AUiX

Air University’s Innovation Accelerator

17-18 OCT 2023

LEDx Strategy & Grand Opening of
The Eagle Institute

Join us for the Grand Opening of The Eagle Institute at historic Kress on Dexter in Downtown Montgomery! Festivities will kick-off in AUiX fashion with a highly anticipated 1.5 day LEDx conference. Our keynote speakers for LEDx: Stratgey include Lt Gen S. Clinton Hinote, USAF Ret & Judy Smith, “The Fixer” and founder of Smith and Company. We also will have 2 panel discussion, a walking tour and lots of conversation”. Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on the second day.

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*Registration will be required to attend all events. Spaces will open via Eventbrite in September.

For a list of all upcoming AUiX and affiliate group events

Our Vision

Increase AU’s contribution to National Security objectives by taking ideas
“one step beyond.”

Our Mission

Activate and prototype AU ideas of merit through teaching, research, engagements, and community partnerships using a whole-of-nation approach.

 

Speed, Innovation, Culture

“We have the greatest Airmen and best defense and tech industry in the world. We must work to accomplish what seems impossible and rise to the challenges of today to prepare for tomorrow. But we still have work to do and we must collaborate and hold each other accountable … We have the opportunity, but not the time. We must accelerate change to leave our mark and make the impossible possible.”

General CQ Brown, Jr.

Innovate, Accelerate, Thrive

“We must adapt to and become proficient at operating in these diverse and dynamic environments…Wartime cannot be the first time Airmen feel empowered or know how to solve the problems they encounter.”

General David W. Allvin

Rebalanced Mission, Vision Focus

“AETC has the potential to be, and should be, ground-zero for accelerating change across the United States Air Force…that means modernizing, transforming and codifying the equipment, systems, architectures, training and strategies foundational to training and developing every Airman.”

Lt General Brian Robinson

Intent

“Part of our challenge is connecting with the population out there…we have been a little bit disconnected. A diverse range of perspectives and experiences can lead to more innovative solutions and better decision making which can have a positive impact on the local community and economy. But this is one place where we need as broad diversity of experiences and viewpoints as anywhere. This is where we need people who are willing to challenge the status quo and stretch our brains and make us a little bit uncomfortable. If we can do it here, we’re going to do it.”

Lt General Andrea Tullos

How AUiX Accomplishes its Mission

01

AUiX takes your ideas one step beyond

Nearly 200,000 students graduate from Air University each year. Imagine taking just 1% of student research ideas “one step beyond.”

One Step Beyond

What does this mean? AUiX accelerates innovation by taking an idea or research, linking it to strategy, obtaining sponsorship, developing a funding/contracting solution, and connecting the idea holder to the right industry, academia, or government partners towards obtaining traction.

02

How We Get Traction

We teach innovation.

See Courses

We conduct and assist with research.

See Our Projects

We engage the community.

See Conferences and Events

03

Getting your ideas out into the innovation ecosystem

We break through barriers that prevent our Airmen from innovating. AUiX focuses on the hard parts (e.g., funding, contracting, networking, etc.), so Airmen can focus on the ideas.

04

Why Speed Matters

Speed is a strategic advantage in innovation. Speed is the duration (measured in days/weeks/months) a project takes from induction into the AUiX innovation system to milestone-type events and/or capability delivery.

In 2022, AUiX took an average of 1.25 months to go from Idea to Requirement, and 2.8 months to go from Requirement to Contract. That’s roughly 4 months from Idea to Project Initiation. This is fast…but it could be even faster. Imagine the impact if it only took two months from idea generation to prototype.

CSAF is challenging Airmen to “Accelerate change or lose.” The question is: Will we win?

AUiX Projects

Our current portfolio showcases innovative solutions which includes: designing cutting-edge education experience for the next generation of innovators, improving readiness with human performance and gaming apps, and coordinating hardware prototypes for ACE environments.

Project Krayt

The prototype enables mission tasking of deployed forces in remote/austere locations along with reporting status to command and control nodes while also receiving the latest threat and targeting intelligence.

Project Praxeum

Praxeum offers opportunities to leverage stakeholder diversity to capture holistic learning requirements for the discovery of innovative, relevant ways to learn through collaboration.

