KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- When Lt. Col. Jacque Vasta walks through Kirtland’s Child Development Center (CDC) or spots a flyer for Kinderspot in base lodging, it’s more than just another innovation on display, it’s personal.
Now the commander of the 377th Force Support Squadron, Vasta is also the original mind behind Kinderspot, a mobile app designed to help military families access short-term childcare. She first pitched the idea while stationed at another base in 2019, winning funding through the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center’s Innovation Rodeo in 2020. Five years later, her concept has grown into an Air Force-wide solution used at nearly 30 installations, including Kirtland.
“It’s honestly surreal,” said Vasta. “Kinderspot started as a grassroots idea to solve a real, frustrating problem for military families. Seeing it now in use at bases around the world is incredibly rewarding. It’s especially cool when I check into base lodging and see a Kinderspot ad on a TV screen, or when I’m grabbing lunch at the bowling alley and spot a flyer on display.”
Kinderspot lets families offer or reserve unused CDC slots, providing flexibility for both parents who don’t want to waste a paid spot and those in urgent need of care. Users can manage profiles, set alerts, and receive real-time notifications, making child-care access more manageable during temporary duties (TDYs), permanent change of station (PCS) moves, or unexpected schedule changes.
Vasta said feedback from Kirtland families has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Parents have told me that Kinderspot helped them find care during a last-minute TDY or allowed them to secure a spot at the CDC while in-processing at a new base ...times when they usually felt stuck or overwhelmed,” she said. “Those moments of breathing room, of being able to trust your child is in good hands, are what help you show up better at work and at home.”
The app doesn’t just benefit families. By reducing unused spots and improving access, it supports the overall efficiency of CDC operations and helps preserve child care resources across the Air Force.
“Operational readiness is family readiness,” Vasta added. “When Airmen are worried about who’s watching their kids, they can’t fully focus on the mission. Kinderspot helps reduce that stress. It gives families more flexibility and confidence, which translates to stronger performance, better retention, and financial savings when care is shared.”