News United States Air Force
 SpaceWERX launch announced during AFWERX AcceleratePublished Dec. 8, 2020
                        
                        
                        Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs
                **WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --**
                AFWERX kicked-off its inaugural Accelerate event Dec. 7 with an exciting announcement on the formation of SpaceWERX, a new entity that will focus on technologies for the United States Space Force.“As we approach the first anniversary of our newest Service, the United States Space Force, we also celebrate the opening of the first space-focused innovation hub at **Los Angeles Air Force Base**,” said **Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett**.“Innovation is embedded in the DNA of our Air and Space forces. AFWERX is uniting the ingenuity of Spark, AFVentures, and Prime with the expertise of the Air Force and Space Force to propel us toward an inspired future,” she said.“I am excited to announce the standup of SpaceWERX, a Space Force affiliated arm of our AFWERX team, out at Los Angeles Air Force Base, where our amazing men and women at the Space and Missile Systems Center bring amazing capabilities to bear in space for our warfighters every day,” said **Dr. Will Roper**, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.Roper also explained that AFWERX successfully completed the experimental phase and has transitioned to the **Air Force Research Laboratory** under the **Air Force Materiel Command**.AFWERX is “connecting formally to the acquisition system and AFMC, the big purchasing engine that we represent in the Air Force and Space Force,” Roper said.SpaceWERX will closely align its efforts with space operators and acquisition professionals within the USSF Space and Missile Systems Center and work with other groups that contribute to our national security space architecture, including AFRL. These stakeholders will identify warfighter needs and match technologies to opportunities for integration.“The global space economy continues to grow at rapid rates, and SpaceWERX is going to help us continue our momentum,” said **Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson**, Space and Missile Systems Center commander and program executive officer for space.“The goal is to expand the space industrial base by guiding additional partners, leveraging commercial investment, and rapidly pursuing new space technologies that could be game changers for our space warfighters,” he said. “SpaceWERX will help ensure that Space Force can tap into those cutting-edge space technologies.”With day one of Accelerate completed with a focus on SpaceWERX, day two promises an exciting look into new business opportunities with AFWERX into 2021.To register and learn more about AFWERX Accelerate, visit **www.afwerx.com**.For the live feed of the event activities, visit **www.afwerx.com** or **http://www.af.mil/live** beginning at 12 p.m. Eastern through Dec. 11.FS 



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