AFWERX

AFWERX is an Air Force program focused on improving the culture of innovation within the United States Air Force that was announced on July 21, 2017, by the Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson at the Nellis Air Force Base. AFwerX was created to offer innovative people and problem solvers with small amounts of money with the intention of reducing bureaucracy and promoting innovation while increasing the lethality of the Air Force at a lower cost. It is located close to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Its location was decided to be in Nevada, Las Vegas to be in close proximity to students and faculty of the University of Nevada, and for small businesses and entrepreneurs to be able to connect easily with the Air Force.

At the time of announcing AFwerX, Heather Wilson made the following statements regarding the launch of AFwerX:

We’re changing the way we do business with innovators. Bringing an AFwerX storefront to Vegas allows us to take advantage of Nevada’s emerging idea marketplace. We have to move faster and be smarter. We know there are people out there with answers to problems, with ideas and innovations, and we are going to look at what they have and help them help us.

What is AFWERX?