Slidedeck for Meeting with Air University leadership

1. Lt Col Jason “TOGA” Trew
Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB
jasontrew@gmail.com (985)-773-3768
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
The Why w The What w The When w The Who w The How w The Ask

2. A decade of studying
innovations in
technology,
organizational
culture, and military
theory have led to 2
fundamental
insights....
BACKGROUND
2

3. #1. To prevail in a world that is wicked once
over – a world of conflict and complexity, of
danger and disorder – we must develop 2
broad categories of competencies, which can
be represented using the contrasting
metaphors of Daedalus and Icarus...
INSIGHTS
Practical
Rational
Scientific
Playful
Subjective
Artistic
3

4. ...remaining above the 2 categories represented by
Daedalus and Icarus and holding them in creative
tension is an executive skill: “strategic sense.”
INSIGHTS
This is not just about
thinking, but also a
cultivated intuition.
This is not just about
ideas, but also about
action.
This is not about a
level of war, but a skill
for all warfighters.
4

5. No one portfolio defines strategic sense; it is a
diverse meshwork of attitudes & skills:
INSIGHTS
systems thinking
humility
creativity
collaboration
deep learning
empathy
thinking in time
moral courage
psychology
reflective
curiosity
sociology
leadership
5

6. adaptability
“crafty”
observant
adventurous
polymath
integrative
improvisation
métis
wayfinding
narrative intelligence
vigilant
6

7. #2. I have been infected with the desire to
explore how I can catalyze the strategic sense
of others...
INSIGHTS
An appetite that
has not – and can
not – be satisfied
solely by more
research, writing,
and lecturing
...to contribute to
the growing
community of
innovators around
the AU, USAF,
and DoD
...to take what I’ve
prototyped as a
squadron
commander at SOS
and scale up to AU
and the USAF!
7

8. #1. Airmen are already world-class
disciples of Daedalus.
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
#2. Throughout history, Icarus has not been the
cautionary figure we assume. Instead, he has
inspired those who want to play with bold
ideas... including Gen “Hap” Arnold.
#3. A safe place for Airmen with an entrepreneurial spirit
to learn and practice collaborative, creative, human-
centered design can have an exponential benefit on their
performance and our organizational culture.
Why “Icarus”?
8

9. _ The “What?”
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
ü The “Why?”
_ The “When?”
_ The “Who?”
_ The “How?”
_ The Ask
9

10. Encourage Intrapreneurs
(find, attract, and catalyze heroic innovation, Rescue A1C/Lt Icarus!)
WHAT DOES I2 DO?
Lines of Effort
Engage Across AU
(actively engaged in classes, provide lectures/Faculty Development,
assess what faculty and students want/need)
Airminded Innovation
(equip Airmen with best practices using workshops and coaching)
Promote AU Brand
(connect with ecosystem of innovation through social media,
publishing, and presenting)
THE FLAGSHIP
EFFORT!
10

11. ü The “What?”
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
ü The “Why?”
_ The “When?”
_ The “Who?”
_ The “How?”
_ The Ask
11

12. Tentative Calendar
1st workshop is scheduled for 10 May @ MGMwerx (0800-1200)
If I2 remains my extracurricular sport = another workshop every 6-8 weeks.
If I2 becomes my primary duty = a new workshop every 10-15 days.
d.school/IDEO
JSOU Visit?
PME 101 Workshop
Blue Horizons
workshop?
Teach SAASS
Tech Course?
Co-teach ACSC
Elective?
Workshop at
LEDx?
AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
USN ThinkShop Facilitator Course?
ACSC/AWC
Lecture?
SAASS Workshop?MWO
Workshop?
Not shown: SOS Think Tanks/Lectures/elective and Monthly Open Workshops
Spark Cells
Workshop
12

13. ü The “What?”
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
ü The “Why?”
ü The “When?”
_ The “Who?”
_ The “How?”
_ The Ask
13

14. Industry
*AFwerx
*MGMwerx
GoogleX
*IDEO
*Pixar Studios
WHO DOES I2 WORK WITH?
Network of Virtuous Insurgents
Academia
*Michigan
*UAB
*Stanford
MIT
AUM
USAF
USAFA
AFWIC
*505 TRG
WEPTAC
Maxwell AFB
*CAP
*I-Cell
*SOS
Blue Horizons
SAASS
*ACSC
*Ldr. Institute
*ALS
AWC
OTS
SNCOA
LeMay Center
eSchool
ROTC
DoD
*J33
DIB
MD5
*Army Res.
Lab
*JSOU
*USNR N5
*NavalX
*Spark Cells
*DIU
*DEF
A cohesive force
across AU...
The essence of I2 is
what it does by, with,
and through others!
*Building on existing relationships
14

15. ü The “What?”
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
ü The “Why?”
ü The “When?”
ü The “Who?”
_ The “How?”
_ The Ask
15

