In a historic milestone for the Department of the Air Force (DAF), the Michigan National Guard (MING) Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center (KJJADIC)/Joint Experimentation Warfighting Laboratory (JEWL) has been granted delegated authority to execute technology transfer agreements. This achievement marks the first time an Air National Guard organization has received such authority, positioning the KJJADIC/JEWL at the forefront of the DAF’s mission to rapidly deliver cutting-edge capabilities to the warfighter.
“We are driven to get new technologies into the hands of warfighters as quickly as possible so they can evaluate capabilities in realistic operational environments and provide real-time feedback,” said Col. Michael Whitefoot, director of the Michigan JEWL. “Securing this authority is an amazing honor and the natural next step toward accelerating innovation and delivering advanced capabilities to the warfighter faster.”
The MING established the KJJADIC in 2020 to accelerate Department of War (DoW) innovation and experimentation efforts. Today, the KJJADIC/JEWL is a nationally award-winning organization that directly supports the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC), including the National Deep Uncrewed Aerial Systems Training Range (NDUASTR). Through operational experimentation, advanced testing, and industry collaboration, the organization validates emerging technologies across the NADWC’s expansive maneuver and test ranges and rapidly transitions those capabilities to the warfighter.
Over the past two years, the KJJADIC/JEWL pursued several Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) in coordination with the DAF Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) Program Office to accelerate collaboration with industry partners. The organization has increasingly focused on higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), expanding its work beyond early-stage research into technologies approaching operational transition to the warfighter.
Technology transfer agreements facilitate the sharing of DAF-developed technologies, data, and information with external entities while protecting the Department’s intellectual property interests. These agreements accelerate commercialization, strengthen public-private collaboration, and help rapidly field advanced capabilities for operational forces. The authority to approve these agreements resides with the DAF Technology Executive Officer (TEO), who also serves as commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). DAF laboratories work alongside the DAFT3 Program Office to develop prospective agreements, though delegated authority may be granted to individual laboratories with demonstrated experience and established Offices of Research and Technology Applications (ORTAs).
By securing delegated authority, the KJJADIC/JEWL can now execute CRADAs directly with industry partners, significantly accelerating coordination and reducing barriers between innovation and operational fielding. These agreements serve as the engine of military-civilian collaboration, enabling the legal exchange of data, personnel, and intellectual property. Strategically, delegated authority also helps mitigate the defense innovation “Valley of Death,” where promising prototypes and research efforts often fail to transition into DoW programs or operational use.
“Modern warfare is evolving at an unprecedented pace; the KJJADIC/JEWL is helping ensure our service members remain prepared to meet emerging threats across every domain,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “This delegated authority represents more than an administrative milestone — it is a significant step toward accelerating innovation, strengthening partnerships with industry and academia, and delivering relevant capabilities to the warfighter faster than ever before. Michigan continues to lead the way in building the future force and ensuring our Soldiers and Airmen have the tools they need to succeed on tomorrow’s battlefield.”
The timing is especially significant as Michigan prepares to host Exercise NORTHERN STRIKE, one of the DoW’s largest reserve component readiness exercises. The most recent iteration included approximately 8,500 service members, 68 industry partners, and 10 foreign partners, creating a uniquely valuable environment for operational testing and experimentation. The KJJADIC/JEWL plans to leverage NORTHERN STRIKE 2026 to collect time-sensitive research and test data, generate measurable readiness outcomes, and accelerate the rapid fielding of emerging technologies to warfighters.
“This authority allows the KJJADIC/JEWL to further advance capabilities across the NADWC’s maneuver space and vast test ranges while accelerating the validation and transition of emerging technologies directly to operational forces,” said Brig. Gen. Scott L. Meyers, assistant adjutant general for initiatives for the MING. “By integrating experimentation, operational testing, and industry collaboration into exercises like NORTHERN STRIKE, we are creating an environment where innovation can be rapidly assessed under realistic conditions and delivered to the warfighter with greater speed and precision.”
CMSgt. Thomas Crider coordinated extensively with the DAFT3 Program Office to develop draft CRADAs and initiate discussions surrounding delegated authority. Following coordination with leadership, the DAFT3 Program Office recommended approval of the delegation request, which the DAF TEO approved in early 2026.
The KJJADIC/JEWL currently has several additional CRADAs in development, with many more planned as the organization continues expanding its network of defense, industry, and research partnerships. Leaders say the newly delegated authority will significantly streamline collaboration efforts and accelerate the transition of emerging technologies from experimentation to operational use.
“Securing delegated authority is an important milestone that positions the KJJADIC/JEWL to deliver innovative capabilities more rapidly and efficiently across the DAF and the broader DoW,” said Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Kramer, assistant adjutant general and commander of the Michigan Air National Guard. “Our team is excited to be blazing trails that will create long-term benefits for the DAF, strengthen collaboration with industry and research partners, and help bridge the gap between experimentation and operational fielding. Ultimately, this effort enhances our ability to execute the mission and provide warfighters with advanced capabilities at the speed of relevance.”
Strategic partnerships with Headquarters Air Force, AFRL, Air University, the Air Force Test Center, AFWERX, ARCWERX, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center continue to position Michigan as a national hub for defense innovation. Senior leaders within the KJJADIC/JEWL also played an instrumental role in establishing ARCWERX and the Hap Arnold Innovation Center in California, the Air National Guard’s first innovation center. As the KJJADIC/JEWL continues to blaze trails for the National Guard, it is helping establish a new model for how AFRL accelerates readiness across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace domains. In fact, following the example already established by DAF, the Department of the Army recently delegated authority to the KJJADIC/JEWL as well, further catalyzing innovation.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit www.afresearchlab.com.