Efficiently interact with data
Collaborate with colleagues
Have you heard about LaunchPad?
It’s a new offering that provides Airmen and Guardians with free, easy, and secure access to cloud-based tools so you can take a digital-first approach to your work.
Efficiently interact with data
Collaborate with colleagues
Deliver leading- edge capabilities
A joint endeavor brought to you by:
Strategic driver for the LaunchPad initiative
Technical management partner providing a secure environment for LaunchPad in Cloud One (part of AFLCMC/HNII)
Lead integrator providing backend development and technical support for LaunchPad
“Today in the U.S., it takes 16 years, on average, to deliver a major weapons system. China does it in less than half the time. This gap has to close—and rapidly—if we want to maintain dominance. LaunchPad puts us in a stronger position to get there.”
-DAF DTO Chief J. Kyle Hurst
Thank you
We’re grateful to the hundreds of Airmen and Guardians whose direct engagement with the DTO has helped bring this solution to life, and we look forward to continued partnership in advancing the DAF’s digital transformation.
Our rapidly growing user community
Since its initial rollout in mid-2023, LaunchPad has gained significant momentum. By relieving participating organizations of the need to set up their own tool environments, the platform’s adoption has resulted in significant cost savings. A diverse user breakdown, spanning various DAF organizations and including the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), shows strong potential for cross-service engagement.
cost avoidance for the enterprise
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$120M+
cost avoidance for the enterprise
1300+
active users
400+
three-letter organizations represented
200+
project spaces created
three-letter organizations represented
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project spaces created
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Last updated May 2024
At the October 2023 Early Access Assembly attended by over 500 LaunchPad users, Robert Fookes, AFMC director of engineering and technical management, touted the platform’s potential to propel the DAF forward:
“The benefits of LaunchPad go beyond simple access to tools; LaunchPad creates an environment where you can collaborate in real time, so problems are no longer left to be solved in silos.
I encourage all of you to roll up your sleeves and explore how LaunchPad can positively impact your work. I think you’ll find that it can save a significant amount of time and effort, cutting out some of the frustration you may have previously been experiencing and making your job more fulfilling. More broadly, you’ll notice how LaunchPad aids in your execution of the DMM strategies in each and every program office as well as day-to-day decision making.”
An ever-expanding software library
LaunchPad offers a select lineup of commonly requested tools that are available 24/7 for Airmen and Guardians at IL-5:
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Cameo, Teamwork Cloud
Requirements Management
IBM DOORS
Data
Analysis
MATLAB
What early adopters have to say
Former DAF DTO process automation lead Noah “Odie” Demerly found that LaunchPad saved him a significant amount of time and toil in his work on digital airworthiness. He commented, “I’m so thankful for the power of LaunchPad and its ability to help us automate, innovate, and digitalize our work within the enterprise.”
While Odie was working to digitalize MIL-HDBK-516C—what’s known as the digital airworthiness “bible”—he realized that manually tracing criteria in the handbook to artifact requirements (needed to show compliance for each of the criteria) would have taken him over six man weeks to complete. With LaunchPad, leveraging both DOORS and Cameo, he was able to automate a lot of the work and slash time spent making 11,000 connections between criteria and various artifacts down to about 10 minutes using a link-by-attribute feature in DOORS.
Another LaunchPad superuser, human autonomy teaming tech expert Michael “Frood” Schneider, PhD, had this to say about his experience with the platform:
“LaunchPad’s accessible speed and stability have been game changers for our program’s engagement with users. Instead of guessing and hoping that we’d have access to our remote-hosted MBSE tools, with LaunchPad we’ve started ‘combat modeling,’ where we participate in future conops and requirements development discussions with our MAJCOM users and model out the concepts they’re discussing in real time… The ability to model with our users has opened up entire other avenues for us to push digital materiel management.”
Have a LaunchPad success story to share?
We want to hear about it. Just take a couple minutes to complete this simple form.
