Bright idea earns Gunfighter $10k

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Wallace
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  One Gunfighter earned $10,000 and saved the Air Force $1.1 million in 2010 when he submitted a concept to the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.

Joe Fuller, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering technician, created a $23,000 tool that expedites the base's refueling capability by sending radio signals to the hotpit refueling conduit, bypassing the corroded wires that have been in place since the 1960s.
"My background definitely played a part in knowing what pieces and parts to put together," Mr. Fuller said. "I planned it out, ordered all the parts, built it, tested it and made sure it was going to work. Once we got one working we sent it to the petroleum, oil and fuel shop and let them play with it."

Once the device proved operable, Mr. Fuller created 12 replicas and a master control for POL to use. He says he is glad he was able to create a way to help out his fellow Gunfighters.

"It doesn't do anything for me or civil engineering except it keeps planes going and we don't have to mess with the apron, parking or taxiways - it keeps planes in the air," he said. "Older bases that have outdated systems like we have are just refueling by trucks. Hopefully they can adopt this and use it with their systems to bring them back online."

The IDEA program is an incentive program that encourages servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians to submit ways to improve daily processes.

Submissions do not have to pertain to one's particular career field, but must include both the present and proposed method, as well as expected benefits from the idea.

"It doesn't really matter if they feel it's insignificant as long as it provides a better way of doing business," said Norma Rosario, IDEA program facilitator. "We want innovative ideas and we encourage people to look at their own work centers. We want a better way of doing business and essentially better utilization of our Air Force resources. Considering the budget restraints we have upon us now, we have to go in and think smarter on how we do our every day work."

For more information on the IDEA program, reference Air Force Instruction 38-401 or call Ms. Rosario at 828-3571.