LAS VEGAS – June 13, 2018 – AFWERX, a catalyst for fostering innovation within the Air Force, marks the beginning of full operations in Las Vegas with a three-day series of public events. The official introduction of the AFWERX Vegas Innovation Hub on June 19 and the launch of its signature event, AFWERX Fusion Xperience, June 20-21 will introduce the public to AFWERX’s mission in an interactive way.
The goal of AFWERX is to source solutions for challenges encountered within the Air Force. To accomplish this, AFWERX Vegas opens its doors to anyone who may have inventive ideas to fit the Air Force’s needs, including students, academic faculty, entrepreneurs, small businesses, established defense companies and more. These innovators utilize AFWERX Vegas’ facility to workshop their ideas and collaborate with experts, getting everything they need to perfect their product for implementation in the field.
“Hosting the Grand Debut of the AFWERX Vegas Innovation Hub alongside our flagship Fusion Xperience event gives us the chance to showcase our capabilities and forward momentum,” said Mark Rowland, the director of AFWERX Vegas. “The tools we’re able to provide at AFWERX Vegas will be a valuable asset to members of the community looking to collaborate with us and advance their ideas.”
Grand Debut of Innovation Hub | June 19 | AFWERX Vegas
AFWERX will celebrate the completion of its Las Vegas hub by unveiling its new Prototyping Lab, a 10,000-square-foot, onsite light fabrication lab, which will work in conjunction with the already established 20,000-square-foot collaboration space. The debut event will feature opening remarks from Maj. Gen. Peter E. Gersten, commander of the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base and one of the contributing minds behind the hub’s design. Guests also will hear from Rowland on how the hub will benefit the local community through collaboration and networking.
At the Grand Debut, visitors will have the chance to see the AFWERX Vegas Innovation Hub in action, learn more about the non-profit organization and participate in interactive demonstrations showcasing the hub’s work. Those interested in attending the event may register at this link.
AFWERX Fusion Xperience | June 20-21 | Enclave Las Vegas
The inaugural AFWERX Fusion Xperience will bring together the top innovators and creative minds from around the country to showcase an array of forward-thinking solutions during a free, two-day event. Attendees ranging from high school students to high-ranking Air Force personnel will learn more about instilling a culture of innovation within the military and beyond through a series of presentations, panels and workshops. Keynote speakers include Jeff Schumacher, Founder and CEO of BCG Digital Ventures, and Jason Korman, Co-Founder and CEO of gapingvoid, both of whom have had great success shifting long-held paradigms within organizations.
The exhibition floor will showcase technologies designed to address perimeter security issues for mobile, fixed and temporary locations. Out of 187 entries submitted as part of a crowdsourced challenge, 50 teams have been selected to demonstrate their solutions. The teams, consisting of small businesses, entrepreneurs, academia and more, will present their innovations to a team of military security experts who will determine which technologies will move on to receive further AFWERX development support.
Anyone interested in attending the public event to learn more about how the Air Force is incorporating innovation and breakthrough technologies into its everyday operations can register atAFWERXFusion.com.
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About AFWERX:
Established in 2017 by the Secretary of the Air Force and reporting to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, AFWERX is a catalyst for agile Air Force engagement across industry, academia and non-traditional contributors to create transformative opportunities and foster an Air Force culture of innovation. The core mission of AFWERX is to improve Air Force capabilities by connecting innovators, simplifying technology transfer and accelerating results.
