The Spark Cell: Tech-focused team sparking innovation with collaborative spirit

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — The latest and greatest in technology often starts with an idea, and at the base, innovative ways to use technology drives the Spark Cell team.

The team, as described by SSgt. Oluwaseun Kolawole, 461st Air Control Wing SPARK Innovation Hub lead, is an extension of base operations that leans into innovation, technology and collaboration to solve problems on base, and through the Department of Defense.

The team works through a facility on base called the “SPARK Innovation Hub,” Kolawole mentioned, and Robins Air Force Base was a pioneer during startup as one of the first ten in the nation. That number has grown to over 150 across the DoD.

“Bases were entrusted in coming up with their own Spark Cell using methodology that we had designed … They took those ideas, the blueprint, more like, and can go set up a spark cell moving forward across their bases,” Kolawole said.

Since then, the local team has worked on many notable projects meant to provide solutions to complex issues. Notably, the Velox Jack, created by A1C Isaac Taylor, is a pneumatic jack meant to be used under heavy aircraft to prevent injury. Through a program called The Refinery, the idea had response and engagement all the way up to the Pentagon, with hopes from the base to see the technology unveiled on a broader scale.

Some of the technology currently used includes 3D printers, notably for a project during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the team drafted and printed a wearable hands-free adaptor that allows members on base to open doors without touching the handle, helping mitigate the spread of the virus.

Along the same vein, the team collaborated with the Air Force Reserve Labs to locate wearable technology: a ring that tracks body temperature and heart rate and delivers information via mobile app. The technology also helped with contact tracing; if an airman came in contact with someone who was in isolation, it would notify and advise to isolate.

The team works under the AFWERX Technology Directorate, among the Prime Division and the AFVentures Division. The Spark Division is responsible for providing resources to each base’s cell teams to ensure their success.

Currently, as Kolawole explained, the Air Force is focused on dual-use technology, and utilizing each team member’s strengths. For example, with a background in business, Kolawole is responsible for project management, from inception to final product. To ensure a quality product, the team is composed of a diverse array of backgrounds, training and knowledge base that come together and use their backgrounds to move forward towards common goals and the Air Force’s overall mission.

“It’s all about collaborative efforts. You can have all kinds of backgrounds, you have someone with a psychology background in school, or a computer science background, and you can merge both of them together to come up with an idea that can be used,” Kolawole said.

The collaboration has been broken down into a science called the Competing Values Framework. For example, if the Spark Cell team pursues a project, they ensure a mix of personalities, broken down into colors, based on what they are passionate about and role they are most likely to play.

“That’s one of the requirements we use when we set up teams that collaborate here on base, is understanding the individual’s capability and how they think and knowing how to merge them together with other people so that it’s going to be a successful and useful project,” Kolawole said.

Kolawole has led the team for a year and a half. For him, seeing the projects come to life as a result of this collaboration is humbling and speaks a larger culture of finding innovative ways to work and supplying to the needs of the team.

“One thing I’ve learned from my mentors and leaders that I’ve trusted and that have put their confidence in me … is that you can do anything you put your mind to with it. So, being able to be part of this process has helped me grow as a person, as an Airman and also as an individual. Because helping people get better solutions to how they work is one of the reasons why I do what I do. The Air Force says we should work smart, not harder. I’m a big believer of that because if there’s commercial technology out there that can help us do our jobs better, I will find a way to make sure we get it,” Kolawole said.

Working with innovation as a motivator also motivates him to reach out and interact with a variety of people across the base, helping to accurately gauge what is needed and what problems need solving. The social and collaborative aspect also serves as a motivator, with a desire to improve base and DoD operations.

“That’s the impact of what innovation does. It brings you in front of those people, in front of those problems that you did not know existed when you’re just sitting in your office. But when you go outside there, you’re able to find it and that’s where the base is very important. Everybody is responsible for the success of what we do here at Robins. It’s not just me, it’s all across: every airman and civilian contact,” Kolawole said.

As far as the people involved with the team, 461st Air Control Wing Command Chief MSgt. Michael Simon said it best.

“The ingenuity and creativity of our Airmen never ceases to amaze me, especially our noncommissioned officers. It’s imperative to capitalize on the talents of those with an innovative mindset, like Staff Sgt. Kolawole. Give them complex problems to solve, then get out of the way,” Simon said. “Our people are our competitive advantage. We know it, the community knows it, our nation knows it, and our adversaries know it. Innovative spirit is in our DNA; it’s one thing our adversaries are unable to replicate.”

HHJ News