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Welcome!

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What can we do to help you?

  • In-House  
    Assist and collaborate with your Airmen to identify a problem set (generate problem statement) & develop solutions in-house.
     
  • Collaborative Research  
    Connect Airmen with AFWERX, DoD, or consultant to further develop/accelerate project to solutions. 
     
  • Knowledge Exchange   
    Furnish your Airmen with academic opportunities for individual or organizational learning. 
     
  • SIF Management 
    Provide guidance to squadrons to meet CSAF intent and assist with squadron innovation funds supporting projects. 
     
  • SBIR Collaboration  
    Partnering with AFWERX to pair up your pain points with startups who can provide the solutions. 

Elevate Office

Educate explore exploit


INTRO TO 3D PRINTING
Are you interested in 3D printing and looking for a practical and compact entry-level course, but don't feel like reading or searching for information? Then this course is well suited for you! In this workshop you will learn all the basics you need to know in order to operate a 3D printer and create your own 3D printed objects. Start now with this professional, descriptive and step-by-step 3D printing tutorial, made by Elevate’s Chief Maker!  Sign up now!

 

Air Force Innovation ARticles

  • Dreams to virtual realities

    Virtual reality is known for its entertainment purposes, but what if it can be utilized to develop Air Force personnel through on-the-job learning? This idea was presented at the 2023 Air Force Materiel Command Spark Tank event, which provided Airmen and Guardians an opportunity to pitch innovative

  • AFWERX AFVentures enhances SBIR/STTR program to increase tech transition

    AFWERX AFVentures began the new fiscal year with multiple enhancements to the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer, or SBIR/STTR, Program after Congress reauthorized the program, Sept. 30, 2022. These improvements aim to further encourage domestic small businesses to

  • Learning professionals gather, connect during symposium

    The Air Education and Training Command (AETC) learning community gathered to connect and optimize learning ecosystem efforts, while showcasing the diversity of the group, during a learning symposium in San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 27-29, 2022.Learning professionals collaborated on interest areas such

  • 2023 AFMC Spark Tank finalists announced

    With strong competition from over 20 innovative Airmen submissions turned to five semi-finalists, the Air Force Materiel Command named its 2023 Spark Tank finalists, Oct. 6.

  • AETC Innovation Summit set for Oct. 12

    Air Education and Training Command’s A9 Innovation and Analysis Directorate will virtually host the 8th annual Innovation Summit (iSummit), Oct. 12, 2022 from 9:30 a.m.  – 11:30 a.m. CST.The iSummit provides AETC Airmen, at all levels, a platform to share experiences on innovation activities and

  • AEDC Spark Tank 2023 kicks off Oct. 1

    Building off the success of this year’s AEDC Spark Tank program, AEDC personnel are once again being asked to submit their latest innovative ideas for the next one starting Oct. 1.All AEDC team members, including DOD civilians and contractors across all AEDC units, including those geographically

  • Training in the 21st Century

    The 317th Airlift Wing recently supported an Air Mobility Command training initiative called Targeted Training Video (TTV). Over a two-week period, multiple members from the 317th Maintenance Training Section and the 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron supported videographers, graphics developers,

Motivation

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

TED Radio Hour: Failure Is An Option

Difference Between Innovation and Invention

Why Innovation is Crucial to Your Organization

What Really Makes Something Innovative?

How Leaders Inspire Innovation

 

Leader's inspiration

"...We have to think about the technology and the innovation that we need 10 to 15 to 20 years from now. We have to start thinking about it and start building it right now." - CMSAF Kaleth O. Wright 

"Innovative Airmen find better ways of doing the mission... Their intrapreneurship makes us more lethal, more efficient — they must be supported by leaders who not only remove unnecessary barriers to success, but who also lift up and champion their ideas... And because we’ve shown them we believe in their ideas, I want them to keep swinging until we find the answer." - Gen David L. Goldfein 

"Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It is fueled from a spirit of experimentation and driven by Airmen with the best training, the right tools, and a workplace environment that promotes innovation. The threat and environmental challenges presented by our adversaries require that we aggressively investigate mission-focused ideas involving machine learning, artificial intelligence, autonomy, big data analytics... AMC will make bold investments in innovation that increase readiness and posture AMC forces to remain effective in a fast-paced and challenging future." - Gen Maryanne  Miller 

“We are at the beginning of a big culture shift in the government. We woke up and said we are not the only funder or inventor of new technology anymore…we are a partner with those who do.” – Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics 

Take a 3D printing class!

 

Newsletter

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CONTACT US

Chief Innovation Officer
(vacant) 

Deputy Chief Innovation Officer
Mike Martinez

SEL/Lead Engineer
Master Sgt. Matthew Sabo

Innovation Specialist
Staff Sgt. Brad Vickers

Contact Us
Email: 375amw.safb.elevate@us.af.mil
Phone: 618-256-4802

Where are we located?
The lab is located on the second floor of the Warmer Fitness Center.


Elevate is an Airmen-led innovation office focused on connecting our Airmen's problems to those in industry, academia or government. 
We work closely with AFWERX, the Secretary of the Air Force's innovation arm, and the main conduit for executing Small Business Innovation
Research, or SBIR, funds for the Air Force.

Elevate is a grassroots innovation program whose mission is to bring tomorrow’s tools to the warfighter today while inspiring a bottom‐up culture of innovation. We create unique opportunities for external partners to work directly with military on interesting problems, which also allows for rapid fielding solutions. 

Have an idea?

Please send any innovative ideas or service requests to us via our intake form found at the below QR Code & link.