Air Force's top scientist visits Travis

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathon D. A. Carnell
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Dr. Richard J. Joseph, U.S. Air Force Chief Scientist, along with colleague Donna C. Senft, Air Mobility Command chief scientist, toured Travis Air Force Base, California, July 11, to experience innovation at the base-level.

Joseph and his team went to David Grant USAF Medical Center, the 60th Aerial Port Squadron and attended a “Think Tank” session with Travis’ Phoenix Spark Program, which is an innovation program designed to deliver tomorrow’s tools to the warfighter today.

“Many Airmen think of innovation as something which has to change the entire Air Force,” said Joseph. “Really though, it can be any idea which can make the Air Force and its mission easier.”

“Travis’ Phoenix Spark Program is inspirational,” he said. “It has made Airmen all around the Air Force understand that they can make an impact. In just a few minutes talking to Airmen, you realize just how high a quality of people are serving our nation and are making that impact.”

Over the last year, the Phoenix Spark Program developed and improved on 3-D printing, mounted electronic flight bag holders, laser paint removal and night-vision goggles, which are just some of the 50 projects currently being refined to enhance mission readiness.

Air Force leadership has opened the innovation faucet and supports Airmen to create more efficient processes for mission readiness, said Senft.

Airmen are now asking questions of what can improve their unit’s mission, finding a solution and acting on it, she said.

With the expansion of innovation throughout the Air Force, Senate defense officials have advanced a proposed $675 billion Pentagon spending measure for 2019, to invest in innovation and research to maintain America’s military edge, according to Defense News.

“This bill sustains U.S. force structure and improves military readiness,” said Richard Shelby, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman. “It also recommends investments in future technologies needed to defend our nation in an increasingly complex and competitive national security environment.”

Travis’ innovation efforts are preparing the Air Force for a possible future where it might face a near-peer adversary inside of a contested environment, said Joseph.

“All Airmen in their respective units can create breakthroughs to advance and make their unit more efficient,” said Joseph. “You can make the Air Force a stronger and better force by starting with an idea, finding a solution and acting on it.”