On this episode of The Defense Unicorns Podcast, host and CEO of Defense Unicorns, Rob Slaughter, sits down with Lauren Knausenberger, Chief Innovation Officer, and Bob Ritchie, CGO/CTO, at SAIC, to unpack the evolving intersection of defense, technology, and innovation. From their roots in the Depa…
Defense Unicorns, A Podcast
by Robert Slaughter, Michaela Flatau, Rebecca Lively and Luke Shabro
Welcome to Defense Unicorns, A Podcast for mission focused innovators. We educate, inform, and provide mission heroes with DevSecOps, cybersecurity, and organizational transformation stories from the world's leading problem solvers. Join our hosts Rob Slaughter, Michaela Flatau, Rebecca Lively and Luke Shabro on this journey building connections across the the defense community.
Latest Episodes
On this episode of The Defense Unicorns Podcast, host Rebecca Lively sits down with Brandt Keller, software engineer and CNCF ambassador, to explore what happens when a former Marine brings his frontline mindset to DevSecOps. Brandt’s story is one of relentless problem-solving, especially in disconn…
On this episode of The Defense Unicorns Podcast, host Rebecca Lively chats with Case Wylie, Software Engineering Lead, about building security-minded software that keeps up with developer velocity. From his early days at Red Hat to architecting open-source tools at Defense Unicorns, Case shares how …
On this episode of The Defense Unicorns Podcast, we’re not just talking about writing code—we’re talking about what happens when you try to change the culture of software inside the Department of Defense. From flying to Qatar to debug mission-critical planning tools to reflashing smart lightbulbs wi…
On this episode of The Defense Unicorns Podcast, the question isn’t just how to deliver software—it’s how to do it faster, safer, and smarter. According to Bryan Finster Distinguished Engineer at Defense Unicorns, the answer isn’t in rigid frameworks or bloated processes but in embracing continuous …
DevOps, culture, and the battlefield converge in this compelling episode of Defense Unicorns as host Rebecca Lively speaks with Dr. Noe Lorona, a platform engineer at the Army Software Factory. Together, they explore the nuances of DevSecOps, unraveling its critical role in the defense sector, where…
In this episode, Defense Unicorns welcomes Col. Sean Kern, the Director of Cyberspace Operations Strategy at SAIC, who brings experience in military and cybersecurity strategy. Kern shares his journey from military service to civilian leadership, sharing the unique challenges and adjustments require…
In this episode of The Defense Unicorns Podcast, we’re joined by Collen Roller, Founder of Dark Saber, as he shares his journey of innovation within the U.S. Air Force. From his work in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to mentoring airmen on developing applications using outdated systems, Collen’s …
This week on, Defense Unicorns Podcast we welcome Eddie Zaneski, the tech lead for open source here at Defense Unicorns, who takes us through his fascinating career journey from aspiring math teacher to a key player in the tech industry. Eddie shares his experiences transitioning into computer scien…
In this episode of the Defense Unicorns Podcast, Rebecca sits down with Mark McGrath, a Marine Corps veteran turned asset manager and consultant, to explore how modern DevSecOps practices intersect with John Boyd's theories. Mark’s deep understanding of Boyd's OODA loop—observe, orient, decide, act—…
Join us on this episode of Defense Unicorns Podcast as we are joined by Kurt Sanger, retired Marine and former Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at US Cyber Command. Kurt shares his journey from growing up in New York City to studying at Holy Cross and Cardozo Law School, where his interest in the Marine …
In this podcast episode, host Rebecca talks with Lieutenant Colonel Casey Waldo Miller, Deputy Commander of the 67th Cyberspace Operations Group. Covering topics from his family history of military service to his role in transforming cyber operations, Lt. Col. Miller shares his journey into the Air …
In this episode of Defense Unicorns Podcast, host Rebecca Lively engages with Luke Shabro, a former intelligence specialist and current Army Growth Lead at Defense Unicorns, in a comprehensive dialogue focusing on Luke’s journey from the navy to a pivotal role in shaping the future of military opera…
On this episode of Defense Unicorns, a Podcast, Air Force Captain Will Walker’s journey from university to the Air Force, focusing on his involvement in software development, DevOps technologies, and cybersecurity. It touches on his experiences with ROTC, passion for software, and the balance betwee…
This podcast episode features a candid conversation with Rebecca Lively, former Deputy Director at the Air Force's Shadows Edge Software Factory, now part of Defense Unicorns. Rebecca shares her unique career journey, from an impulsive decision to attend law school, to intellectual property litigati…
Join us as we dive into the story of Jeff McCoy. His journey wasn't a straight line. He went from blowing up his dad's laptop as a kid to making big changes in military tech with his work at Kessel Run, and Platform One and Space Camp. Now, he's taking on the tech world with his own startup, Defense…
In this episode titled we delve into the extraordinary journey of Nicolas Chaillan, who started as a teen software developer, revolutionized PHP adoption in enterprises, pioneered secure e-commerce in Europe, and went on to found and scale multiple companies across the globe, to include becoming the…
In this episode with Courtney Barno, we dive into the intricacies of navigating the challenging market for startups, especially when it comes to interfacing with government agencies. Discover the policies, strategies, and technologies that are shaping the defense sector and influencing global values…
Join us on this episode of Defense Unicorns as host Robert Slaughter sits down with Col Rhet Turnbull, Deputy Director, Space Systems Integration Office, to discuss the significant shifts in the Department of Defense. After two decades of counterterrorism focus, the spotlight is shifting back to the…
In this episode, we sit down with Daniel McCoy, the former TSA Chief Innovation Officer, to delve into the complex task of fostering innovation within a massive, regulated organization. From his "first principle" mantra to localized pain points and employee apprehensions about innovating, Dan shares…