Rapidly Adapting to the Unexpected
Beyond technical innovation, the success of FLASH’s three-year development journey came down to a critical soft skill: collaboration.
MITRE engineers developed a mathematical model to optimize planning for a large range of aircraft types and scheduling variables. They then worked hand in hand with Air Force schedulers to incorporate their expert insights and feedback—and ensure a high-level of usability.
“We didn’t just hand over algorithms,” explains Paul Bartholomew, one of our modeling experts. “We worked closely with the airmen at the 309th to come up with the user interface and the best way to incorporate the solution into their software system. We built it together.”
“Our team also conducted training with the 309th staff and provided a playbook for them to continue development and integration at their own pace,” adds Bartholomew’s colleague, Chief Engineer Doug Altner.
The result? A game-changing capability to enable the Air Force to rapidly adapt “on the fly.” As new information comes in about aircraft availability, maintenance plans, and shifts in resources, the tool helps planners continually reoptimize and adapt their system.
The optimization model also decreases work production slippage and improves communication within operational units. And planners retain the flexibility to control the schedule and adjust as needed.
The Art of Doing More with Less
A capability like FLASH means potentially improving our ability to get to the fight—and stay in it. But improving aircraft readiness is one small piece of the bigger battle plan.
“We could explore developing a FLASH-like system for every major form of operational planning and logistics across DoD, from ground-based systems and seaborne platforms to managing crews and pilots and air attack planning,” Altner says.
MITRE’s role as an objective, trusted adviser allows us to engage in such R&D without conflict of interest and transfer technology at no cost to our government sponsors.
“We need to continue asking the question: How can we find ways to accomplish more with the precious limited resources we have?” Naguy adds.