Ybor city is known for its cigars, entertainment, nightclubs, artistry, galleries, and multi-ethnic origins, but did you know that in addition to those characteristics and attractions, it hosts a high-tech component as well?
It is known as SOFWERX, a nonprofit organization chartered to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the United States Special Operations Command/USSOCOM, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base. But SOFWERX is not at MacDill, it is located in a brick nondescript former cigar box manufacturing facility on E 2nd Ave in Tampa. If you look close you will see a small sign to the left of the entrance that says “SOFWERX.”
You have probably heard of, or been part of, the extensive and sometimes belabored acquisition process that characterizes the defense industry. SOFWERX, and its parent DEFENSEWERX, was created to accelerate that process by focusing on the warfighter’s pressing issues and soliciting innovative solutions from a wide variety of potential vendors. They call it the “Big Tent” philosophy based on collaboration and partnership that includes the typical set of industry contractors and interagency partners, but also the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, such as RAND and the Institute for Defense Analyses, and various laboratories, academic institutions, and non-traditionals, that are predominantly small businesses. As an example, SOFWERX hosts hackathons, where they invite and pay “ethical” hackers to defeat software builds and solutions as part of a vulnerability test before software is fielded.
The process can start in a couple of ways. Topics and challenges are normally nominated by USSOCOM and various special operations units such as the military service or theater special operations commands. But good ideas can come from anywhere, and that is the power of the process—it’s inclusive, not exclusive. As an example, Tech Tuesday provides an opportunity for “innovators” to present their ideas and “transformational technologies” for consideration. Of course, SOFWERX can’t work on every “good idea.” But the board of review considers each one, submits those deemed to have merit to the government. Then the government team down selects candidate projects for further consideration.
Since special operations is atypical, they in turn look towards atypical providers. As an example, since the terrorist threat increasingly uses off the shelf systems to fight America, it’s imperative that we explore countermeasures to defeat those systems. In many cases, countermeasures, or at least the starting point for researching those countermeasures, reside outside the conventional and traditional military acquisition process.
Hence, they also look to the civilian/commercial world to provide answers. In this case, when we talk of dual use applications, it’s not just what the military produces that has a civilian application, it’s a civilian or commercial application that solves or at least contributes to solving a military problem.
So, what are some of the challenges and potential solutions?
One of the challenges is intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support, or ISR, to small teams such as Special Forces operational detachments or SEAL teams. A potential solution is the “drone in the box” or DIB. The DIB includes both air and ground unmanned and uncrewed systems respectively. The aerial system is to weigh no more than 55 pounds. The DIB recently completed the collaboration phase and will enter the assessment phase, that looks at systems that currently exist. If accepted, awards may begin immediately for selected systems.[i]
Another challenge is reducing the weight that an operator is required to carry. All elements of personal gear are candidates for weight reduction, but they have recently focused on body armor. And this is not just of military interest, it’s also a concern of local and national law enforcement as well. The objective is to provide the special operator with the “lightest possible ballistic plate that meets ballistic protection requirements.”
And SOFWERX is not restricted to just American good ideas. In pursuit of a single man flying machine, they investigated the potential of the Individual Aerial Mobility System invented in France.[ii]
These are only a few of the SOFWERX engagements. Since 2015, they have conducted “358 events to assess, validate, prototype, and demonstrate new and novel technologies.”[iii]
And that is not all they do. There is also an educational component. SOFWERX offers a paid internship through the University of Southern Florida and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) engagements with elementary, middle, and high schools. During fiscal year 2021 and 2022 they enlisted 43 academic interns to support SOFWERX efforts. Additionally, they conducted 112 STEM engagements where they supported clubs, provided mentorship, and created customized STEM activities.
For more information, you can visit the SOFWERX webpage at Https://SOFWERX.org. Even better, and despite its SOF-like, low visibility posture, you can visit SOFWERX at their Ybor facility. In fact, they encourage visitors and offer presentations and tours to the public every Wednesday. Just contact them online at https://sofwerx.org/tour-request.[iv]
[i] “Drone in a Box (DIB), Assessment Event (AE),” SOFWERX, Accessed on June 23, 2025, at https://events.sofwerx.org/drone-in-a-box-dib.
[ii] Michael Bottoms, “SOFWERX: A smart factory of innovation helping the warfighter, USSOCOM Office of Communications, February 2, 20189
[iii] “Executive Brief,” SOFWERX. Accessed on June 23, 2025, at https://sofwerx.org/about.
[iv] Much of the information that I received for this article was provided through the on-line executive brief, and during my two tours of the facility in November 2024 and in June 2025. Thanks to Marcus for both.
