AFWERX
Technology Focus Areas: AI/ML, Autonomy, Dual-Use
Business Support: They provide a variety of support models:
Open Topic SBIR/STTR: $75K-$1M
TACFI: $375K-1.7M
STRATFI: $3-15M
AFWERX has emerged as the Air Force's primary innovation catalyst, managing $1.4 billion annually while executing over 6,200 contracts worth more than $4.7 billion since 2019. This Department of the Air Force innovation arm operates as a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, fundamentally transforming how military organizations engage with commercial technology through non-dilutive funding programs that preserve company ownership while accelerating defense capabilities.
The organization represents a paradigm shift from traditional defense acquisition, using technology-agnostic approaches that leverage commercial innovation speed to address national security challenges. Under new director Col. Nathan Stuckey's leadership, AFWERX continues expanding its four-division structure while adding companies to the defense industrial base at 2.7 times the pre-AFWERX rate.
Official access points and current opportunities
Primary Website: afwerx.com serves as the main portal for all AFWERX programs and information.
Current Solicitation Access:
Open Topic Solicitations: afwerx.com/divisions/ventures/open-topic/
Direct Submission Portal: dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/?baa=DOD_SBIR_2025_P1_C5
Specific Topic Solicitations: afwerx.com/divisions/ventures/specific-topic/
AFWERX Challenges Platform: afwerxchallenge.com
The current opportunity includes DoD SBIR/STTR 25.5/E Release 10 Open Topic Phase I, with multiple release cycles throughout fiscal year 2025. Companies can access both technology-agnostic Open Topic solicitations and pre-defined Specific Topic challenges targeting known Air Force requirements.
Technology focus areas and strategic priorities
AFWERX operates through four specialized divisions targeting distinct technology sectors. Information Technology dominates the portfolio at approximately 25% of all companies, with cybersecurity solutions leading at 63 companies, followed by cloud technologies (28 companies) and DevSecOps (21 companies).
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning receive heavy prioritization across all divisions, while autonomy and robotics drive major program initiatives. The organization emphasizes dual-use technologies that serve both commercial markets and defense applications, particularly in biotechnology, advanced materials, and space-based applications.
AFVentures focuses on commercial dual-use technologies, while the Prime Division accelerates emerging markets through Agility Prime (eVTOL and advanced air mobility), Autonomy Prime (multi-mission autonomous systems launched 2024), and Orbital Prime (space technologies). SpaceWERX specializes in dual-use space capabilities and commercial space partnerships.
Emerging focus areas requiring greater attention include battle management (1% representation), weapon systems (1%), robotics (1%), and electronics (3%). The organization maintains an "Open Topic" approach accepting innovations across diverse sectors including medical applications, construction technologies, law enforcement solutions, communications systems, and energy technologies.
Company partnerships and collaboration models
AFWERX primarily partners with small businesses having ≤500 employees that are for-profit and majority U.S.-owned (≥51% ownership by U.S. citizens). The organization focuses heavily on startups and early-stage companies through Phase I awards of $75K (SBIR) or $110K (STTR) for 3-month feasibility studies.
Growth-stage small businesses receive Phase II awards up to $1.25M (SBIR) or $1.8M (STTR) for 21-month development, while mature small businesses can access Direct-to-Phase II eligibility and bridge funding through STRATFI ($3-15M) and TACFI ($375K-1.7M) programs requiring matching private or government funding.
Notable company partnerships include:
Reflect Orbital: $1.25M Phase II for satellite-based sunlight redirection technology
HiddenLayer: $1.8M STTR Phase II for AI Detection & Response systems
Darkhive: Phase I/II progression leading to $5M Phase III contract for autonomous drone capabilities
Joby Aviation: $721 million in private funding (largest recipient in AFWERX pipeline)
The organization maintains no geographic restrictions while emphasizing U.S.-based companies, with significant concentrations in Silicon Valley (10 companies with >$100M funding) and active hubs in Austin, Texas, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Washington, D.C.
Financial assistance and support programs
AFWERX provides comprehensive support through structured funding programs designed to bridge the "Valley of Death" between prototype and production. Phase I awards range from $75,000 to $180,000 depending on program type, while Phase II awards can reach $1.8 million for up to 21 months of development work.
Bridge funding programs offer substantial scaling opportunities. STRATFI (Strategic Funding Increase) provides $3-15 million over 48 months with flexible matching requirements: either $2 non-SBIR government funds + $1 SBIR funds, or $1 government + $2 private + $1 SBIR funds. TACFI (Tactical Funding Increase) offers $375,000-$1.7 million over 24 months with 1:1 matching requirements.
Non-financial support includes extensive mentorship through Phase II programs, access to Air Force Technical Points of Contact, testing facilities, certification support, and unique DoD capabilities including interagency relationships. The organization provides networking through the IGNITE platform, pitch events, design workshops, and 4-month fellowship programs for professionals.
Application requirements mandate registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), with STTR programs requiring formal partnerships with U.S. research institutions (40% work by small business, 30% by institution). Applications process through the DoD Submission website with multiple release cycles throughout the fiscal year.
Organizational history and evolution
Founded July 21, 2017, AFWERX launched when Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced the initiative at Nellis Air Force Base with $2 million initial funding. The organization opened its first location in Las Vegas through partnership with UNLV's Center for Entrepreneurship, followed by an Austin hub at Capital Factory in 2018.
