Bureau of Land Mangement smokejumpers on a training jump in Boise, Idaho. (DOI/Neal Herbert)
Jump to the Cloud: How Cynerge Helped Modernize Smokejumper Operations and What That Means for You
The Challenge
Federal agencies tasked with deploying smokejumpers, elite wildland firefighters who parachute into remote, high-risk areas, were stuck with outdated, unsupported systems.
- Legacy .NET apps
- Decentralized databases
- Manual reporting processes
- Zero scalability
These systems were intended to track training, equipment, safety incidents, and personnel activity. Instead, they slowed everything down, introduced risk, and couldn’t adapt to evolving operational demands.
Sound familiar?
If your business is still leaning on aging tech or cobbled-together tools, you’re not alone. The struggle to modernize is real and traditional solutions are often too slow, too expensive, and too complicated to be worth the hassle.
The Solution
Cynerge stepped in with a lean, senior-level team that hit the ground running. The team was instrumental in transforming the Malfunction Abnormality Reporting System (MARS) from what Ben Oakleaf, Base Manager of the Great Basin Smokejumpers, described as “largely a ‘diary’ of occurrences, not a database,” into a fully modern, user-friendly platform. With the system’s user base and data volume growing steadily since its inception in 2000, the need for structured, scalable modernization became critical.
- We architected a new consolidated application and migrated it to the cloud by building a secure, scalable platform on Microsoft Azure.
- We built a modern Angular frontend for intuitive use, real-time dashboards, and faster data capture.
- We migrated legacy data to a secure SQL backend, ensuring integrity and long-term reliability.
- We implemented a full CI/CD pipeline so new features could roll out without downtime or disruption.
No drama. No bloated timelines. No 12-month discovery cycles. Just skilled people, focused execution, and measurable results. “Cynerge created a system that allows a tiered categorization, effectively creating a true database,” Oakleaf said. The upgrade included reclassifying over 1,400 historical records without losing access or data integrity. “The new MARS platform is much more user friendly, and allows us to capture the data in a more consistent and accurate manner.” Most importantly, Oakleaf noted, “The work Grant [Cynerge employee] and his team accomplished has made a significant increase in smokejumper safety and efficiency.“
The Impact
Bureau of Land Mangement smokejumpers prepare for a training jump in Boise, Idaho. (DOI/Neal Herbert)
- System Consolidation: Reduced maintenance and licensing bloat
- Improved Safety Oversight: Better visibility into incidents and trends
- Faster Releases: Agile development and CI/CD enabled continuous improvement
- Future-Proofing: Cloud infrastructure made the platform ready for tomorrow
The result? Agencies moved from reactive spreadsheets to proactive, real-time planning all while saving time and budget.
Why It Matters
Because it’s not just government systems that get stuck in the past. Plenty of companies are still running on fragile tech stacks with limited support, high overhead, and painful workarounds.
Here’s the good news: You don’t need a 30-person team or a million-dollar proposal to fix it.
Cynerge specializes in helping companies unstick their systems with fast, secure, and scalable solutions delivered by small, expert teams that care more about outcomes than optics.
Let’s Talk About Your Tech
If your team is managing operations with outdated tools and holding back upgrades because of cost, complexity, or fatigue, you don’t have to go it alone.
Cynerge helps businesses move to the cloud, modernize legacy systems, and streamline operations without burning time, budget, or trust.
Ready to move faster, better, and smarter? Want to learn more about how Cynerge helped the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management? We have a detailed white paper to share with you.
White Paper
Cynerge is a software consulting firm that helps government and commercial organizations modernize legacy systems, streamline operations, and build user-friendly digital experiences. From cloud migration and enterprise application development to DevOps and UX design, we deliver secure, scalable solutions that solve real problems.
In addition to our custom consulting services, we develop and support mission-driven platforms including Kalpa, a professional development tracker for educators; LocalHop, an event management and ticketing solution for communities; and CIAO, a Check-In and Out enterprise application for field-going teams.
