Improving the Air Force Scientific Discovery Mission Leveraging Best Practices in Basic Research Management: A Workshop Report (2015) / Chapter Skim
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3 Synopsis of Workshop Sessions
3 Synopsis of Workshop Sessions
Pages 18-34
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From page 18... ...
began by stating that travel restrictions have been relaxed somewhat and that he feels restrictions are partly an "urban legend; he wants to delegate conference approval authority to technology directorates (TDs)
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From page 19... ...
In addition to these more formal methods of communicating the results and status of AFOSR sponsored research there is continual communication between AFOSR program managers and researchers in the AFRL Technology Directorates. Metrics Used to Access AFOSR Mission Accomplishment The SECAF chartered Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)
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From page 20... ...
, which detracts from focus ing on research. AFOSR, and the Air Force as a whole, has lost funding for administrative support; AFOSR program officers have had to shoulder additional administrative responsibilities, such as arranging conference approvals and coordinating proposal reviews.
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From page 21... ...
The panel addressed the topic of "finding" Air Force-relevant research -- for example, access to electronic library resources, conference participation, sponsoring workshops, participation in professional societies, social media, and analytics, among others. Lt Col Victor Putz, Program Officer, EOARD Physics, AFOSR/IOE Coming in at a time of relative austerity, I made the point that analytics and bibliometrics were excellent tools for a high-level "survey" view of the research landscape, but that they were in no way a substitute for strong subject matter experts.
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From page 22... ...
Funding Panel The panel for the discussion with AFOSR program staff on "funding" included Mr. Mark Amundson, program element monitor for basic research (AQRT)
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From page 23... ...
While somewhat effective and potentially valuable to AFOSR, we believe this would represent a significant increase in workload, roughly 400 percent, with a large increase in contracting personnel. Forwarding Panel The panel for the discussion with AFOSR program staff on "forwarding" included Dr.
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From page 24... ...
Management of contracting was removed from the direct authority of AFOSR's director in 2007, diluting the concept of the imbedded contracting office. This function now reports to the AFRL Contracting Functional instead of the AFOSR director.
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From page 25... ...
This selection process requires high-level strategic planning, especially by the AFOSR director in collaboration with chief scientists from throughout AFRL, and demands personnel of strong but wide ranging background. Individuals who are at the heart of specific program topic selection, the POs, are expected to build as well as manage programs.
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From page 26... ...
Because timely contracting plays an important role in AFOSR mission performance, AFOSR contracting should report to the AFOSR director. Robin Staffin, Director of Basic Research -- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering In Staffin's opinion, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 research do not follow a simple linear model, although they are related.
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From page 27... ...
/STTR programs are well run and suggested that DoD basic research grants include "broader impact" criteria. Air Force Chief Scientist Panel The panel of chief scientists from the Air Force major commands included four current and former Air Force command chief scientists.
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From page 28... ...
For example, enabling low SWaP, ultra precision, stable timing would be a landmark accomplishment for AFOSR and revolutionize Air Force operations. Expanding the AFOSR rotational assignment program to offer tailored experiences at operational locations would certainly "blue" AFOSR program managers.
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From page 29... ...
funding in the Air Force, it has a unique and foundational role in the laboratory and the Air Force as a whole. That role is one of science and technol ogy "scout" -- that is, monitoring emerging fields in laboratories across the world and harvesting and directing these scientific breakthroughs to the greater Air Force science and technology enterprise.
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From page 30... ...
, greater rotation of POs, more POs to adequately cover emerging areas, mechanisms to foster greater portfolio turnover every year, and the proper, agile support of the AFOSR mission by the supporting functional offices. Rita Colwell, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, Former NSF Director Dr.
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From page 31... ...
These include varying the research funding modalities to include smaller single investigator grants, mid-size Energy Frontier Research Center grants, and larger Bioenergy Research Centers and Energy Innovation hubs. The Office of Science is a steward for 10 of the DOE's 17 national laboratories, specializing in design, construction, and operation of a large suite of scientific user facilities available without user fees.
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From page 32... ...
As the third (or pos sibly now second) -highest funded AFOSR university, Georgia Tech currently has 45 active, competitively selected
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From page 33... ...
Many of the practices pursued at Georgia Tech should be applicable to AFOSR, including continued assurance of relevancy of research to critical Air Force needs, reduction of administrative burden to PIs as well as AFOSR program managers, a greater focus on young investigators with mentoring support for "ease of application," and creative means to facilitate PI and program manager engagement with operational personnel (e.g., workshops and conferences on or near operational bases)
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