PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force Space Command held its first-ever Shark Tank panel here Sept. 11-12, 2017.
The panel was comprised of Gen. Jay Raymond, commander of Air Force Space Command, Maj. Gen. Robert Skinner, deputy commander of AFSPC, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, Mr. Scott Anderson, AFSPC executive director, Chief Master Sgt. Brendan Criswell, AFSPC command chief, and Col. John Andrus, the AFSPC command surgeon.
The AFSPC rapid-process review, or Shark Tank panel, allows total force Airmen at all levels across the command to present their process improvement ideas directly to senior leaders. A Shark Tank panel will be held each quarter and all active duty, guard, reserve military members, and civilians are encouraged to submit ideas.
The panel is an important tool for total force Airmen and leadership of AFSPC to engage in constructive problem solving discussion to solve issues quickly.
“This is something I am truly passionate about,” said Raymond. “Our Airmen are the experts. If they have an idea that can help our command execute our mission more effectively and to save resources, we will implement it.”
Over a two-day period, the panel received presentations on innovative ideas from AFSPC Airmen stationed all across the country.
Of the ten total proposals presented, four were chosen for implementation by the end of the month, five were accepted and tasked for further research before implementation, and one was deferred to Air Education and Training Command.
Airmen presented a wide variety of process improvement ideas, including updated computer programs to ensure the large numbers of Air Force forms and publications used daily are kept current, while also eliminating unnecessary or redundant requirements. Another proposal would streamline the officer and enlisted performance report process to eliminate basic formatting errors.
The idea submission process is straight forward. Anyone wishing to present an innovative idea should prepare a short bullet background paper that includes the proposal title, summary of improvements and an actionable decision for AFSPC leadership to review. The paper should be sent through a supervisor to the wing commander or equivalent for endorsement.
Once it is received at the AFSPC directorate of manpower, personnel and services improvements office, they will schedule an opportunity for the submitter to bring their proposal directly to AFSPC leadership at a quarterly panel.
To present during the next AFSPC Shark Tank panel individuals should have their idea endorsed and submitted to the improvements office no later than Dec. 15, 2017. For more information or to make a submission, email the improvements office at afspc.a1mi.workflow@us.af.mil.
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