Submissions Open for AFSOC’s Thunder Dome 2027 Innovation Competition

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —  

Calling all AFSOC innovators for the fourth annual Thunder Dome. The submissions window for ideas is now open for AFSOC’s innovation competition known as Thunder Dome. All submissions received by Sept. 13, 2026, will be considered. 

This competition is open to any member within the command, and ideas can be submitted at gain.il4.afwerx.dso.mil/usaf/afsoc-thunderdome-2027, ?which is a CAC only enabled site. 

Finalists will be selected based on multiple factors including impact on readiness/advantage, alignment with AFSOC strategy, and feasibility of execution. Finalists will present their ideas on Nov. 19, 2026, for the chance to receive funding to further develop their innovative solutions and put them into action across the command. 

To ensure we maintain our decisive advantage against evolving global threats, events like Thunder Dome empower Air Commandos to lean into our ethos of grassroots innovation by tackling issues impacting readiness and AFSOC’s ability to operate across the spectrum of competition, ensuring we remain relevant through adaptation. 

We must invest today in the capabilities we will need tomorrow. We look forward to seeing the great ideas Air Commandos share in this year’s competition. 

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on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 at 00:00 and is filed under Air Force, Press Release, SOF.
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