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AROUND THE REGION - June 2025 Edition

By AFRL Regional Network Midwest Community posted 06-19-2025 14:25

  
June 2025 Edition

Kana Systems is a trailblazer in defense technology modernization, known for its innovative platform, Kana Wave. Founded with the mission of equipping everyday heroes with powerful technology, the company has built a strong partnership with the Department of Defense since 2019. Their AI/ML dual-use technologies have led to several SBIR Phase II and III contracts, demonstrating their strategic value within the defense ecosystem.

Kana Wave is designed to turn fragmented and disorganized data into clear, actionable insights, empowering government agencies to make rapid, confident decisions. The software supports non-technical users and is built with top-tier security in mind, having been deployed to Top Secret environments and hosted on DoD-approved networks. A major milestone includes Kana’s selection by the Air Force Research Laboratory as a use case under a 2025 congressionally-funded contract through the DAF Digital Transformation Office.

Recently, Kana Systems engineers collaborated with AFRL and Microsoft during a Microsoft AI Greenhouse hackathon to develop "Hukilau"—an AI Proposal Agent aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of AFRL’s proposal evaluation process. True to its Hawaiian name, which refers to a collective fishing method, Hukilau reflects Kana’s spirit of collaboration and innovation.

DoD organizations interested in partnering with Kana Systems can reach out via aloha@kana.systems.
Learn more about Kana Systems

The Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) accelerates innovation across the defense community and helps transition solutions back to the warfighter. With headquarters just a stone’s throw away from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, WBI has served as a trusted partner of the Air Force Research Laboratory since 2002, bridging the gap between government, industry, and academia. As a 501(c) non-profit, WBI aids its partners in strategizing, de-risking, and integrating new technologies into the defense ecosystem.

At its core, WBI fosters a culture of experimentation and rapid problem-solving. By convening a variety of stakeholders—from engineers and scientists to entrepreneurs and end-users—WBI shortens the timeline from concept to prototype. The institute’s signature programs, including the Rapid Innovation Process and the Design Sprint Series, help defense professionals tap into nontraditional solutions and apply cutting-edge technologies to pressing defense needs. These initiatives create a dynamic space for bold ideas to be tested, refined, and scaled.

In an era where speed and adaptability are paramount, the Wright Brothers Institute continues to push boundaries—just as its namesakes once did. Use the link below to learn more and work with WBI.
Reach out to the Wright Brothers Institute

The first two videos from the AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Annual Meeting are now available! Use the links below to check out the keynote address by Gerald Goodfellow, retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and current CEO of the Small Business Consulting Corporation (SBCC), and talk from Mailani Veney, Founder and CEO of Kana Systems, and Tan Phan, Vice President of Product & Technology at Kana Systems.

In his keynote, Goodfellow addresses the critical need for the United States to harness cutting-edge commercial technology to maintain a strategic edge over China's rapid advancements in military modernization.

In their talk, Veney discusses Kana’s mission to empower the warfighter through meaningful tech—scaling decision-support and automating operations across the DoD. Then, Phan demos a platform they're developing that aims to streamline the complex process of proposal evaluation for the AFRL. 

    Watch Gerald Goodfellow's keynote
    Watch the talk from Kana Systems

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    Have you checked out the AFRL Regional Network - Midwest YouTube Channel? On this platform, partners have access to a variety of video content that includes:

                        • Funded project video reports
                        • Network promo videos
                        • Informative and instructional videos

    Stay tuned to all of our social media channels as new content will be added frequently!

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    The AFRL Regional Network - Midwest is a unique opportunity to partner with the Air Force Research Lab. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please visit our Join Page for more information!

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    If you or your organization would like to be featured in an issue of Around the Region, please email us at afrlmwst@purdue.edu. A representative will then reach out to you for additional information.

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