Software for freedom
Our mission is to make software a strategic deterrent, advancing freedom around the globe. We set out to create the airgap software delivery solutions we’d wished we had on every mission.
Our History
From myth to mission
Defense Unicorns was created by people who knew firsthand how desperately the people protecting our world needed software that could move as fast as the threat. At the time it was impossible. We imagined a solution that could update in minutes, be CVE-free as a baseline, and thrive in airgapped and edge environments. And then we built it.
2016-2021
In 2016, a small group of future Unicorns set out to change how the Department of Defense delivers software. That effort became Kessel Run, where we helped achieve the DoD’s first Continuous Authority to Operate (ATO).
In 2018, Rob organized a team to build Space CAMP from scratch, bringing together leaders like Jeff McCoy and Andrew Greene. Space CAMP grew and led to Platform One, helping establish the DoD software factory ecosystem. Along the way, many of the people who would later form Defense Unicorns crossed paths, and the foundation of the company began to take shape.
March 2021
Defense Unicorns was officially founded, building on our deep experience delivering software in air-gapped, mission-critical environments. After helping stand up Platform One and Big Bang, the team began aligning real-world services work with product R&D—starting with Zarf, an air-gap-native delivery tool. This product-led approach, grounded in the needs of mission operators, drove early growth.
February 2024
Defense Unicorns announced a $35M Series A investment, co-led by Ansa Capital and Sapphire Ventures, accelerating the company’s ability to intentionally invest in product development, growth, and notably brought many key contributors to our continued success.
Veteran Founded.
Engineer Driven.
After standing up novel solutions from within the Department of War, we got together to continue offering products that truly serve the mission.
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Rob Slaughter
Co-founder / CEO
Rob founded Defense Unicorns after a career in the U.S. Air Force leading work in space vehicles, computer vision, and future capabilities. As Director of Platform One, he helped transform how the DoD builds and delivers software at scale. With a Ph.D. in Engineering Physics, Rob brings technical depth and mission experience to guide our vision and strategy.
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Jeff McCoy
Co-founder / CTO
Jeff McCoy is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Defense Unicorns. He sets the company’s technical direction and product strategy for secure, mission-critical software, partnering with government and industry to advance modern software delivery and DevSecOps across the Department of Defense. A former active-duty Airman with 18+ years who later served as a senior civilian (NH-IV), Jeff led teams in SATCOM, RF transmission, communications planning, and network engineering, taught tactical cyber systems as a CCAF instructor, and helped launch Kessel Run, DDS Rogue Squadron, SpaceCAMP, and Platform One. At Defense Unicorns, he has led development of Zarf, Pepr, and the Unicorn Delivery Service (UDS) ecosystem. Zarf was donated to the OpenSSF and is now used worldwide in aircraft, submarines, space systems, and security screening systems.
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Andrew Greene
Co-founder
Andrew has spent his career engineering solutions for defense and national security. From SpaceCAMP to Platform One to Defense Unicorns, he has been at the center of modernizing DoD software delivery. Today, he ensures UDS continues to evolve as a product that truly serves the mission.
Mission first, always.
As we grow, we are always looking to connect with people who share our vision, whether they’re employees, customers, partners, or press. If that sounds like you, let’s talk.
FAQ
You have questions, we have answers. If you can’t find an answer, contact our team for assistance.
What does Defense Unicorns do?
Defense Unicorns delivers secure, scalable, and vendor-lock-free software deployment solutions for mission-critical environments. We help the DoW, system integrators, and mission teams accelerate software delivery without compromising security or compliance.
How does defense unicorns improve software deployment?
Defense Unicorns delivers secure, scalable, and vendor-lock-free software deployment solutions for mission-critical environments. We help the DoW, system integrators, and mission teams accelerate software delivery without compromising security or compliance.
Who do you work with?
We work with DoW agencies, system integrators, and organizations that need to modernize and secure their software delivery. Our solutions are built for national security missions requiring air-gapped, classified, or highly secure environments.
How does Defense Unicorns improve software deployment?
We eliminate delays, automate security compliance, and ensure software runs seamlessly across disconnected, classified, and cloud environments—without vendor lock-in or unpredictable costs.
How do you help organizations reduce ATO timelines?
We integrate security directly into software deployment workflows, reducing the manual compliance burden. Our solutions automate security checks, align with DoW cybersecurity frameworks, and support continuous ATO (cATO) efforts.