AFWERX participates in the Department of Transportation's Interagency Working Group to foster innovation and collaboration

Published Oct. 13, 2023
By Kelley Wright
AFWERX

Darshan Divakaran, AFWERX head of Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships, briefs at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Interagency Working Group at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, New York, Oct. 11-13. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ciska Bloemhard) — Darshan Divakaran, AFWERX head of Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships, briefs at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Interagency Working Group at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, New York. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ciska Bloemhard)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AFRL) — The AFWERX Agility Prime and Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships team participated in the Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Interagency Working Group (AAMIWG) at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, New York, Oct. 11-13.

The AAMIWG is a cross-agency initiative that brings together government agencies, industry leaders, and innovators to address the complex challenges facing the transportation sector and AAM. During this event, the AIPP team met with leaders across the industry to discuss how they are adapting facilities, plans and resources to support flight and ground operations for AAM and drone integration.

The AFWERX AIPP program supports all things related to National Airspace System integration and developing the necessary partnerships for success. The team is at the forefront of new regulations to secure safe and sustainable travel in the near future. As a part of the AAMIWG, AFWERX aims to leverage its expertise in innovation, technology and airspace to contribute to the development of cutting-edge solutions that will benefit the nation's transportation infrastructure and capabilities.

“AFWERX is thrilled to be a part of the Department of Transportation's Interagency Working Group," said Darshan Divakaran, AFWERX head of Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships. "This partnership aligns with our mission to drive innovation, foster collaboration and accelerate the development of transformative technologies. We look forward to working alongside our fellow agencies and partners to shape the future of transportation in the United States."

Lt. Col. John Tekell, AFWERX Agility Prime branch chief, gives a presentation highlighting how AFWERX brings cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the Department of the Air Force, Syracuse, New York, Oct. 11-13, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ciska Bloemhard) — Lt. Col. John Tekell, AFWERX Agility Prime branch chief, gives a presentation highlighting how AFWERX brings cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the Department of the Air Force, Syracuse, New York. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ciska Bloemhard)

Divakaran and Lt. Col. John Tekell, AFWERX Agility Prime branch chief, were invited to brief during the AAMIWG. Tekell’s presentation highlighted how AFWERX brings cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the Department of the Air Force. Divakaran discussed the challenges associated with synching multiple government organizations to develop key capabilities at airspace verification and validation grounds, to ultimately achieve a collaborative and unified airspace policy.

Divakaran added that AFWERX’s participation in these working group sessions showcases commitment to fostering innovation not only within the Air Force but also across government agencies and the private sector.

About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit www.afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 325 military, civilian and contractor personnel at six hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 4,697 contracts worth more than $2.6 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.