Nolten: Testimony proof that STRIKEWERX tech hub innovation crucial to Global Strike mission
U.S. Air Force Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, gives remarks during an all-call at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, March 28, 2025. Bussiere congratulated Minot Airmen on their teamwork and spoke of the importance of the base’s deterrence mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)
Today, our nation faces the most difficult threat environment since the Cold War. Our strategic forces must simultaneously deter two nuclear-armed adversaries, while still facing the challenge of rogue nations that have or seek to have nuclear weapons.
On May 20, 2025, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere addressed the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Armed Services Committee, underscoring the immense challenge of preserving global peace. He emphasized the urgent need to modernize our nuclear enterprise while integrating cutting-edge technologies in an increasingly complex global environment.
To meet these demands, innovation is essential. And one name stood out as a beacon of that innovation: STRIKEWERX. “Maintaining our competitive edge demands a steadfast commitment to innovation,” Gen. Bussiere stated. He then highlighted STRIKEWERX, AFGSC’s innovation hub located at the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), as a critical enabler of the ingenuity and resourcefulness for today’s Airmen.
“STRIKEWERX, the Global Strike innovation hub, stands as a testament to this commitment,” he stated. “Recognizing that our Airmen are our greatest asset, we have fostered an environment where ingenuity can flourish. We connect Airmen with industry experts and academia, sparking partnerships that drive rapid and impactful technological improvements.”
Gen. Bussiere’s testimony comes as the STRIKEWERX Innovation Hub celebrates five years of finding entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and academic institutions to bridge needs and solutions that rapidly deliver transformative results for the warfighter. These innovations span from on-the-move drone defense to immersive virtual reality training.
Since AFGSC partnered with CIC, these efforts have saved the Air Force more than $280 million and reduced the strain of sustaining legacy systems and accelerating modernization.
Kevin Nolten, CIC President
Though the command is relatively young (only 15), many of its airframes and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) systems date back 30 to 70 years. Maintaining their effectiveness requires more than upgrades. It demands new tools, smarter training, and a fundamentally different mindset. STRIKEWERX is helping deliver all three.
Gen. Bussiere’s testimony included the challenges the command faces as it fields the new Sentinel ICBM, while simultaneously operating the Minuteman III. He also outlined modernization efforts for the B-52 Stratofortress which is targeted to fly beyond 2050, the B-1B bomber, and the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center. STRIKEWERX has contributed to each initiative, supporting maintainers, operators, and defenders by prototyping new support equipment and advanced training technologies.
He also raised concerns about diminishing manufacturing sources and long lead times, which delay critical parts and jeopardize the bomber fleet’s readiness. STRIKEWERX is actively addressing these issues through market research, collaborative workshops, and its newly launched Innovation Lab, designed to accelerate prototyping of practical solutions.
Finally, Gen. Bussiere discussed next-generation communication systems for nuclear command, control, and communications. Notably, STRIKEWERX’s first challenge event in 2020 identified and continues refining futuristic communication technologies once thought to exist only in science fiction.
In short, STRIKEWERX is proving how small businesses in northwest Louisiana and across the nation can unite with the Department of Defense to deliver transformational capabilities. STRIKEWERX remains a critical partner in helping AFGSC rapidly innovate to grow from sustainment to modernization.
This isn't innovation for innovation’s sake. STRIKEWERX directly improves warfighter readiness, modernizes outdated systems, and fuels next-gen deterrence, all while cultivating the innovative spirit of our most valuable resource: our Airmen.
Kevin Nolten is president of the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC). Located in Bossier City, Louisiana, CIC is the anchor of the 3,000-acre National Cyber Research Park and serves as the catalyst for the development and expansion of a knowledge-based workforce throughout the region. As a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation, CIC fosters collaboration among its partners and accelerates technology, research, and development.