JUNE 29, 2021 – The 2022 Air Force Materiel Command Spark Tank competition is open now, and Airmen can submit their innovative, game-changing ideas to compete through September 1.
The top five, most innovative and game-changing ideas will be “pitched” to a panel of judges during the AFMC Senior Leader Conference in October 2021. The panel will select the top two ideas as the major command nominees for the 2022 Air Force-wide Spark Tank competition.
“We are searching for ideas capable of delivering revolutionary impact to AFMC and the Air Force,” said Lt. Gen. Carl Schaefer, AFMC Deputy Commander. “Our AFMC Airmen are among the most innovative in the Air Force, and this is an opportunity for them to see their game-changing ideas come to life and make impacts on our future.”
The AFMC Spark Tank runs July 1 through September 1 and is open to all uniformed and civilian Airmen. Submitted ideas will be submitted via Google Forms and should have the potential to make significant impacts on Air Force missions within a six-month to two-year time frame.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our Airmen to share their best ideas,” said Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., AFMC Commander. “Innovation is in our command’s DNA, and it is vital to ensuring our continued ability to be the AFMC We Need to execute the National Defense Strategy. This will be a tough competition, and I look forward to seeing AFMC innovation shine through in the submissions.”
Visit the AFMC Spark Tank Forms submission form here.
About Spark Tank
Spark Tank — the Department’s capstone innovation campaign co-produced by Rich Lombardi, Air Force deputy chief management officer, and AFWERX — unleashes the innovative capacity of Airmen and Guardians, reflecting leadership’s continued efforts to empower intrepreneurs, celebrate their problem-solving skills and give them a stage to share their projects with fellow service members and the world.
Finalists are selected based on specific capabilities as well as concerns of safety, policy, Air Force-wide implementation, technical feasibility and scalability. Spark Tank offers 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 intrepreneurs to make their initiatives successful.
Story by Marisa Alia-Novobilski
Air Force Materiel Command