Defense Unicorns, A Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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 Force, the lessons learned from commanding the 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, and his philosophy of leadership, including concepts like catastrophic success, ‘sucking less’ and strategic intent. Highlighting key moments like influencing Air Force policy changes and briefing top military leaders, this episode provides an in-depth look at how strategic thinking and prioritizing people can lead to significant organizational change.

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 operations. They delve into Luke’s experiences with DevSecOps, cybersecurity, and how his work in intelligence and organizational transformation has contributed to anticipating and preparing for future warfare challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of innovative thinking and collaboration across the defense sector to proactively address the evolving landscape of global security and technological advancement. 

Join our new host Michaela Flatau in episode 24 as we dive into the incredible career transition of Brandi McCall, who navigated from a 20-year career in healthcare to the tech world of DevOps. Discover how Brandy tackled the intensive Level Up in Tech bootcamp, the importance of expanding your network, and her experiences with Sparkle Academy's upskilling program. As a firm advocate for more women in tech, Brandy shares her insights on the gender gap in the industry and the potential for change. Get inspired by Brandy's fearless journey and the hard-earned triumph of her career switch. Don't miss out on this invigorating story of transformation from Nurse Practitioner to DevOps Engineer.

Many people are all talk when it comes to workplace culture, but Michaela 🦄 Flatau is taking action by teaching others how to put the Human back in Human Resources. She is considered a thought leader across the United States Department of Defense and the startup community for her insights on workplace culture and HR. For Michaela, growing up as a military brat created a passion for serving the Warfighter and empowering others to serve the military and government mission as well. Her first step towards that goal was joining the United States Department of the Air Force civil service, where she worked through all facets of HR. As the head of recruiting at Defense Unicorns, aka our Collector, she continues her mission to bring talented people to the company and show others that in building a good workplace culture, people should always come first.

Subscribe to Defense Unicorns, a podcast to meet more mission heroes across the defense and tech startup communities.

Join Tracy Gregorio, the innovative CEO of G2 Ops, Inc., as she shares her wealth of experience in the defense industry, and her relentless pursuit of fostering innovation. Tracy shares her insights on harnessing AI in defense, the challenges and lessons of government funding, the importance of treating departmental management as business management, and the invaluable lessons she's gleaned across her diverse career. Wrapping up with practical advice for small business owners and an inside look at her experiences with government over the past decade, this episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic intersection of technology, defense, and entrepreneurship. Follow Tracy’s journey by connecting with her on LinkedIn today.

Join Pete Newell, the trailblazing CEO of BMNT Inc., a pioneer in the national security innovation space. With years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army and an insatiable passion for innovation, Newell shares enlightening insights into the evolving landscape of business and innovation. Embark on this journey reiterating the importance of compelling narratives in the world of business and innovation. With his decades of leadership and strategy implementation experience, Pete Newell underlines the pivotal role of design thinking, not as an all-encompassing solution but as a single cog within a grand machine. We explore the crux of high-performing team assembly, starting with the simple, yet profound concept of getting out of the office and into the field.

Tune in as we deconstruct the commonly held belief that innovation equates to invention, or that every innovator is an entrepreneur. Newell posits an intriguing perspective around the 16-minute mark - "We're always at war. You just have to figure out where the battlefield is." A thought-provoking statement that underlines the continuous nature of struggle and competition in the realm of innovation.

Join us in this enlightening discourse that promises to redefine your understanding of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the persistent battles in the business landscape. Brace yourself for an hour filled with valuable insights, compelling storytelling, and engaging discussion with one of the brightest minds in the field.

Connect with Pete Newell On LinkedIn and Subscribe to our podcast to be updated when future mission heroes come on.

Join Andrew Clay Shafer, a DevOps and Agile pioneer who has been an active proponent of Agile methodologies and the cultural shifts necessary for organizations to truly adopt DevOps principles and practices. Andrew delves into the critical importance of collaborative problem-solving, the impact of charismatic leadership, and the powerful potential of asking the right questions. Follow Andrew's latest adventures by connecting with him on LinkedIn and subscribe to our podcast to join us on this captivating quest.

Episode 19: Ready for a thrilling ride through the heart of digital engineering in defense contracting? Dive into this episode with Matt Zimmerman where we unpack the riveting story of his founding of Beast Code. From bootstrapping their way from a team of seven to over 180, to throwing down with Navy Seals and pushing the envelope with their innovative tech solutions, Matt and his teams are truly shaking up the digital space inside the defense industry. Tune in to hear about their audacious journey, the hurdles they've cleared, and how they're boldly crafting the future of defense technology.

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In this episode of Defense Unicorns, a Podcast, we welcome Dr. Alethea Duhon, a cyber security expert and former Senior Executive of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who shares her insights on the urgency of securing our digital world. As we become more interconnected through devices and technology, Dr. Duhon emphasizes the need for immediate action to protect our digital assets and ensure national security. Key points discussed in this episode include:

• The critical time we are in as a country and society, with the increasing reliance on digital technologies
• The importance of accelerating our efforts in securing the digital battlefield, as Dr. Duhon says, "We need to accelerate things and it needed to happen yesterday."
• The interconnectedness of our country and everyday lives, and the potential risks this poses
• The role of data as currency, both literally and figuratively, and its significance in the digital landscape

Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Dr. Alethea Duhon as she highlights the challenges and importance of safeguarding our digital world as well as your role as a leader to enable and empower the next generation of innovation and workforce.

Be sure to connect with Alethea on LinkedIn to stay updated on her latest projects and endeavors.

"When you want to know if a program is real, just follow the money, budget and authority. If it's not going to the innovation stuff, it really doesn't matter."  Join Steve Blank as he shares his experience working across Silicon Valley, the Department of Defense and beyond. Steve goes into the current states of innovation and how he co-created the Department of Defense Hacking for Defense and Department of State Hacking for Diplomacy curriculums. We hope you enjoy this episode and encourage you to check out Steve on LinkedIn and learn from him like we have.