Wing stands up innovation cell, looks for volunteers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erin McClellan
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.— The 22nd Air Refueling Wing Plans and Programs office is looking for innovative, dedicated Airmen to be members of its new innovation team, XPX.

“[The wing commander] wanted a place for ideas to go to be realized,” said Maj. John Williams, 22nd ARW XP chief. “We’re looking for people who look at the world differently: They recognize problems and are motivated to seek solutions.

“It’s a new concept,” he continued. “XPX is an experiment in itself. It’s a new way for wings to stay agile, modernize and innovate.”

The team is meant to be a group made up of innovative thinkers who will produce homegrown, rapid solutions that will be implemented at the wing quickly and at low cost, Williams said. The goal is for the team to be assembled by the end of January.

“If you think you have a skill that is valuable to the XPX mission, you need to speak with your chain of command to make your desires known,” said Tech. Sgt. Clayton Allen, 22nd XP noncommissioned officer in charge. “This is the chance you've always wished you had to step out of your career field for a moment and work on something new.

“For example, we may have an Airman who was a computer programmer prior to joining but now works in the maintenance squadron fixing jets,” Allen explained. “We need to find these Airmen and add them to our repository of skills to solve various operational problems.”

If approved by leadership to temporarily leave their career fields, applicants will undergo an interview process to ensure they’re right for the position. However, even if they are unable to join the team as active members, Airmen are still urged to identify themselves so they can be called upon when their expertise is needed for specific projects.

For more information, contact Williams at 316-759-1803 or Allen at 316-759-3111.