Photo By Staff Sgt. Danielle Sukhlall | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Kochlany, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive...... read more read more
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Eielson’s Iceman Spark team, in collaboration with the 354th Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel and a team of two from Junior Force Warfighter Operations in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (designated “JFWORX”), held a live-fire test to assess the blast wave mitigation effectiveness of snow here last month.
The extreme cold of Alaska winters which makes standard ordnance disposal procedures challenging or close to impossible was the impetus for this innovative endeavor.
“Arctic operations provide unique challenges,” said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Nicholas Cavanaugh, the 354th Fighter Wing director of innovation. “In this case, EOD is limited on the ability to use water and sand during winter months so we wanted to find a resource available to mitigate blast in the arctic.”
It began when AFWERX received a request for technical support from Eielson’s Iceman Spark. AFWERX is not an acronym, but the name of an Air Force program that promotes innovation. Pulling together individual programs with relatively small amounts of funding, AFWERX works to draw in new entrepreneurs with fresh ideas to work on Air Force programs. Iceman Spark is a grassroots organization of Airmen at Eielson Air Force Base who provide innovative solutions in support of the 354th Fighter Wing.
After receiving the request for technical support from Iceman Spark, AFWERX directed them to JFWORX at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. With subject matter expertise support from across RX, JFWORX members traveled to Eielson to spearhead the four-day test studying the blast mitigation properties of snow.
On a short three-month timeline, JFWORX developed and procured a no-cost blast pressure detection system, designed a functional snow barrier, and delivered a report on the test findings. The report details the success of the test and the promising performance of snow as a tool for reducing the damaging effects of an explosion.
“This test was a big success for JFWORX,” said 1st Lt. Tyler Despard, who designed the test. “Not only did we support EOD warfighters today, but also future strategy by developing a new tool for Arctic operations.”
This effort will be reviewed and adapted by the Joint Ordnance Technology Division at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, who closely monitored this test, for inclusion in its operational publications.
This test contributes directly to ongoing efforts to posture the force for arctic operations, in accordance with the Department of the Air Force Arctic Strategy, by using the Air Force Research Laboratory’s science and technology enterprise. As part of this project, JFWORX connected with arctic experts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to engage academic professionals for the benefit of explosive ordnance disposal operations.
Cavanaugh believes that the relationship forged between the Iceman Spark team and JFWERX has torn down the wall between tactical level and DoD laboratories.
“Iceman Spark is here to bridge the gap between the strategic push to accelerate change and the effort at the tactical level where the change actually happens.” Cavanaugh said.
As a result of the success of this initial collaboration, JFWORX and Iceman Spark have developed an ongoing partnership, thanks to the initial connection facilitated by AFWERX, and are now working together on several additional projects. This includes providing subject matter expert support to the Eielson perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS/PFOS) contamination cleanup effort. These substances — found in fire-fighting foam — are hazardous to both physical health and the environment. According to the EPA, PFAS/PFOS contaminants do not break down quickly and have been accumulating in the environment since the 1940s.
“With our continued efforts and collaboration, we will be able to better our junior force scientists, engineers, and program managers through solving real Air Force problems with the operational community,” said 1st Lt. Alex Compean.
Editor’s Note: This is a localized version of the original Air Force story, published at
https://www.afrl.af.mil/News/Article/2573675/team-from-air-force-research-lab-finds-a-way-to-use-packaged-snow-as-explosion/
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2021 12:04 |
| Story ID: | 394349 |
| Location: | EIELSON AFB, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Eielson assists Air Force Research Lab in development of innovative way to mitigate explosions using snow, by SSgt Danielle Sukhlall and SrA Jose Miguel Tamondong, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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