Dyess holds first Big Country Innovation Challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kedesha Pennant
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Team Dyess held its first Big Country Innovation Challenge at the 317th Airlift Group auditorium here, June 26.

The challenge promoted the development of new ideas or concepts to improve operations at Dyess and across the Air Force. Nine ideas from 13 competitors were illustrated through a web-based presentation service that connects audiences to the presenters and their content.

Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander, was joined by a panel of judges to listen and evaluate each proposal. Starr encouraged the contenders to wear civilian clothing, so rank had no influence in determining the winning proposals and created an equal playing field.

A total of $5,000 was available to divide amongst the contestants, which was granted dependent on the presenters' needs and the merit of their ideas. However, the competitors were generally seeking support from wing leadership to further their concepts.

Benjamin Kohlmann, founder of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, was one of the guest judges on the panel. DEF teamed up with Dyess to bring together a network of defense entrepreneurs and innovators. Kohlmann founded DEF on the premise of an article he wrote three years ago, "The Military Needs More Disruptive Thinkers."

"The Defense Entrepreneurs Forum is a community of innovators who have come together, across the Armed Forces and government agencies, to introduce new ideas and ways of doing business in the 21st century," Kohlmann said. "It's an informal advocacy organization that promotes innovative ideas at the lower level into the hands of senior leadership in order for them to take action."

Kohlmann was impressed by the majority of the presenters being junior Airmen.

"The real value is having relatively junior Airmen stand before an audience to advocate for an idea," Kohlmann said. "They have been practicing to pitch their solutions to senior leaders who may implement them. That takes a lot of boldness and courage, and it encourages others to come up with their own ideas. It creates a culture of creativity that can really drive us forward."

One of the presentations came from Airman 1st Class Johnathan Kropke, 7th Operations Support Squadron ground radar apprentice, who suggested transferring paper technical orders to mobile tablets in his section, so all files could be available electronically. Kropke placed third in the challenge and was awarded $1,600 to purchase the tablets.

"I felt great about competing in the challenge as I was on a debate team for more than six years, so persuasive speaking helped a lot," Kropke said. "I truly believe in the idea I presented because it shows the necessity of electronics in the work place on the Air Force level. If implemented Air Force-wide, it will not only save money but also be helpful to Airmen."

The competitors were able to benefit from the experience in more ways than the presentation itself. After each showcase, the judges provided critiques to the presenters as they were tasked to provide more in-depth information about their ideas.

"There is always an opportunity for change and improvement, and this platform presents a great opportunity to do that," said 1st Lt. Hilary Ince, 7th Contracting Squadron base support deputy commander. "It also helps practice public speaking, which is an important skill to have throughout your career."

Kropke offered advice to fellow Airmen who are considering voicing their own ideas.

"Airmen should present their ideas through this forum because it may be worth looking into in order to make daily operations run more effectively with ease, especially with a smaller force," Kropke said.

In line with the 7th Bomb Wing's priorities, the Big Country Innovation Challenge offers a resourceful approach to continue to promote innovation at Dyess and the Air Force.

"I would love for this challenge to be an annual event and also spread to other bases," Kohlmann said. "It really empowers our junior force. It would be great for the Air Force to have an Innovation Challenge at every base and turn it into a regional and national competition."