STRIKEWERX, the innovation hub for Air Force Global Strike Command, is facilitating the development of equipment that will aid missile fields across the command.
A five-day Design Sprint will be held Sept. 14-18, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT daily at the STRIKEWERX Innovation Hub 6300 E. Texas St., Bossier City, Louisiana.
This Design Sprint will see industry know-how meet air force innovation to build a cover for the transporter erector jack stand slot used by ICBM maintenance crews.
During winter, this stand slot in the ground becomes filled with dirt, gravel, and snow and freezes to the consistency of concrete. Crews then lose hours cleaning it, which led Airmen at F.E. Warren Air Force Base’s 90th Missile Wing to develop a homemade solution. Now, STRIKEWERX will partner with industry to find an innovative, scalable solution for all missile wings in the Command.
Tech Sgt. Joshuwa Bolton, maintenance supervisor at the 90th Missile Wing, said, “I am not the first person to think of this concept, I am just the person who has had support in getting the idea to reality. I am humbled by the support given and know this will continue to be a team effort.”
STRIKEWERX Director Russ Mathers noted this design sprint will solve a problem for all of Global Strike without putting any more work on Airmen.
“Our pillars are ‘Collaboration, Innovation and Realization,’ and this design sprint will see all of those come to life,” said Russ Mathers, STRIKEWERX director. “We are bringing in an outside company to collaborate with airmen who know the problem in order to find an innovative solution, we’ll then work with academia to realize a prototype, all in five days or less.”
The design sprint will see Kennon Products, of Sheridan, Wyoming, working with a handful of experienced Airmen on a replica of the jack stand to find a scalable solution that meets size, production, durability, and ease of use needs. Engineering consultation during this phase will be provided by Louisiana Tech University. The sprint will then move to LSU Shreveport’s Cyber Collaboratory to see construction of a prototype. That prototype will be the basis for all 900 transporter erector jack stands to be used all the missile wings in AFGSC.