Spark Street: Showcasing Warfighter Innovations by Airmen and Guardians

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – AFWERX will host Spark Street, an event showcasing innovative technologies developed by Airmen and Guardians to solve warfighter problems, during the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 22-24.

The event at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center will feature 24 projects and ideas from Spark Cells and innovation teams. Attendees will learn about how these initiatives have improved and strengthened the Department of the Air Force (DAF).

“Spark Street showcases the remarkable ingenuity, dedication and operational mindset of our Airmen and Guardians,” said Kathy Reid, Spark Deputy Division Chief. “Their efforts have led to groundbreaking innovations, from vital emergency communication systems to advanced AI for aircraft tracking, all designed to empower their fellow warfighters. These collaborative developments, addressing critical warfighter challenges, will equip their fellow warfighters with the tools designed to free up valuable resources needed to attack near-term demands on performance.”

Spark Cells are a decentralized network of Airmen, Guardians and government civilians at Air and Space Force bases worldwide that execute locally generated ideas and projects to foster a results-driven culture of innovation.

Eight projects will be displayed each day during the three-day event. Among the featured innovations are groundbreaking technologies poised to strengthen the DAF’s operational capabilities.

The showcased projects focus on enhancing the effectiveness and survivability of warfighters in austere and contested environments. The projects address key challenges through the development of mobile communication systems, like TacHub and RAVEN, to ensure reliable connectivity and command capabilities. 

Additional innovations like Project K-RATH and the Aircrew CRU-60P Seat Belt Mount focus on direct support for personnel, providing lifesaving resources and improving operational comfort and safety. Ultimately, these technologies seek to improve mission readiness and logistics by using technology and agile development to support decentralized operations.

Innovators from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, will showcase TacHub, a portable, networked command center for military use in crisis-response situations. The Airmen responsible for the TacHub concept include: Chief Master Sgt. Steven Harris, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Functional Manager; Master Sgt. Matthew Schuyler, EOD Program Manager; and Master Sgt. Matthew Workoff, a Section Chief with the EOD Mission Support.

TacHub features three linked radios for military, medical and local law enforcement communications. The system, stored and transported in a Pelican protective case, offers robust network connectivity, classified and unclassified network capabilities, and other features needed for crisis-response operations.

According to Workoff, the original requirement driving the project grew out of an exercise in Europe, directed by the Secretary of Defense’s office. The general officer attending the exercise needed the ability to access communications resources while en route to crises and upon arrival, Workoff said. However, devices such as satellite phones were hindered by spotty coverage and an inability to pass data and video, he added.

“We already had the core capabilities on hand for our EOD unique requirements and were able to successfully give (the general officer) access to classified systems while in the air and on the move,” Workoff said. “That is where we designed the initial TacHub kit concept to have a single kit that could open and provide someone access to everything they needed immediately and with limited training.”

In the near-term, the TacHub innovation team – which has expanded to 10 Airmen – set out to solve an issue raised by their general officer. Longer term, though, they hope to see TacHub assigned to every Air Force EOD deployable team to provide access to classified and unclassified networks anywhere in the world.

Spark Street also will spotlight medical innovations.

For example, K-RATH is a unit that attaches to unmanned aerial systems (UAS), making it possible to transport blood and conduct transfusions in austere environments. A four-person team, all trained in battlefield medicine and other related specialties, developed the technology over 20 months.

Tech Sgt. Ryan Kainrath serves as an independent duty medical technician with the 492nd Special Operations Support Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The idea began when Kainrath saw a drone photo during leadership training, and he began thinking of ways the aircraft could be used to save lives.

Initially, he worked with Sgt. Joshua Patterson from Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, Japan on developing the technology. They later brought Col. Jason Garner, a physician at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Maj. Matt Vizer, a physicians’ assistant at Minot Air Force base, North Dakota. Previously, the four had worked together on Special Operations Forces Medical Elements (SOFME), a highly trained team that supports Special Operations Forces (SOF). 

During Spark Street, Workoff hopes demonstrating the TacHub kit to senior leaders will attract high-level DAF support and help transition the technology to a formal program of record.

Similarly, Kainrath said participating in Spark Street should generate interest from Air Force leaders in the K-RATH system. 

“With support, we estimate we will have a product ready for production by the spring of 2026,” he said.

About AFRL  

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX 

As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com.  

About SpaceWERX 

As the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX employs 40 military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $457 million budget. Additionally, SpaceWERX partners with Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office (COMSO) as a collaborative program. Since it was aligned under AFRL in Aug. 2021, SpaceWERX has awarded over 1,470 contracts worth more than $1.46 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: spacewerx.us.