TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. —
$30,000 in Spark Tank Innovation funds had been awarded to 2 entities of the 72nd Air Base Wing at Tinker Air Pressure Base Might 14, 2024.
Spark Tank is an annual competitors the place Airmen pitch modern concepts to 72nd Air Base Wing management. Concepts have to be geared toward creating transformative alternatives and foster a tradition of innovation to resolve issues and improve the effectiveness of the 72nd ABW’s mission to coach arduous, quickly deploy, combat and win.
Submissions for the competitors had been accepted in early 2024. The highest six submissions had been voted on and introduced to 72nd ABW management on the Tinker Occasion Middle.
Judges of the Spark Tank competitors consisted of Col. Abby Ruscetta, 72nd Air Base Wing and Set up commander, Chief Grasp Sgt. Jeff Sipos, 72nd ABW Command Chief, Maj. Michael Kazakoff, 72nd Comptroller Squadron Commander, Chief Grasp Sgt. Thomas Kasten, 72nd Mission Help Group Senior Enlisted Chief and Ms. Roena Roberts, 72nd Logistics Readiness Squadron Director.
For this yr’s competitors, Crew Tinker was challenged to consider modern options to remodel how the 72nd ABW drives analysis, improvement, testing, sustainment, assist, and infrastructure to optimize fight readiness in all points.
“The large thought right here is, we put our cash the place our mouth is,” stated Ruscetta. “We reward our innovators so we will allow them to pursue their concepts.”
Awarded $15,000, and putting third, was the 72nd ABW Public Affairs Workplace with its thought to improve and modernize its photograph studio. The improve goals to extend effectivity in room set-up and switching between photograph kinds, backdrops and help with buyer expertise.
72nd Safety Forces Squadron was awarded $10,000, and second place, with its thought to construct a brand new coaching web site. The power, created inside an current constructing, can be used for energetic shooter coaching, shut quarters battle and some other risk response. Spark Tank Innovation funds can be used to offer doorways/home windows and doubtlessly present the remainder of the funding to complete the mission.
First place, and $5,000, was additionally awarded to 72nd Safety Forces Squadron for its submission to buy iPads. Defenders will use the tablets to achieve prompt entry to a number of legislation enforcement databases which allow companies to function extra effectively, successfully, and safely in fulfilling their mission to guard and serve the group.
“There are lots of good folks on this room that got here along with some nice concepts to push ahead,” stated Ruscetta. “Thanks for bringing your concepts and for the braveness to return up right here to current and pitch them. For individuals who didn’t win in the present day—maintain your head excessive. You’ve got a terrific thought and also you stood tall in the present day and introduced it to us. Hold pushing these good concepts.”
Anthony Drummond, representing the 72nd ABW Civil Engineering Directorate and Joshua Schwertner, representing the 72nd ABW Communications Directorate, additionally introduced concepts to the Spark Tank judges.
The Spark Tank competitors is slated to return in 2025, the place management hope to see one other group of innovators come ahead with concepts to remodel how the 72nd ABW drives analysis, improvement, testing, sustainment, assist, and infrastructure to optimize fight readiness in all points.
