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  • AFMC seeks innovative ideas through IdeaScale Campaign

    Airmen and civilians from across the enterprise are invited to submit innovative ideas and solutions to improve the AFMC mission through the Air Force Ideation Platform, or IdeaScale, now through September 2020.

  • AFIMSC announces 2020 Innovation Rodeo finalists

    Eight finalists for the 2020 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo were selected out of 143 submissions and nearly 2,000 online votes to compete for a share of $1 million in funding and resources to implement their ideas.

  • Air Force announces Spark Tank 2020 selectees

    Spark Tank also offers Airmen the opportunity to get their ideas in front of key enabling agencies that can share expertise and resources such as funding or personnel for the projects being presented and demonstrate pathways for intrapreneurs to make their initiatives successful.

  • AFGSC names 2020 Spark Tank finalists

    Air Force Spark Tank is an open call for Airmen to bring forward their best ideas that build upon senior leader priorities to restore readiness, cost-effectively modernize and drive innovation.

  • First virtual pitch day contract awarded

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa A8I Operational Innovation Branch and the 764th Enterprising Solutions Squadron awarded their first virtual Pitch Day contract, Dec. 13.

  • Florida resilience chief gets look at Tyndall AFB rebuild

    The Tyndall Air Force Base leadership team briefed Dr. Julia Nesheiwat on the current state of the installation and the commitment to incorporate resiliency, innovation and technology as main components of the rebuild plans.

  • AFMC announces 2020 Spark Tank finalists

    The Liquid Cooled Plate Carrier and Virtual Visitor Control Center projects were selected from more than 15 submissions from across AFMC as having the highest probability of delivering game-changing impact for Air Force needs.

  • Faculty development takes evolutionary steps in classroom

    The 82nd Training Wing Faculty Development Flight’s Basic Instructor Course is heading down a path where students are able to collaborate in an evolutionary educational workspace. They are building on the concept of modernizing the training environment at Sheppard AFB, with the hope of seeing this

  • Project NEXUS: Empowering the USAF’s digital talent

    Designed by the AETC technology integration detachment and hosted by the AFWERX-Austin hub, the beta test program was designed to fuel organic technology problem solving efforts for Airmen in their day-to-day workplaces.

  • AFIMSC announces topics for I-WEPTAC 2020

    The topics have been selected for the Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference 2020, and the chairpersons will be on board this month. What remains is determining who will fill the ranks of the four Mission Area Working Groups charged with tackling some of the Air Force’s

  • AETC announces 2020 Spark Tank winner

    The 381st Training Group’s idea to transform low-fidelity training into a student-centered, solid foundation for space warfighters and Air University’s “give makerspace” idea that enables creative, innovative Airmen to devise solutions in a dedicated makerspace by providing physical space to work

  • Air Force stands up new Advanced Aircraft PEO

    The new office was created to transform the Next Generation Air Dominance program into the Air Force’s Digital Century Series initiative, using digital engineering, modular open systems architecture, and agile software development to design advanced airplanes faster and enter production with a

  • DoD, industry collaboration part of Spark Collider 2.0

    The event, dubbed Spark Collider 2.0, invited representatives from Silicon Valley-based tech firms onto Travis AFB with the interest of gleaning firsthand accounts of specific problems facing the base and finding ways in which their companies’ resources could help to solve the problems.

  • The sky's the limit: Sheppard AFB innovation goes from ground up

    Mixed reality used by the 80th Flying Training Wing is a flying environment in a controlled setting that enables students to learn and make mistakes with a safety net. It was created through the use of 360-degree cameras, skilled pilots and actual images from flights over north Texas and southern

  • AFRL team selected for innovation award

    According to McIntire, these door locks are designed to be portable, strong, quick to deploy and infrastructure-free with no permanent installation needed. They are also designed to fit both right and left-handed doors, for both in-swinging and out-swinging doors.

  • Air Force recognizes Energy Action Month 2019

    During Energy Action Month, the Air Force will emphasize the need for smart energy solutions and inform Airmen, Air Force senior leaders, policy makers and aligned organizations about what they can do to effectively distribute, generate and manage resilient and reliable energy across the enterprise.

  • Air Force creates futuristic fighters

    The 7th Security Forces Squadron is implementing the newly-improved Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives training simulator as part of their regular training curriculum.

  • AFRL invents cargo aircraft tire change tool

    The 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, part of the Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California, who maintains the U. S. Air Force’s largest aircraft, the C-5M Super Galaxy, contacted the AFRL's JFWORX team seeking assistance to increase the safety and decrease the manpower requirements

  • Roper: Air Force of the future is faster, smarter, bolder

    “To become a more competitive acquisition system, the Air Force needs to be aware of trends in technology,” said Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics. “The world is changing, we have to change with it. The key is to decide which technology

  • CDO, AFIMSC enable readiness through cloud-based visualization tool

    The VAULT Platform is the data office-sponsored platform that provides cyber-secure, cloud-based tools to connect, find, share and learn from Air Force data. It was implemented to be fully compliant with the Air Force Data Services Reference Architecture (Air Force released in February 2019). The

  • Innovative approach increases polygraph efficiency

    Recognizing this directly hindered conducting polygraph examinations, the AFOSI 2nd Field Investigations Squadron Polygraph Office, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, did something innovative about it.

