Page 9 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, May 2020

8 May 2020 http://www.luke.af.mil Thunderbolt news Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt 9
May 2020
Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Officials sign agreement for oral fluid AfwErx (from Page 1)

novation within U.S. Air Force by improving
workforce agility and breaking down barriers
to change.
coronavirus testing at AF installations wellbeing: Help us ensure the continued
• Empowering Airmen and family
wellbeing of our Airmen and their families
with actionable ideas that further create a
Secretary of the Air Force also lead to broader use for testing the U.S. In addition to scalable production, Roper network of care.
population. said the oral swab test could be self-admin- Space Challenge
Public Affairs
The agreement provides for the initial istered and sealed for laboratory process- AFWERX has partnered with the U.S.
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Department of production of more than 40,000 test kits ing without taxing healthcare workers Space Force, Space and Missile Systems
the Air Force signed an agreement April 17 and associated training for military medical or medical supplies. “The entire chain of Center, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Educa-
with Curative, Inc., to deploy and scale an personnel. Testing is expected to begin in events required for testing appears to scale. tion and Training Command. This initia-
oral fluid coronavirus test, which recently early May. The agreement establishes one Our job now is to demonstrate this quickly,” tive aims to acquire technology from four
received a Food and Drug Administration laboratory, in addition to Curative’s exist- Roper said. separate topic areas.
emergency use authorization, across Air ing lab, and eight testing sites at yet-to-be Clinical studies suggest Curative’s oral • Persistent ISR technology: Help us
Force installations. named military installations across the con- fluid test has equivalent sensitivity to bring together existing and future technol-
The Department of the Air Force’s Rapid tinental United States. Each lab is expected nasopharyngeal swab tests that require a ogy solutions to create a comprehensive
Capabilities Office, in coordination with to process up to 50,000 test examinations per nurse. Curative has deployed its oral test Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnais-
the Defense Health Agency and Joint day. These orally administered tests have an kit at drive-thru and other centers in Los sance system that spans the globe.
Acquisition Task Force established by the average turnaround time of 24 hours. Angeles, testing more than 57,000 people • DOD commercial space partner-
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & “For over two years, we’ve been acceler- at a rate now grown to approximately 5,000 ships: Help us identify cutting-edge com-
Sustainment and DHA, is managing the $13 ating our government purchasing system per day. The Air Force hopes to scale this an mercial satellite technology and uncover
million research and development Blanket to work with innovative tech startups who order of magnitude in a manner replicable new payload ideas, designs and prototypes
Purchase Agreement with the COVID-19 need fast decisions and cash,” said Dr. Will for national need. to expand the DOD’s capabilities.
testing startup. Roper, the Air Force’s acquisitions czar. “We “Though our starting point is the military, • Global space transport and de-
The Assistant Secretary of Defense had the right innovation network in place to we’re ensuring there are no ceilings to going livery: Help us develop a space resupply
(Health Affairs) and DHA are the healthcare find this potentially game-changing test and bigger,” Roper said. “We assigned our best and delivery system that can quickly and
R&D funds manager, and approved the in- strike a deal at wartime speeds. Our men and brightest from the Rapid Capabilities accurately deploy packages, supplies and
vestment as a risk reduction alternative to and women in uniform, and our nation, need Office to build the plan. They’re living up equipment to any location on earth.
nasal swab testing. Successful testing could a highly-scalable coronavirus test.” to their name.” • Space asset resiliency: Help us
increase the longevity of our space assets
AADD PrOviDES riDES FOr Call 623-856-AADD (2233) by increasing their durability against the
unique space environment and enemy
Airmen Against Drunk Driving AirMEn in nEED Questions? Call Senior Airman Alea Gentles at 623-856-7232. threats. Courtesy of AFWERX

Aircraft

Fabric

Mask

Quality Double-Layer
Pleated Face Masks

• 100% Cotton, Aircraft Novelty-Print Fabric
• Lining: 100% Cotton (Neutral Solid Color)
• Dimensions: 7.5” w x 6” h (when extended)
• Comfortable 3/8” Elastic Ear Loops
• Lightly Wired Across Top for Security

$ 17 .50 Shipping MADE IN THE USA
Free

Aerotech News and Review is celebrating our 34th year serving aerospace and military with
breaking news! During the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to provide well-made masks for
our aerospace family! This also helps support our local small business during these times.

available for purchase at
www.aerotechnews.com/shop