Ms. Devin C. Gongora

Ms. Devin C. Gongora is the Department of Air Force (DAF) MAJCOM and Spark Cell Innovation Manager for the United States Department of Defense Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) AFWERX Spark Catalyst Branch. She manages customer portfolio operational goals for 15 Major Commands (MAJCOMs), collaborates with 115 Worldwide DAF Spark Cells to accelerate innovation solutions across the enterprise. Build, Empower and Mobilize Innovation Networks!

- Led Spark Catalyst Partnership Team of 7 coordinators, 4 Ambassadors, mentoring daily and fostering team growth across 100 multiple projects. Increased team engagement and mission alignment with monthly personalized recognition initiatives such as AFWERX shout-outs, personalized handwritten cards, and thank you messages to the 12 teammates, their family members acknowledging team engagement; and handwritten notes to Spark Senior Leaders recognizing leadership support..

- Empowered 12 partnership team members to assume leadership roles within the DAF Ecosystem, fostering autonomy and collaboration that led to three coordinators moving to Senior Enlisted Billets; 4 personnel promoted to Senior Innovation Managers. Team camaraderie resulted in 30% increased feedback on monthly connect meetings focused on mental health, built trust to develop resilient leaders; improved team performance by 9o% through development repeatable process to innovation project to end-user , aligning with AFWERX’s "Connect the Ecosystem" priority.

- Led 7 Spark Cell coordinators, 4 Ambassadors and 118 Spark Cells across 12 MAJCOMs while managing 11 additional projects. Accelerated initiatives like Aloha Spark’s AI project to 6 different installations and 4 more in work, decreasing installation cost by 33% while enhancing Agile Combat Employment (ACE) for the Warfighters worldwide.

- Recognized as Spark Shining Star for exceptional leadership and collaboration with Homeland Security, Army Applications Lab, United States Navy and Coast Guard resulting in trilateral defense partnerships that drive cutting-edge additive manufacturing innovation across Spark Cells, awarded by AFWERX leadership in Aug 2024.

- Facilitated 12 monthly partnership meetings between MINDEF Singapore, PACAF, and AFRL, strengthening international ties and organizing key networking events such as Technology Working Group, Spark Summit, and Eastern/Western Crossflow that resulted in innovation agreements in Corrosion Control, Resilient Energy Technology, and climate control to improve overall facility cost by 80%.

- Connected AFRL to enhance defense ecosystem resilience leveraging RAF ASTRA, Singapore, Canada international partners to coordinate efforts on Automation, Corrosion and Climate Control, and