16th Air Force Revamps Requirements Generation with Phoenix Initiative

The Air Force's 16th Air Force initiates new collaborative approach with industry and academia to enhance capability development.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Through the Phoenix Initiative, the U.S. Air Force's 16th Air Force is logically reorganizing its requirement-generation process in order to enhance cooperation with academia and industry. Constructed in 2019, the 16th Air Force unifies intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, information operations, and meteorological capabilities under a single command. In August 2023, the Phoenix Initiative was introduced with the goal of improving the command's interactions with outside partners in order to promote modernization and innovation.

Brian Cook, the technical director of 16th Air Force, emphasized the need for more deliberate interactions with non-government entities to leverage their creativity and expertise. This initiative seeks to address complex challenges by facilitating deeper discussions beyond traditional mission briefs, focusing on tough problems and innovative solutions.

Key outcomes of the initiative include new concepts and contracts through commercial solutions openings, as well as enhanced collaboration with small businesses and technology transfer programs. This new approach enables faster contract awards and operational sponsorship of innovative ideas, fostering a more agile and responsive process.

The Phoenix Initiative reflects 16th Air Force’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology and processes to maintain a leading edge in information warfare.