Past LaunchPad Events
3 Videos
On the horizon
With an ambitious roadmap in place, LaunchPad is on track to expand its tool selection and user community in the coming months.
How you can get involved
Interested Airmen and Guardians should first complete this form to request LaunchPad access. Requesters will typically be onboarded within 2-4 weeks.
The Teams site is a great way for users to connect with the LaunchPad community. We encourage you to join the conversation.
Check out our detailed guide for users
We’ve created a go-to resource to help you get up to speed on all that LaunchPad has to offer. Read about the platform’s origins, onboarding process, guidance related to specific tools, and answers to common questions. Additionally, we’re inviting existing users to participate in updating and expanding the guide on an ongoing basis by accessing the source file here (CAC login required).
We want your input!
If you’re a current LaunchPad user, we want to hear about your experience. Please take a couple minutes to complete this simple form.
Explore our training resources
Cameo
Recommended reading:
- SysML Distilled by Lenny Delligatti
- PDF: No Magic SysML Quick Reference Guide (authorized for IL4 with password)
- Book: A Practical Guide to SysML by Sanford Friedenthal, Alan Moore, et al.
Educational videos:
- MBSE Execution YouTube Channel
- CATIA MBSE YouTube Channel
- Tips and Tricks for Smarter Modeling (~50 mins)
- Demystifying Digital Acquisitions—MBSE (~6 mins)
- Systems Modeling Language (SysML) Diagram Overview (~13 mins; authorized for IL4 with password)
- Using SysML for Requirements Management (~50 mins; authorized for IL4 with password)
- SysML Video Playlist (authorized for IL4 with password)
Self-paced online training:
- Delligatti Associates OCSMP Accelerator™ SysML Training Course (up to 48 hours)
- Models, Simulations, and Digital Engineering—CLE 084 (~5 hours)
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)—CENG 001 (~21 hours)
Instructor-led training:
- Applied MBSE Using SysML—WKSP 0696 (~16 hours; online)
- SysML Immersion, Part I—WSE 030 (~16 hours; online)
- SysML Immersion, Part II—WSE 030 (~16 hours; online)
- Architecture and Systems Engineering—Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems (~30 hours; online)
- Foundations of MBSE—APPEL—vMBSE1 (~8 hours; online)
- DASO Teams Information: Provided by the DASO team in AFLCMC/EB and taught by Enola Tech using Dassault materials, this course provides an intermediate level of SysML and Cameo training on how to build various types of SysML diagrams. With hands-on workshops, it’s a fit for professionals who need to build models and have minimal prior familiarity with Cameo.
DOORS
Recommended reading:
- IBM Rational DOORS Getting Started (password protected)
- DOORS Training from AFLCMC/HNCEE (password protected)
- Doors Next Generation Tutorial
Educational videos:
- DOORS 101—The Basic of Doors (~90 mins)
- DOORS 101—An Introduction to DOORS 9.6 (~60 mins)
- DOORS Next—Full Tutorial Getting Started with IBM Engineering Requirements Management Quick Start (~60 mins)
- IBM DOORS Next Tutorial for Beginners (~40 mins)
- DNG 101—Overview and Demonstration of DOORS Next Generation (~75 mins)
MATLAB
Educational videos:
- MATLAB Integration with SysML Software—Cameo and Magic System of Systems Architect (~30 mins; authorized for IL4 with password)
- The Complete MATLAB Course: Beginner to Advanced (4+ hours)
Self-paced online training:
Learn more about the platform’s origins
Recognizing the barriers faced by programs attempting to access essential tools like Cameo, TeamWork Cloud, and DOORS, LaunchPad emerged as a cost-effective, cloud-based solution, removing silos and promoting collaboration. It began as a sandbox with very limited funding; it was initially conceived as a place where digital doers could “park” while they built their own solutions. The DTO soon realized how inefficient that approach would be in the long run. Rather than providing capabilities and having programs pay, the team went a step further and set its sights on removing all of the barriers Airmen and Guardians were experiencing on the path to going digital. By proactively sharing input with the DTO, DAF digital doers helped refine the LaunchPad concept. That led to a decision made by AFMC Commander General Richardson to fund the platform, closing the gaps we currently have in our tool access.