REFUEL app

An AI backed application that enables Airmen, Guardians + Commanders to easily access evidence-based, comprehensive HP content, coaching, community + analytic tools designed to sustain resilience + readiness as they compete, deter and win.

 

ReFUEL is a Comprehensive Human Performance Center of Excellence App.

Ledx Conference

The conference introduces the topic of social innovation as well as connects the local Montgomery community leaders with AU’s academic professors and military leadership.

Project DAWG

An open innovation tournament for diverse college student groups from top universities to use gaming technology to develop the fundamental competencies of airmen.

Project BESCAR

AUiX Innovative Contracting System: Increases SPEED and Innovation throughput.

AR/VR Education

Integrating AR/VR technology in the classroom provides interactive and immersive learning. These experiences increase exposure to emerging technologies, enhance engagement with educational content, and develop critical thinking skills.

iRTF

Innovation Research Task Force (iRTF) employs AU students, faculty and staff to address issues of importance in areas related to the education and training of innovators.

CAP

The CAP STEM Kit program elevates STEM awareness and opportunities towards building a more capable future workforce.

Blue Horizons

Blue Horizons is an Air Force Chief of Staff-chartered fellowship hosted by the Center for Strategy and Technology at Maxwell AFB.

Project Mercury

Project Mercury helps foster innovation readiness that our nation and strategic partners need in order to maintain free and vibrant societies.

AlighnED

Providing PME students access to senior-leader sponsored research questions, problems, and requirements.

Redstart

Comparison of indices allows for innovation measurements amongst great power competitors allowing for strategic/recoursing decisions.

MHE + HULK

Heavy Utility Lift Kit: MHE built for the ACE environment, able to effectively on/off-load necessary cargo at adaptive bases.

Our Network

AUiX values interconnectivity with academia, military, and industry for driving research and innovation. Our collaboration with other world-renowned academic institutions, government entities and industry partners creates a rich and diverse network of experts, allowing for the exchange of ideas and knowledge. This dynamic community fosters an environment of creative thinking and problem-solving, leading to breakthrough advancements and a greater understanding of our field. By building a community of collaboration and intellectual exchange, AUiX helps accelerate change.

Innovation Education

AU Students

Innovation at Air University:

USAF Outside Of AU

Innovation in the USAF:

DOD Opportunities

Innovation in the DOD:

*Content containing references to or direct mention of non-federal entities on this website is not intended to imply federal government and/or U.S. Air Force endorsement of those non-federal entities.

Rhizome Innovation Network (RIN)

The Rhizome Innovation Network (RIN) is a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for innovation, education, and creativity. The RIN aims to bring together thought leaders from military, academia, government, and industries to collaborate, share ideas, and drive progress. The network fosters a culture of openness and collaboration, providing a platform for members to exchange ideas and work together on innovation projects that can have a meaningful impact on the world. With a wide range of events, resources, and opportunities for connection, this network offers a dynamic and supportive environment for those looking to grow and make a difference.

Project PELLA: A Dynamic Initiative to Expose, Engage and Enrich the Lives of Students During the Most Critical Year

There is no shortage of information on the critical need to provide students with meaningful, early and on-going exposure to the rapidly evolving fields of STEM. From the highest levels of leadership in Alabama, there is urgency to improve and increase learning of these subjects within schools across the state. With more and more jobs, and even our mere way of engaging daily becoming increasingly technical, students who lack experience in these areas will be left behind in their ability to find substantive employment. Additionally, we must ask ourselves, “what potential contribution does society miss by not investing heavily in those who will, inevitably, assume leadership roles – with or without adequate preparation.” Across the organization, AUiX lives by a nonnegotiable standard that to whom much is given, much is required. Through various social innovation efforts, AUiX aspires to be a conduit of change not only in the Air Force community, but also in the lives of these future leaders. 

Collaboration and Mentorship in the World of Innovation

One of the greatest challenges to innovation is stagnation, an inability to think beyond one’s own perception and experience to create transformative and impactful solutions. A quick search on the web yields countless articles emphasizing the need for constant collaboration lest innovators find themselves in stale cycles of monotony, thus diminishing their credibility of being innovative in an ever evolving world. A lesser discussed, but equally viable — dare we say necessary — implementation is that of mentorship.