CW2 Chris Cummins
“Rethinking Ammunition Management Systems”
Sponsor Perspective
CW2 Chris Cummins
Overview
Through Hacking for Defense® (H4D), a nationwide university program that leverages the brightest students to address national security problems, students are taught how to apply entrepreneurial methodologies to understand and offer pathways for addressing a specific government problem.
Each team is given a different problem and every problem has a government problem sponsor. Problem sponsors are members of the Department of Defense or Intelligence Community who possess the relevant technical or professional expertise to mentor their students. They act as both the client and liaison, owning the problem the students are trying to solve and facilitating their investigation into its root causes.
Sponsor Biography:
Chief Warrant Officer Two Cummins is the Ammunition Warrant Officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, a position he has held since April 2022. A native of Kingman, Arizona, Chief Cummins enlisted in the Air Force in 2002 as an Ammunition Technician. He served in various roles, including Automations Manager for A4W in Air Combat Command, reaching the rank of MSgt before transitioning to the Army in 2018.
In the Army, Chief Cummins served as the Ammunition Warrant Officer for the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team from 2018 to 2022, where he was awarded the Order of the Bayonet from the 7th Infantry Division for his management of Class V at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In 2022, he deployed with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team to Poland in support of Operation Assure, Deter, and Reinforce. Chief Cummins holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management and a Security+ certificate from CompTIA.
Sponsor Perspective:
Could you talk us through the problem you submitted?
The original problem was that ammunition personnel lacked the necessary hardware or computers to perform their tasks effectively. However, through the students' work, the focus shifted from hardware to software. The real issue turned out to be the need for better software to use the Total Ammunition Management Information System (TAMIS). The students, who were skilled in software development, engaged deeply with the problem, conducting interviews that revealed the actual needs on the ground. Their insights helped them address the issue by focusing on software solutions rather than hardware.
What did your team do with this problem?
By the end of the semester, the students presented a modified version of TAMIS that could be accessed on a mobile phone, along with a comprehensive plan for its implementation, including financial considerations. Their work provided valuable insights into the features that end-users would want in the system. The students demonstrated how to enhance the existing system by encrypting data and adapting it to mobile use, offering a practical solution that could be integrated into the Army’s current operations.
How did their findings impact the organization?
The students' fresh perspective challenged the traditional military mindset, revealing new ways to improve TAMIS and validating a previously unrecognized problem. Their work provided critical feedback and a possible solution, which was positively received and briefed to leadership. Unfortunately, while their findings validated the issue and provided a potential path forward, the project did not gain further traction as similar efforts were already underway within the organization.
Why should other potential government sponsors get involved in the H4D program?
The H4D program offers government sponsors a unique opportunity to collaborate with individuals who think differently and can approach problems from new angles. Even with limited resources and time, sponsors can receive innovative solutions that they might not have considered. The chance to work with these students and explore alternative solutions is invaluable, costing nothing but time, yet potentially yielding significant benefits.
🌐 Take action now by submitting your challenge through our dedicated problem submission page. Together, let's pave the way for innovative defense solutions!