WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFRL) - Two AFWERX Project Arc Airmen have been selected for commissioning programs after showcasing their Optical Drone Detection System (ODDS) at the AFWERX Spark Street exhibit during the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, held Sept. 22–24, 2025. Staff Sgt. Aaron Holmes and Senior Airman Erika Gustafson presented their work to senior Department of the Air Force leaders, including Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink.
ODDS is a sensor-agnostic application that uses a custom-built YOLO (You Only Look Once) object-detection model to identify small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in contested environments where traditional radio-frequency-based systems may fall short. The project demonstrates how computer vision and field-ready tools can expand detection capabilities even when radio-frequency signatures are degraded or denied.
“ODDS effectively addresses the find, fix, and track aspects of the current c-sUAS mission set in an incredibly low-cost, and easily adoptable manner,” Gustafson said.
Following the conference, the Secretary of the Air Force’s office contacted the Airmen to recognize their work and extend commissioning opportunities. Gustafson and Holmes were selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP). SLECP allows designated DAF senior leaders to directly select exceptionally performing, highly talented enlisted Airmen and Guardians for commissioning through Officer Training School.
“None of this would have been possible without AFWERX’s guidance and support. Project Arc gave us the opportunity to build ODDS, and I’ve been fortunate to participate in three consecutive cohorts.,” Holmes said. “The fact that an Airman from a maintenance AFSC can apply to an Air Force innovation program and contribute to solving complex operational challenges is an outstanding example of how the Air Force values and manages its talent.”
The AFWERX Project Arc program places officers and enlisted personnel from any Air Force Specialty Code — a five-character code that identifies an airman’s job, skill and experience level — into six-month rotations to rapidly solve technical challenges alongside Airmen and Guardians in the field. The program accepts a wide range of participants, as shown by Holmes, a dedicated crew chief on the RC-135 with the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Gustafson, a tactical air control party specialist with the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron.
“Holmes and Gustafson exemplify the initiative and technical skill the Department seeks to grow and retain,” said Tech. Sgt. Chris Anderson, AFWERX Spark Cell coordinator. “Their work on ODDS shows how Airmen, given the right tools and support, can deliver solutions that directly advance the mission.”
The ODDS team continues to refine the technology to broaden its use across the Air Force. The code is slated to be open-sourced within the Department of the Air Force, allowing personnel with appropriate access to use, modify and tailor it for their needs.
The AFWERX Spark Street exhibit featured 24 Airmen and Guardian-led innovations, highlighting how grassroots ideas can align with operational needs and support Department of the Air Force priorities. The event allowed innovators to brief senior leaders, increase visibility for their projects and explore collaboration opportunities that could help move their concepts forward.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, 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 forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit 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. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX employs military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $1.4 billion annual budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com.