Todd Davis, Armament Directorate, looks on as Marcie

Todd Davis, Armament Directorate, looks on as Marcie Black of Advanced Silicon Group, signs contract documents during the Air Force’s first Hypersonics Pitch Day Nov. 7, at the Doolittle Institute in Niceville, Fla. Nine small businesses were invited to pitch their ideas to an Air Force acquisition and technology leadership panel. More than $5.25 million was awarded to seven small businesses in less than three hours. The purpose of Air Force “pitch days” is to do business at the speed of ideas by inspiring and accelerating startup and small business creativity toward answering national security challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)