Fort Bragg ignites innovation: Joint Innovation Outpost opens as a collaborative hub linking soldiers, universities and industry

By Faith Hatton, posted Feb 5, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

(Left to right) U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Schneider, Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology), Mr. Robert Braun, CTO, XVIII Airborne Corps, Lt. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps, Mrs. Chloe Gavin, daughter of Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin, U.S. Congressman Richard Hudson and Joint Innovation Outpost Director Col. Tom Monoghan cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of the new Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost.

Fort Bragg has opened its doors to the Army’s next generation of innovators with the grand opening of the Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP), which took place on Friday, Jan. 23.

Created in support of the Department of War’s transformation initiative, the JIOP is a 40,000-square-foot, fully resourced workspace dedicated to revolutionizing the U.S. Army’s acquisition process and enhancing technology delivery to the warfighter.

This collaborative environment allows soldiers to present the solutions or problems they have been working on, enabling partnerships that refine and implement innovative solutions with the potential to impact the entire formation.

“At the JIOP, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem where our soldiers can collaborate directly with the brightest minds in industry and academia. This partnership is essential for accelerating innovation and maintaining our competitive edge,” shared Lt. Gen. Greg Anderson, XVIII Airborne Corps commanding general. “Readiness is non-negotiable. The JIOP allows us to rapidly iterate and field new technologies, ensuring that the XVIII Airborne Corps remains the nation’s premier crisis response force.”

Named after Lt. Gen. James Gavin, a champion of military innovation and airborne operations, the JIOP embodies his legacy of leveraging new technologies to enhance operational effectiveness. The JIOP is strategically located at Fort Bragg, in a building previously used as the installation’s Officers’ Club. Today, as a result of $26.3 million in construction and renovation, the JIOP gives this building a new purpose, anchoring its mission directly in Gavin’s legacy.

With 26 total partners, the JIOP seeks to foster innovation, synchronization and partner collaboration for warfighter overmatch in near-peer conflicts. Two academic partners include Fayetteville State University (FSU) and Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), which will be working as pipelines to ensure that innovators and collaborators can connect.

Fayetteville State University highlighted the impact of military students and the importance of continued research, sharing that enrollment of military-affiliated students had grown over 40% over the last four years. Leadership also highlighted the historical education partnership agreement between Fayetteville State University and the XVIII Airborne, signed into effect in February of 2025, and the impact it has had over the last year.

“Fayetteville State University is honored to be a part of the XVIII Airborne innovation ecosystem, as the support of the military is one of the most important strategic priorities for our university,” shared FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison in his remarks during the ceremony. “Since the signing of that agreement, Fayetteville State faculty and staff have examined challenges being faced across multiple military domains. Our team has responded to those challenges with work that has the potential to improve AI-enabled assessments of our adversaries, and has the potential to expand the leading-edge training available to our soldiers.”

Fayetteville Technical Community College also highlighted their partnership with the XVIII Airborne Corps and how it is continuing to support objectives like Project Pathfinder, which allows FTCC students to directly support the Corps’ intelligence enterprise.

“At Fayetteville Tech, we view our partnership with the Corps as a force multiplier. Together, we’re building capabilities that enhance readiness on the battlefield and resilience here at home. Our mission is simple: provide the talent, technology and training that strengthen the warfighter and support the community that sustains this installation,” shared FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells in his remarks. “This wasn’t theoretical work, it was real-world, ISARS support that improved targeting, speeds decision-making cycles and enhances situational awareness for soldiers downrange.”

The JIOP will have a profound impact on the acquisition process, as it streamlines innovation acquisition by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating timelines for technology delivery.

By creating a framework that emphasizes accelerated innovation and enhanced collaboration, the JIOP is positioned to serve as a model for future Army initiatives, reflecting a commitment to continuous improvement and experimentation in military operations.

“The JIOP is a clear signal that we are open for business and ready to partner with anyone who can help us accelerate the delivery of game-changing capabilities to our Soldiers,” concluded Lt. Gen. Anderson.

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