STEALTHWERX Spark Tank 2020

  • Published
  • By 509th Bomb Wing Innovation Office

Whiteman Air Force Base Airmen have a new means to influence change at the 509th Bomb Wing, Air Force Global Strike, and Air Force-level through the STEALTHWERX Spark Tank.

STEALTHWERX Spark Tank is Whiteman’s competition to identify the best ideas from across our organization, which will go on to represent the base during the AFGSC S3 Spark Sprint competition in the fall of 2020. The winners of the S3 event will move on to represent AFGSC at the 2021 Air Force Spark Tank Competition.

Innovation is about applying methods, processes, technology, or a combination of those to solve problems facing Airmen in the accomplishment of their mission. If you have an innovative idea that helps Airmen by increasing readiness or lethality, whether in your own career field or not, we want to hear from you!

The STEALTHWERX competition is open to all service members, their family members and DOD civilians. If you have a great idea, but don’t like to present in front of people, submit your idea and we will team you up with someone who you can work with to present on your behalf. If you don’t have an idea, but would like to participate in another capacity, let us know!

Whiteman will send two finalists to Barksdale AFB to compete at the MAJCOM level. The finalists will receive coaching on how to better pitch their solution and to enhance their submission video to a professional quality. The finalists will then pitch their ideas in-person to AFGSC leadership to turn their idea into reality. Even if you are not one of the finalists, every submission will be considered to receive funding and resources for implementation from both the Wing and MAJCOM levels.

To compete, you must submit your idea no later than Oct. 2, 2020, but submissions are open now! The STEALTHWERX Spark Tank will take place Oct 9, 2020, with presentations made to Wing leadership. Each individual or team will have eight minutes while in the “Tank”: three minutes to make their pitch, three minutes to show a video explaining their idea, and two minutes for questions.

Submit your idea before the deadline so we can help you prepare your pitch and video for the Spark Tank competition!

Three ways to submit:

1) Visit the Innovations office in the Library and tell us your idea in person. If we aren’t there, you can write your contact info and “idea name” on our Innovation Idea Board outside our office and we will follow up with you.

2) Fill out the electronic STEALTHWERX Submission Form on the Whiteman Air Force Base Website. On the home page, use the CONNECT drop down list and select STEALTHWERX.

3) Email our org box at 509BW.DOWI.Innovations@us.af.mil with your name, unit, idea name, and contact info and we will follow up with you.

You don’t need to have an idea to stop by, come get hands-on experience with some of the newest technology and services on the market, from Virtual and Augmented Reality, to 360 video recording, software coding, 3D printing and laser prototyping. Our goal is to inspire Airmen to get creative and come up with the next big innovative solution. We are located in the Whiteman Library, first door on the left!