Moody Bridge Chat

Moody Bridge Chat Videos

Video by Oswaldo Delacruz
GATR Portable Antenna System
Air Force Research Laboratory
Jan. 25, 2016 | 4:51
Just days after Hurricane Katrina slammed the South, an odd-looking inflatable antenna hastily set up at a shelter near Biloxi began providing the only high-bandwidth internet connection available to storm-battered residents.

The inflatable satellite antenna was a prototype under development by GATR Technologies through an Air Force SBIR. The original intention behind the GATR (“Ground Antenna Transmit and Receive”) antenna was to provide a communications lifeline to special operations forces—but Katrina offered a great proving ground, a little bit ahead of schedule. Named a Popular Science Invention of the Year and one of Inc. Magazine’s “Hottest Small-Business Products,” GATR systems are now in use by all of the U.S. military services, including U.S. Special Operations Forces, and is also being used by government and civilian disaster relief organizations.

The GATR technology is just one example of the value realized through the U.S. Air Force’s SBIR and STTR (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer) programs. Respectively, the programs fund R&D by small businesses, and cooperative R&D projects between small businesses and nonprofit U.S. research institutions, including universities.

The Air Force SBIR / STTR program focuses on proposals with the potential to develop into products or services for military or commercial consumers. From 2000-2013, the Air Force invested nearly $4 billion in these R&D projects. GATR received funding during this period to develop its revolutionary satellite antenna. This is GATR’s story.
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About Moody Bridge Chat

Bridge Chat's purpose is to create cohesive, high-performing teams that foster trust and connection through flexible and consistent small group discussions; in direct response to overwhelming feedback from the CSAF 21's Resilience Tactical Pause.

Caring for our Wingmen is what defines us as Airmen, so we must work to get to know our teammates and the challenges they face. We all have the same responsibility of creating the workplace we want and supporting the people we share our lives with.

Bridge Chat topics are posted here monthly to encourage small group discussions within teams. Beginning the process of recurring discussions can be difficult, but will become easier with time and reinforce the Flying Tiger culture.

To help us initiate and facilitate these discussions, we have included a guide that defines roles and ground rules.

The Flying Tiger Bridge Chat Facilitator provides facilitator trainings for base personnel. Their goal is to create squadron facilitators who take action on ACC's goal of equipping, engaging and empowering Airmen with resilience tools and create high-performing teams who look out for each other. To schedule training, contact 229-257-3211.