Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, February 2020

“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen”
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 Key spouse program, 2
 F-35s, F16s train daily, 3
 Military tax services, 4
 Virtual to reality: F-35A,
B-2, 5
 DoD-level maintenance
award, 6
 New RTT initiative, 8-9
 Chaplain’s thoughts, 10
 Medical ops during Desert
Shield, Desert Storm, 13
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Frequent Updates – Breaking News – Local • Regional • National
February 2021
Vol. 20, No. 2
Spark Tank 2021 finalists announced
by
SeCReTARY oF The AiR FoRCe
Public Affairs
ARLiNGToN, Va. — It’s been nearly a year since
Master Sgt. Gabrial Valenzuela, Capt. David Coyle and
Lt. Adam Treece were selected as co-winners of Spark
Tank 2020 for their Smart Weapons Loading Checklist
and Low-Cost Threat Emitter concepts.
Now, with 2021 underway, Air Force and Space Force
leaders have selected five more ideas from the Spark
See finALists, Page 12
The Spark Tank trophy is back up for grabs at this
year’s Air Force Association Virtual Aerospace War-
fare Symposium Feb. 26. At last year’s event, Airmen
shared the trophy after Air Force and industry leaders
Staff Sgt. James Richardson declared a two-way tie.
Thunderbolt Spark Cell ignites Airmen innovation
by Staff Sgt. bring opportunities and resources to
AmBeR CARTeR Thunderbolt Nation and will foster
your ideas on how to accomplish our
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs mission in innovative ways.”
In August 2020, Air Force Chief Capt. Christopher Dylewski, 56th
of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., FW Commander’s Action Group of-
released his strategic approach en- ficer and Thunderbolt Spark Cell
titled “Accelerate Change or Lose,” director, is leading the charge by
and followed this statement up in establishing the cell at Luke AFB.
December 2020 with action orders “The Spark Cell is a one-stop shop
that represent his call to Airmen to for Airmen,” said Dylewski. “We ex-
ist to make the lives and service of
move forward aggressively in the Thunderbolt Nation better and will
push toward change “allowing more
space for innovation.” do that by collecting ideas, getting
Luke Air Force Base answered after them in innovative ways and
that call to action with the creation bringing outside resources into Luke
of the Thunderbolt Spark Cell, of- to work on solutions.”
A direct approach, and allowing
ficially announced Jan. 5. space for innovation means less Airman 1st Class Leala Marquez
“It is our job as senior leaders
to make it as easy as possible for hurdles and more freedom for ideas. First Lt. Adam Treece, 56th Operations Support
Squadron intelligence readiness chief, and Capt.
those of you who want to make a
“The Spark Cell will report di-
positive difference for our Air Force rectly to Gen. Kreuder, but will David Coyle, 56th OSS weapons officer, test a proto-
and our fellow Airmen,” said Brig. have support from AFWERX,” said type threat emitter system Jan. 17, 2020, at Luke Air
Gen. Gregory Kreuder, 56th Fighter Dylewski. “AFWERX is an Air Force Force Base. Treece, Coyle and Wylie Standage Beier,
entity that expands technology, tal- Arizona State University electrical engineering PhD
have directed the establishment ent, and transition partnerships student, made the project ‘Making Waves,’ to create a
with outside organizations in or- low-cost, mobile threat emitter system to be used in
Thunderbolt Spark Cell. training for fifth-generation aircraft. The team is one
“The Thunderbolt Spark Cell will See innovAtion, Page 12 of six finalists in the annual Spark Tank competition.
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