Press Release
☷Guard Bureau Chief sees innovation tech converge in Texas
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Mar 14,2024
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Army Gen . Daniel Hokanson , the head of the National Guard Bureau , hung out at the South by Southwest Conference in Austin , Texas on March 9 - 10 , 2024 . He chatted with entrepreneurs , small business owners , and innovators about cool new ideas that could help out the Guard and the Joint Force . Hokanson stressed the importance of innovation and technology during his visit to Texas . He met with Texas Army National Guardsmen and participated in the conference where he discussed potential ways to incorporate new concepts into military operations . Hokanson emphasized the importance of collaboration between the military and various industries to stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology . He also met with Guardsmen from the Defense Innovation Unit and ARCWERX to explore partnerships with civilian companies and entrepreneurs . Hokanson highlighted the value of events like SXSW in fostering creativity and generating new solutions for the Department of Defense . Ultimately , the goal is to enhance DOD capabilities through innovation and collaboration . ARCWERX is like the innovation hub for the Guard , helping out with the innovation scene by providing education , connecting to resources , and offering internal support . According to Jagow , supporting and promoting innovation during peacetime is important for future wartime operations and flexibility . Hokanson went to Camp Mabry and Camp Swift in Austin and Bastrop , respectively , to chat with Texas Guardsmen during their drill . He also got to see the awesome 3D printed barracks made by the Texas Military Department , which came out of the innovation born at SXSW . Hokanson proudly mentioned that these barracks were the first of its kind in the US military and were built in less time and for less money compared to traditional construction methods . The CNGB was really impressed with the look and functionality of the barracks , which were completed in 2021 and were the largest 3D printed structure in North America at the time . The building can house up to 72 troops and is designed to be built quickly and last longer than regular buildings . The Texas Military Department is currently working on a similar 3D - printed training center at Camp Mabry . The project received support from Texas Army National Guardsmen who helped with the foundation slabs . The DOD is also planning to open three 3D - printed barracks at Fort Bliss . During his visit to the South by Southwest Conference , Hokanson posed for a photo with the Guard innovation leads and had discussions with American entrepreneurs , small business owners , and innovators about ideas that could benefit the Guard and Joint Force . He also checked out other innovative concepts at the Capital Factory ' s Joint Defense Innovation Workspace , such as a platform that connects service members ' skills to defense needs , robotic automation , mental health screening using ocular scanning , and transformational power technologies . Hokanson believes that innovation isn ' t just about technology and creating new things , but also about finding better and more efficient ways to do what we ' re already doing . Sometimes the solution isn ' t a material one , but a process improvement . The CNGB encourages Guardsmen from all over the country to share their new ideas that could make the organization better . Last December , the National Guard Bureau held an innovation challenge to showcase the innovative ideas of Guard members , and they plan to have similar competitions twice a year . Hokanson emphasized that if you have an idea or technology that could help the National Guard be better and more capable , they want to hear from you , whether you ' re an individual or a company . “Contact your state’s National Guard Joint Force Headquarters , or ARCWERX directly to start the process . “The Guard has had to innovate for nearly 400 years to stay relevant and provide our nation with what it demands , ” he said . “And we can’t stop . ” National Guard News National Guard Facebook National Guard Twitter .
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