Tesseract Podcast

“Be deliberate; focus on impact.” — SMSgt Philip B. Barry

In this episode, Barry reflects on:

Barry leaves listeners with a simple charge:

Tune into the latest Tesseract Podcast episode to hear the full conversation.

#TesseractPodcast #AirForceInnovation #9ICommunity #IcemanSpark #EmpowerAirmen #FocusOnImpact #BeDeliberate

In Episode 4 of the 2A Career Field Strategy Podcast Series, the team takes listeners inside the strategic summit, a major milestone that transformed the Career Field Strategy from concept to construct.

This episode provides the first detailed look at the future of the 2A Career Field Strategy, including the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) phase, the newly defined specialty phase, and the evolution of the Master Aviation Technician (MAT) track. The team breaks down how every maintainer will begin as a sortie generator first, building a common foundation before moving into one of 13 distinct specialties designed to increase flexibility, enhance expertise, and support future mission requirements.

Listeners will also hear how the summit brought together career field leaders and working group members from across the force to make key decisions, establish action plans, and define the path forward. The discussion covers retention and incentive initiatives currently being pursued, assignment flexibility efforts, bonus advocacy, and how maintainer feedback continues to shape every step of the strategy.

With major milestones achieved and the next phase of work already underway, Episode 4 offers the most comprehensive look yet at where the 2A Career Field Strategy is headed and how today's decisions are shaping the future of Aircraft Maintenance.

Have questions, concerns, or feedback you want addressed in future episodes? Share your input here: https://tesseractaf.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/1/create/157

In Episode 3 of the 2A Career Field Strategy Podcast Series, we hit the ground running with updates from Kickoff 2.0, proving that "the working groups are where the action is at."

Have questions, concerns, or feedback you want addressed in future episodes? Share your input here: https://tesseractaf.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/1/create/157

This episode highlights the massive momentum behind the strategy, from bringing 180 maintainers to D.C. to stand up the remaining six working groups, to global roadshows and a staggering 7,000+ responses to the latest field pulse check. The CFM team also steps into the hot seat to answer direct questions from the field, covering the future of contracted backstops, expanding opportunities through the 2A to 2A OJT retraining program, and how the strategy integrates the Guard and Reserves into a true Total Force effort.

Driven by a "for us, by us" mindset, this strategy leaves no stone unturned as we shape the future of aircraft maintenance together. Future episodes will continue to address your feedback, tackle new questions, and outline the strategic milestones ahead.

Have questions, concerns, or feedback you want addressed in future episodes? Share your input here: https://tesseractaf.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/1/create/157

In this episode of the Tesseract Podcast, host TSgt Dan Kosty introduces listeners to the podcast’s newest co-host, SSgt Ian “Speed” Pierce, and the perspective he brings to the conversation.

Ian reflects on his journey from aircraft maintenance and high-tempo operations at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to deep testing at Edwards Air Force Base and squadron-level innovation efforts. He shares how seeing challenges through different lenses — and joining Tesseract’s Process Advancement team — has shaped how he approaches problems, systems, and change across the force.

The conversation explores how applying Theory of Constraints helps focus effort on what actually limits performance, and how Ian’s lived operational experience is where his Airmen-first approach comes from — empowering others to think critically, speak up, and take action.

Tune in to hear how Speed’s drive to connect, create, and challenge the status quo led him to Tesseract — and now to the mic as the podcast’s newest co-host.

In Episode 2 of the 2A Career Field Strategy Podcast Series, we dive into how the strategy is being built—and who is shaping it.

Have questions, concerns, or feedback you want addressed in future episodes?

This episode pulls back the curtain on the work happening behind the scenes, including the use of data, field-driven working groups, and direct input from maintainers across the force. The discussion explains how the strategy is evolving through collaboration, iteration, and real-world feedback—not as a finished solution, but as a deliberate, ongoing effort.

This series is different by design. It’s built alongside the field, not delivered to it. Future episodes will continue to address questions, concerns, and topics coming directly from maintainers as the strategy takes shape.

Have questions, concerns, or feedback you want addressed in future episodes?

This episode kicks off the 2A Career Field Strategy Podcast Series, a dedicated series on the Tesseract Podcast focused on the future of Air Force maintenance.

Have input, questions, or concerns?

In Episode 1, we explore why change is necessary, what is driving the 2A Career Field Strategy, and why this moment matters. The discussion covers the operational realities facing maintenance today, the risks of maintaining the status quo, and the need to deliberately evolve how the 2A community is structured, trained, and developed.

This series is different by design. It’s not a finished product—it’s an ongoing conversation with the field as the strategy takes shape. Future episodes will dive deeper into questions, concerns, and topics coming directly from maintainers across the force.

In this episode of the Tesseract Podcast, we sit down with Major General Edward Vaughan, Executive Director of the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC), to explore the critical role rapid acquisition plays in supporting warfighters at the speed of relevance. 

In this episode of the Tesseract Podcast, we sat down with Major General Jeffrey R. King, Director of Logistic for the U.S. Air Force, as he reflect on 32 years of service, this journey took him from the flight line to the pentagon, serving and leading at all sort of positions. Maj. Gen King shares his early roots as an aircraft maintenance, his passion for innovation, and why he believe logistics is the true operational level of warfare. 

In this episode of Tesseract Podcast, we sit down with Ms. Kim Brown, Deputy Director of Logistics and Chief of staff for Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. With nearly four decades of service, Ms. Brown shares her journey from payroll clerk at Fort Bragg to shaping policy and strategy for over 200,000 logisticians across the Air Force.

In this episode, we sit down with CMSgt Robert Berrier, the Senior Enlisted Leader for HAF/A4 Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection. During this episode, we discussed his career journey, his current role at the Pentagon, and the key milestones that shaped his leadership.

This episode explores how innovations across A4 drive a culture of change and the potential consolidation of AFSCs, along with many other critical topics impacting the force. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on the evolution of logistics, the power of innovation, and what’s next for the Air Force.