Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Master Sgt. Shane Sneary answers questions during an interview with the 2nd Combat Camera Squadron Oct. 31, 2014, on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Sneary was interviewed about his cost saving submission to the Airmen Powered by Innovation program. Sneary is a repair enhancement program manager with the 57th Maintenance Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Mikaley Towle)Nellis Airman powered by innovation
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Shane Sneary answers questions during an interview with the 2nd Combat Camera Squadron Oct. 31, 2014, on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Sneary was interviewed about his cost saving submission to the Airmen Powered by Innovation program. Sneary is a repair enhancement program manager with the 57th Maintenance Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Mikaley Towle)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Nellis Airman powered by innovationPublished Dec. 4, 2014
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Mikaley Towle
                    
                    
                    99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
            **NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) --**Last December, certain variants of the F-16 Fighting Falcon had their ejection seat's oxygen system modified, which created a new requirement for oxygen bottle testing.
This new change improved overall pilot safety, but also brought with it a hefty price tag -- which inspired one Airman at Nellis Air Force Base to submit an idea to the Airmen Powered by Innovation program.
While on the job, Master Sgt. Shane Sneary, the 57th Maintenance Group Air Force Repair Enhancement Program manager, noticed the ejection seat's oxygen bottles were being replaced when they were due for testing because the base did not have the capability to conduct the test.  
The oxygen bottle’s test occurs approximately every five years at a price tag of $1,400 to $1,800 a piece. To help remedy this, Sneary sought out a Las Vegas-based company to help keep the bottles serviceable much longer.
"Most Air Force bases don't have the capability to afford this test, but this is considerably cheaper than the alternative of buying a new bottle," Sneary said. "My idea has the potential to save a few hundred thousand dollars every five years. This affects us locally because we were waiting on the manufacturer to supply us with the bottles, but it took a while due to the long wait time.
"I've implemented a second process at Nellis AFB," he continued, "that allows us to stockpile freshly tested bottles so that when they're due, the unit can just come and get a freshly tested bottle and not have to wait that extra time."
As Nellis AFB's AFREP manager, Sneary's job is to help maintenance units on the flightline fulfill their mission needs by repairing inoperable aircraft parts, so he's no stranger to saving the Air Force money.
"Sneary's Regulated Emergency Oxygen System, or REOS, bottle idea submission will provide substantial savings in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Block 50 model maintenance costs," said Sean McCully, the 99th Force Support Squadron Airmen Powered by Innovation program manager.
"His proactive approach, thorough research and coordination with the Air Combat Command and F-16 Fighting Falcon engineers led to the approval of testing the REOS bottles," McCully said. "Individuals like Sneary conceiving money-saving ideas continue to support the Air Force's Airmen Powered by Innovation program."
Sneary is one of many Airmen who have submitted ideas they think will help save the Air Force money.
"I think the API is a great program that provides the opportunity for Airmen at every level to submit their ideas," Sneary said. "I think it's important because my idea was very small, though now it has an effect on the entire Air Force. That just goes to show that any Airman can submit a small idea and it can turn into something very big. Every little change matters and it has a great effect on the mission."
The API program came online in April this year and has received and reviewed more than 2,400 ideas. The program's aim is to turn Airmen's ideas into real cost savings for the Air Force.
Airmen Powered by Innovation, or API, will replace three existing Air Force 'good idea' programs - the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, Productivity Enhancing Capital Investment, and Best Practices programs - and expand the role of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century.Nellis Air Force Base 



Airmen Powered by Innovation program Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil