Joint Base San Antonio

Innovation Cells 

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Joint Base San Antonio AllSpark

The leaders of innovation cells at Joint Base San Antonio have opened the lines of communication in order to share ideas that can benefit units and organizations throughout the installation.

Since July 2021, innovation cells led by members of various JBSA wings, major commands, and units have had informal quarterly meetings to discuss how they can collaborate, sharing ideas and solutions, to help JBSA as a whole. Now, through official innovation, or spark, cells, Airman and Guardians at JBSA can connect, collaborate, and tap into the growing body of knowledge around innovation in the Air Force and Space Force. Currently, there are over a dozen spark cells at JBSA. 

JBSA ALLSPARK 230731

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AFWERX, a Technology Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the innovation arm of the Department Air Force, accelerates agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with Airman and Guardian talent. In AFWERX, AFVentures expands the Defense Industrial base for advanced technologies, Spark empowers Airmen and Guardian talent, and Prime drives transition to operational capability. Teaming across academia, industry, investment, interagency, and international partners is essential to expanding technology, talent, and transition of dual-use capabilities. Last year, Fast Company ranked AFWERX #16 of Best Workplaces for Innovators.

The AFWERX MISSION is to accelerate agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with Airman and Guardian talent. You can learn more about AFWERX and our mission HERE.

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SPACEWERX is the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a part of AFWERX, powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory. SPACEWERX blends the best of commercial innovation with the needs of the men and women of the U.S. Space Force who depend on space technology to do their jobs. Learn more about SPACEWERX HERE. 

Innovation News
Innovation, scalability and data the focus as PTN 2.0 begins
February 28, 2019
2nd Lt. Seth Murphy-Sweet, Pilot Training Next student, takes a 3D vision test prior to virtual reality flying training at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, Feb. 5, 2019. Like the first version of PTN, the second iteration is working in a strong collaboration with AFWERX’s Austin hub at the Capital Factory, gaining conduits into industry that help the PTN team work solutions to issues they encounter as they develop the program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sean M. Worrell)
AFWERX hosts Spark Cell workshop to share ideas, build innovation network
January 4, 2019
Maj. Ryan Brewer (right), 14th Flying Training Wing Spark Cell director, explains how the Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, Spark Cell is creating a culture of innovation at the AFWERX Spark Cell Workshop Dec. 13, 2018, in Austin, Texas. The workshop was designed to help grow the network of willing collaborators and share ideas and approaches that foster a results-driven culture of innovation.
AFIMSC Innovation Office seeks game-changing ideas
December 17, 2018
2018 Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference attendees read about one of the four mission area working group chairmen who led a team to think innovatively in tackling one of the Air Force’s toughest agile combat support challenges during the San Antonio event out-brief. The May 16 out-brief presented proposed solutions to about 1,000 senior Air Force leaders and members of the installation and mission support community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Armando Perez)
Pilot instructor training "embraces change" through virtual reality
October 22, 2018
Lt. Col. Derek McCafferty (left) and Maj. Erik Jones, 99th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilots, prepare for a virtual flying training sortie Oct. 9, 2018, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The 99th FTS, along with the 560th FTS, have integrated virtual reality simulators into the pilot instructor training syllabus as part of an overall strategic effort to leverage emerging technology across the training enterprise.
Air Force senior leaders announce 2018 Spark Tank Competition
September 18, 2018
Enlisted, officer and government employees may now submit their innovative ideas for the 2018 Air Force Spark Tank Competition. The competition calls for Airmen to pitch their innovative ideas to the Air Force’s senior leaders through the the IdeaScale Ideation platform at usaf.ideascalegov.com, and will culminate in a showcase of those ideas in Orlando, Florida, early next year at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium.