USSF Discovery lead
Government Research & Discovery Leadership
Unfortunately, due to the classified nature of my work with the government and the NDAs I have signed, I am unable to showcase many of my projects. However, because government research and discovery efforts form the core of my work at Silicon Mountain Technologies (SMT), I want to share the processes, methodologies, and lessons learned from working in this sector.
Role: Discovery Lead
As a Discovery Lead for SpaceCAMP, a government software factory, I lead user research and discovery initiatives across multiple Deltas within Space Operations Command (SpOC). My role focuses on identifying mission-critical pain points, uncovering operational inefficiencies, and driving innovative solutions through human-centered design methodologies.
At SMT, we apply the Double Diamond framework to structure our discovery efforts, ensuring that we thoroughly explore problems before defining and implementing solutions.
Applying the Double Diamond Approach
Discover (Problem Exploration) – Conducting field studies, user interviews, and observational research to fully understand the operational challenges.
Define (Problem Synthesis) – Running synthesis workshops to identify key Problem Areas, Mission Impact, and Opportunity Areas for digital transformation.
Develop (Solution Exploration) – Ideating potential solutions, collaborating with stakeholders, and iterating on early concepts.
Deliver (Implementation & Validation) – Advocating for the best solutions to move forward, ensuring feasibility and mission alignment.
Process & Methodology
To execute this, I work closely with Combat Development Teams (CDTs)—training them in research methodologies while executing them in real-time. Our research process includes:
User Interviews – Engaging directly with service members to capture mission challenges
Observational Research – Conducting in-depth field studies to understand workflows and constraints
Synthesis Workshops – Distilling findings into Problem Areas, Mission Impact, and Digital Solutions
Commander Briefings – Presenting insights and recommendations to Squadron Commanders
Each research engagement provides data-driven insights that directly influence digital transformation efforts within the U.S. Space Force.
Key Contributions & Impact
Developed & implemented the "Discovery Workbook" – A structured guide for planning and executing research studies more effectively.
Created & formalized new training materials for Combat Development Teams (CDTs)—now a standardized resource within the program.
Designed & introduced "Discovery Synthesis" frameworks to streamline how insights are synthesized and communicated.
Led 15+ Discovery Studies across the U.S.—from Hawaii to Patrick SFB—driving research in diverse mission environments.
Advocated for 3 Digital Solutions that successfully progressed to the next development phase, influencing government software initiatives.
Lessons Learned from Government Research
Working in government UX research has reinforced key principles that set this sector apart:
Designing for Mission Success – Unlike commercial UX, where KPIs often center on engagement or revenue, government UX is about enhancing operational effectiveness and improving decision-making in high-stakes environments.
Navigating Bureaucracy & Constraints – Government projects come with security restrictions, legacy systems, and compliance challenges, requiring creative problem-solving and strong advocacy to push forward human-centered design.
Balancing Speed & Rigor – Traditional UX timelines don’t always align with military decision-making. Rapid, iterative research methods help uncover actionable insights within tight operational windows.
Building Trust with Stakeholders – Success in government UX depends on collaboration—earning the trust of warfighters, commanders, and engineers to drive meaningful change.
Facilitating Large-Scale Workshops & Design Sprints
In addition to conducting research, I have facilitated major design sprints and workshops for large government organizations tackling complex software challenges. These workshops bring together key decision-makers, engineers, and warfighters to align on mission objectives, define problems, and generate innovative solutions.
Key Workshops Led
Common Operating Picture (COP) Initiative – Led a multi-day design sprint to help government stakeholders define requirements and workflows for a comprehensive operational dashboard, integrating multiple data sources for enhanced decision-making.
USSF Tool Nebula – Facilitated cross-functional discovery and ideation sessions for Nebula, a next-generation cloud-based data platform for the U.S. Space Force, ensuring that user needs and mission priorities guided the platform's design.Mission-Focused Design Sprints – Organized and led design thinking workshops that brought together warfighters, engineers, and product teams to co-create solutions, break down silos, and define clear software development roadmaps.
Workshop Methodology
Problem Definition – Aligning all stakeholders on the core mission challenges
Rapid Ideation – Encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration to explore innovative solutions
Prototyping & Validation – Refining ideas into tangible concepts for further development
Execution Roadmap – Outlining next steps and action items to transition workshop findings into real-world solutions
These high-impact workshops have accelerated decision-making, aligned cross-functional teams, and provided a structured pathway for innovation in mission-critical government software initiatives.
