Montgomery Chamber partners with Air Force to host team of military and private sector app developers
Montgomery, Ala. – May 22, 2019 – Today, TechMGM, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s (MACC) initiative to connect and leverage Montgomery’s unique technology assets, announced a partnership with the Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate Program Executive Office to host a new Air Force software development project that will offer private sector collaboration called BESPIN. Signifying a shift in the way the Air Force approaches software development and acquisition, BESPIN, an acronym for Business and Enterprise Systems Product Innovation, pairs in-house developers with private sector developers and uses an agile development methodology in a collaborative and innovative environment to turn projects into new solutions to support the Department of Defense.
The Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate based at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base was charged by the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition to stand-up an Agile software factory focusing on Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) applications. BES runs the systems that run the Air Force. The MACC partnered with BES to provide an initial off-base space at their facility, where work is already underway to create mobile applications for BES with the first focus being logistics systems used on the flight line, including those at Maxwell Air Force Base and the Alabama Air National Guard.
Through BESPIN, previously slow and costly products can now be met with flexible solutions that allow developers to adapt on the fly – and deliver real results more quickly. By training and encouraging in-house talent to develop software using agile practices, the Air Force is starting to attract top IT talent to the Air Force. Meanwhile they are also collaborating with digital services market leaders to transform their process and train their workforce. In April of this year, BES awarded a contract to Fearless, the company responsible for redesigning the SBA.gov site, modernizing Medicare beneficiary API products for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and building software for other federal, nonprofit, city and healthcare clients. They are also founding members of the national Digital Services Coalition and are passionate about assisting the government in making its technology work better for all residents.
“We’re essentially replicating a structure that has proven successful in the commercial sector and applying it to the Air Force and building upon the foundation set by our peers at Kessel Run. What previously worked just isn’t cutting it anymore – we’ve got to be faster and more efficient,” said Richard Aldridge, Program Executive Officer Business & Enterprise Systems. “Launching BESPIN has reimagined our view on software acquisition and the way we solve problems. We’re confident that the brightest minds in the creation of business software and mobile solutions will be attracted to serving our country by solving some of the most pressing issues that the Air Force faces today.”
Not only will BESPIN have significant implications for the Air Force, the connection with TechMGM and Fearless will strengthen the community in several ways. Through partnerships with TechMGM and other key area resources within the Montgomery’s unique tech ecosystem, BESPIN seeks to support the city’s infrastructure to eventually lead to lasting change in the region.
“Montgomery prioritizes military missions, so we are honored to host this important project for the Air Force to advance their efforts in creating solutions for our nation,” said Willie Durham, Chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber supports any type of partnership that advances the military because it is not only good for our country, but also for our community. Initiatives like BESPIN allow our region to attract and retain talent, spark new businesses and create a cycle of economic development that will have lasting effects in Montgomery for years to come.”
“Fearless is excited to partner with USAF, TechMGM, and the City of Montgomery at large to support in the growth of the local tech ecosystem. The BESPIN and TechMGM visions align well with our mission to build software with a soul, and to see a world where good software powers things that matter,” said Delali Dzirasa, President of Fearless.
For more information about TechMGM initiatives, visit https://techmgm.com.
Editor’s Note: For images, visit https://bit.ly/2YPaJQT.
ABOUT TECHMGM
TechMGM is a collaboration of local industry, educational and government entities working together to connect and leverage Montgomery, Alabama’s unique technology related assets. This initiative is designed to maximize the community’s diverse technology talent pipeline and promote the city as an emerging and innovative technology hub to enhance the workforce and grow the regional economy. Montgomery’s unique combination of partners have invested in critical tech infrastructure, including contributions from federal, state and local government, educational institutions and the local business community’s large corporations and small and non-traditional businesses. These collaborations have led to the development of the powerful Montgomery Internet Exchange (MGMix) and the implementation of fiber infrastructure throughout the city that will lead to even more smart city-based initiatives.
###
Meg Lewis
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
Mlewis@montgomerychamber.com
334-312-2007
