AFIMSC to showcase installation tech, tools at AirVenture Oshkosh

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  • AFIMSC Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Teams from the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center will demonstrate their cutting-edge technology along with that of the other five Air Force Materiel Command centers July 22-28 at the world’s largest fly-in airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

AFMC is the featured Air Force major command at AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, and its six centers will provide displays, demonstrations and hands-on activities to showcase how the command powers America’s Air and Space Forces.

While every unit within AFMC plays a key role in delivering winning capabilities to the warfighter, it is the men and women of AFIMSC who specialize in ensuring Airmen and Guardians have the capable power projection platforms they need to fly, fight and win in air and space.

"Our global team of more than 4,000 members delivers installation and mission support capabilities to 83 Department of the Air Force installations to enable their power projection, mission execution, and quality-of-life enhancement programs for military members and their families,” said Maj. Gen. John Allen, AFIMSC commander. “We pride ourselves in our innovations and initiatives that leverage data and technology to field capabilities faster, better and cheaper, which is even more critical in this period of great power competition.”

During AirVenture, the center will showcase two programs that are impacting missions all over the world: the Geospatial Engineering Office and Civil Engineer Lab.

Geospatial Engineering Office

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Geospatial Engineering Office supports the Air Force GeoBase program from headquarters to installations. The office enables the delivery of trusted geospatial engineering data, maps, and services to build, maintain and recover power projection platforms for Air and Space Forces and their mission partners. 

Recently, the office helped Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, with an aircraft mishap investigation. Their rapid response small unmanned aerial systems team quickly collected and delivered 2D and 3D imagery to the local commander and interim safety board to aid the investigation. 

“GeoBase is the ‘One Base, One Map’ solution for the Air Force enterprise, showing commanders the quantity, location and real-time operational status of property, material and capability on their installations,” said James Ray, geographic information system specialist. 

“Our goal is to create a unified database and mapping system enabling many applications, including disaster response, expeditionary operations, aircraft mishap investigations, installation management and force protection,” he said.

People stopping by the GeoBase display can learn about GIS technology and discover how the programs support the enterprise. Hands-on demonstrations will allow people to explore flying areas around select Air Force bases and the Oshkosh area.

Civil Engineer Lab

The Air Force CE Lab performs science, technology, research, development, testing and evaluation activities to put new or improved capabilities into the hands of civil engineers. Examples of technologies developed and delivered include systems for repairing water and fuel assets following an attack or damage, Rapid Airfield Damage Assessment System, and explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, robots.

“All the work we do is for the warfighter,” said Dr. Bobby Diltz, airfield recovery subject matter expert at the lab. “We develop technologies to protect, support or augment warfighter so they have the best tools and equipment to safely and efficiently do their jobs.”

The lab will showcase robotic heavy equipment, EOD robots, 3D-printed cement examples, and augmented and virtual reality technology demonstrations at the airshow.

“We’re excited for people to stop by and take a look at what our team can do,” Diltz said.

For more about AFIMSC, visit www.afimsc.af.mil.