Air Force Hypersonics Pitch Day
Lt. Gen. Duke Richardson, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, speaks to the audience during the Air Force’s first Hypersonics Pitch Day Nov. 7, at the Doolittle Institute in Niceville, Fla. Nine small businesses were invited to pitch their ideas to an Air Force acquisition and technology leadership panel. More than $5.25 million was awarded to seven small businesses in less than three hours. The purpose of Air Force “pitch days” is to do business at the speed of ideas by inspiring and accelerating startup and small business creativity toward answering national security challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)