When will IL-6 be available?
IL-6 is now available for use. Onboarding to IL-6 is a gradual process because we’re only onboarding groups by program office.
What’s the plan to keep up with the latest software versions, for tools that are already in the LaunchPad environment?
We’re actively working on a plan to manage software versions. We’ll always trail the latest version a bit because of the need to manage risk through the cyber process. We’re striving to be as up-to-date as we can. We’ll also develop a plan for software versioning that will allow users time to move from one version to another if needed.
How many licenses are available for each of the current tools?
This will be based on user demand, not percentage of users in the environment. In FY24, we’ll introduce a license management tracker, to make sure we have enough licenses to meet the demand for tools, without overbuying.
When will Jira and Confluence be available for LaunchPad?
Timing is still TBD. We’re committed to providing a secure environment and respecting user data, so are currently working with the cyber team on plans to mitigate any potential risks. We’ll share more info when we have a better sense of the timeline.
Will web-based tools be hosted within the environment or externally?
Hosting for web-based tools is a use case being considered for LaunchPad 2.0.
What kind of training is offered?
The DTO is working with various partners across the DAF, including AFIT and DAU, to offer training for each individual tool, and we plan to offer badges for completion using Badger. We’ll be looking to the user community for input on what classes you’d like to take and any recommendations you have. We anticipate most of our training offerings will be free. Recommended training will be available on the LaunchPad Teams site starting in January 2024.
What’s the plan to scale users inside of LaunchPad?
We’re not currently limiting how many users from a project space can join LaunchPad. When we initially rolled out the platform, we kept it to small groups. Now we’ve opened that up so you can invite DAF colleagues to join you in the environment.
Can contractors get access to LaunchPad?
Yes, currently on two conditions. First, they must have a CAC (because we’re at IL-5). We’re working on pilots to get around the CAC requirement; however, that requires a longer lead time. Second, users cannot claim IP rights. We’re not ready to open this up to OEMs to have them in the same environment. We have a lot of growth and re-architecture to do before then.
How do I get data in and out of LaunchPad?
DoD SAFE is currently the primary method. We know it’s not efficient enough, so we’re working on alternatives we can deploy to the masses that will be available to IL-5 and IL-6 in FY24.
What are the data storage limits per user?
We don’t have a limit for data storage; however, we’re striving to NOT be an Authoritative Source of Truth. We want to leverage other environments like AF-PLM and the DAF BIG 6. If LaunchPad ever needs to serve as a data source, we’ll determine governance at that time.
Can LaunchPad push data from different security domains?
We have cross-domain sharing built into the requirements for FY25 and beyond. These solutions are not only infrastructure but also data. They take time to develop and implement, and will be rolled out incrementally, both in classification level and data type. LaunchPad is partnering with the higher classification level solutions so that when they become available across the enterprise, LaunchPad will support data transport as needed by users. As of now, LaunchPad is only slated to deliver an Il-5 and IL-6 solution. We’re partnering with other teams to work on higher classification levels.
What’s the LaunchPad team doing with other environments, such as AF-PLM?
Our plan in FY25 and beyond is to start connecting with other environments. We realize the larger enterprise needs more than a single environment; LaunchPad alone won’t solve all of our problems. We’ll be working with PLM starting in January 2024 to map out what a PLM-LaunchPad integration would look like.
What are action steps to increase USSF digital transformation engagement?
Because LaunchPad is built off of DPaaS, there are several Space Systems Command (SSC) programs that are already customers at the IL-5 and IL-6 level. So it should be seamless to start scaling LaunchPad for Space Force, and we have some upcoming conversations scheduled with leadership to help make that happen.
How does LaunchPad’s funding work?
Hon Hunter is internally reallocating funds for FY25 and beyond. In prior years, Gen Richardson has provided AFMC/CC management reserve funds to establish the environment.
