The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center is pleased to announce the opportunity for Oklahoma companies to showcase their product’s combat readiness in real-world testing environments at the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor April 20-24. What began as an annual Air Force Research Laboratory military exercise in 2001 is now making its Oklahoma debut as the first Tech Warrior OPS event to be held off site from the Tech Warrior Enterprise headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, which is adjacent to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Tech Warrior Enterprise is designed to push the limits of promising new systems by allowing companies to demonstrate products in a relevant setting with the goal of improving the performance of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/ Small Business Technology Transfer goals.
Tech Warrior OPS provides an opportunity for Oklahoma small businesses to gain early feedback from subject matter experts and first responders. The OPS event is designed to place technologies in the hands of the actual user during mission exercise scenarios that simulate more rigorous operational use. This allows the user to provide highlyvaluable objective and subjective feedback. It also provides small businesses with direct access to the operators for open discourse regarding potential solutions to any challenges encountered. The process accelerates the time it takes to formulate and execute solutions.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Tech Warrior and MidAmerica Industrial Park to bring this event to Oklahoma,” said Michele Campbell Hockersmith, Oklahoma’s SBDC State Director. “We also appreciate the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for their support as we worked to secure the collaboration with Tech Warrior and believe it will be an important event for Oklahoma companies and others engaged with creating innovative products.”
Tech Warrior officials have been pleased with how well the prospective event has been embraced by Oklahoma officials. “In Oklahoma, there is no try, only do,” said John Matecki, Associate Director, who spoke on behalf of Tech Warrior Enterprises. “No barriers — only how can we make this happen.” Oklahoma’s SBDC Staff, along with Matecki, were the catalysts for bringing the testing event to Oklahoma.
The Pryor location at MidAmerica Industrial Park allows the organization to focus on technology areas not easily tested at their headquarters near Wright-Patterson AFB. These areas include unmanned aerial vehicles and weapons/live fire, in addition to force protection and medical, operations and mission support.
“MidAmerica Industrial Park has a rich history of serving our armed services, and it’s an honor to be selected as the location for Tech Warrior OPS,” stated David Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer.
Participation in Tech Warrior OPS is free for small businesses that are selected. Small businesses with Air Force research and development contracts, especially those involved with the Air Force SBIR/STTR program, and those who are interested in working with the Air Force are encouraged to participate.