AFWERX

AFWERX Fellows get a firsthand look at how our organization operates across vast geographical areas and diverse innovation sectors, often with fewer people than a typical Air Force Wing. One such Fellow is Sarah Hubert, who is working on the Spark Cell categorization team. In her role, Sarah visits Spark Cells at Air Force bases nationwide to assess their capabilities and connect them with resources or other Spark Cells with similar areas of focus. Spark Cells leverage innovation to address challenges at both the base and wing levels. By identifying where priorities align across different bases, Sarah's research provides AFWERX with a clearer understanding of their capabilities and offers valuable insights to guide Spark Cells toward further advancement With a background as an Acquisitions Officer and Program Manager, Sarah understands the value of cross-disciplinary exposure. Her work with AFWERX allows her to merge her existing knowledge with new insights from the innovation space, ultimately strengthening collaboration for future initiatives. Looking ahead, Sarah is eager to expand her expertise in app development and automation, which align with her personal interests. After completing her Fellowship, she plans to bring her experiences back to the 88th Air Base Wing, focusing on Rapid Acquisitions and contributing to the Air Force's efforts in the Great Power Competition. Learn more about the importance of Spark Cells or get involved at your base: https://ow.ly/RFFO50U75Uy Discover upcoming Traditional Fellowship opportunities: https://ow.ly/Eh7v50U75Uw . . . #AFWERX #Spark #Fellowship #InnovativeAF #Airmen #Guardians #USAF #USSF #Warfighter #Technology #ActiveDuty #Reserve #Guard #Government #innovation #FellowFriday #acquisitions #SparkCell

COUNTDOWN TO 2025! ??? Join us as we re-explore our time at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2024 Conference. Our AFWERX Prime team always has a great time at this event, and this year was no exception! Check out the full event recap below. . . . #AFWERX #Prime #2025Countdown #2024Highlights #XPONENTIAL2024

DID YOU KNOW ?? SpaceWERX is a unique division of AFWERX aiming to identify, acquire, and integrate innovative capabilities into the United States Space Force? This specialized team focuses on inspiring and empowering collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in the space domain. Here are some interesting facts about our SpaceWERX division: ?? SpaceWERX leverages the same three core programs used by AFWERX - Ventures, Spark, and Prime - but with a specific focus on space capabilities, and utilizes tools such as the SBIR Open Topic, Challenge platform, STRATFI initiative, Prime program, and more! ?? The SpaceWERX innovation collaboration center, THE BR-DGE, seeks to bolster the development of the space industry and connects entrepreneurs, technologists, private organizations and policymakers. ?? Since it was aligned under Air Force Research Laboratory in August 2021, SpaceWERX has executed more than 1106 contracts worth over $897 million to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. By harnessing the power of partnership and innovation, SpaceWERX is driven to ensure that the United States retains unfettered access to space, safeguarding our ability to operate freely and effectively and is paramount to our continued leadership on the global stage. Learn more about SpaceWERX here: https://ow.ly/YqrN50U74UX . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #DAF #USSF #AFRL #collaboration #AmericanIngenuity #smallbusiness #startup #entrepreneur #spacedomain #technology #spacetech #innovation #military #nationaldefense

Join AFWERX Prime at the NATO Edge 24 Conference in Tampa, Florida! ?? Maj. Victor Lopez, AFWERX Integration Prime Branch Chief, will be speaking on the “(Counter-) Drone Innovation for Mission Success” panel on Thursday, December 5 at 9am ET. Maj. Lopez will lead and moderate this session with experts from the United States and partner nations as they discuss how drone technology and tactics contribute to the military mission. This event will take place December 3 - 5 at the Tampa Convention Center. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/GVk950U74x8 . . . #AFWERX #Prime #IntegrationPrime #drones #futureofflight #technology #innovation #event

