In the current era of intense global competition, the importance of technology in safeguarding our nation’s defense cannot be overstated. However, many small businesses have faced challenges in integrating their technological solutions into the Department of Defense.
As outlined in the 2023 DoD Small Business Strategy, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized the department’s need to address the decline in small business contracting, cautioning that it could weaken the industrial base supporting our military.
Nevertheless, the landscape is gradually evolving due to the establishment of new organizations at Barksdale Air Force Base, including the Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) A5N Division, also known as the Commercial Capabilities Integration and Transition (CCIT) Division. The Air Force Office of Small Business Programs has played a pivotal role in facilitating these partnership opportunities through the DoD Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, enabling small technology companies from across the nation to contribute.
Established in 2023, the CCIT has been instrumental in fostering strong connections between small business innovators and the DoD. The division’s efforts led to a substantial $26 million Strategic Funding Increase award for AFGSC in August 2023, marking the first award of its magnitude for the command. One of the recipients of this funding, Outerlink Global Solutions, a Shreveport-based aviation communications company, provided critical communication technology, Iridium Certus, to the B-52 Stratofortress.
To date, the CCIT division has secured contracts worth $240 million of external AFGSC funding for 70 modernization technologies from U.S. small businesses, with an additional $74.3 million in pending contracts for 13 other bonus technologies, due to their collaboration with the Airmen of the 767th ESF.
Moving forward, the challenge lies in integrating acquired commercial technology onto secure Air Force platforms, for which the AFLCMC and the Bomber Directorate provide vital project management expertise to facilitate this transition. These entities work closely with CCIT and the 767th ESF to bring cutting-edge capabilities into the hands of warfighters.
Home-grown Louisiana consultants, such as the Small Business Consulting Corporation and BRF, and their Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), also play a crucial role in addressing modernization needs while maintaining a focus on local economic insight. These relationships have been vital in fostering partnerships with Louisiana-based companies, generating modernization capabilities and job opportunities within the local community.
The collaborative efforts between the CCIT and key organizations have paved the way for a wave of small business commercial technology adaptations, which bodes well for the U.S. in retaining its position as a leader in defense technology.
As we move forward, it is crucial for the relationships between the Department of the Air Force, industry, and academia to continue to deepen. By doing so, we can enable the rapid development and integration of commercial technologies that support our national security.