Collaborative effort produces stellar results

Not every endeavor was shuttered in 2021; local entities STRIKEWERX and Collaborative Environment (CE) were busy helping improve effectiveness for the Air Force’s Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

As the result of a partnership between the Global Strike Command and Bossier City’s Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), officials predict those accomplishments will benefit the entire Command.

Local company Pelican Defense Technologies has been working with the Command on a system to allow aircrews to be alerted whatever their location. It will also provide cyber protection for other systems for the Command.

The process of using so-called technology transition solutions has proved an asset to the Air Force’s bottom line as well.

“This project increased competition and saved the government money,” said Joshua Fisher, CIC program manager. Air Force officials estimated program costs dropping from $450 million to $223 million.

STRIKEWERX, in the meantime, was busy prototyping a refueling simulator for the workhorse B-52. Air refueling is critical to flight operations and a mandatory skill for pilots. But training is expensive to maintain and time-consuming to conduct. The new simulator will save an estimated $4 million per year and reduce training time by three months.

Ruston-based Beta Flix worked on a security device known as A-Circuit for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program. The device is very sensitive, and misuse or mishandling can cause timeconsuming repair. Recently, 41 issues with the device cost more than $376,000 and 2,000 man-hours for repairs. What Beta Flix is providing will give personnel “the necessary skills to avoid resetting the A-Circuit or replacing it altogether,” said Jim Davison, owner of the company.

The Portfolio Data Engineering Platform (PDEP) is designed to improve decision-making in the AFGSC. “PDEP has the potential to change the way the entire Command operates. Whether by automating repetitive tasks that soak up airmen’s time and increasing speed of reporting, or making information more available and revealing previously unknown, but useful info,” said Crawford Watkins, CIC project manager for PDEP.

Ten airmen and eight students took part in helping create seven software products during the project. “Airmen leave with skills to better serve their squadron, problem-solving software solutions are developed, local university students gain both industry and military exposure, and industry is provided access to potential future employees,” said Lauren Wheless, CIC program manager for SAC.

CE and STRIKEWERX also hosted 69 events during 2021 with nearly 2,000 attendees. One such event, STRIKEWERX Spark Sprint, or S3, highlighted 13 airmen’s ideas from across the Command.

“We are helping all these airmen push their projects where they need to go. S3 serves to help airmen’s ideas be heard,” said Lt. Col. Luciana Augustine, S3 organizer.