Defense Unicorns

The U.S. Department of Defense is knee-deep in zero trust implementation, bolstered by the DoD CIO’s latest implementation guide released over the summer. Why is it so important? Because as technology advances, so do the threats we face. Traditional perimeter-based security models no longer provide the protection needed in today’s digital landscape due to the distributed nature of networks, data, and users. Zero trust isn’t a technical solution, it’s a strategic approach requiring continuous verification of every user, device, and connection, ensuring security at every layer of operations. Is #zerotrust one of the biggest priority topics in your office and with your leadership right now? Planning to attend #AUSA? Let’s talk in person, we may have some great information and guidance that you can bring back with you after the event. Click the link below to connect with Luke 🦄 Shabro and Mike 🦄 Bynum to book a time during the conference on October 14, 15, or 16 at our meeting location, Industrious (650 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20001). https://lnkd.in/dKdAHFAf

We’re excited to announce today the launch of UDS, the first software delivery platform of its kind – exclusively built for today’s #DepartmentOfDefense, arming mission operators for modern warfare. UDS has been successfully deployed within critical systems operated by partners in the #Navy, #Army and #SpaceForce, and today we're releasing it defense-wide. What is UDS? An #airgap native, secure, and compliant platform that provides an end-to-end solution for software delivery for #NationalSecurity systems. Why is UDS a Game-Changer? Imagine mission software delivered anywhere the mission takes you, anytime the mission needs it—that’s UDS - now it's reality. We are redefining continuous delivery for #DoD software. UDS is the ONLY platform that is: ✅ Fast - accelerates initial ATOs and on-demand updates by automating many parts of the software delivery lifecycle. Just how much does UDS accelerate ATOs? We can provide an initial #ATO security package in 2 weeks. ✅ Secure - 0 CVE posture with continuous monitoring, logging, and alerting across a defense-in-depth approach to cybersecurity. ✅ Compliant - satisfies up to 90% of the technical program office security controls for IL-4, 5, and 6 environments. ✅ Firm-Fixed-Price - allows you to stop paying for “butts in seats” and start paying for the outcomes your mission needs. ✅ Free of Vendor Lock - is a solution built entirely through open source capabilities that use flexible software licenses that allow any user to continue to leverage the solution, even if not on contract with Defense Unicorns. ✅ Airgap Native - is designed for airgap systems. We didn’t make UDS airgap after it was already built, we designed it from the ground up to support disconnected, semi-disconnected, or highly secure environments from the beginning. ✅ Highly Distributable - is designed to scale across multiple deployments spanning cloud, on-prem, or tactical edge systems. ✅ Portable - is portable across multiple mission environments, supporting multiple cloud providers, on-prem infrastructure, as well as a variety of tactical edge solutions. ✅ Decentralized - reduces your mission dependency on single centralized solutions, and instead is deployed to many environments giving your mission the assurance it requires in real wartime scenarios. ✅ Easy to Operate - makes complex software delivery easy. We know that most mission systems are managed by active duty, civilians, or a small number of contracting experts. You shouldn’t have to be a kubernetes expert to manage a software environment, and now you don’t have to be.   Who Was UDS Made For? For National Security leaders and their support and prime contractors who have been struggling to deploy modern software into production for their critical mission systems. Schedule some time to chat with us! We can show you a demo or just discuss your software delivery challenges. https://hubs.ly/Q02SNZNC0 #UnicornDelivery #SoftwareDelivery #Innovation #DefenseTech #UDS

We’re all over the 🗺️ this week! Unicorns are in Salt Lake City hosting a transformative workshop, bringing together defense innovators to tackle the complexities of software delivery in mission-critical environments. Meanwhile, Kyle Palko and Jonathan Perry are representing us in DC at the NVIDIA AI Summit. Let us know if you’re attending either of these events—we’d love to hear the topics you’re most interested in discussing! Let’s shape the future of software delivery together! #DefenseInnovation #SoftwareDelivery #NVIDIAAISummit #NationalSecurity #AI #DefenseUnicornsWorkshop

