Air Force's FY-20 POM shifts more money toward quantum computing, autonomy

The Air Force's fiscal year 2020 program objective memorandum indicates modest changes in the service's science and technology priorities, as the Air Force winds down its yearlong study of its S&T posture.

Tom Lockhart, the Air Force Research Laboratory's director of plans and programs, told Inside Defense at an industry conference Wednesday the FY-20 POM focuses more heavily on autonomy and quantum computing -- in which he noted industry is making great strides. A quick scan of the portfolio showed minor shifts that will not drastically move away from the service's current priorities, he added.

Lockhart added the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, a new planning organization, is also working to speed the budgetary process of turning technology demonstrations into programs.

"Right now, our demo programs, if you actually look in the Air Force's budget, there's no place to put the stuff," he said. "We're doing a lot of demo programs that are going to sit up on the shelf until we can actually do another POM cycle to get it in the budget. . . . As opposed to 10 years, let's do it in three years. Every three years, you should have something progress out of that demo side of the house."

AFRL is leading the process of drafting a new, service-wide S&T strategy for 2030 and beyond. The study's results are expected to shape upcoming budget requests and better position AFRL to pursue advanced technologies as well as strengthen its partnerships with academia and non-traditional defense contractors.

The Air Force is largely keeping mum on what data it's gathered so far.

"Earlier this year, AFRL held several outreach events, including six regional listening forums at universities to gather technical and business modernization ideas from higher education and industry," service spokeswoman Stacey Geiger said Aug. 10. "The final listening forum was held recently at the University of Utah on July 11. Subject matter experts are currently reviewing the hundreds of ideas submitted through these events and online."