Air Force Special Operations Command as Innovation Pathfinders
Abstract
This thesis investigates Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) as innovation pathfinders for the Air Force, and answers how their performance in the role can be improved. This is accomplished through a review of AFSOC's suitability for pathfinding and exploration of the innovation ecosystem. The thesis finds AFSOC has limited influence over acquisition reform and relatively small size, but that small size presents opportunities of organizational agility and funding speed available at limited scale. Pathfinding can be enabled by powerful special operations culture and itself reinforces a culture of initiative and innovation which pays dividends in AFSOC's warfighting functions. Innovation pathfinding can benefit from understanding wicked problem methodologies and leveraging the power of trust and trustworthiness. Lastly, industry best practices provide means to structure and manage innovation. The concluding recommendations give stakeholders means to increase the effectiveness of AFSOC innovation pathfinding, including working within the scale of more agile acquisitions process, valuing colocation and relationships, identifying efficiencies to be gained in fast following, pathfinding adjacent innovation, and valuing trust beyond compliance
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1225004
Entities
People
- Dale B. Gsellman
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School