STRIKEWERX Director Russ Mathers welcomes a group of industry and government experts to an in-person showcase event at the CIC in 2022. (Sean Green/STRIKEWERX)
By Sean Green | STRIKEWERX Marketing and Communication Director
BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) is continuing its positive impact on the Air Force by surpassing 10,000 event attendees and a local economic impact of $3.84 million.
The partnership between the CIC in Bossier City, Louisiana, and the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Office of the Chief Scientist at Barksdale AFB supports events for business, industry, higher education, and military stakeholders to bridge the command’s most critical technology gaps.
These events are executed through the CIC’s partnership intermediary agreement (PIA) with AFGSC.
“Our partnership with Global Strike Command has realized a five-fold return on its investment with impacts of more than $250 million for the Air Force,” said Craig Spohn, CIC executive director. “Entering our sixth year of PIA operations, the CIC has achieved remarkable results for our region and the Department of Defense.”
Last fiscal year alone, the CIC hosted 73 technology transfer events with more than 2,700 attendees.
“Our events are bringing experts to the northwest Louisiana region to work with our partners in the Air Force for strengthening national defense via quick, innovation solutions,” said Kevin Nolten, CIC vice president.
Recent events include a flyoff demonstration between two mixed reality sleds for training pilots on air refueling, a design sprint to develop a prototype for faster heating of the B-52 Stratofortress engine in extreme cold, and workshops to support missile maintainers and B-52 air crews with market research.
The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau recognized the CIC in May 2022 for the regional economic impact created by its events. The CIC was named the 2022 Conventions Department awardee during the Excellence in Hospitality Awards.
“Our partnership is making great strides for the command, and we only see an increase of the impact and frequency of our events in the future,” said Jeff Beene, PIA director.
The CIC is growing their partnership with AFGSC through new events, such as the Mobile Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Swarm Defeat Challenge Definition Workshop in May 2024.
“Dozens of participants from across the country will research state-of-the-art technologies to defend mobile transport systems against swarming, autonomous, small, unmanned aircraft systems,” said Beene. “This challenge will discover the newest developments to address threats and maintain the command’s commitment to nuclear deterrence.”