Inspired Innovation Published Oct. 1, 2008 By Col. Mark Dillon 60th Air Mobility Wing commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Travis continues to make significant operational enhancements as a result of steadfast mission focus. Your innovative efforts were showcased recently during the Air Mobility Command Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Award evaluation team's visit. The team was thoroughly impressed with the novel and creative measures you accomplish to optimize mission capability. Several Team Travis endeavors have, or will soon become, DoD benchmarks. A notable example is a software application developed by our intel shop. The "Intersect" software enables leaders and intelligence staff to track Team Travis airframes and deployers. The real-time tracking safeguards our personnel and resources from potential threats, and optimizes mission preparation. This powerful planning tool will revolutionize intelligence analysis, and can eventually be applied to installation force protection. This and other innovative solutions contributed to our installation's selection as this year's AMC IEA recipient and gives us the honor to compete for the Air Force-level award. I am truly appreciative of your efforts, but opportunities for improvement still remain. We must continue to take a critical look at our processes, and identify opportunities to meet the challenges of the future while optimizing productivity. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and renowned innovator, General Omar Bradley, touched upon the importance of innovation when he challenged, "We need to learn to set our course by the starts, not by the lights of every passing ship." Regardless of one's rank or position, you are all empowered to improve mission capability and continue to build on the world's most powerful airpower. Go forth and innovate!