Cynerge partnered with the U.S. Forest Service CTO to transform technology delivery—cutting assessment times by 85% and enabling over $80 million in project value in just one year. By leveraging AI-assisted refactoring, process-first modernization, and enterprise governance, we helped the agency move faster, reduce risk, and better support its mission.
Transforming Technology Delivery for the US Forest Service
The Challenge
The USDA Forest Service struggled with slow technology delivery and fragmented systems, hindering its ability to efficiently manage vital functions like forest health monitoring, wildfire prevention, and sustainable resource management.
A typical technology request took over 200 days just for the initial assessment — delaying projects, increasing costs, and impacting operational readiness. These bottlenecks affected 35,000 staff members and the management of a $660 million budget. Efforts to modernize applications were often hampered by outdated approaches and failed attempts, costing the agency millions in wasted effort over the years.
The Solution
Cynerge partnered with the USFS Chief Technology Office (CTO) to overhaul technology delivery from the ground up. Our work centered on optimizing processes, establishing governance, and introducing innovation initiatives that would demonstrate what modern delivery could look like — and prove it could happen far faster than anyone expected.
Innovation Story #1: AI as a Modernization Accelerator
For years, the Forest Service had struggled to migrate applications away from a legacy database technology. At the same time, they were unsure how to make practical use of artificial intelligence.
Our team combined these challenges into a single experiment. Using AI, we evaluated the existing code base stored in the repository, analyzed business processes tied to the application, and used the AI models to detangle related code. We then leveraged AI to assist in refactoring the application into a modern technology stack.
In just one week, we produced a working example to show the CTO and his staff.
“They were blown away with the progress we could make that quickly on something that had taken them so long in the past,” recalls Cynerge CEO Matt Russell. “For some, it was the first time they saw AI as something more than a chatbot. The real breakthrough was seeing it applied directly to rebuilding and refactoring applications.” The demonstration sparked immediate interest, with the CTO sharing the concept internally and seeking approval to expand its use across other modernization projects.
Innovation Story #2: Business Process First, Code Second
Another breakthrough came when a major application program area supporting field teams had failed multiple modernization attempts across several applications over five years — costing millions in wasted effort.
Instead of jumping straight into code review, our team focused on business process analysis and architecture. Over several months, we interviewed users and leadership from field operations to headquarters, mapping current workflows, identifying redundancies, and understanding pain points.
We then distilled this deep analysis into an executive-level overview showing high-level data flows, overlapping responsibilities, and points of confusion.
“This was a light bulb moment,” says Russell. “Once they saw the redundancies in a way they could relate to, they could clearly articulate where to start with process improvements and how applications needed to be modernized.”
By aligning modernization with business process needs, the CTO could set a clear and realistic path forward — one that wouldn’t repeat the failures of the past.
The Impact
These targeted innovations became part of a broader transformation effort:
- Process Optimization reduced assessment time by more than 85%, from 200 days to just 30 days.
- Increased Project Throughput enabled processing approximately 80 requests with a potential project value exceeding $80 million in a 12-month period.
- Governance Framework introduced 40 enterprise technical standards, ensuring consistency and compliance across projects.
- Innovation Culture encouraged new approaches like AI-assisted refactoring and business process–driven modernization.
The USFS can now deliver technology solutions faster, with greater clarity, and with innovations that directly serve the mission — improving system performance, enhancing mission readiness, and freeing resources to focus on protecting the nation’s forests and communities
By The Numbers
White Paper Sneak Peek
In our white paper, Streamlining Innovation: Accelerated Technology Delivery for the U.S. Forest Service, we take a deeper look at the strategies, governance frameworks, and innovation pilots that made this transformation possible. From process mapping to AI-assisted modernization, the paper explores the lessons learned and how they can be applied to any organization facing similar challenges.
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.
