AFGSC Chief Scientist and STRIKEWERX set up new way for Airmen to share, explore tech ideas

Air Force Global Strike Command Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Senft and Cyber Innovation Center President Kevin Nolten cut the ribbon on the new STRIKEWERX Innovation Lab at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. The Innovation Lab features new equipment and capabilities in the form of augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets, computers for modeling and simulation, three 3D printers, a handheld 3D scanner, a makerspace for prototyping, as well as a design space with teleconferencing capabilities. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo by Sean Green, STRIKEWERX)

AFGSC Chief Scientist and STRIKEWERX set up new way for Airmen to share, explore tech ideas

Air Force Global Strike Command Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Senft listens to discussions during the command’s first Consortium for Digital Innovation held Nov. 5, 2024, at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. The consortium will give Airmen opportunities for learning, sharing information, and contributing to new research. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo by Sean Green, STRIKEWERX)

AFGSC Chief Scientist and STRIKEWERX set up new way for Airmen to share, explore tech ideas

Published Dec. 4, 2024
By Sean Green, STRIKEWERX
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

BOSSIER CITY, La. --

Air Force Global Strike Command Office of the Chief Scientist (AFGSC/ST) has established a new way for Airmen to learn about technology, share information with each other, and even get support for innovation projects.

This new opportunity, called the Consortium for Digital Innovation (CDI), will give Airmen opportunities for learning, sharing information, and contributing to new research.

People sit around tables for a meeting — Air Force Global Strike Command Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Senft listens to discussions during the command’s first Consortium for Digital Innovation held Nov. 5, 2024, at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. The consortium will give Airmen opportunities for learning, sharing information, and contributing to new research. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo by Sean Green, STRIKEWERX)

“We are taking advantage of technology, such as artificial intelligence, for what it brings to the fight,” said Dr. Donna Senft, AFGSC chief scientist. “This is about transforming the command’s data and supporting Airmen in their endeavors to innovate new, relevant solutions that free up their time from repetitive tasks toward more critical duties.”

Airmen can become a member of the CDI at no personal expense by joining one of the technical focus cells. The cell options to choose from are data analytics, modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.

Participants who become members of this free opportunity receive the benefits of sharing information to further knowledge, generating ideas, and progressing innovative projects. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend symposiums, network with industry and academia, and pitch new research ideas for support from AFGSC/ST.

CDI is another effort by AFGSC/ST to modernize how data is used throughout the command. AFGSC/ST has been recognized as a leader within the U.S. Air Force in digital transformation, with the Common Risk Picture project cited as a leading data science platform for the Department of Defense.

The CDI will add to these efforts by giving leadership a venue to stay informed on emerging technologies and evaluate capabilities that support the warfighter.

“Like any journey, you start from where you are. As a command, we need to know what we are doing with data, what data we have, and what data we need,” said Doug Fullingim, AFGSC data and AI officer. “Once that is done, we will understand what is feasible and where we need more work to enable advanced analytics.”

Two people stand and cut a large ribbon together during a new facility's opening ceremony — Air Force Global Strike Command Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Senft and Cyber Innovation Center President Kevin Nolten cut the ribbon on the new STRIKEWERX Innovation Lab at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. The Innovation Lab features new equipment and capabilities in the form of augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets, computers for modeling and simulation, three 3D printers, a handheld 3D scanner, a makerspace for prototyping, as well as a design space with teleconferencing capabilities. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo by Sean Green, STRIKEWERX)

STRIKEWERX at the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), the innovation arm for AFGSC/ST, is providing support for CDI with organizational help, planning of symposiums, and setting up resources for idea sharing.

“We are thrilled to support this opportunity for discovering new research and ideas,” said Kevin Nolten, CIC president. “Airmen will have a new avenue to get the resources for researching potential solutions for their most pressing technology needs.”

The first CDI symposium was held Nov. 5 at the CIC in Bossier City, Louisiana. The topic was forward thinking use of AI to maintain superiority over near-peer-adversaries.

More information on any of the items in this article can be requested by emailing STRIKEWERX at info@strikewerx.com, the AFGSC Office of the Chief Scientist at AFGSC.STWorkflow@us.af.mil, or the AFGSC Public Affairs Office at afgsc.paworkflow@us.af.mil.

About the Cyber Innovation Center
Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), located in Bossier City, Louisiana, is the anchor of the 3,000-acre National Cyber Research Park and serves as the catalyst for the development and expansion of a knowledge-based workforce throughout the region. As a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation, CIC fosters collaboration among its partners and accelerates technology, research, and development. One of its primary missions is to develop a sustainable knowledge-based workforce that can support the growing needs of government, industry, and academic partners.

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