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      Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives team maintains ‘pulse’ on change across AFMCPublished March 16, 2023
                    
                    By Marisa Alia-Novobilski
                    
                    
                    Air Force Materiel Command
            **WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --**CDX logo
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










**Air Force Materiel Command** Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives Office, or CDX, continues to make a positive impact as it keeps a ‘pulse’ on change across the enterprise and connects Airmen to strategy.

Born out of the 2019 **AFMC We Need** initiative, CDX focuses on driving change from the ground up, supporting and advocating for ideas with the potential to make positive impact on command processes at all levels. While initial CDX efforts focused on assessing and addressing enterprise needs identified through the AFMC We Need surveys and focus groups, the unit’s mission has evolved into one focused on continuous collection and analysis of data related to enterprise needs while driving support for actionable change across the command.

“We focus on breaking down barriers, inspiring change and cultivating a culture of innovation for the Airmen of AFMC,” said Kim Norman, CDX director. “Since our inception, we have helped unit-level program managers navigate new systems, helped organizations develop organic solutions to problems, championed the removal of non-value-added processes, advocated for innovative Airmen solutions and more. We continuously monitor and assess our command environment and champion change in all areas.”

With a core headquarters team of 13 augmented by a network of more than 250 change agents across the command, CDX achieves its mission by leveraging the ideas and innovations driven by Airmen and civilians across the enterprise. The team helps find ways to implement grassroots change through policy change analysis, idea development and access to the corporate framework for funding and support. Since inception, the team has tackled over 186 initiatives impacting more than 146,000 Airmen across multiple major commands.

“We rely on our workforce to identify things that aren’t working, barriers they can’t overcome alone, or new ways we can achieve missions that require support through advocacy and resourcing. We’ve established multiple ways that Airmen can share with us,” Norman said. "We visit our installations and speak with Airmen, hold innovation campaigns, conduct training programs, host virtual dialogue sessions, meet regularly with our points of contact throughout the command and more to identify areas of need. We assess the issues, ensure ideas align with our overall **AFMC Strategic Plan** and try to link the innovators with subject matter experts, advocates and potential funding sources to help move their concepts from idea to implementation.”

To meet mission requirements, CDX focuses its personnel and resources into three primary mission areas:**Airmen-Driven Mission Enhancement** - Accelerates grassroots change by breaking down barriers, seeking quality-of-life improvements and acting as the ‘voice’ of AFMC Airmen**Continuous Improvement and Innovation** - Leads Command-Level Continuous Process Improvement and Innovation events, provides related training and mentoring, and serves as the CI2 Pertinent Oversight Authority for AFMC**AFMC Innovation Integration** - Seeks ideas that can scale to enterprise solutions, connects innovators with resources to incubate their ideas, and manages AFMC innovation efforts

Each of the mission areas, or cells, are highly connected but each maintains a specific focus with the overall goal to move ideas to execution, ensuring all tie back to the lines of effort identified in the AFMC Strategic Plan.

“We want Airmen to look to CDX as a ‘Pathway to Improve, Innovate and Integrate Change,’ which is our motto. Each of our cells have a specialty area, with a path for Airmen dependent on their need,” said Bethany Weiser, Airmen-Driven Mission Enhancement Cell lead. “Our success and mission depend on Airmen. While we’re constantly collecting and assessing data that may reveal issues or roadblocks that need to be addressed, we need our workforce to also continuously look at ways to improve day-to-day missions and identify things that may be impacting their quality of life so that we can then work together to drive positive change.”

AFMC CDX maintains a comprehensive SharePoint site with information on programs, tools and ways for Airmen and civilians to become involved in their mission **here**(cac-required).

The organization also publishes a quarterly newsletter, recently rebranded as "The AFMC Pulse,” which highlights ongoing programs, success stories, innovation opportunities and more. The newsletter is published on the CDX SharePoint site and is distributed through internal channels.FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AFMC 



Air Force Materiel Command 



Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives Office 



CDX 



Change 



modernization 



pulse 



Newsletter 



Airmen-Driven Mission Enhancement 



Continuous Improvement and Innovation 



AFMC Innovation Integration

Related Links
        CDC no hat, no salute policy goes command-wide
                                Nov. 22, 2021
                                A new policy designates Air Force Materiel Command installation Child Development Centers as, “no hat, no salute” zones.
            
            AFMC releases $8 million towards accelerating change, innovation
                                June 21, 2022
                                The funded projects support ongoing AFMC We Need efforts with an emphasis on technology, innovation, talent management and infrastructure across the mission.
            
            Continuous Process Improvement: chats, programs provide accelerated readiness
                                Oct. 8, 2021
                                Air Force Materiel Command Airmen seeking new ways to innovate and accelerate change have multiple resources to support their efforts, thanks to programs led by the Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives team. Among these resources are two programs that offer training and mentorship on the ‘how’ aspect
            
            Designing the future, step-by-step
                                May 6, 2022
                                The Continuous Improvement and Innovation team, also known as CI2 held their training symposium at the Wright Brothers Institute in downtown, Dayton, Ohio, April 23-26. Their theme, “Creating the Next Generation of CI2 Leaders: Let’s Design the Future” was key to what they hoped to accomplish.
            
            AFMC launches “AFMC We Need” initiative
                                July 2, 2019
                                In an effort to make certain the Air Force Materiel Command is ideally structured and resourced to support the National Defense Strategy, AFMC leadership has launched an enterprise-wide initiative that will empower its Airmen and civilians to help shape the future of the command.
            
            AFMC reinforces value of mentoring, AFMC We Need
                                Jan. 8, 2021
                                To ensure the command and the Air Force has a strong leadership base to fly, fight and win into the future, the Air Force Materiel Command continues to encourage personnel at all levels to participate in mentorship programs in 2021.
            
            AFMC designates $5 million for AFMC We Need efforts
                                June 1, 2021
                                The Air Force Materiel Command released $5 million in funding for projects across the mission as it continues to drive towards the goals of the AFMC We Need.
            
            AFMC funds $5 million in additional AFMC We Need efforts
                                July 28, 2021
                                The Air Force Materiel Command has released an additional $5 million for projects across the enterprise, continuing the drive towards the goals of the AFMC We Need initiative launched in 2019.
            
            ‘AFMC We Need’ continues to drive change
                                Oct. 2, 2020
                                One year after its launch, the Air Force Materiel Command 'AFMC We Need' initiative continues to drive success across the mission, bringing positive change and improvements, moving the command closer to the ideal set in motion by the operation’s pursuit. 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
                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
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
 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