SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Transformation and Innovation Office Director of Analysis, Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI2), Brett Clark, recently conducted a tour of the 932nd Airlift Wing and Scott Air Force Base, Ill., June 28.
During the visit, Ken Harris, 932nd AW Continuous Process Improvement chief, provided a tour of various facilities within the wing, including a C-40C aircraft, and highlighted the significance of the Elevate office.
Elevate is a CI2 innovation office led by Team Scott AFB Airmen, which aims to address Airmen's challenges by collaborating with industry, academia, and government. This grassroots innovation program endeavors to equip the warfighter with advanced tools, fostering a culture of innovation from the ground up. It offers opportunities for external partners to collaborate with the military in resolving complex issues and enables the rapid implementation of solutions.
Clark's visit to Elevate, accompanied by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Barnes, Elevate chief maker, facilitated a dialogue on how AFRC can contribute to the broader innovation mission of the Air Force.
Impressed by the facility and ongoing innovation projects, Clark commented "this is some impressive work, and there may be Citizen Airmen with hidden talents who can contribute to solving future innovation challenges."
The visit primarily focused on discussing the current and future direction of AFRC's CI2 priorities and initiatives. Harris stated that the objective was to gain insights into CI2 operations at the tactical level and explore how the AFRC Transformation and Innovation Office (TIO) could support the success of the Wings.
Additionally, Clark expressed an interest in understanding the unique mission of 932nd AW Airmen directly involved in its execution and learning more about the C-40C aircraft.
Harris found the visit highly beneficial in terms of understanding how AFRC's priorities shape the future of CI2 and how they enhance the readiness and problem-solving capabilities of AFRC Wings.
"I am pleased to have had the opportunity to learn about AFRC's CI2 trajectory and how it will contribute to our Wings' improvement," said Harris.
"Mr. Clark's generosity with his time and attention has given me confidence in the future direction of CI2 within the AF Reserve," added Harris.
Empowering Airmen to innovate aligns with Air Force senior leadership priorities. In his message to Airmen, Accelerate Change or Lose, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., wrote, “Most importantly, we must empower our incredible Airmen to solve any problem. We must place value in multi-capable and adaptable team builders, and courageous problem solvers that demonstrate value in diversity of thought, ingenuity, and initiative.”