16. HOW DOES I2 WORK?
Operational Approach
#1“Barbell Strategy”
Adapted from Antifragile: Things that
Gain from Disorder by N. Taleb
Balances portfolio of
conservative & risky
investments in order to
exploit known solutions
and explore radical
opportunities to further
exploit (or avoid) in the
'best known option'
I2 operates in the area of
‘small bets’
Success is often disproportionate
to investment...
Failure is common, but survivable...
and an opportunity to learn/grow.
(-)Investment(+)
(-) Risk (+)
Best
known
option
16

17. HOW DOES I2 WORK?
Operational Approach
#2 Start-Up Mentality
v Start small & lean
v Low-Res prototypes
v Iterate/adapt quickly
v Keep eyes open for
opportunities/allies
“Unconventional PME”...By encouraging the virtuous
insurgency, I2 will add as much value as possible to AU
students and faculty in the shortest amount of time possible.
17

18. ü The “What?”
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
ü The “Why?”
ü The “When?”
ü The “Who?”
ü The “How?”
_ The Ask
18

19. WHAT DOES I2 NEED?
Thin Version (1st year)
I2 is one small bet
q People
1-2 full-time; 1-4 adjuncts
q Funds (Breakout on Slide #27)
$27k for TDYs, training, materials
q Space
Classroom (remodel not in budget)
q Org Structure
Attached to Leadership Institute? Blue
Horizons? Integration Cell? Direct report to
AU/CC?
q Mentoring
Leverage local talent + Dr. DeGraff; how to
measure effectiveness?
Thick Version (2-3+ years)
I2 manages portfolio of small bets
q People
3-5 full-time (including 1-2 Fellows);
2-6+ adjuncts
q Funds (Breakout on Slide #27)
$60k for TDYs, training, materials
q Space
Offices, cutting edge classroom (C-5?)
q Org Structure
Determine best fit as mission evolves
q Mentoring
Leverage cohort of I2 alumni; seek best
of the best in all fields/services; how to
scale?
19

20. ü The “What?”
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
ü The “Why?”
ü The “When?”
ü The “Who?”
ü The “How?”
ü The Ask
20

21. I2 helps bend the minds who then
become better at bending metal!
...or curriculum ...or doctrine
...or anything Airmen do!
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)
A higher return on investment
than sending large numbers to
civilian schools to learn techniques
that may not apply to the USAF.
A unique approach that integrates the
best of AU with the best of academia &
industry...and then delivers it to any
Airmen with an entrepreneurial spirit!
21

22. BACKUP SLIDES
ICARUS INITIATIVE (I2)

23. MSFRIC Room Remodel
Office/Meetings
Images courtesy of Dr. Mehmed Ali, AU Library Director
23

24. MSFRIC Room Remodel
Additional Examples
24

25. MGMWerx
Workshops—Near Term
25

26. An “Airminded/Silicon Valley” Structure
Workshops—Long Range
26

27. Budget Breakdown
Thin Version
(1st 8-12 months)
q Funds
$27k/year for TDYs, training, materials
TDYs
o NCLS @ USAFA ($2k)
o Spark Cell Meet-ups ($4k)
Training
o IDEO + d.school TLS ($7.5k)
o JSOU (free if we host them)
o USN ThinkShop (funding their TDY
costs to MAFB; ~$6k)
Materials
o Classroom furniture ($5k)
o Training materials ($2k)
o Office supplies ($500)
Thick Version
(2-3+ years...if I2 brings value to AU)
q Funds
$60k/year for TDYs, training, materials
TDYs
o NCLS @ USAFA ($6k)
o Spark Cell Meet-ups ($10k)
o Research ($10k)
o Guest speakers ($8k)
Training
o Certification courses for 3-4 ($20k)
o JSOU (free if we host them)
Materials
o Classroom furniture ($5k)
o Training materials ($500)
o Office supplies ($500)
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28. Workshop Flyers
The Spirit of Boyd is alive!
DANGER!
Report anyone playing with wild ideas!
Mavericks will be given tools & support!
Come to the I2 classroom each
Wednesday at Noon...Bring your
lunch... watch a great TED talk then
talk about it with great people...
like Ted.
28

29. Air
University’s
Icarus
Ini1a1ve
Presents:
STRATEGIC
STUDIOS
–
INTRO
LEVEL
Topics
Why
Icarus
isn’t
a
fool,
but
a
hero.
What
is
“strategic
sense”
and
how
is
it
different
from
strategy,
strategic
theory,
and
strategic
thinking?
Why
is
the
world
“wicked
once
over.”
Why
we
should
blame
Plato
for
the
problem
we’re
in
today.
Why
you’re
more
crea1ve
than
you
“think!”
What
you
can
learn
from
The
Iliad
and
the
The
Odyssey
that
you
can’t
learn
from
Clausewitz.
What
is
design
thinking
and
why
it
doesn’t
“work.”
...and
prac1ces
for
encouraging
entrepreneurial
Airmen!
To schedule a
customized workshop
for your organization,
contact:
Jason “TOGA” Trew
(jason.trew@us.af.mil)
(links to resources)
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WORKSHOPS
WHERE
YOU’LL
THINK
MORE
THAN
YOU
WORK
AND
PLAY
MORE
THAN
YOU
THINK.