TAMPA, Fla. — The eighth iteration of Dragon’s Lair was co-hosted by the U.S. Special Operations Command and the 18th Airborne Corps, which brought the finalists to the University of South Florida’s Research and Innovation Park in Tampa on Mar. 29, 2023.

During the competition, seven innovations that were developed by individuals and teams were presented in front of a panel of expert judges from government, industry, academia and investors. Each innovator had seven minutes to present the concept, scope and application of their ideas, which was followed by 12 minutes of questions generated by the judging panel.

After careful deliberation, the judges selected the Mold Conditions Awareness Tool, or MCAT, that was presented by U.S. Army 1st Lt. Chris Aliperti and Pvt. Salem Ezz from the 3rd Infantry Division, as the top innovation of Dragon’s Lair 8.

The MCAT is a specialized 3D-printed device that uses sensors to detect temperature and humidity levels within barracks rooms to identify early signs of mold. The data is ingested in real-time to an application through Wi-Fi that enhances military leaders and barracks managers’ visualization to assess the conditions and remediate through taking action.

“Dragon’s Lair was a great opportunity to present our ideas to leaders across the Department of Defense and the civilian sector,” Aliperti said. “It is not every day you get to present your ideas on improving the Army to a three and four-star general, so it was a great honor to be selected.”

Aliperti and Ezz expected the first problem they would address would focus on national security. “We did not expect to find the greatest threat to our Soldiers right now was within their own living areas,” said Aliperti.

The 18th Airborne Corps was fortunate to have Ms. Kathi Vidal, U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trade Office, as a judge. Her experience and resources will help the innovator service members find a pathway to patent their intellectual property.

“I thought all the ideas today were so phenomenal,” said Vidal. “We saw these innovators really put their boots on the ground to see their projects through and create concrete solutions for real problems the Army currently faces.”

Ezz spent months developing the MCAT, and now it is being beta tested in barracks on Fort Stewart.

“It feels great to be recognized for our technical skills in software engineering and product management,” said Ezz. “This tool has been months in the making and it feels great that the hard work has been recognized by the Department of Defense.”

U.S. Army Gen. Bryan Fenton, commander of USSOCOM, presented Certificates of Achievement to the seven competing teams, thanking them all for their participation in Dragon’s Lair.

Canadian Army Brigadier General Pierre “Pete” Huet, the Assistant Commanding General of Operations, 18th Airborne Corps, directs modernization and innovation initiatives for the Corps.

“This was the best episode of Dragon’s Lair yet,” said Huet. “These innovators had their voices heard by industry and military leaders, and their concepts will make a real impact across the U.S. Department of Defense.”

With their selection, Aliperti and Ezz each were presented with the Meritorious Service Medal, they will be allowed to attend a military school of choice, and they will receive the support and resources from U.S. Special Operations Command and the 18th Airborne Corps to propel their idea’s implementation across the U.S. Department of Defense.

Story by SGT Jameson Harris

Photos by SGT Maxine Baen

Explaining complex concepts to children is one of Noel Soto’s strengths and a key reason why the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command recruited him to work with the DEVCOM Soldier Center’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics team. Soto, an electrical engineer, supports the DEVCOM STEM program by visiting local schools and speaking to students about the equipment that Soldiers use daily.

“After I explain how Soldiers use the equipment, I challenge the students to find ways to make it better. The most important takeaway is to speak their language…don’t use words they don’t understand. If I see their eyes glaze over, then I’ve lost them,” Soto said.

Soto is familiar with the equipment that Soldiers use, after serving four years as a paratrooper in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

“Seeing the children’s eyes light up when they understand a concept is rewarding, and I see STEM as the way of the future. It is important to get children interested in career fields such as science and engineering, before they opt for other careers,” Soto said.

When Soto recently visited a local high school, one of the students shared his idea to develop a solar blanket with a built-in battery. Soto liked the idea so much that he is working with a vendor to see if it is viable. On a visit to a local middle school, Soto worked with the teacher to tailor his presentation to the current curriculum.

Soto stresses the importance of making his visits to local schools fun.

“I don’t consider working with children at STEM events a lot of work. I consider this fun,” Soto said.

Soto also supports the Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers, or HEROES, program, a joint research and development initiative between University of Massachusetts Lowell faculty members, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students and DEVCOM SC researchers and scientists who develop new technologies to empower Soldiers. The HEROES initiative accelerates research and innovation by tapping into the intellectual assets and research facilities of both organizations. Soto serves as a consultant for the HEROES program, sharing his knowledge of electrical power.

About 5,000 square feet of UMass Lowell is dedicated to the Heroes program. The Heroes team focuses on these project areas: 1) chemical/biological, thermal, fire microbial, insect and ballistic protection; 2) aerial delivery and Unmanned Aircraft System; 3) portable power and wearable electronics; 4) human augmentation and human systems integration; 5) sensors for chemical/biological agents; and 6) nutritional intervention. DEVCOM SC researchers and scientists also have access to laboratories across the UMass Lowell campus, which include design, synthesis, engineering and testing labs, as well as nano-fabrication facilities.

“Reaching out to children to get them excited about math and science is one way to build the workforce. STEM is also vital for our national security. The country can’t continue to keep a leading edge if we don’t have people with the right technical skill set,” Soto said.

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The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, is home to thousands of Army scientists, engineers, technicians and analysts working around the globe to leverage cutting-edge technologies and empower the American warfighter with the data and abilities to see, sense, make decisions and act faster than our adversaries – today and in the future.

As part of Army Futures Command, DEVCOM takes calculated risks to find new technological solutions each day. Our experts drive innovation, improve existing technologies and engineer solutions to technical challenges. Our work goes beyond theory to simulation and prototyping. We take potential science and technology solutions from the lab “into the dirt” for experimentation alongside Army Soldiers. DEVCOM prides itself as a global ecosystem of innovators, from world-class universities and large defense contractors, to small, minority-owned businesses and international allies and partners.

By Argie Sarantinos, DEVCOM Public Affairs