ARMY AL&T
make important connections that advance solutions toward Army transition and commercialization.
Over the course of these competitions, nearly 350 international,
small- and
medium-sized businesses and academic and research institutions from almost 50 countries, have submitted eligible propos- als, with 45 finalists participating in the Accelerator Program. Tis demonstrates the diversity and breadth of innovators who can secure a technological advantage for the U.S. and its allies.
PARTNER PERSPECTIVES In conjunction with ASA(ALT), the competitions
comprehensive defense strategy,” Willis said. “Tis strategy spans the joint force and military allies, accelerating innovation into trusted hands.”
The AFC Forward Elements, which include DEVCOM Americas, DEVCOM Atlantic and DEVCOM Pacific, have partnered with xTech since the inaugural xTechGlobal AI Challenge. Spread across these respective regions, the AFC Forward Elements’ mission is to identify and imple- ment international technologies that meet Army and DOD requirements and facili- tate the transition of these technologies to allied nations.
feature tri-service part-
nerships with established defense organizations, including the Army Futures Command (AFC) Forward Elements; U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) within AFC; the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global (ONR-G); and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s AFWERX program. Tese organizations collaborate with xTech to plan and identify focus areas, while supplying expert evaluators to review proposals from across the globe.
According to Matt Willis, Ph.D., direc- tor of Army Innovation Programs, including xTech and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Busi- ness Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs, tri-service partnerships are crucial because modern conflicts increas- ingly require integrated technologies to address complex global threats. By pool- ing defense resources through xTech, the Army can enhance its global presence and deterrence capabilities to keep threats at bay. “Te combined expertise and criti- cal feedback from tri-service partners help international innovators, who are often unfamiliar with U.S. military acquisitions, understand how their solutions fit into a
Tom Mulkern, former deputy director of AFC Forward Element-Atlantic, has supported xTech’s international competi- tions from the beginning. Now working as the director of International Science and Technology (S&T) Programs for DASA(R&T), Mulkern notes that the Army has not always effectively engaged with international innovators. XTech’s global initiative changes this dynamic by casting a wide net across allied countries to gather ideas. “Te Army and DOD need international partners because the U.S. no longer corners the market on S&T exper- tise,” Mulkern said. “We need to leverage our allies and build upon the strengths of the U.S. and our allies to counter adver- saries. XTech’s international competitions are a way to engage with these innovators.”
By expanding its outreach to the interna- tional market, the Army not only boosts the chances of discovering new tech- nologies for the U.S. military but also strengthens the defense capabilities of our allies. Tis proactive approach is crucial for ensuring that cutting-edge technol- ogies stay in friendly hands and out of adversaries’ reach.
AFC Forward Element-Americas, head- quartered in Santiago, Chile, also supports xTech’s international competitions. Te Americas element explores collaborative opportunities with non-U.S. innovators that can close mission gaps for the Army in North, Central and South America. In this expansive coverage area, AFC Ameri- cas leverages xTech to close the geographic span and increase touch points with non- U.S. technology disrupters.
Harry DuRette, deputy director of AFC Forward Element-Americas, has advo- cated for Latin American businesses to bring their innovative strengths and applied science to the Army via xTech. DuRette noted that many of the vendors are educated in the U.S. and therefore have an inherent understanding of Amer- ican science and business processes. “Te Latin American S&T landscape tends to be focused on specific challenges, many of which are relevant to Army moderniza- tion priorities,” DuRette said. “Te key is making these businesses aware that collab- orative opportunities exist within the Army. XTech has been a critical connector for AFC Americas to bring more innova- tors to the Army table.”
Col. Charles Seaberry, director of AFC Forward Element-Atlantic, was recently introduced to xTech through the xTechIn- ternational 2024 competition. In his role, Seaberry oversees a global organization, including DEVCOM Atlantic, that iden- tifies R&D collaborations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East to advance DOD capabilities. At the finals event in Madrid, Spain, in August 2024, Seaberry was impressed with the technology read- iness levels (TRLs) of many finalists, noting that some demonstrated advance- ments nearing transition to Soldiers’ kits.
XTech brings together a large range of technologies outside of the U.S. that are
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