The fourth Joint Robotics Organization for building Organic Technologies Summit took place at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, May 5 and 6.

 “We have brought summit number four to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex and that is absolutely by design,” said Stephen McKee, Navy Undersea Warfare center and JROBOT co-lead. “That’s because here at Robins Air Force Base, they are leading the pack across all of the Department of Defense as it relates to implementing robotics for sustainment.”

The WR-ALC has been participating in JROBOT since its inception.

“What we do here is so critical to national security,” said Brig. Gen. Jennifer Hammerstedt, WR-ALC commander. “Our nation is counting on us to be the very best at what we do and that includes tapping in to new technologies to make us more effective and efficient…and most importantly, help us protect our workforce.” The group visited the base to share ideas and to identify technologies that could be used throughout the DOD.

“This not only helps Robins increase its technology level, but increases our ability to get these parts back on aircraft and the aircraft back into the air quickly,” said James Prince, 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group Robotic Team lead. “This also helps to gather the collective knowledge of the other branches so we can share our ideas, and we can build together as the DOD and increase our capabilities across the board.”

The team gathered information while touring the WR-ALC.

“We came here to learn from the best at Warner Robins,” said McKee. “We can take those experiences, take those lessons, and bring that to the rest of the DOD and the industrial base across the country.”

STEM and robotics school programs locally are important to building Team Robins future workforce.

“You always hear that technology is the wave of the future, specifically robotics; but the future is now,” said Dana Stanley, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex vice director. “We have to create this capability. We’ve got to be able to continue, long into the future. Our nation’s readiness depends on it.”

Prince said building partnerships with the DOD, industry and the local community means a lot for Robins in terms of growing the industry in Middle Georgia.

‘We can get these STEM programs, these robotics programs, in our schools,” said Prince. “We can start teaching our young kids this knowledge base and we can grow Robins to organically support ourselves in the technology industry.”

This September marks the 80th anniversary since the ground breaking of what is now Robins Air Force Base.

“In 1941, we started doing a mission that we continue today- ensuring our aircraft are maintained and ready for whatever is to come,” said Hammerstedt. “Did you think 80 years ago the men and women who served out here could even fathom what we we’re doing now, what we’re doing with technology, what we’re doing with robotics… it’s pretty amazing.”