Airman earns $10,000 through IDEA program

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Allen
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
In these tough economic times, workers around the nation struggle to find ways to earn extra income simply to make ends meet.
 
Through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, or IDEA, Program, an Airman from Little Rock Air Force Base turned a good idea into an extra $10,000.
 
Tech Sgt. Brad Clark, 19th Component Maintenance Squadron jet engine intermediate maintenance supervisor, had a bright idea that found a way to avoid work for depot and wait time for himself and his Airmen.
 
"We were always backlogged or awaiting parts for pump housings because pump inserts were going bad all the time. This cut the depot backlog and our awaiting parts time," he said.
 
In an effort to "cut out the middle man," Sergeant Clark developed an idea to fix a propeller's pump housing without taking it off the wing. 

"[My idea was to] replace the pump housing inserts on the propeller," said Sergeant
Clark. "Normally we have to remove the propeller from the wing, bring it to the back shop, deem whether we can fix it or not. If not, we have to send the entire pump housing back
to depot and it's about $85,000 per pump housing. The new way is using a two part epoxy, putting it around the insert threads, putting it back in, and you don't have to remove it from the wing."
 
Sergeant Clark's idea will save the Air Force approximately $410,000 annually. Under
the provisions of the IDEA program, the innovator receives 15 percent of the tangible savings to the Air Force in a year. The maximum compensation any one idea can create is $10,000.
 
Sergeant Clark is not a stranger to new ideas. He has already had two approved ideas
through the program as well as one currently being processed. Additionally, he has spread the IDEA program wealth around to his co-workers. 

"Since my idea's gone through I've helped two co-workers submit ideas since then," said Sergeant Clark. "It doesn't take long to submit an idea. It's a very easy process." 

Sergeant Clark said he plans to use the money on practical things such as buying furniture and paying off debt, but he also plans to use part of his money on a more publicized, universal prize.

"I'm going to Disneyworld," he said. 

For more information or to submit an idea to the IDEA program, contact Ms. Deborah Anderson at 987-3612.