Photo By Capt. Emerson Marcus | Earlier this month, the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, became the...... read more read more
About 70 spark cells launched around the world since the U.S. Air Force debuted AFWERX in 2017 -- with a majority in the active duty.
But that's changing as the National Guard enters the fold.
Earlier this month, the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, also known as the "High Rollers," became the newest unit with the creation of "Silver State Spark."
"For more than a decade we've seen the private sector, particularly the tech sector, move in this direction toward promoting new ideas and entrepreneurship as a bottom-up approach," said Col. Jacob Hammons, 152nd Airlift Wing commander, who began planning for the creation of a spark cell shortly after he took command last November. "A Spark Cell gives Airmen of all ranks the opportunity to think creatively toward new and innovative solutions to the challenges they face in the daily conduct of flying, fighting and winning our nation's wars."
Maj. Greg Green, the 152nd Airlift Wing's spark team facilitator, attended a three-day spark cell training last week at the AFWERX hub in Las Vegas.
About 100 military and civilian members of the Department of Defense attended the training Wednesday through Friday.
"A spark cell is a grassroots innovation program that empowers Airmen to bring tomorrow's tools to the warfighter today," said Maj. Tony Perez, AFWERX spark director, who organized the training in Las Vegas.
Each spark cell is different, largely because units receive autonomy in the development of their own program.
Green's program will provide Airmen -- with commander approval -- the ability to spend up to five days during technician work hours or annual training days to research and plan their proposal. At the conclusion of their research and finalization of the plan, an Airman will have the opportunity to present the proposal to their commander for potential implementation.
"Airmen are already approaching us with interesting ideas," Green said. "There's no doubt a demand for improving the way we do business." For more information or submissions, email Green at gregory.c.green6.mil@mail.mil.
Based largely on the "Startup" model, spark cells encourage Airmen to act as intraprenuers, which is widely defined as a person working in a large corporation or government who takes an initiative to create new ideas, products or processes. Some spark cells hold hackathon or collider events. AFWERX hosted its first collider event last year. The Air Force is set to host Spark Collider in Austin, Texas on March 10 and 11 to unite business innovators with the Department of Defense and venture capital stakeholders.
With StartUpNV and the University of Nevada, Reno's Innevation Center, both located in Reno, along with the emergence of tech companies in the region, there's several options for Silver State Spark to connect with community partners, Green said.
"There's definitely potential for growth," he said. "We just need to reach out to our community partners and encourage Airmen here in Reno to come to the table with their ideas."
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2020 11:02 |
| Story ID: | 363836 |
| Location: | RENO, NV, US |
| Web Views: | 279 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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