Precedent Case
USAF Kessel Run
A defense software factory pattern: small empowered teams shipping continuously inside secure environments.
Context + constraints
- High-compliance delivery environment
- Mission users demand working software, not artifacts
- Modern delivery required inside existing constraints
Trigger
Need to deliver operational software at speed under defense constraints.
Intervention design
- Create a delivery model that prioritizes user needs and frequent releases
- Standardize tooling and delivery patterns
- Embed mission users in feedback loops
Execution mechanics
- Small cross-functional teams
- Continuous delivery discipline
- User-centered discovery tied to shipping increments
Outcomes
- Shorter delivery cycles
- Higher alignment with mission users
- A repeatable pattern for new teams
Transfer mechanism
- Standards and playbooks
- Onboarding pathways for new teams
- Institutional credibility through consistent shipping
Genesis Forge design takeaway
You can move fast in compliance environments when the path to production is treated as a product and teams are given clear authority.
Citations
- USAF Kessel Run
- DoD software factory references and public DevSecOps guidance