  • BESPIN-AFIMSC alliance improves mission support capabilities

    BESPIN and AFIMSC are partnering to develop two mobile applications: an app connecting the military community to base events and an app to improve contractor accountability. The apps were two of the top three ideas chosen during AFIMSC’s inaugural Innovation Rodeo March 1.

  • Air Force advances innovation at “Spark Collider”

    In Air Force-speak, the Spark Collider “will accelerate the matching of Air Force problems with viable solutions” by being equal parts speed dating, tech showcase and pitch sessions. The Air Force’s effort to innovate is part of a central tenet for defending the United States as outlined in the

  • AFRL licenses second technology to local firm

    This marker, along with a second patent by Brott and his team involving infrared phosphor technology, has recently been licensed to Battle Sight Technologies, which expands to their existing collection of infrared technologies. This technology works similarly to the dials on a watch, absorbing

  • AFSPC rolls out new enterprise data strategy

    The command’s enterprise data strategy will provide the means to ensure greater mission success. It is a framework that integrates space enterprise data sources into a common, resilient and agile architecture optimized for space domain awareness and responsive multi-domain operations at speed and

  • Air Force brings defense planning into 21st century through modern software

    For much of the defense community, the ease and functionality of modern technology is not translated to military planning systems. While cumbersome acquisitions processes, funding issues and security concerns are often valid causes, many Department of Defense processes (and any software associated

  • Simulators prepare Airmen for real-world scenarios

    “They blink, they breathe,” said Raymond Jernigan, 633rd MDG simulator operator. “Even the baby simulators have motion. They cry. I can program it to talk. They can be programmed to have physiological responses – I’ll set the vital signs.”

  • Air Force targets drones during latest Pitch Day

    The day-long event began with thirteen pitches from businesses, followed by deliberations by Air Force junior officers and civilians, who chose to award Phase 1 small business contracts to every Pitch Day participant.

  • 100th surgical team completes robotic surgery training

    This milestone is significant for Keesler’s InDORSE program, showing how far the curriculum has come since the program first stood up in March 2017 with just one robot. Now, InDORSE has acquired a second robot, allowing them to train more military surgical teams across the Department of Defense as

  • Donovan visits B-21, X-37B facilities, L3 Harris Technologies

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan visited Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Design and Development Headquarters and the Kennedy Space Center to review the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Processing Facility, as well as the newly merged L3 Harris Technologies, Inc.

  • Final AC-130U Spooky returns from combat deployment

    While still on alert to respond to contingencies as needed for the next few months, the Spooky is being replaced downrange by the AC-130J Ghostrider, the most lethal and innovative gunship in the world.

  • JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst hosts first-ever base-level Pitch Day event

    The two-month process, which started in April, began when the 87th Contracting Squadron published problem statements from the 87th Air Base Wing, 305th Air Mobility Wing, 621st Contingency Response Wing and Expeditionary Operations School, requesting innovative solutions from small businesses to

  • LEGACY youth program builds interest in STEM careers

    The Leadership Experience Growing Apprenticeships Committed to Youth, or LEGACY, program is an Air Force program aimed at building interest in science, technology, engineering and math through summer craftsman camps and paid summer apprenticeships while showing how STEM applies to the world around

  • Air Force gathers innovators for Tyndall AFB rebuild

    To that end, members of the Tyndall Program Management Office, along with Air Force experts, industry and community leaders participated in an AFWERX-sponsored workshop June 25-26 in Las Vegas to rebuild the installation as a “base of the future.”

  • Providing access to space through innovation

    The U.S. Air Force and Space Command are powered by innovation. Because of this, Vandenberg Air Force Base is continually making improvements to base facilities, equipment and the way Airmen and mission partners do their job in order to complete the space mission.

  • Interagency exercise paves way for progressive training

    The training simulated a hostile’s attempt to capture a nuclear asset. Security forces Airmen, who arrived by both Humvee and helicopter, began to combat the threat and worked their way toward retaking control of the launch facility. After neutralizing the threat, recapturing and securing the launch

  • Air Force announces artificial intelligence research with MIT

    Beginning this summer, the combined officer and enlisted team representing various Air Force career fields, is expected to work with researchers at MIT to harness the university’s student talent, renowned faculty and state-of-the art facilities and laboratories. The partnership will address a broad

  • 365th TRS rides the AF innovation wave

    Instructors from the 365th TRS coordinated to do away with traditional, antiquated paper training materials and transitioned to teach an entire course using tablets, a teaching method today’s Airmen are accustomed to. The first class to use the tablets will graduate in August.

