Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Mission:
To explore, prototype and demonstrate high-impact, game changing technologies that enable the Air Force and Nation to maintain its superior technical advantage.
Vision:
To lead the Air Force and Nation in Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber technologies.
Why:
Information technologies touch every Air Force, Department of Defense (DoD), and National mission. The success of the mission relies on the quality and trustworthiness of the information technologies and information that they process. The talented people of the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) are dedicated to making a difference to the warfighter and the nation through research excellence and a close relationship with customer. AFRL/RI solutions transform and communicate information to commanders and decision makers, enabling them to direct their forces in Air, Space and Cyberspace to achieve mission success.
How:
The Information Directorate researches and develops Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber technologies to ensure the effective and unparalleled ability to process raw data and intelligence into actionable information. AFRL/RI accomplishes the mission through a blend of state of the art research facilities, world class researchers, and strategic collaborations. A unique customer understanding is achieved by having AFRL/RI engineers embedded with its customers at their locations. This not only provides the researchers with first-hand experience with the customer's problems and needs, but also with valuable insights into larger issues, current and future, that the customer may not even know. The Information Directorate's cadre of researchers works with the customer to solve near-term problems jointly and strategically, as well as as to address long term issues before they ever become problems. Year after year, customers bring their business because of the Information Directorate's deep understanding of the state of the art and state of the possible, coupled with current and future needs. AFRL/RI brings together in a single location top Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber researchers from around the country and the world to research, design, develop, prototype, test and evaluate solutions for the Air Force's and Nation's pressing needs.
What:
The Information Directorate research and development success is evident through over 100 technologies transitioned to the warfighter within the last two years and over 35 patents granted or filed over the same time period. AFRL/RI expands its own knowledge base as well as that of the civilian sector through partnerships with academia and industry and grows future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) by partnering with educational institutions to develop challenge competitions, summer camps, mentoring, internships, and workshops. The Information Directorate addresses national security needs both through the technologies transitioned today and the leaders being developed for tomorrow.