Improving the Air Force Scientific Discovery Mission Leveraging Best Practices in Basic Research Management: A Workshop Report (2015) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
2 Workshop Participant Observations and Key Themes
2 Workshop Participant Observations and Key Themes
Pages 9-17
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 9... ...
Basic research provides the essential underpinning for delivering the needed science and technology to meet these continually expanding demands for Air Force missions. It also provides an essential window onto emerging frontiers in science and technology, both in the United States and internationally, in areas directly relevant to current and future Air Force priorities.
|
From page 10... ...
On the other hand, most speakers felt that AFOSR support of quality basic research at other AFRL directorates has merit and should be continued. They noted that such research strengthens the qualifications of AFRL researchers, builds ties to the academic community, and facilitates basic research technology transition, the subject of a later theme at the workshop.
|
From page 11... ...
Numerous participants asserted that additional SES, ST, or equivalent positions are needed to support enhanced outreach to the basic and applied research and advanced technology development communities. 4 This added investment in leadership could more effectively enhance communications with federal and university science and technology leaders, promote technology transition, and articulate the criticality of basic research to Air Force mission success.
|
From page 12... ...
To paraphrase one of the Air Force chief scientists at the first workshop session, program officers need to be able to speak to Nobel Prize winners one day and a four-star general the next. AFOSR program officers at the first workshop session tended to agree with the idea that it was beneficial to develop and nurture deep and constant engagement with the technical communities of enduring significance to the Air Force to better understand leading-edge technical concepts.
|
From page 13... ...
Figures 2-2 and 2-3 provide suggestions from two current Air Force major command chief scientists, presented at the first workshop session, related to improving the professional experiences of AFOSR program officers. FIGURE 2-2 Developing people.
|
From page 14... ...
Several participants asserted that AFOSR program officers need to focus on the mission. In this context, they noted that every hour spent on paperwork in the office is less time interfacing with the research community, attending conferences, reading journals, and fostering interactions across all the various academic and Air Force stakeholders, customers, and performers.
|
From page 15... ...
Many speakers and committee members stated that AFOSR' focus on basic research, with other directorates within AFRL focused on applied research and development, is a desirable and successful model to sustain robust basic research. But several committee members and workshop presenters expressed concern that this model can leave the process for transition undefined, ad hoc, and excessively dependent on personal relationships and the initiative of the individual program officer.
|
From page 16... ...
One example cited by the executive director of ONR at the second workshop session is how ONR uses its Naval Reserve Unit to document successful transitions and mine lessons learned to improve the transition process. There was not an expectation by the workshop participants that all basic research will transition, but given the speed of technology development today, several noted that it is important to develop a climate where new ideas generated can be brought to fruition more rapidly.
|
From page 17... ...
Holders of this view included the Air Force operational major commands, Office of the Secretary of Defense organizations involved in basic research, representatives from the Air Force acquisition community, and the Army and Navy basic research orga nizations. AFOSR serves the role of connecting the broad relevant basic research community to national security needs in the near and far terms.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.