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Team Comments – Q3
Team Comments – Q3 What does an AF CyberWorx “win” look like? As we touched on in previous newsletters, we use our unique blend of user experience and modern problem solving/product development methods to tackle a wide range of operational and organizational challenges. The solutions can range from a white-paper strategy/policy recommendation, re-engineered business processes, …
Good News – OPTIMIS – Q3
Good News – OPTIMIS – Q3 As Lt Col Helgeson stated above, we’ve had multiple wins the last quarter. OPTIMIS is but one example and shows what we love to do: take a previously unaddressed end-user need, develop a prototype, and transition it to maturity and full sustainment. In March 2018, the 21st Airlift Squadron …
ARCHER: Collaboration for Excellence
ARCHER: Collaboration for Excellence AF CyberWorx and the Extreme Digital Development Group Enterprise (EDDGE) teamed up to tackle Project ARCHER virtually despite the challenges of COVID-19. The magic of the dream UX team wove together active duty end users and creators of the original tool into a working group for an incredible experience. This event …
Q2 Newsletter
Team Comments AF organizations need help solving big problems in more fields than just cyber. We’ve accelerated our pace and expanded our scope to meet the demand utilizing our seasoned user experience (UX) team and proven research methods. Putting the user first creates the best solutions for policy, operational, and organizational challenges enabling emerging warfare …
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AIR FORCE CYBERWORX LEADS THE AIR FORCE IN VIRTUAL HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
AIR FORCE CYBERWORX LEADS THE AIR FORCE IN VIRTUAL HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN AF CyberWorx Paves The Way For Others In The Air Force To Innovate Virtually Just as Air Force CyberWorx became the experts in leading in-person, human-centered design events, the team is now stepping up to become the experts in leading virtual sessions. Since the …
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Virtual Sprint How-To Guide
Virtual Sprint How-To-Guide By: Air Force CyberWorx UX Design Team Executive Summary The following is a collection of notes on various issues with respect to conducting remote or virtual sprint events. These notes are based on both experiential data and from reading dozens of articles on the subject. We do not advocate for any specific …
April Newsletter – 2020
DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS I’m often asked what AF CyberWorx is, or what kind of Cyber products we develop. My reply is always that we are a problem-solving organization. It doesn’t matter if the problem involves Cyber, C2, Personnel Recovery, Logistics, Training, Personnel, or even the Mental Health problem. We are about to tackle them all with …
DONE RITE
At AF CyberWorx, we pride ourselves on our capability of Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation (RITE). RITE, by its very definition, iterates gathering requirements, designing prototypes, user testing those prototypes, learning what did and did not work from real users, and repeating throughout the design and development process. This increases the functionality and usability of …
ARTIFICIAL OR AUGMENTED INTELLIGENCE: WHICH SOLUTION IS RIGHT FOR YOUR PROJECT?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the latest ‘gadget’ that companies want to add to every project. However, it’s not the silver bullet that many folks hope it to be. It has its strengths and limitations. To overcome AI’s limitations, Augmented Intelligence optimizes the strengths of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), and human capabilities. The fundamental limitation …
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JANUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER – #AFCTM SPRINT DELAYED, YET SUCCESSFU
COLLABORATION Last week, we had a slow start due to the snow storm on Tuesday; but, AF CyberWorx was able to recover and have a successful #AFCTM Sprint. Six teams split into groups of six and worked together to solve challenges related to Air Force’s Cyber Talent Management. We’ll have a press release and report prepared …
