“This is the first time it’s felt like someone’s actually listening to us. I can’t believe we finally have something that makes our job easier.”
Biz/Org
US Air Force C2 - Kessel Run
Year
2018 - 2019
Defense
Legacy Modernization
Product Overview
The vision
Spacer was designed to digitize a key piece of the Air Tasking & Re-Tasking cycle: reserving, modifying, and deconflicting airspace. These requests - often scribbled on napkins or emailed as Word docs - created major bottlenecks for airspace managers and introduced unnecessary risk.
The reality
The status quo relied on decades-old tools like TBMCS, ad hoc handoffs, and human memory. 85% of incoming airspace requests were incomplete. Deconfliction required tribal knowledge. Legacy airspaces were rarely deleted, cluttering the system with “ghost” reservations. Mistakes could delay missions - or worse.
The work
As product lead embedded at Pivotal Labs with Kessel Run, I worked closely with active-duty officers, airspace managers, and engineers to co-design a safer, smarter system. My focus included:
Running 20+ user interviews to understand planning workflows and edge cases
Mapping the full airspace request lifecycle - from pre-mission to change orders
Designing a structured digital form to replace cocktail-napkin inputs
Introducing automated deconfliction suggestions based on time, location, and altitude
Ensuring new airspace entries could be exported as USMTF to support downstream systems
Collaborating with other ATR-focused apps like Slapshot and Triton to reduce duplication
Navigating process adoption challenges across squadrons and rank structures
Product Goals
How might we help mission planners reserve, update, and deconflict airspace - fast - without introducing new risk?
We aimed to:
Standardize the request process to reduce back-and-forth
Improve situational awareness through map-based confirmation
Reduce delays by automating simple conflict resolution
Preserve compatibility with legacy formats and downstream systems
Challenges
Chaos in the current system
Requesters used whatever was easiest - chat messages, napkins, calls. That variability created rework, confusion, and safety issues.
Legacy airspace clutter
Old airspaces persisted in the system long after they were useful, causing false positives during conflict checks.
Deconfliction required deep context
Airspace managers had to manually compare shapes and schedules, often relying on personal memory to avoid collisions.
Stakeholder expectations
Officers expected a flashy, map-heavy interface. Spacer delivered thoughtful validation and functionality first - and had to earn trust over time.
Solutions
Mapped the full mission planning cycle
We traced every interaction across airspace managers, requesters, and system handoffs. This exposed critical failure points - like data loss, repeat work, and hidden bottlenecks.
Standardized and validated requests at the source
We created a digital submission form that guided users to include required details from the start. Submission success rates rose, and airspace managers spent less time chasing clarification.
Built smart deconfliction into the workflow
The app flagged conflicts and suggested slight shifts in time, location, or altitude - helping users solve simple issues before they reached a human.
Connected upstream and downstream systems
Spacer produced ACO-ready entries and exported them in USMTF, ensuring compatibility across ATR systems and squadrons.
Created a real feedback loop with the field
We deployed onsite, tested with live users, and captured quotes and success stories that helped us drive adoption with senior leaders.
Outcome & Impact
Spacer successfully launched as an MVP within the Kessel Run platform. It’s now in active use at multiple AOCs.
Airspace Managers now receive complete, validated requests - reducing manual processing time and error risk.
Simple conflicts are resolved automatically, allowing staff to focus on complex edge cases.
Air Tasking Order changes happen faster and with more confidence.
Integration with other apps like Slapshot and Triton improves data quality and planning efficiency.
Fewer errors, faster planning, and safer skies - all built in partnership with the people who use it.
