapid prototyping followed by field testing
- Streamline program office approvals for implementation of the new design
What Is a Challenge?
- Ideas submitted from AFGSC HQ boards
- Individuals, startups, small businesses, industry, and academia submit solutions to specific AFGSC challenges
- Seeking to facilitate dialogue and collaboration
- Six month process
- Participants can see submissions
- Evaluated by experts in technology and the challenge area
- Submissions selected for next phase could be prototyping, demonstration, or an AFGSC contract
What Is Fusion?
- A virtual forum held every month
- Presentations from industry and academic experts on topics of interest
- Attended by AFGSC and Barksdale Air Force Base personnel
- Opportunity for Airmen and industry/academia to directly engage with each other
Opportunities
Design Warfare
- 4-week, full-immersion design thinking course
- Students divided into teams and spend two weeks interviewing wings to understand problems
- Last week consists of developing prototype solution and buy-in
Striker Airmen Coders
- 6-month program
- AFGSC Airmen selected via application
- High education institutions provide academic expertise
- Students help SAC complete their projects
- Provides coding, application and program development experience
- Airmen develop a project that can benefit their unit
S3 (STRIKEWERX Spark Sprint)
- Annual pitch competition with representatives from all Command Spark Cells
- Provides opportunity to showcase ideas and potentially see them realized
- Contestants receive pitch training, practice for delivering pitch to judges
- Two winners will represent the Command at Air Force Spark Tank
Global Strike National Security Fellowship
- Louisiana Tech University and AFGSC Project Champions find innovative solutions to focus areas
- Reinforces the Command’s commitment to being innovative and collaborative
- Opportunity for Louisiana Tech University students to gain real world experience
