News

Air Force Spark Tank 2021 open for competition

  • Published
  • By L. Cunningham
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs

The fourth annual Air Force Spark Tank is open and soliciting innovative ideas from all.

The annual event to pitch innovative ideas to a panel of industry experts and Air Force leadership takes place at the Air Force Warfare Symposium February 2021.

Instructions for submitting an idea have been distributed by email and can be found under the, Innovate Your Ideas, desktop icon. The suspense for 55th Wing submission is August 14, 2020.

“The only bad idea is the one not submitted,” said Dudley Allen, 55th Wing Continuous Process Improvement Program process manager.
The Air Force Spark Tank initiative developed from the AFWERX was established in 2017 as a problem-solving program, encouraging ingenuity and innovative ideas. AFWERX brings academia, Airmen and industry together to solve our must vexing problems.

This program studies submitted problems and hosts problem-definition workshops before accessing the network to help produce creative solutions. With customized workshops available for active-duty Airmen, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserves, Department of Defense civilians, small businesses and the industrial base.
AFWERX has three innovation hubs: Austin, Texas, Washington D.C, and Las Vegas, Nevada. AFWERX collaborates with industry and academia through these hubs. 
Many bases have Spark Cells giving Airmen access to resources and support across the Air Force innovation network, which allow for rapid communication and the creativity of local experts, academia, industry and the government. Here are Offutt there are two Spark Cells: Soaring Buffalo and Bocks Car.

“We like to think of ourselves as a catalyst for agile Air Force engagement across industry, academia and non-traditional contributors to create transformative opportunities and foster an Air Force culture of innovation,” Allen said. “Our goal is to help units solve problems and enhance the effectiveness of the Air Force by enabling thoughtful, deliberate, ground-up innovation across the Air Force.”

The Air Force Ideation program gives Air Force units the ability to source new ideas from their local Airman and Department of Defense civilians. This Ideation platform is the starting point and is as close as your desktop. Open the, "lightbulb," icon for, “Innovate your Ideas,” this site holds downloadable AFWERX guides, an innovation handbook, and links to the Ideation platform. 

“We’re looking to the future through Airmen’s eyes,” said Allen, “and helping to develop the Air Force of tomorrow, today.”

To participate visit the AFWERX site at afwerx.af.mil