Key evolutionary milestones include the 2018 AFVentures division launch introducing the revolutionary "Open Topic" approach allowing technology-agnostic solicitations, fundamentally changing how the Air Force engages commercial innovation. Under Dr. Will Roper's leadership as Assistant Secretary, AFWERX underwent major restructuring that established stronger acquisition roles and created the Prime program methodology.
SpaceWERX launched in 2020 as the Space Force innovation arm, while Col. Nathan Diller's leadership saw the successful launch of Agility Prime. Col. Elliott Leigh (December 2022 - June 2025) led AFWERX through its "3.0" evolution, overseeing 350 personnel executing over 3,300 contracts worth $3.1 billion.
Current director Col. Nathan Stuckey assumed leadership on June 17, 2025, bringing extensive experience from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Rapid Sustainment Office and advanced degrees in electrical engineering. The organization now operates from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with major hubs nationwide and manages approximately $1.4 billion annually across Air Force and Space Force programs.
Company success case studies with quantifiable outcomes
Joby Aviation represents AFWERX's flagship success story with $163 million in total contracts through Agility Prime. The partnership began in 2016, expanded to AFWERX in 2020, and achieved first aircraft delivery to Edwards AFB in September 2023. The company has contracted up to 9 aircraft total with the U.S. Air Force, became the first eVTOL developer to receive military airworthiness approval in 2020, and demonstrates 7,000+ miles of autonomous operations with active military base operations for personnel transport and logistics.
Lickenbrock Technologies transformed an $895,000 SBIR investment into breakthrough medical imaging technology. Their FEMOS algorithm accelerated processing speed by 7x while improving CT scan resolution beyond commercial standards, generating expected commercial revenue of $500,000-$1 million annually with diversified scanning capabilities across multiple specimen types.
Specular Theory leveraged $1.5 million in SBIR investment to develop VR flight simulation for air-to-air refueling training, securing $5 million in Phase III contracts. The technology substantially reduces costs from traditional training while decreasing pilot training failures and required practice flights.
Recent major contracts include Eudia's $1.25 million Direct-to-Phase II SBIR for AI-augmented procurement (August 2025), NetRise's $1.8 million STTR Phase II for software security (November 2024), and SCOUT Space's Phase II SBIR for orbital sensor networks enhancing space domain awareness.
Government program outcomes and contract successes
AFWERX has fundamentally transformed defense innovation metrics since 2019. Overall program performance shows 6,200+ contracts worth over $4.7 billion executed by 370 personnel across 5 hubs, with annual contract awards growing from 525 (FY15-FY18) to 1,685 annually since FY2020. The organization adds companies to the defense portfolio at 2.7x the pre-AFWERX rate while leveraging $27 billion in private investment across portfolio companies.
SpaceWERX performance demonstrates specialized success with 1,106 contracts worth $897 million since August 2021, managed by 40 personnel in Los Angeles with a $457 million annual budget. The 2025 STRATFI awards created $440 million in public-private partnerships, selecting 8 companies including Albedo (high-resolution imaging satellites), LeoLabs (Indo-Pacific radar sites), and Xona Space (GPS-alternative navigation constellation).
Multi-service collaboration successes include the contracting sprint with Army Futures Command that secured SBIR/STTR Phase I contracts for 300+ small businesses totaling over $20 million in just 2 weeks (October-November 2022). Process improvements show 62% reduction in time-to-award versus pre-AFWERX era, while Phase III contract funding increased 330% indicating stronger technology transition success.
Innovation program achievements include Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) 2.5, which successfully reduced pilot training time from 12 months to 7 months through VR simulators and technological solutions, now implemented Air Force-wide with improved airmanship training outcomes.
Key personnel and leadership profiles
Col. Nathan C. Stuckey serves as current Director and Chief Commercialization Officer (appointed June 17, 2025), leading strategy and execution of approximately $1.4 billion annually across Air Force and Space Force programs. A Purdue University ROTC graduate with a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Col. Stuckey brings extensive acquisition experience from roles including Military Deputy Director for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Rapid Sustainment Office and leadership positions across bomber, airlift, and directed energy programs.
Col. Elliott Leigh (December 2022 - June 2025) led AFWERX through critical "3.0" evolution while overseeing 350 personnel executing over 3,300 contracts worth $3.1 billion. A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and Test Pilot School alumnus, Col. Leigh contributed extensive test and evaluation expertise including leadership of the B-21 Raider developmental test program and establishment of the Joint Defense Innovation workspace in Austin with DIU and NAVALX.
Arthur F. Grijalva directs SpaceWERX operations, managing approximately $460 million annually across Space Force programs from the Los Angeles hub. Martin Salinas serves as Chief Operating Officer handling operational management, while Master Sgt. Craig Buying leads fellowship programs connecting Airmen and Guardians to commercial innovators.
Founding leadership includes former Secretary Heather Wilson, who directly envisioned AFWERX in 2017 as an innovation collaboration solution, and former Assistant Secretary Dr. Will Roper, now CEO of Istari Digital, who championed AFWERX 2.0 restructuring and established SpaceWERX while managing ~$1.3 billion in small business funding through AFWERX initiatives.
Conclusion
AFWERX has successfully established itself as a transformative force in defense innovation, creating measurable impacts across technology development, operational capabilities, and industrial base expansion. The organization's dual-use technology focus combined with non-dilutive funding approaches has generated over $27 billion in leveraged private investment while maintaining rapid contract execution and strong transition success rates. Under Col. Stuckey's leadership, AFWERX continues evolving its four-division structure to address emerging threats while accelerating commercial technology adoption across Air Force and Space Force operations, demonstrating sustained value in bridging traditional defense acquisition with Silicon Valley innovation methodologies.
