Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, Commander of the 96th Test Wing and Air Force Materiel Command, shared his insights on innovation at Eglin Air Force Base with attendees of the America250 FieldWerx Summit.
He outlined the mission of the 96th Test Wing as follows:
- Test: Innovate at the speed of relevance
- Installation: Defend at the speed of foresight
- Range: Engage targets at the speed of light
Gen. Massaro emphasized that Range is the most critical of these elements, explaining, “Innovation isn’t the thing we develop—it’s the space where we bring people together with ideas.”
Reflecting on the future, he noted that while the America250 celebration looks ahead 250 years, his focus is on the next 10, 20, and 30 years. “We have to create an innovative environment that encourages forward thinking,” he said, “giving people the space, authority, and support to explore new ideas, test them, and discover what’s truly possible.”
Gen. Massaro also highlighted the innovative spirit thriving through Eglin’s Spark Cell, community partnerships like the HSU Foundation, and collaboration with AFSOC and the 7th Special Forces Group—all working together to exchange ideas and tackle the complex challenges facing our nation.