Airmen across the United States Department of the Air Force strive to foster a culture of innovation and improvement at the bases they serve, encouraging the contribution of ideas that enhance operational effectiveness and quality of life. Tech. Sgt. Collin Stratton, an NCO with the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, introduced an innovative fuel single-point nozzle (SN) adapter solution that removes two-thirds of the time and steps required to take a fuel sample from multiple fuel sources, and is free of water or any other contamination. With help from programs like the AFWERX Refinery, Stratton has scaled up the SN adapter pitch to reach higher-level United States Air Force to possibly provide enough funding to supply adapters to all base POL units. Read more about Stratton’s journey and success: https://ow.ly/92hk50U7WiO . . . #AFWERX #Spark #SparkTank #USAF #DAF #EglinAFB #technology #collaboration #innovation #Airmen

??? The PY25.2 Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) Notice of Opportunity (NOO) is now accepting submissions! The TACFI program was developed to bridge the “Valley of Death” between SBIR/STTR Phase II contracts and Phase III scaling efforts, facilitating delivery of strategic capabilities for the United States Department of the Air Force. There will be two selection cycles during the NOO submission window, and selections will be limited based on available funds: 1?? Cycle 1: Submit packages by January 3, 2025 at noon ET (selection notifications will occur Q1 2025) 2?? Cycle 2: Submit packages by March 31, 2025 at noon ET (selection notifications will occur Q2 2025) Access to the submission documents and upload link is available only to government partners. Small businesses and government partners can check eligibility requirements and guidance documents here: https://ow.ly/AAAV50U73bA . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #Ventures #TACFI #SBIR #STTR #DAF #government #funding #innovation #technology

Innovators from across the United States Department of the Air Force pitched their ideas to a panel of top leadership. The winning idea, F-16 Collapsible ACE Ladder from Maj. Nick Atkins, 31st Fighter Wing project lead, as well as five other innovative ideas, were all supported by the AFWERX team to help transition game-changing tech into the hands of the warfighter. The other ideas included: ?? Flyways Defender: Streamlines decisions to detect, assess, and alert threats faster. ?? LoadPlan+: Streamlines mission prep and aircraft configuration processes. ?? Autonomous Flightline Resupply Vehicle: Cost-effective autonomous flightline resupply vehicle for maintainers. ?? Project Lavoy: Field whole-blood transfusion during contingency operations. ?? Cyber Assess: Simplifies data gathering for the authority to operate packages. “So inspirational. Please keep innovating, please keep leading yourselves and encouraging others to lead innovation,” said Melissa Dalton, Under Secretary of the Air Force. Read more here: https://ow.ly/vWZ450U7iHu . . . #AFWERX #Spark #SparkTank #USAF #DAF #AvianoAirBase #technology #collaboration #innovation #Airmen

STRIKEWERX, the innovation arm of Air Force Global Strike Command, held the grand opening for its state-of-the-art Cyber Innovation Center on November 4. “We think it will be a great expansion in our capabilities to let Airmen dream solutions and then produce them and implement them,” said Dr. Donna Senft, Air Force Global Strike Command chief scientist. Learn more about the opening: https://ow.ly/oy5r50U3czT . . . #AFWERX #Spark #SparkCell #AFGSC #USAF #Airmen #innovation #grandopening #collaboration #technology

Buckley Space Force Base is home to one of only two quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles in the Defense Department designed for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) missions — CHAPPIE. CHAPPIE is more than just a tool for saving lives and improving CBRN efficiency, it represents a legacy of innovation and a testament to the power of new ideas, according to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dominic Garcia, Installation Office of Emergency Management section chief. Learn more about CHAPPIE here: https://ow.ly/Zmn150U3crn . . . #AFWERX #Spark #Ventures #SBIR #CBRN #QUAV #sensors #technology #innovation

COUNTDOWN TO 2025! ??? Our next top highlight from this past year for both AFWERX and SpaceWERX was SXSW in Austin, Texas, at the Capital Factory House! We had amazing representation from our entire organization with many opportunities to meet in-person and hear from us during a number of presentations. Check out the full event recap! . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #Ventures #Prime #Spark #2025Countdown #2024Highlights #SXSW