Defense Unicorns

Warhacker is approaching fast, and the window to get involved is closing. We’re already seeing a surge of high-impact problem submissions from teams working on real defense challenges. The room is being built right now, problem by problem, team by team. If you’ve been thinking about submitting something… this is your moment. Get in before it’s too late. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g_Qm9Da2

New episode drop 🎧 "If you don't have the ability to actually ship new software capabilities on demand, then you're at a complete disadvantage." - Robert 🦄 Slaughter. Check out Robert 🦄 Slaughter on The Merge with host Mike Benitez. Rob dives into the rise of "software as a weapon system", the role of open source in national security, and how UDS is helping make software a strategic deterrent in real-world environments. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gi6wK6Wd

"Comparison is the thief of joy." - Johnnyswim. Meet Eva Torres, our Operations Associate. Before Defense Unicorns, Eva spent 7 years at Moveworks and was employee #23. Her first-ever start-up. They were also backed by Bain, earned unicorn status after 5 years, and were most recently acquired by ServiceNow. Before that, she spent 12 years at A9 (a subsidiary of Amazon); in both places, her focus was on Office Management, HR/People Ops, and Benefits. A "Jill of all trades," someone once called her. Eva is passionate about fostering positive, inclusive, and people-centered workplace cultures through thoughtful programs, meaningful employee experiences, and strategic operational support that enhance morale, retention, and organizational success. "The chance to dive into another early-stage environment was exciting to me. I knew it would feel like I was drinking from MANY firehoses, but the combination of impact, culture, and the chance to build again is why I joined. Defense Unicorns gives me the opportunity to do meaningful work in support of a mission that genuinely matters, alongside people who make even the hardest days feel energizing." - Eva Torres. Fun Facts About Eva 📻 She is a music lover 🌃 💄 💋 🍾 She is a Swiftie ⚾ She loves baseball ✨ We are so happy to have you on our team, Eva! ✨

#KubeConEurope 2026… what a week. We had an absolute blast connecting with this community, sharing what we’re building, and learning from some of the best in cloud native. From immutable clusters at the edge to secure, portable delivery across mission environments, the conversations this week made one thing clear: Software delivery is evolving fast, and the mission is only getting more demanding. Huge shoutout to our Unicorns who took the stage and helped move the ecosystem forward. And to everyone who stopped us in the halls to chat, challenge ideas, or swap stories… that’s what makes this community special. And one of the biggest highlights of the week… Congrats to Brandt Keller on winning a TAGGIE award 🏆 This award recognizes the folks scaling real contributions across the #CNCF TAGs while protecting the integrity and quality of the ecosystem. Exactly the kind of leadership that keeps cloud native moving forward. Keep raising the bar, Brandt 👏 Til next time, friends. ✌

We're officially launching our first-ever Defense Unicorns newsletter, The Unicorn Report. 🦄 Each month, we'll share updates on: • Monthly highlights • Warhacker updates • Mission briefings → where in the world the unicorns are • Mission updates → articles, insights, and what's shaping modern defense software If you want the inside scoop on what the unicorns are up to, check out the first issue and hit that subscribe button.👇 https://lnkd.in/gVjWEjFt

“It’s the only thing I’ve ever used that just works.” That’s one of the best things we’ve heard from teams using UDS Core. And today, we’re proud to say: UDS Core 1.0 is here. UDS Core was built so teams can stop rebuilding the same platform problems over and over again and get back to delivering capability. Security, airgap, repeatability, the baseline stuff that has to work, all in one place. That’s what 1.0 means to us, a real milestone, shaped by real mission environments, and proven by the people using it. Want the full story behind UDS Core 1.0? Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/g9Ty4-qz

We’re live at #GlobalForce2026 in Huntsville. If you’re looking for an easier way to get mission software where the mission actually happens, stop by Booth 1525. We’re showing how UDS helps teams deploy software to military systems quickly, easily, and securely, with the essential tools to package, deploy, monitor, and sustain mission applications. That means faster deployments, automated SBOM generation, and dramatically faster ATO timelines. If your program needs a simpler, more secure path to deliver software in real-world mission environments, come see us at Booth 1525. Want to connect while you’re here in Huntsville? Schedule time to meet with the team here. https://lnkd.in/gN_j2xcE

We believe in open source. Not just using it. Building it. Sharing it. Improving it together. That's why we've built projects like #Zarf and #Pepr: mission teams deserve the freedom to use the tools that work best for them and their mission. Open source means: • No vendor lock-in • Transparent, auditable software • The ability to adapt tools to real mission needs • A community improving the ecosystem together We're proud to build in the open and contribute to the community. If you're passionate about secure, mission-ready software, we encourage you to get involved. Contribute. Collaborate. Help shape the future of defense software. 💻 Start contributing: Zarf →https://lnkd.in/giQTkHne Pepr →https://lnkd.in/gYjNi3am

"Tomorrow is promised to no one." Meet Landon Patmore, our Senior Android Engineer. Before Defense Unicorns, Landon worked at many large companies, ranging from IFE systems at Delta Air Lines to restaurant POS apps at Square. He's had his hands in many high-stakes, highly visible products that millions of people use every day. Landon thrives off the pressure. "The work I have done before joining was important. But the work Defense Unicorns is doing is actually important. Being the de facto standard in air-gapped software delivery, there was no question this was the right company to explore and learn how to think differently as an engineer." - Landon Patmore. Fun Facts About Landon ✈️ If you fly Delta, you're probably used to some software he developed 🛫 He flies planes 🤿 He goes scuba diving with the fishies ✨ We are so happy to have you on our team, Landon! ✨

We have 23 roles open. What are you waiting for? 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gR3iP3gR