  • Hanscom AFB software teams decode F-35 maintenance

    Software teams from Hanscom Air Force Base are fielding applications that help aircraft maintainers at Nellis AFB, Nevada, plan for successful operational testing of the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II.

  • AFRL matching tech to needs with international partners

    A group of AFRL scientists and engineers, hosted by Dr. Ehud Galun of the Israel Ministry of Defense, visited universities throughout Israel to learn about their technology focus areas and explore areas of common interest. The group included seven representatives from the European Office of

  • CPI office augments mission effectiveness, efficiency

    Sometimes it takes an outsider’s perspective to discover a new way of thinking about a work process to make it more efficient and effective in execution.For the Air Force Materiel Command Continued Process Improvement team, the ‘outsider perspective’ is the heart and soul of their Air Force mission,

  • AERONet prototype could provide combat insight to allies

    The Airborne Extensible Relay Over-Horizon Network, or AERONet, digitally links friendly forces, providing them with their own location, the location of other friendly forces and real-time enemy movement updates. It will be showcased to partner nations at the Bold Quest exercise in Finland this

  • Exercise Rapid Weasel enhances 52nd Fighter Wing innovation, readiness

    “Rapid Weasel was a demonstration of the 52nd FW’s ability to rapidly project combat power by opening an airfield, refueling and re-arming fighter aircraft, then quickly departing to other locations,” said Lt. Col. Leonardo Tongko, 435th Contingency Response Squadron commander.

  • Sustaining Global Supremacy

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson talks about adaptation and innovation in the Air Force throughout its history and how both play a key role in sustaining global supremacy. The speech was given Feb 28, 2019, at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

  • Innovation is in our DNA

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson talks about Air Force adaptation and innovation.

  • AFMETCAL updates NextGen

    The updates included fixes to software bugs and automated support capability for pieces of old and new Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment.

  • Using dynamite and TNT to enhance nuclear mission

    With the assistance and expertise of explosive ordnance disposal Airmen from the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron, AFTAC’s Systems Development Directorate personnel tested a new system to determine if their creative ingenuity could be operationally deployed in the field.

  • AFIMSC partners with industry for future success

    That was the message delivered by presenters during the annual Air Force Installation and Mission Support Industry Day held in conjunction with AFIMSC’s Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 9.

  • CSAF stresses importance of mission support role at I-WEPTAC

    The Air Force’s top general stressed the installation and mission support community’s role in the National Defense Strategy when he kicked off the 3rd Annual Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference, or I-WEPTAC, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, April 8.

  • Robotic system advances minimally invasive surgery

    The 99th Surgical Operations Squadron, or MSGS, performed their first robotic general surgery using the da Vinci Surgery System, April 3, at the Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center at Nellis Air Force Base.

  • Military to bring eye care to front lines with mobile app

    Eye injuries in a deployed setting can be a significant setback for any Airman, but new telemedicine capabilities are helping to keep them in the fight. With funding from the 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, Air Force and Army medical researchers are developing a HIPAA-compliant

  • Firefighter training goes virtual

    Firefighters train weekly to maintain readiness, so when the call comes to put their lives at risk for the people they serve, they are prepared.Whether in training or on a live fire, they are susceptible to various carcinogenic toxins - until now.

  • RAF partners with PTN to innovate pilot training pipeline

    It’s been said that “seeing is believing” and after a visit last May to the Pilot Training Next facility in Austin and facing a pilot shortage, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force is taking innovation to the next level with the inclusion of a student and an instructor pilot in the second iteration

  • PTN innovations move to undergraduate pilot training

    Beginning May 31, 2019, flying training wings across Air Education and Training Command will formally begin integrating innovations from Pilot Training Next into the undergraduate pilot training curriculum, 19th Air Force officials announced at the PTN Technology Expo held March 12-13.

  • 16th TRS puts control of learning in students' hands

    Ensuring Airmen are ready to meet the joint-warfighting needs of today’s dynamic security environment in a way that moves with 21st century speed is a challenge faced in every training environment in Air Education and Training Command.

  • Innovation Rodeo moves ideas closer to reality

    Three innovative ideas to support worldwide warfighter success are one step closer to reality today thanks to the first Air Force Innovation Rodeo, $650,000 in total seed money and a partnership with AFWERX and tech accelerator companies.

  • Spangdahlem AB master sergeant wins Spark Tank competition

    Master Sgt. Jonathan Maas assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was named the 2019 Spark Tank winner during the Air Force’s Spark Tank competition at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium Feb. 28, in Orlando.

  • EQ-4 Global Hawk Controlled‘Beyond Line of Sight’

    One of the assets flying missions from Al Dhafra Air Base, is the EQ-4 Global Hawk. This remotely piloted aircraft previously required coordination with other bases to control it while in the air. Now by utilizing technology this process can be conducted locally.