AFWERX was established to help and empower nontraditional businesses to improve their interactions with military clients. Meet the people behind AFWERX here.
AFWERX’s Leaders, Founders, Execs: Who Are They?
You can learn more about the AFWERX leadership and why they are best suited for their positions from the details below.
Col. Elliott J. Leigh, AFWERX Director
Colonel Elliott J. Leigh is the AFWERX Director and the Department of the Air Force’s Chief Commercialization Officer. Under his purview of responsibilities include overseeing the Air Force and Space Force’s annual budget of about $1.3 billion. The budget scope includes Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs like Spark, Prime, SpaceWERX, and AFVentures.
Mr. Leigh was a Military Deputy of AFRL AFWERX before being the Director in December 2022. He was an alumnus of the U.S. Air Force Academy and started serving in USAF in 2002. Elliott has extensive experience in test and evaluation capacities and program management. Some of his notable accomplishments include the B-21 Raider program and the Materiel Leader, a $2 billion space control program under the USAF Special Programs Directorate.
Timothy Sakulich, Executive Director
Timothy Sakulich is the current Executive Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory. At the same time, he serves as a Senior Executive Service member and serves the 6,500 workforce under AFWERX, AFRL’s nine component technology directorates, and the 711th Human Performance Wing. Timothy is also the Commander Principal Assistant, and Senior Civilian Executive, overseeing the $3 billion worth of science and technology program with $3 billion externally funded R&D.
Before the Air Force Research Laboratory, Mr. Sakulich was a Commissioned officer at USAF. Throughout his 26 years of service, he had a handful of experiences in management, leadership, research operations, science and technology, and many more. He joined AFRL in 2010 and held several leadership positions, from Chief for the Strategic Planning and Transformation Office of the 711th Human Performance Wing to Executive Director.
Alexis Bonnell, Chief Information Officer & Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate
Alexis Bonnell is the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Chief Information Officer and the Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate. She is responsible for creating and implementing the AFRL IT strategy and leading the organization’s efforts to develop cutting-edge technologies and platforms for future generations.
Ms. Bonnell has about two decades of experience. Among her other contributions to the industry include assisting the DOD with more than $1 billion in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other areas. She also contributed to developing a culture of dual-use of technology throughout the DOD innovation ecosystem, which includes AFWERX.
Mc. Bonel is one of the pioneers in the Internet Trade Association, contributing to the digital realm’s expansion and maturation. She was also the Emerging Technology Evangelist at Google, supporting various nation’s concerns, including COVID response and education, through emerging technologies. She also co-founded the Global Development Lab, a prominent lab of USAID.
CMSgt. Carlos E. Labrador, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force and Command Chief
CMSgt Carlos E. Labrador serves as the Command Chief of AFRL, senior enlisted leader, and primary advisor for the 711th Human Performance Wing and AFWERX. Chief Labrador helps the commander implement a $3 billion science, technology, and innovation enterprise and a $3 billion external R&D program.
CMSgt Labarador has extensive leadership and management roles experience. He has been a Technical School Instructor, the Director of the Bioenvironmental Engineering Apprentice Course, the Additional Duty First Sergeant, and the Functional Manager for Air Force Central Command and Pacific Air Forces Command. In 1996, he was enlisted in the USAF and finished the Bioenvironmental Engineering Apprentice Course in December of the same year.
Col. Michael T. McGinley, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of AFRL
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is led by Colonel Michael T. McGinley. He serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander.
Col McGinley supports the commander in executing AFRL’s objective to conduct the research, development, and integration of air, space, and cyberspace force warfighting technologies. Additionally, he also serves at the laboratory’s nine component technological directorates, the 711th Human Performance Wing, and AFWERX
(All executives’ images from the AFRL Official Website)
About AFWERX
The U.S. Department of the Air Force’s AFWERX is the division that utilizes domestic innovation to address challenging issues affecting the government sector. AFWERX is situated within The Pentagon in Washington DC, with more than 500 personnel.
AFWERX FAQs
What does the acronym AFWERX stand for?
AFWERX came from the combination of AF, the acronym for “Air Force,” and WERX, a short term for “work project.”
What are the AFWERX four core arms?
Across its four divisions, AFWERX works to strengthen the defense industry’s potential to produce cutting-edge technologies, develop the skills of future Airmen and Guardians, and accelerate capabilities.
- AFVentures primarily specializes in new technologies that will improve the Air Force’s skills and the U.S. economy by combining new business solutions with defense challenges. The Air Force and the Space Force rely on AFVentures to fund disruptive innovation and new technology.
- Spark employs virtual collaboration, interactive training, and networking to motivate Airmen and Guardians to be more innovative. Spark offers voice and access to innovative concepts that transform operations.
- Agility Prime is a transformative vertical lift program working with the eVTOL. It employs government resources to drive outstanding vertical lift markets by expanding technological transition channels for swift and cost-effective deployment.
- SpaceWERX is the U.S. Space Force’s innovation arm. It is a part of AFWERX and is run by the AFRL. It supports the expansion and development space industry by providing experts and the best innovators.
What is the vision statement of AFWERX?
The goal of AFWERX is to create an innovation ecosystem that produces revolutionary capabilities in space and aviation. AFWERX’s mantra is “Unleashing American Ingenuity “.
Read the top government contracts won by AFWERX here.
