# News

## U.S. Air Force LogoUnited States Air Force

# Ideas wanted for 2022 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo; at least $1M up for grabs

              - Published  March 19, 2022
              -                             By Shannon Carabajal                                                    
              - Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs

**JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --  **
The run-up to the **Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center**’s fourth annual Innovation Rodeo began this week with the start of a call-for-topics campaign.  The campaign, open through June 6, gives military and civilian members of the Department of the Air Force’s mission and installation support community a chance to win part of $1 million or more in funding and resources to pursue their ideas. 
The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center kicked off its fourth annual Innovation Rodeo with a call-for-topics campaign starting March 11, 2022. The campaign, open through June 6, 2022, gives military and civilian members of mission support groups around the world a chance to win part of $1 million in funding and resources to pursue their ideas. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Jim Martinez) 
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**-Mobile apps** to make life easier for Airmen and their families, including one to centralize and streamline the subletting of short-term slots at military child development centers.

-An idea to replace the current manual mapping of underground cabling and wiring with the use of augmented reality glasses. 

-A project to leverage **Geospatial Information Systems** and aerial imagery for roof inspections; and 

-A secure mail locker system giving Airmen and Guardians living in dorms convenient access to their mail and packages while freeing up space and reducing mail-processing times at base post offices. 

 02:11VIDEO  | 02:11 |            The SMART Locker, created by Airman 1st Class Ricardo “Noah” Morales, provides Airmen at dorms with a 24/7 accessible mail locker instead of traveling to the base post office which has limited operating hours and takes additional 2-3 days for packages. (U.S. Air Force courtesy video)        A grand opening ribbon cutting for last year’s winning idea, **smart lockers**, is planned for March 30 at **Robins Air Force Base**, Georgia. The idea was submitted by Senior Airman Ricardo Morales, 461st Maintenance Squadron at Robins AFB."It was an absolute honor to win first place, because it reflected long hours and hard work to find an innovative solution that would help not just Airmen around Robins, but throughout the Air Force," he said. "I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to the implementation, and I couldn't have done it without the support of my local innovation hub."Morales credited the AFIMSC Ventures team for implementing and fielding the idea so quickly.  "Their connections to industry really helped, and we held biweekly meetings to overcome roadblocks and discuss potential solutions," Morales said.  Morales encourages anyone – no matter their rank – with an idea to take a chance on getting selected for the 2022 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo.  "Anyone can make a difference in the Air Force," he said. "Don't walk past a problem."  Ideas for the 2022 Innovation Rodeo can be submitted at **here**.
FSUSAFAFAir ForceAFIMSCAir Force Installation and Mission Support CenterinnovationJBSA-LacklandInnovation RodeoAccelerate Change through InnovationACOL