We have our eyes on United States Marine Corps and what they’re doing with its #AIstrategy right now — it’s worth keeping tabs on as this is a promising effort. The Marine Corps adoption of retrieval-augmented generation systems (basically large language models also known as #LLM), signals a huge leap forward for #innovation and #adoption of #artificialintelligence solutions rapidly evolving throughout #DoD. Why do we think this signals “huge” progress? Because LLMs focus AI’s ability to improve mission-critical operations, creating greater alignment with high-value use cases by “backing into” problems from the strategic level down to what we like to refer to as #tacticaledge. And the benefit? There are so many. But two significant ones that our customers (we call them mission heroes) have top of mind is 1) using it for retrieval of vast, mission-relevant data-driven operations and 2) after-action reporting #AAR. “By aligning AI with a specific mission, the DoD is not just implementing technology but embedding AI in strategic operations,” says Kyle Palko, AI Growth Lead of Defense Unicorns. “LLMs provide Marines with the ability to efficiently search, synthesize, and apply decades of operational lessons, offering a #transformative advantage in mission planning and execution. The power of AI lies not in mimicking commercial applications like #ChatGPT, but in tailoring models to meet the critical and unique demands of national security today.” This topic is also central to the Marine Corps’ July 2024 AI strategy which prioritizes mission-focused innovation over commercial competition. As AI capabilities evolve, DoD can remain and elevate its commitment to #security and operational #integrity through frameworks like the #NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes flexible, secure, and #resilient systems. As we advance the use of AI in national defense, we must adopt a continuous authorization model, such as the Continuous #ATO (cATO), to ensure security at every stage of development. LLMs will transform defense operations, enabling faster, data-driven decisions at the speed of mission need. “The Marine Corps #AIStrategy was the first step in a forward-leaning AI adoption journey — AI is more than just models, it requires an entire system of software and infrastructure to be impactful,” Kyle told us. “By identifying specific and feasible use cases prior to rolling out solutions, the Marine Corps ensures a higher probability of success. We follow a similar approach at Defense Unicorns by working through the feasibility of mission problem statements and aligning proper use cases prior to deployment.” #AI #Defense #Innovation #DOD #LLMs #MissionPlanning #mondaymotivation #aiexpert #unicornwisdom #nationalsecurity #aiatwork

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🎙 This week on the Defense Unicorns Podcast, we’re thrilled to have Eddie Zaneski, our very own Tech Lead for #OpenSource, join Rebecca Lively! From aspiring math teacher to a leading force in the #tech world, Eddie takes us through his journey, shares his passion for open source, and dives deep into the evolution of software deployment. 🌐 In this episode, we cover: 🔑 Eddie's major contributions to #Kubernetes. 🔐 The truth behind open source security and why it’s stronger than many think. 🛡️ The importance of software supply chain security. 💡 How government funding is driving innovation in open-source projects. Tune in for an insightful conversation on transparency, security, and innovation in open-source communities: https://lnkd.in/gh6jkgZe

🎬 Behind the Scenes with Victoria Wyler Our Head of Growth, Victoria, recently filmed a powerful message about what drives us here at Defense Unicorns. Here’s a sneak peek: "We want to be a part of a mission that is bigger than ourselves, bigger than our company..." At Defense Unicorns, we are dedicated to national security through innovation and open-source software solutions that make an impact far beyond just the "here and now" 🚀 Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/dF7k2_tC #SoftwareInnovation #FutureOfSoftware #OpenSource #DefenseInnovation #AFA

Congratulations to our friends at the The Rosie Project for your expansion into Georgia this month. We’re proud supporters of this organization and its founder Aniza Brown 👩🏻💻🚀 — check them out and give them a follow if you discover their mission to be inspiring to you too. 🇺🇸

Happy New Fiscal Year to everyone celebrating today. Let’s have a real talk. You had goals and expectations last year that you set going into it. On October 1, 2023, you may have intended to lock down that contract finally. Perhaps you were laser focused on launching that new initiative. Aiming for that promotion. Or barely keeping your head above water and hoping to come up for air at some point over the next 365 days. Getting ANYTHING done in one fiscal year, let alone meaningful tech transformation, is what some would call “impossible.” But getting things to the finish line is worth the effort. You made progress and you learned a lot. Now you know you need a different approach, and you’re reading this because you see potential in teaming with us. This could be exactly what you’ve been missing. The work you do is hard. The journey that you as a mission operator, acquisitions professional, developer, or any other role you may play in the critical defense of our nation, is not an easy one. If you are personally committed to seeing technology in DoD advance to the next level where it needs to be so that we can defend our country and supply heroes with the tools and solution they (YOU) deserve in real time — and in any environment — and you want to do it in THIS new fiscal year, let’s talk. Don’t let this be the year you wait for someone else to realize what you already know. It’s time to work at the speed of need, and for that, you’ve got to take action. Reach out to one of our senior leaders directly today, or fill out our short form on the website, and take the first step. You have time if you make it. There’s no better moment to plant a tree than right now. Get yourself and your team in the room with our team and let’s discover a solution that works for your challenges or gets you to done on that dream you aren’t giving up on yet. Hate filling out forms but not sure who to contact? Message Luke 🦄 Shabro, one of our active LinkedIn Unicorns (and also primary contact for our Army team). He knows everyone around here and will make sure you are put in touch with the right person on our side. Let’s make this the fiscal year that you’ll never forget. 🇺🇸

✨We are hiring! ✨ We are looking for a Platform Engineer who is: 🦄 Located in Dayton, Ohio or willing to relocate 🦄 Has an active Top Secret security clearance to the Special Access Program (SAP) level 🦄 Eager to contribute to the growth and success of a dynamic organization ✨ Relocation assistance is available to help make your transition as smooth as possible ✨ Head to the link below for more info and to apply 🦄 https://lnkd.in/gEqz7uGD #Dayton #Ohio #AirForce #Clearance #PlatformEngineer #kubernetes #docker