Civic leaders see innovations during 307th Bomb Wing tour

Civic leaders from the Shreveport-Bossier area listen to a presentation from U.S. Air Force Maj. Brandon Wolf, director of LR WERX for the 307th Bomb Wing, at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 26, 2021. The civic leaders were on a tour sponsored by the Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council (MAC). The Shreveport-Bossier MAC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose primary function is to serve as a voice for Barksdale Air Force Base and North Louisiana. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Kate Bragg)

Mr. David Dethloff, president of Dethloff & Associates, looks on as a high school student from the Caddo Magnet Rocket Team explains how his team is preparing their rocket for the National Finals of the American Rocketry Challenge at Barskdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 26, 2021. The rocketry team is part of a program developed by DoD Starbase Lousiana to help inspire students by using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to be the next innovators of tomorrow. Dethloff and several other civic leaders were taking part in a tour of the 307th Bomb Wing. STARBASE Louisiana is sponsored by the 307th Bomb Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Kate Bragg)

Rocky Rockett, Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation executive director, performs a straw rocket experiment at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 26, 2021. He and several other civic leaders were taking part in a tour of the 307th Bomb Wing. The straw rocket experiment is part of DoD STARBASE Lousiana’s 5th grade curriculum that intergrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) into learning experiences for local students. STARBASE uses cutting-edge technology to help foster growth in student’s critical thinking, scientific literacy, communication and problem solving skills. STARBASE Louisiana is sponsored by the 307th Bomb Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Kate Bragg)

Laurie Ilgenfritz, director of STARBASE Louisiana, speaks to a group of civic leaders about the program at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 26, 2021. The DoD STARBASE program is a national science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program that provides a unique hands-on learning experience to empower students and make STEM relevant for the rest of their lives. STARBASE Louisiana is sponsored by the 307th Bomb Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Kate Bragg)

Local civic leaders look on as U.S. Air Force Maj. Brandon Wolf, director of LR WERX for the 307th Bomb Wing, demonstrates a virtual reality trainer at Barksdale Airforce Base, Louisiana, May 26, 2021. LA WERX is a localized program, or Spark Cell, of AFWERX that provides 307th BW Airmen access to resources that forward their innovative ideas. The ideas are then pitched to companies and industry professionals with the ability to rapidly develop prototypes or offer knowledge and expertise to advance them. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Kate Bragg)

Allison Feaster Smith, legislative liaison for State Representative Raymond Crews, performs a B-52 pilot’s checklist on a virtual reality (VR) training system at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 26, 2021. She and several other civic leaders were taking part in a tour of the 307th Bomb Wing. LA WERX is developing a virtual reality trainer for their B-52 student pilots so they can run through their checklist without being in the actual aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Kate Bragg)