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PART FIVE: AFTER THE SPRINT: NEXT STEPS
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event PART FIVE: AFTER THE SPRINT: NEXT STEPS A design sprint’s ultimate goal is to improve a situation, whether that means improving an existing process or developing a new product. Not acting on the solutions a team suggests means a design event has not fulfilled its purpose. AF CyberWorx continues working beyond …
STEP FOUR: THE OUTBRIEF
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event STEP FOUR: THE OUTBRIEF The finish line of a design sprint is the final outbrief. This last piece is when participants and decision makers see the results of the hard work everyone has put into finding a solution. The outbrief is an integration of everyone’s efforts during the event and …
STEP THREE: SOLUTION DESIGN
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event STEP THREE: SOLUTION DESIGN The solution design portion of a design sprint is often considered the most fun and free-flowing part of an event. This is what people come to the event for: to come up with solutions to their problem. What most newcomers to the design sprint process don’t …
PART TWO: BREAKOUT GROUPS
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event PART TWO: BREAKOUT GROUPS AF CyberWorx design sprints are tailored to the needs of the stakeholders. One crucial aspect is the number and diversity of participants in the group. Events at AF CyberWorx can have as few as five people and as many as forty or fifty. In each group, …
PRE-GAME PART ONE: DISCOVERY CALL
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event PRE-GAME PART ONE: DISCOVERY CALL When AF CyberWorx gets a request to run a design sprint, it’s like kicking an anthill…without all the biting that follows. There’s a series of meetings scheduled, logistics starts plans to make everything run smoothly, and team members are selected. One of the most important …
PRE-GAME PART TWO: EXPECTATIONS
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event PRE-GAME PART TWO: EXPECTATIONS “Our thoughts about an event can have a dramatic effect on how we go through the event itself.” –Martha Beck, life coach Any time a group of people are about to embark on a new goal, there are expectations. As much as motivational quotes talk about having …
PRE-GAME PART THREE: PROJECT LOGISTICS
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event PRE-GAME PART THREE: PROJECT LOGISTICS What do hotels, food, security, and video recording have in common? They’re all part of the chain of logistics that happens behind the scenes before a successful event. The AF CyberWorx logistics guru is Cheyenne Ellis. She does more than just gather and send out …
PRE-GAME PART FOUR: PARTICIPANT ROLES
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event PRE-GAME PART FOUR: PARTICIPANT ROLES Many moving pieces go into a successful design event at AF CyberWorx. Each person has a specific role to play: multiple roles, in some cases! While the most visible roles are the participants and the facilitator at the head of the room, the magic wouldn’t …
STEP ONE: REFINING THE PROBLEM
Dissecting the Design Sprint Event STEP ONE: REFINING THE PROBLEM The first step during a design sprint at AF CyberWorx is refining the problem. Stakeholders have an idea of what problem they want to solve. They may want to save time, streamline or automate processes, fix a system showing bad metrics, or set up a …
PRE-GAME PART TWO: EXPECTATIONS
PRE-GAME PART TWO: EXPECTATIONS “Our thoughts about an event can have a dramatic effect on how we go through the event itself.” –Martha Beck, life coach Any time a group of people are about to embark on a new goal, there are expectations. As much as motivational quotes talk about having no expectations, they still exist …
PRE-GAME PART THREE: PROJECT LOGISTICS
PRE-GAME PART THREE: PROJECT LOGISTICS Written By: Author What do hotels, food, security, and video recording have in common? They’re all part of the chain of logistics that happens behind the scenes before a successful event. The AF CyberWorx logistics guru is Cheyenne Ellis. She does more than just gather and send out a hotel …
ABOUT THOSE TPS REPORTS!
