Imagine lugging 120 pounds of gear, trying to maneuver rough terrain, and then having to complete an operation with precision dexterity and focus. SOFWERX noticed special operations forces were facing this dilemma, and decided to do something about it. Partnering with Hendrick Motorsports, they created the STEED, an electric wheelbarrow that allows warfighters to offload 80-120 pounds of equipment and arrive at their destinations faster and with more energy in reserve for the actual operation. And it’s just one example of the innovative solutions that SOFWERX develops every day.

Created in 2015 through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the United States Special Operation Command (USSOCOM), SOFWERX works with special operations forces to develop technologies that solve the challenges warfighters face. The SOFWERX Foundry is a rapid prototyping workshop with state-of-the-art tools and capabilities:

Projects in The Foundry are diverse, including submersible jet skis, drones, hovercraft, artificial intelligence and human performance products, to name a few. Brad Chedister, the Chief Technology Officer of DEFENSEWERX, summarized SOFWERX’s main goal: to incentivize a nontraditional look at problem solving. “That’s what we’re here for,” he explained. “You never know what they’re going to bring in next,” said Christina Caudill, the Public Relations and Communications Specialist for SOFWERX.

“I always tell people, don’t come in here with the mindset of ‘You can’t do that because…’ come in here with the mindset of ‘What if you could?’ What if you could think outside the box and look for a different, novel solution?”
– Brad Chedister, Chief Technology Officer of DEFENSEWERX

Q&A WITH SOFWERX

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN TEAM MEMBERS?

BC: SOFWERX has a Thinker, Doer culture. The most important thing we look for in team members is the willingness to cooperate and collaborate with each other, and the willingness to be open and really work collectively as a team to come up with collective solutions, rather than just singular one-offs.

CC: I’ve found those who are the most independent with what they’re doing and the most confident normally turn out to be the best fits. We’re really looking for people who are problem solvers, but are also willing to work as part of the team. There’s a lot of brainstorming that goes on here because of the nature of what we do.

HOW IS TECHNOLOGY CHANGING MANUFACTURING, AND HOW WILL IT CONTINUE TO CHANGE?

BC: I think people downplay the human dimension of manufacturing. As we have all this artificial intelligence and machinery and robotics come on board, some people are a bit threatened by that, saying “It’s going to take jobs. It’s going to take opportunities away from the workforce.” I see it as the other side – it’s going to provide opportunities that didn’t exist before. Instead of a person being inside of the loop of a manufacturing process, the person will be sitting on top of the loop of the manufacturing process. With the advent of AI that will be folding into manufacturing, the workforce is going to have to shift. Manufacturing is going to be much more streamlined and much more effective.

CC: The future of manufacturing is unlimited. Just watching in our foundry the different technologies that have come through has been absolutely astounding. We have been asked so many times to repurpose different technology, they called it “dragging it into the 21st century.” A lot of things are becoming autonomous now, and remotely piloted, and there’s all kinds of stuff with robotics.

HOW IS SOFWERX CONNECTING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF MANUFACTURERS?

Samantha Tromly, Technology Transfer and STEM Program Administrator: We are trying to bring real life to STEM jobs by welcoming kids, students, homeschool groups and colleges in here to see what we do, and see that a job in STEM doesn’t have to be in a factory or behind a cubicle. You can be involved in this innovative space where you’re working collaboratively.

CC: When you start thinking about the STEM disciplines and how students are getting more and more involved in manufacturing when they probably don’t even realize that it’s manufacturing – to them it’s just more fun – I think that’s incredible. We actually had a 10-year-old boy genius in here talking about special reconnaissance a month or two ago, working directly with science and technology for USSOCOM. We’ve had a 17-year-old win prize challenges for oxygen masks. Really nurturing these kids and students in STEM disciplines is important for their future, but also important for right now.

Categorized in: Careers