Soldiers Pitch Battlefield Innovations at Fort Wainwright
The 11th Airborne Division's Angel Ascent competition showcased grassroots Soldier-developed solutions at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military
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Soldiers of the 11th Airborne Division demonstrated grassroots innovation during the Angel Ascent competition held October 28 at the division theater at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Spc. Leighton Keilen took first place for his Skydio Drone Relay and modular payload delivery system.
Why it matters
The event was designed to empower Soldiers to solve problems at the tactical edge and reduce logistical burdens. Competitors presented practical solutions to senior military leaders, civilian officials and innovation experts.
Each innovator was given 10 minutes to brief their project followed by five minutes of questions from a judging panel. Every participant was awarded a four-day pass, while Keilen received a Meritorious Service Medal and all others received Army Commendation Medals.
The players
11th Airborne Division
The U.S. Army airborne division stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, which hosted the Angel Ascent competition.
Col. Matthew Adamczyk
The Army colonel who presented the Meritorious Service Medal to Spc. Leighton Keilen.
The details
Entries were evaluated on problem identification, solution quality, operational value, resource requirements and presentation. Pfc. Michael Pereira hand-sewed a prototype passive thermal battery vault for drone batteries, and Staff Sgt. Baddeley developed TroopToTask.org, a web platform consolidating personnel data, training records, duty rosters and mission tracking.
Timeline
- October 28, 2026: Angel Ascent innovation competition held at the division theater at Fort Wainwright
Roadmap
Angel Ascent reflects the Army's broader push to decentralize problem-solving to Soldiers at the tactical edge rather than relying solely on centralized acquisition. The competition positions frontline ideas, such as drone relays and battery systems, alongside formal modernization efforts.
Fort Wainwright-based units and Alaska's military community may see more Soldier-developed tools adopted in division training and operations. Individual Soldiers with ideas for tactical problems now have a documented path to brief senior leaders.
The takeaway
Grassroots problem-solving can surface practical tools faster than formal acquisition channels when leaders create direct venues for Soldier ideas. The Angel Ascent format offers a model of structured briefings, clear evaluation criteria and tangible recognition.
Further reading
Explore more on Military coverage tied to Alaska's defense installations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Army.
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