Rise8 Recognized for Community Impact in 2026 Chainguard Guardian Awards

Rise8 Recognized for Community Impact in 2026 Chainguard Guardian Awards

Recognition highlights Rise8's work advancing secure, resilient mission-ready software across the GovTech ecosystem

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TAMPA, Fla. – March 18, 2026 – Rise8 announced selection for the 2026 Chainguard Guardian Award for Community Impact. The award celebrates organizations that are transforming software delivery while driving meaningful mission impact.

Chainguard, a secure open source software company, selected Rise8 for its mission-first approach to modern software delivery and its measurable impact across the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and Department of Veterans Affairs, delivering real capability into production.

Together, Rise8 and Chainguard helped modernize software delivery for the Space Force by strengthening security and resilience. Through this partnership, they reduced the compliance burden, eliminated unnecessary friction, and enabled faster, safer delivery of mission capabilities. Outcomes include improved process and operational impact: faster deployment cycles, stronger security posture, and more reliable software in production.

Recognized in the Community Impact category, this achievement reflects Rise8's investment in strengthening the entire GovTech community. The company openly shares its delivery playbooks, mentors teams across the ecosystem, and advocates for transparent, outcome-driven security practices. This approach shifts the focus from documentation and delay to continuous delivery of real working software for real users in mission-critical environments.

"We're honored to be recognized by Chainguard for the work we're doing to strengthen the defense software community," said Bryon Kroger, Founder and CEO of Rise8. "Together, we're proving that secure, resilient software delivery can move at the speed of the mission. This award reflects our commitment to raising the standard for how government software is built, secured, and continuously delivered."

This recognition also reflects Rise8's broader commitment to building a mission-ready DevOps workforce and culture. It follows the company's recent launch of the inaugural ShipSummit, a hands-on training experience focused on AI-native, outcome-driven delivery, taking place March 31 – April 2, 2026. Rise8 also launched Mission O/S, an educational series to equip GovTech change agents to deliver mission-ready software.

Rise8 was honored with the Community Impact Award at Chainguard's Assemble Conference on March 17.

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About Rise8
Rise8 develops custom software for critical missions to create a future where fewer bad things happen because of bad software. Rise8 is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) with headquarters in Tampa, FL, and a fully remote workforce. Learn more at https://www.rise8.us/ and on LinkedIn, and X.

Media Contact
REQ for Rise8
rise8@req.co

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