WASHINGTON — Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced the launch of AFwerX July 21, during her visit to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Based on a model used by Special Operations Command, AFwerX opens Air Force doors to highly innovative problem solvers with small amounts of money in ways that strip out bureaucracy.

The first AFwerX location will be near the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, so students and faculty, small businesses and entrepreneurs can connect easily to the Air Force. The storefront is slated to open by early 2018 with “open to the public” hours for individuals and groups to present ideas.

“We’re changing the way we do business with innovators,” Wilson said. “Bringing an AFwerX storefront to Vegas allows us to take advantage of Nevada’s emerging idea marketplace.”

This site is intended to engage the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to help the Air Force increase lethality at a lower cost, Wilson said.

“We have to move faster and be smarter,” she added. “We know there are people out there with answers to problems, with ideas and innovations, and we are going to look at what they have and help them help us.”