Photo: Shot from Office Space AF CyberWorx is focusing on Human-Centered Design for the month of October. It’s the secret ingredient of all that we undertake and can be an extremely valuable addition to most processes. Please follow us on social media to gain more insight into the value of Human-Centered Design and enjoy this week’s …
AF CYBERWORX KNOWLEDGE DESIGN
AF CyberWorx is focusing on Human-Centered Design for the month of October. It’s the secret ingredient of all that we undertake and can be an extremely valuable addition to most processes. Please follow us on social media to gain more insight into the value of Human-Centered Design and enjoy this week’s blog post by our …
THE SECRET TO A SUCCESSFUL USABILITY TEST
AF CyberWorx is focusing on Human-Centered Design for the month of October. It’s the secret ingredient of all that we undertake and can be an extremely valuable addition to most processes. Please follow us on social media to gain more insight into the value of Human-Centered Design and enjoy this week’s blog post by our …
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Air Force CyberWorx Announces New and Renewed Partnership Intermediary Agreements
Air Force CyberWorx is pleased to announce their Partnership Intermediary Agreements with the following nonprofits: The Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC), Montana State University-MilTech, Purdue Research Foundation, and RTI International. “AF CyberWorx is privileged to be able to extend our reach to valuable and insightful industry partners through Partnership Intermediary Agreements,” said AF …
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Air Force CyberWorx Director Engages Colorado Springs Defense Community at AFCEA Luncheon
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Chiaramonte, Director of AF CyberWorx, had the honor of being the guest speaker at the monthly Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Rocky Mountain Chapter luncheon, held May 16 at the Peterson Air Force Base Club. The AFCEA Rocky Mountain Chapter serves the defense, intelligence, national security, and military health communities surrounding the five major …
JUNE 2019 NEWSLETTER – UPCOMING SPRINT: #RESQME
INNOVATION We are accepting applications for industry and government partners for our next sprint, taking place July 16-18, 2019. Deadline for applications is Friday, June 21, 2019. Participants in this three-day workshop-style event will use human-centered design to modernize or revolutionize the aircrew CSEL radio. Think you can contribute? We will be answering the question on …
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How to Sprint with AF CyberWorx
You’ve been selected to attend one of AF CyberWorx’s Design Sprints. Congratulations! We are so excited to have you participate with us during our workshop; but, you will soon learn that our sprints are a little different than most workshops. Today, before attending the upcoming sprint, we’ll review what a Design Sprint is, what to expect as …
Recent USAFA and AF CyberWorx Graduate Flourishes in New Position
AF CyberWorx reached out to former cadets who worked with the innovation organization on campus before graduating. We caught up with two alumnae and found out what they are doing now, how their experience in AF CyberWorx influenced them, and what today’s cadets can do to better prepare for a successful future. Read our first …
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USAFA Cadets Win 1st Place at Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
There is no rest for a U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadet. The USAFA Cyber Competition Team had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. over spring break and participate in a cybersecurity breach challenge. They placed 1st within the student-based track and beat out 37 other competitor teams in the 7th Annual Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. …
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MAY 2019 NEWSLETTER – USAFA CADETS WIN 1ST PLACE AT CYBER 9/12 CHALLENGE
EDUCATION There is no rest for a U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadet. The USAFA Cyber Competition Team had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. over spring break and participate in a cybersecurity breach challenge. They placed 1st within the student-based track and beat out 37 other competitor teams in the 7th Annual Cyber 9/12 …
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Deans of Service Academies Visit AF CyberWorx to Improve Sexual Assault Prevention & Response
Recently, the academic deans of all five service academies and US Air Force Academy (USAFA) SAPR leads visited AF CyberWorx and received their first hands-on experience with human-centered design and left to approach their respective SAPR programs with new energy. Participants included Brig Gen Andy Armacost, Dean of the Faculty, USAFA; Brig Gen Cindy Jebb, Dean of the …
APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER – FLIGHT EVALUATION APP AIMS TO REDUCE PILOT SHORTAGEL
EDUCATION There is a pilot shortage in the United States Air Force right now and part of the problem affecting pilot retention is the current evaluation process. It can take up to three months for a student pilot’s evaluation to be submitted after their evaluated flying time. Read about the app that can help change all that …
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Flight Evaluation App Aims to Reduce Pilot Shortage
Better Evaluation Process Leads To Better Efficiency There is a pilot shortage in the United States Air Force right now and part of the problem affecting pilot retention is the current evaluation process. It can take up to three months for a student pilot’s evaluation to be submitted after their evaluated flying time. Should the world’s most …
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Capstone Team Aims High for Self-Healing Swarm
Saving Time and Most Importantly, Saving Lives When a team of firefighters is fighting a wildfire, how can they communicate more effectively among one another and command base to best save resources, tackle their challenge, and potentially save lives? If a first responder is wounded without their medic nearby, how can resources be marshaled to …
