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      Air Force announces Spark Tank 2020 selecteesAir Force announces Spark Tank 2020 selectees
                        
                        
                        Spark Tank is an annual competition where Airmen pitch innovative ideas to top Air Force leadership and a panel of industry experts. Key project themes include improved task management, commercial best practices for healthcare, workforce development, automation, suicide prevention and detection, and maintenance and airfield assessment innovation. (U.S. Air Force courtesy graphic)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Air Force announces Spark Tank 2020 selecteesPublished Jan. 9, 2020
                    
                    By AFWERX Public Affairs
            **AUSTIN, Texas (AFNS) --**As the Air Force continues to build an organizational culture that empowers intrepreneurs, it doesn’t hurt to celebrate them and give them a stage to share their projects too.It’s been nearly a year since Master Sgt. Jonathan Maas was selected to present his prototype of a renewable-energy chemical agent detector during Spark Tank 2019, alongside five other ideas from Airmen across the force.Now, as 2020 arrives, the Air Force has selected six more ideas to be shared directly with Air Force senior leaders at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium, Feb. 28 in Orlando, Florida.“Spark Tank is a chance to celebrate our Air Force risk-takers, idea makers and entrepreneurs who refuse to accept the status quo, and have determined their own fate by developing solutions that make it easier for us to bring our very best to the fight,” said Lauren Knausenberger, Spark Tank director.The selection process looked at the need for specific capabilities as well as concerns of safety, policy, Air Force-wide implementation, technical feasibility and scalability.Spark Tank also offers Airmen the opportunity to get their ideas in front of key enabling agencies that can share expertise and resources such as funding or personnel for the projects being presented and demonstrate pathways for intrepreneurs to make their initiatives successful.Although only six ideas will be pitched on stage at this year’s Spark Tank, more than 200 Airmen took the plunge and submitted ideas during the campaign on the Air Force’s Ideation Platform, which spurred multiple mini-events at the major command level connecting Airmen with local resources such as public affairs, contracting and legal.Key themes included improved task management, commercial best practices for healthcare, workforce development, automation, maintenance, airfield assessment innovation and suicide detection and prevention.“When it comes to finding new and creative ways to improve our Air Force, often times, we don’t have to look any further than our own teammates,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright. “It’s incumbent upon us as leaders to encourage creativity in problem solving. We must create a culture where Airmen are often trying, sometimes failing, and never giving up. This is how truly innovative teams get ahead. We owe it to our team, and to our nation, to do everything we can to bring the best ideas forward with programs like Spark Tank.”The selectees to present at Spark Tank 2020 are:**Digital Airmen - Robotic Process Automation**Tech. Sgt. Cherrod J. OverbeyJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas - Air Force Personnel Center  **Portable Magnetic Aircraft Covers**Tech. Sgt. Daniel R. CabanJB Langley-Eustis, Virginia - Air Combat Command  **K-Wedge C-17 Globemaster III Loading Aid**Tech. Sgt. Brett M. KiserAl Udeid Air Base, Qatar - Air Mobility Command  **Low Cost Threat Emitter Replication**1st Lt. Daniel A. TreeceLuke Air Force Base, Arizona - Air Education and Training Command  **Weapons Loading Smart Checklist**Chief Master Sgt. Gabriel L. Flagg, Master Sgt. Gabrial A. Valenzuela and Tech. Sgt. Benjamin E. AngleySpangdahlem AB, Germany - U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa  **Battery Cell Extraction Tool**Master Sgt. Robert D. Tingle and Master Sgt. Roy E. PuchalskiJB Lewis-McChord, Washington - Air Force Reserve Command  ________________________________________The confirmed panel of “investors” for the 2020 event include Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright and Elon Musk, SpaceX chief executive officer.Are you itching to tackle one of your unit or career field’s pain points but don’t know where to start? Connect with your local Spark Cell or start your own to gain access to the larger AFWERX community and start solving problems at your unit.FS 



USAF 



AF 



Secretary of the Air Force 



Air Force Chief of Staff 



SecAF 



CSAF 



Spark Tank 



innovation 



AFwerX 



AFA 



Air Force Association 



Air Warfare Symposium 



risk takers 



idea makers 



entrepreneurs 



CMSAF 



Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 



AFPC 



Air Force’s Personnel Center 



JB San Antonio-Randolph 



JB Langley-Eustis 



ACC 



Air Combat Command 



AMC 



Air Mobility Command 



Al Udeid AB 



AETC 



Air Education and Training Command 



Luke AFB 



Spangdahlem AB 



USAFE-AFAFRICA 



U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa 



AFRC 



Air Force Reserve Command 



JB Lewis McChord 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