Doing Things Differently: Innovation Fellows Solve Real-World Challenges Published June 1, 2026 By Meghan Howard 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OH -- Nine Airmen and civilians from across the 88th Air Base Wing presented digital tools designed to solve real-world challenges within their organizations during the inaugural 88th Air Base Wing Innovation Fellowship graduation May 27. Taylor Lowe, 88th Force Support Squadron management analyst, gives a presentation during the Innovation Fellowship program capstone ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 27, 2026. The 2026 Innovation Fellowship program selected members from each 88th Air Base Wing squadron to create innovative application solutions to obstacles in their respective units. Selected members spent five months learning how to utilize power apps and SharePoint to develop and deliver propositions to these problems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Daniel Peterson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Created through the wing's Continuous Improvement and Innovation team, the five-month program gave participants the opportunity to learn new digital tools and apply them to problems affecting their squadrons. Using platforms such as Power BI, Power Apps and Power Automate, fellows developed creative, tangible solutions intended to improve processes, increase efficiency and save time. "We're not getting more money, we're not getting more manpower," said Col. Dustin Richards, commander of the 88th Air Base Wing. "We really have to focus on doing things a little bit differently." The mindset of “doing things differently” served as the foundation of the fellowship. Participants were encouraged to think outside the box, challenge inefficiencies within their organizations and reject the notion of "that's how we've always done it." Meeting weekly, fellows participated in AI integration workshops and software training sessions while developing projects tailored to their units. By the end of the program, participants had created digital dashboards, automated reporting tools and other products designed to improve day-to-day operations. U.S. Air Force Col. Jenara Allen, 88th Dental Squadron commander, evaluates a presentation during the Innovation Fellowship program capstone ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 27, 2026. The 2026 Innovation Fellowship program selected members from each 88th Air Base Wing squadron to create innovative application solutions to obstacles in their respective units. Selected members spent five months learning how to utilize power apps and SharePoint to develop and deliver propositions to these problems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Daniel Peterson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res "This program isn't just about learning new tools," said Taylor Lowe, management analyst with the 88th Air Base Wing Manpower Office. "It's about taking ideas and turning them into solutions that directly impact the mission and improve squadron efficiency." All nine fellows presented their projects before a panel of judges that included wing and group leadership. The top three projects received recognition for their impact and projected return on investment. The winning projects tackled a variety of challenges across the wing, from financial and construction processes to fitness center operations and medical reporting. While each project addressed a different problem, they all shared a common goal: making work easier, faster and more effective for the people doing it. Following the presentations, the judging panel selected three projects for top honors based on their impact and potential benefits to the wing. U.S. Air Force Col. Dustin Richards (left), 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine (right), 88 ABW command chief, award Daniel Ruth, 88th Civil Engineer Group, with a first-place trophy for his innovation fellowship presentation at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 27, 2026. Ruth was among nine personnel selected to participate in the 2026 Innovation Fellowship program to create innovative application solutions to obstacles in their respective units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Daniel Peterson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Daniel Ruth, a computer scientist with the 88th Civil Engineering Group, earned first place for developing a digital solution that streamlines and automates the construction Government Purchase Card closeout process. By replacing a manual, error-prone process with a centralized digital hub and automated notifications, the system reduced approval times from an average of 7.5 business days to less than one day. The project is projected to save more than $43,000 over five years while reclaiming 133 hours of administrative time. Tech. Sgt. Jacob Swisher, an NCO with the 88th Security Forces, earned second place for creating "Fitness on Demand," a system designed to simplify fitness center reservations across the wing. The SharePoint-based solution replaces an inefficient shared inbox process, improves response times and service consistency and is projected to save approximately $2,800 annually in labor costs. "The idea is simple: less inbox, more access, better readiness," Swisher said. 1st Lt. Avery Anderson, nurse with the 88th Medical Group, earned third place for modernizing the daily safety data collection and reporting process at Wright-Patterson Medical Center. The new system significantly reduces data collection and reporting times, provides leadership with real-time access to information and is projected to save approximately 7,000 hours annually, allowing personnel to spend more time focused on patient care. The fellowship challenged participants to look beyond existing processes and explore new approaches to solving everyday problems. Command Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine concluded her remarks by speaking directly to the fellows. "Thank you for putting in the effort, for challenging yourselves and each other to think outside the box, to break the mold just a little," Fontaine said. "Our missions benefit from it." The fellowship's first graduating class leaves behind more than finished projects. Their solutions are already improving processes across the wing, while the lessons learned throughout the program will continue to benefit their organizations long after graduation. To view additional photos from the graduation, visit the 88th Air Base Wing Flickr Page.