{"id":23356,"date":"2020-09-17T18:32:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T18:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/17\/army-futures-command-picks-austin-community-college-for-software-factory\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:59:49","slug":"army-futures-command-picks-austin-community-college-for-software-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2020\/09\/17\/army-futures-command-picks-austin-community-college-for-software-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"Army Futures Command picks Austin Community College for software factory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Update <\/i>\u2014 This story has been changed to reflect the Army did not choose ACC after conducting a nationwide search. The Army\u2019s public statement was incorrect. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Army Futures Command has picked Austin Community College District as the home of its software factory to collaborate with student software developers at a time when the service is hungry to bring software developers to its ranks<\/a> as it modernizes in a digital age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The factory \u201cwill be the first of its kind and will provide a training pipeline for soldiers and ACC students,\u201d a Sept. 17 Army press release states. \u201cThe factory is designed to help students rapidly scope and solve real-life problems through advanced software development processes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through collaboration between Army soldiers, the students at the college and the greater community, \u201cit\u2019s going to force us to think differently about how we think about the future,\u201d Army Futures Command Commander Gen. Mike Murray said in the statement. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing but goodness here in terms of bringing fresh ideas to solve problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entity is the first soldier-led software factory in the Army and \u201cthe vision is to develop a pathway to two- and four-year degrees and connect soldiers and students with industry partners,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Austin-based college, which is also home to Futures Command headquarters, was chosen based on its reputation for \u201cbeing a feeder for talent, innovation of its advanced ACCelerator learning lab and launch of its recent bachelor\u2019s degree in software development,\u201d according to the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The factory will offer training in new technologies like data science and artificial intelligence and curriculum will be developed by the college, the AFC leadership and help from global software development companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software development has become central to the way the Army wants to modernize going forward. It is playing a key role in the development of new weapons systems. Software factories, most notably the Air Force\u2019s Kessel Run program, have become popular in recent years across the department as a way to quickly boost capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\t