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Flight Scheduling App Team Visits F-15E Squadron For Research
As we say at AF Cyberworx, “If it doesn’t work for people, it doesn’t work.” Recently, a team of cadets working on a Flight Scheduling App visited a fighter squadron at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base (AFB) in North Carolina. This trip to Seymour-Johnson helped the team shape their understanding of the problem, which will enable them to create …
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DECEMBER 2018 – JOIN OUR NEXT DESIGN SPRINT: AIR FORCE CYBER TALENT MANAGEMENT
COLLABORATION We’re hosting a design sprint focused on building a better recruiting, talent management, and retention program for US Air Force cyber professionals. For this design sprint, we’re recruiting cyber professionals, HR reps, talent management experts, and, of course, military personnel. The #AFCTM Application deadline is December 17, 2018, while the sprint is January 22-25. Apply today …
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AIR FORCE CYBERWORX TACKLES CYBER TALENT MANAGEMENT WITH HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
(November 6, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO) – Air Force CyberWorx is hosting the Air Force Cyber Talent Management (#AFCTM) project on January 22-25 in its design studio at the US Air Force Academy. The project will involve non-military participants and interested professionals in cyber or HR are invited to apply. “The ability to hire and retain cyber professionals is …
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NOVEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER – FLIGHT SCHEDULING APP TEAM VISITS F-15E SQUADRON FOR RESEARCH
EDUCATION Recently, a project team working on a Flight Scheduling App visited a fighter squadron at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base (AFB) in North Carolina. This trip to Seymour-Johnson helped the team shape their understanding of the problem, which will enable them to create a deliverable that drives to save flight schedulers time and effort, and …
AF CyberWorx Launches Open Design Challenge
AF CYBERWORX LAUNCHES OPEN DESIGN CHALLENGE An open design challenge will allow for collaboration across the country. (July 31, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO) – AF CyberWorx is launching its first-ever open design challenge this August. The online competition is designed to allow people to join from across the nation, bringing together an even greater mix …
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The Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC) Supporting Air Force CyberWorx Announces: US Air Force Smart Bases Design Project
The Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC) Supporting Air Force CyberWorx Announces: US Air Force Smart Bases Design Project Colorado Springs – The Air Force’s CyberWorx program at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), working in cooperation with the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC), will be hosting two semester-long design sprints for …
C-TRAC Announces New “Collider” Series Of Free Technology Networking Events At The Catalyst Campus
C-TRAC Announces New “Collider” Series Of Free Technology Networking Events At The Catalyst Campus The Public Is Invited to the Inaugural Collider Event for Snacks, Speakers and Socializing C-TRAC, the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization, is excited to announce the first in a series of Collider events – a new series of open houses …
CyberWorx to Examine Alternatives to GPS for Warfighters in #PNTNext Design Sprint
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, January 25, 2018 – C-TRAC, the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization, is seeking industry partners for the CyberWorx #PNTNext week-long design sprint, planned for February 26 through March 2, 2018 at the United States Air Force Academy. CyberWorx educates airmen while simultaneously partnering with industry to solve cyber problems facing our …
CyberWorx Design Sprint Planned to Create Proof of Concept for IoT “Smart Bases”
CyberWorx Design Sprint Planned to Create Proof of Concept for IoT “Smart Bases” COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, December 15, 2017 – C-TRAC, the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization, will be hosting the week-long #AFSmartBases-3PT CyberWorx Design Sprint at the United States Air Force Academy January 23 – 26, 2018. CyberWorx educates Air Force Airmen while …
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CyberWorx Design Sprint Examines Multi-Domain Command and Control Challenges
CyberWorx Design Sprint Examines Multi-Domain Command and Control Challenges COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, December 5, 2017 – C-TRAC, the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization, today helped host the concluding out-brief for CyberWorx’ #AFMDC2 semester-long design project at the United States Air Force Academy. CyberWorx partners with industry to solve cyber problems facing our Air Force …
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#Amped600AF Design Sprint
#Amped600AF Design Sprint COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, November 3, 2017 – C-TRAC, the Center for Commercialization, Research and Technology, will be supporting a CyberWorx Design Sprint in December 2017 with a focus on the best way to meld the now-separate Cyberspace with Global ISR – Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities to improve warfighting. CyberWorx educates Air …
#RADAF
AF CyberWorx has released the #radAF tag to show its focus on accelerating human-centered solutions which best resolve Air Force problems. When warfighters have problems fulfilling their duty, the Air Force mission is in trouble. To mitigate this, AF CyberWorx puts the warfighter first as the ultimate user of each solution to Air Force problems. …