Defense & Aerospace Report Defense & Aerospace Technology Report [Jan 7, 26] Rise8 Founder and CEO Bryon Kroger
Jan 7, 2026
Bryon Kroger, founder and CEO of Rise8 and former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, dives into the urgent need for reform in the Pentagon's software development strategy. He argues that prioritizing mission efficacy over cost can dramatically enhance outcomes for warfighters. Kroger advocates for centralized production paths, highlights the importance of continuous delivery, and shares lessons learned from Kessel Run’s experiences. He emphasizes the rapid testing methods observed in Ukraine and proposes collaborative coding environments with allies to innovate faster.
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Software Defines Modern Military Capability
- Bryon Kroger insists software now defines hardware capability and must reach warfighters in production, not demos.
- He measures success by real outcomes in the field rather than contracts or features delivered.
Establish A Fast Path To Production
- Prioritize continuous delivery before debating what to build and enable a one-day path to production for new contractors.
- Centralize production environments so teams can ship a Hello World app on day one and learn to operate in DoD contexts.
Cloud Isn’t The Software Factory
- A 'software factory' concept is valid but usually misexecuted; the cloud alone isn't the factory.
- True paths to production require abstraction, tooling, and competent operators, not just purchasing cloud services.