Rebuilding the VBMS Correspondence Web Service
From September 2015 to March 2019, I led the redevelopment of the VBMS Correspondence Web Service at Booz Allen Hamilton. This initiative transformed a complex, monolithic application into an efficient microservice architecture for the Veterans Affairs, using Jersey, Spring Boot, and Groovy to produce formatted PDF documents for correspondence needs.
Project Challenges and Solutions
The original system included over 20 modules within a monolithic framework, posing maintenance and scalability issues. My approach involved:
- System Restructuring: Reducing the application to two streamlined microservices.
- Technology Upgrade: Transitioning to Java 11 (at the time) with full unit test coverage for reliability.
- Documentation: Producing detailed guides to support ongoing development and maintenance.
These changes improved the system’s ability to manage VA correspondence effectively, ensuring timely communication for veterans’ benefits.
Significance: The VBMS Correspondence system processes all VA mail, critical for veterans’ benefits. Learn more at VA’s VBMS overview.
Tools and Technologies
The redevelopment utilized:
- Jersey & Spring Boot: Formed a modern, scalable microservice foundation.
- Groovy: Added flexibility for scripting and configuration.
- Java 11: Leveraged contemporary features for performance and security.
Recognition and Reflection
My contributions earned a Team and Performance Award and an Innovation in Action Award, recognizing the project’s success. Beyond the accolades, I value the tangible improvements this system brought to veterans’ access to benefits, making it a rewarding endeavor.