Athena Chang

Athena Chang serves as a key procurement lead within the Kessel Run organization of the Department of the Air Force, driving the acquisition of mission-critical software and digital systems to modernize air and space combat command and control. She specializes in rapid, agile contracting methodologies aligned with DevSecOps principles and cloud-native development, ensuring timely delivery of secure, scalable platforms such as the Aerospace Readiness Enterprise System (ARES). Her acquisitions focus on end-to-end software lifecycle support, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, containerized applications, and secure cloud infrastructure—enabling operational tempo through iterative, user-centered development. Her primary contractor relationships center on THE BOEING COMPANY, with whom she collaborates on large-scale, integrated software modernization efforts. These partnerships emphasize performance-based, outcomes-driven contracting models that prioritize rapid prototyping, iterative delivery, and system interoperability across tactical and strategic domains. While Boeing is the dominant partner, her procurement approach fosters ecosystem collaboration, encouraging subcontracting and integration with specialized software vendors to meet evolving operational requirements. Athena’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside categories. This underscores a mission-driven prioritization of technical capability and speed over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with Kessel Run’s mandate to deliver warfighting capabilities without delay. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, she ensures competitive fairness and transparency across all solicitations. Her technical domain is exclusively focused on NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), encompassing custom software development, systems integration, cybersecurity engineering, and cloud migration services. She procures solutions grounded in modern software architectures—including microservices, Kubernetes orchestration, and zero-trust security frameworks—supporting the Air Force’s digital transformation across air and space operations.