On March 3, 2026, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) Team visited the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Rapid Development Integration Facility (RDIF) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) just outside Dayton, Ohio.
RDIF was established in 2010 to deliver equipment to the warfighter in a more efficient and more cost-effective way than existing approaches could support. The organization specializes in rapid adaptive engineering approaches and counts among its staff members electricians, welders, machinists, and other skilled workers. RDIF works directly with Air Force customers to assess needs and then to build and test prototypes to fulfill those needs. By keeping problem solving in-house, the organization has, over the years, completed hundreds of projects representing millions of dollars in cost savings alongside untold numbers of hours of labor conserved.
The PIA Team manages DAF’s Partnership Intermediaries (PIs), which are long-term nonprofit partners that facilitate technology transfer or transition – or both. “Technology transfer” refers to transferring inventions and discoveries originated in DAF laboratories to partners in industry and academia for further refinement and development. “Technology transition” refers to the process of bringing augmented technologies back into government to enhance warfighting capabilities. Although DAF works with many different partners to advance its mission and goals, PIAs create stable and lasting relationships with a limited number of established nonprofit collaborators. The PIA Team is a key component of the DAF Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) Program Office, which facilitates the negotiation and execution of technology transfer agreements on behalf of the Air Force and Space Force.
The PIA Team was interested in visiting RDIF to learn more about its approaches to rapid innovation. Team members got to view the facilities and meet key staff – and they even got to hold a deceptively heavy piece of tungsten, which is used to reinforce and fortify aircraft components! After the tour was complete, the PIA Team briefed facility personnel on organizational activities and discussed how the two entities might work together to advance shared goals.
In today’s dynamic and rapidly changing world, collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential to ensuring that DAF is optimally positioned to meet existing and emergent threats. The PIA Team’s proactive approach to coordinating with potential partners is designed to equip the warfighter with the most cutting-edge capabilities DAF can provide.
The DAFT3 Program Office resides within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), as the AFRL commander also serves as the DAF Technology Executive Officer (TEO) and holds ultimate oversight authority for DAF’s technology transfer activities.
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 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around 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.