Stay ConnectedThe DisruptiveAF Podcast provides an inside look into the minds of defense changemakers who think differently about the role they play in their organizations and search for innovative ways to provide value to their communities.
We alternate between perspectives at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels to explore the stories, views, and experiences from the highest levels of leadership to service members at the level of execution.
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Jay Vizcarra: "Observe your landscape and simply see where you fit into that landscape while coevolving yourself and your community." Lt. Col. Jay Vizcarra is the 461st Air Control Wing Innovations and SPARK chief at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He's been involved in a number of AFWERX projects including the COVID-19 National Response Team and collaborative manufacturing efforts. Outside of work, he enjoys drone photography and snowboarding. During this episode, Viz joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss the purpose and benefit of building an innovation ecosystem, projects stemming from the COVID-19 response, and helping servicemembers get out of their comfort zone and envision what's within the realm of the possible. AFWERX Office Hours: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/office-hours.html If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show! For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Cherrod Overbey: "If you really believe in it, go for it. To make these things happen, you have to really not be afraid of failure." Tech. Sgt. Cherrod Overbey is a personnelist with the Air Force Personnel Center and has started AFPC’s Robotic Process Automation Journey. Cherrod recently competed in the AFWERX Spark Tank 2020 competition where he was able to pitch the power of RPA to Air Force senior leadership and guest judges. Cherrod is passionate about improving Airmen everyday lives at work and making work smarter not harder. During this episode, Cherrod joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss embracing failure, being open to new ways of thinking, and implementing new technologies into Air Force operations. AFWERX Office Hours: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/office-hours.html If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show! For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Kaylee Schanda: "Take a good, hard look in the mirror. You can't change your perspective if you don't understand your perspective." Kaylee is an experienced Public Affairs officer with a demonstrated history of working in the both the public and private sector. She has a background in media and communication analytics and is working toward a Master of Science (M.S.) in Strategic Communication at Troy University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Literature/Creative Writing from New York University. She's passionate about the combination between strategy and analytics to make informed decisions and removing ourselves from silos through digital collaboration. During this episode, Kaylee joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss leveraging data and customer insights to solve problems and improve capabilities, shaping purpose-driven communication, and understanding your perspective and biases as a key component of grown. If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show! For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Tom Burden: "People often avoid adopting new solutions for fear of it leading to future hazards without understanding the hazards presented by the status quo." Tom is a former Air Force F-16 maintainer who went on to found the company Grypmat and pitch on the show Shark Tank. He's dedicated to developing innovative products that incorporate complexity and simplicity to increase efficiency and user friendliness. During this episode, Tom joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss sharing ideas, remaining persistent and the importance of customer discovery. If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show. For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Jon Margolick: "In the innovation space, it's really easy to end up focusing on processes or tools more than the purpose of the process or tool." As the former Director of the Centers for Adaptive Warfighting at NavalX and now the Truman National Security Project Executive Vice President, Jon Margolick has pursued ways to adapt the Department of Defense to a changing world. He is experienced in the ways of design thinking, agile scrum, lean start-up, and the ways they teach us to know and shape our missions. He's an advocate for empowering leaders and warfighters by delivering industry best practices for complex problem-solving and ideation. During this episode, Jon joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss how to leverage social technology like design thinking and human-centered design to create more inclusive organizations and leverage the power of the diverse talent within your organization. In a culture that often over-prioritizes compliance, Jon shares ways to get back on track and start having difficult discussions and solving problems our servicemembers face on a daily basis. Resources Mentioned: • Training - Centers for Adaptive Warfighting: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/agility/Pages/caw.aspx • Author - Jeanne Liedka: https://jeanneliedtka.com/ • Book - Design Thinking for the Greater Good by Jeanne Liedka • Book - Team of Teams by Gen. Stanley McChrystal • Book - The Scrum Fieldbook by J.J. Sutherland • Book - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink • Book - Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show. For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Jon Margolick: "Design thinking is the antidote to all the things you hate most about meetings. It's nothing more complicated than just being able to converse with other people in a way that makes it possible to actually communicate." As the former Director of the Centers for Adaptive Warfighting at NavalX and now the Truman National Security Project Executive Vice President, Jon Margolick has pursued ways to adapt the Department of Defense to a changing world. He is experienced in the ways of design thinking, agile scrum, lean start-up, and the ways they teach us to know and shape our missions. He's an advocate for empowering leaders and warfighters by delivering industry best practices for complex problem-solving and ideation. During this episode, Jon joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss the importance of warfighter-centered design to ensuring tools and processes provide the value they're intending to create. In a culture that often over-prioritizes compliance, Jon shares