Since 1962, the Air Force Studies Board (AFSB) has served as the principal interface between the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the National Academies on issues related to science, technology, engineering, defense acquisition, logistics and sustainment, and human capital in support of Air and Space Force missions.

The AFSB's formal mission is to provide independent, objective, and authoritative external advice to the Department of the Air Force. To accomplish this, AFSB activities bring together leading experts from across the Air Force, Space Force, national?laboratories, industry, and academia. These members represent a broad range of disciplines, including?aerospace engineering, autonomy, defense acquisition life cycles, systems engineering, and weapons systems.

Our evidence-based strategic analysis spans across the acquisition life cycle sustainment?and provides clarity for decision making on high-level issues. Our defense acquisition and sustainment analysis assembles the nation's leading acquisition experts, operators, industry innovators, and technologists to provide feedback to improve total acquisition life cycles through identifying technology requirements and availability, illuminating transition opportunities, and centering operational speed and effectiveness. We counter force modernization challenges through system of systems analysis that engages experts in systems architecture, design, and integration. We assemble leading mission, system, and software engineering; autonomy; artificial intelligence; and cybersecurity experts to advise on digital integration challenges, providing solutions for digital materiel management, interoperability of multi-generational platforms, agile software development, and systems integration.
In coordination with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology and Engineering (SAF/AQR), the AFSB will:

• Oversee and guide work performed under the auspices of the board;
• Serve as a convening authority for subordinate work units;
• Conduct, facilitate, and manage meetings, workshops, and studies on topics of interest to the DAF;
• Convene, as needed, to oversee and direct all work performed under this requirement and respond to tasks and/or inquiries from the DAF;
• Receive progress updates from ongoing activities and plan and coordinate schedules on future work; and
• Provide commentary to DAF leaders on relevant issues and leverage the expertise of the board members, committees, and consulted subject matter experts.

This continuing core activity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Air Force.