that if you design secure software , use a secure process , bake security into everything you do , and have a robust way to test and validate your code continuously , that accreditation should be done by the time the code is complete . So , the continuous authority to operate ( cATO ) was born . This was revolutionary in the department , and really incentivized people to adopt modern DevSecOps practices . And it all started with a group of insurgents at Kessel Run .”
Kessel Run was the first true implementation of agile DevSecOps in the Air Force , and represented a departure from the standard way of doing development . “ We joked we had to ‘ smuggle ’ agile development and cybersecurity accreditation into the Air Force to make it happen ,” says Knausenberger . “ Kessel Run first got started with refueling operations in the Middle East . Eric Schmidt and the Defense Innovation Board flew over to Qatar and Schmidt asked one of the commanders what kept him up at night . The commander said ‘ I ’ m just terrified someone ’ s going to erase my whiteboard ’. Why ? ‘ Because the whiteboard is how they planned all of their refueling operations . We had pilots flying all over the Middle East , refueling in midair at 350mph , while someone hangs out the back of an airplane … and it could be defeated by a whiteboard eraser !’”
After hearing this , Schmidt was certain there could be an algorithm created to combat the problem . “ And he was absolutely right ,” Knausenberger confirms . “ Kessel Run was born out of that problem – we turned a whiteboard into an algorithm , and amongst many other successes we ’ re now saving over $ 250k a week in fuel . This team of incredibly motivated , and relatively junior , personnel was creating such innovative software , and an Air Force cultural revolution to go with it . We have developed such an incredible insurgency and have gained support by a broad part of the organization that I don ’ t think we can call it an insurgency anymore . We ’ ve won . It ’ s reached irreversible momentum . And that ’ s incredible ,” she adds . “ Since Kessel Run got its start , the Air Force has
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