ways to get back on track and start solving problems our servicemembers face on a daily basis. Resources Mentioned: - NavalX Centers for Adaptive Warfighting (CAW): https://www.secnav.navy.mil/agility/Pages/caw.aspx If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show. For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Ralphie Short: "We talk about agile, we talk about doing things in minutes, hours and days--but don't go so fast that you miss something. It really pays to be slow and methodical, which will just help you go faster in the future." Maj. William "Ralphie" Short is a Senior Air Battle Manager and Intrapraneur, who creates bleeding edge technology that directly impacts warfighters. He attended and pitched at the first-ever AFWERX Spark Collider in August 2019, and has taken his project "WIDOW" from an idea, to a prototype, to operational software that warfighters are using right now. Ralphie has extensive experience in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) process, and has successfully transitioned WIDOW to a Phase III contract, only one of a handful in the U.S. Air Force that have made it that far. During this episode, Ralphie joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss the importance of customer discovery and choosing the right industry partners when developing solutions. He also highlights the success of a recent project he's been working on, the challenges he's faced along the way, and those around him who've helped make it happen. Resources mentioned: - Book: The Obstacle Is The Way - Airmen Powered by Innovation: https://usaf.ideascalegov.com/ If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show. For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Carrie Martin: "Even if you take a loss here and there, don't stop. You're not always going to be able to change people. You have to inspire your own positivity and make increments of change that are within your power--sometimes your change is your attitude and the way you look at things, even if you can't change policy." Carrie has been involved in the defense innovation ecosystem for about a year. She has attended numerous RAPIDx workshops in various AFWERX facilities. She was recently named the RAPIDx Flight Chief for AFWERX operational support. She is passionate about helping innovators find the best acquisition method for making their ideas become a reality. During this episode, we discuss innovative contracting mechanisms and the office culture needed for experimenting and trying new things. Carrie also mentions the importance of pulling enabling agencies like contracting into your innovation projects early and often. All in all, the key message is that when you innovate, don't forget to build a path behind you for others to follow. Resources Mentioned: - 82nd Contracting Squadron & RAPIDx webpage: https://82cons.com/ - Join AFWERX's weekly office hours: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/office-hour... If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show. For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Ben Kelsey: "We care about resiliency. We saw a gap in what was being provided to Airmen--there are recreation leagues for soccer, football, you name it, but for all the Airmen who are hanging out in their dorms playing video games--there's nothing for them and there's nothing connecting them to other people. We saw it as an opportunity to connect them to other people." SSgt. Ben Kelsey has been in the Air Force for about 7 years as a security forces defender. Outside of his Air Force career, his passion and hobbies are centered around video games. He's currently running Community & Marketing for Air Force Gaming and has spent years making connections in the e-sports and gaming industry and spend his free time moderating for Riot Games among other e-sports leagues on Twitch. During this episode, our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter connect with Ben and discuss how a group of Airmen created what is now Air Force Gaming, a community built on connection and resiliency. This initiative arose when a few Airmen recognized a need within the service that wasn't being met and they combined passion with initiative to creatively approach the challenge. By building on the unique talents of their team, this intrapreneur initiative has grown significantly and provided hundreds of Airmen a place to connect with others within the service. Resources Mentioned: - Air Force Gaming: https://airforcegaming.com/ ; contact@afg.team - Gaming & the Air Force Blog: https://medium.com/innovativeaf/gaming-the-air-force-42bece80bdea If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show. For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
Kathy Reid: "I really had a passion for helping people do things they didn't think they could do--reaching beyond what the limits were." Kathy is the Spark Cell Lead for the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. The Wing has experienced exponential growth in their innovation culture under her coaching. She has been actively involved in the AFWERX innovation ecosystem and event attendance since its inception. She is passionate about inspiring Airmen to relentlessly pursue their ideas, to exceed their expectations and to enable them to leave a legacy that defines our future Air Force. During this episode, we explore what is means to invest in people, give them the tools they need to get started, and allow them the freedom to try new things. By committing to listening to people and empathizing with the challenges they face, Kathy says you're able to move beyond a basic assumption of what their problems are and truly understanding their pain points. We also cover a few success stories and projects happening at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, made possible by a team of innovation coaches and the intrapreneurs they enable. Kathy's Five Tips for Innovation Spark Cell leads: 1. Put Airmen first. Listen to what they have to say because we need to be the enabler they desperately need. 2. Take every opportunity you have to speak to high ranking individuals and pull them in. 3. Tell the story. But don't be positive all the time! Talk about the failures, what you've learned and how you overcame things. That's what truly makes innovation what it is. 4. Connect, connect, connect. Call complete strangers and make the connections that will help you achieve beyond what you can alone. 5. You're going to feel uncomfortable most days. Embrace that feeling as a key attribute to success. Resources Mentioned: - Eglin Air Force Base: https://www.eglin.af.mil/ "If you enjoy the show, we’d love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show! For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx
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