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 From his work in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to mentoring airmen on developing applications using outdated systems, Collen’s story highlights perseverance and creativity. Discover how Dark Saber has empowered airmen to build production-ready software, transforming their operational efficiency.

We explore the transformative potential of generative AI in defense, including its ability to automate tasks like paperwork and coding, enhancing productivity. Collen also introduces Nipper GPT, an AI tool tailored for DoD networks that bridges information gaps through conversational interfaces, pushing the boundaries of data access within military environments.

Looking to the future, Collen discusses exciting advancements like Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and multi-agent AI architectures, poised to revolutionize military data interactions. As he reflects on the importance of passion and community in driving change, this episode showcases Collen’s commitment to modernizing defense technology through innovation.

Key Quote:

“I think that people need to realize that these tools are for their benefits and they need to get involved in using them today to enhance their performance and workflow because if you're not using them, you're being slow.”

-Collen Roller, Founder of Dark Saber

Time Stamps:

(00:00) DoD Software and Conversational Systems

(11:28) Future of AI in Military Operations

(17:05) Future Developments in Artificial Intelligence

(34:38) Revolutionizing Software Development in DoD

(44:21) Driving Change in DoD Through Passion

Links:

Learn more about Dark Saber

Connect with Collen

Connect with Luke

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 science, his passion for developer relations, and his significant contributions to the Kubernetes project. We dive into the evolution of software deployment, from bare metal servers to virtual machines and containers, and how Kubernetes has become essential in managing large-scale containerized applications. Eddie also reflects on his time at DigitalOcean, Amazon, and ChainGuard, highlighting his work on software supply chain security projects like Protobomb and Sigstore.

Our conversation then turns to the security of open-source communities, challenging the misconception that open-source software is less secure than its closed-source counterparts. Eddie discusses the advantages of transparency in open source, using the XZ library's recent security breach as a case study to emphasize the importance of trust and identity verification. We also explore the potential for similar vulnerabilities in closed-source projects and the growing importance of supply chain security measures, including building integrity and software bills of materials (SBOM). The episode concludes with a thought-provoking discussion on the benefits of transparency in open source and whether proprietary software incidents would be as openly shared or understood.

Eddie shares his enthusiasm for leveraging government funding to support open-source projects. He expresses his excitement about engaging with soldiers, airmen, and guardians to understand their challenges and explore open-source solutions. We also touch on innovative tools for air-gapped environments, like Zarf, and their applications across various industries. Listen in as Eddie recounts his experiences at Bravo hackathons, the unique challenges faced by developers in constrained environments, and offers valuable career advice for those passionate about open source and software development.

Key Quote

“There's lots of misconceptions and I'm sure you and I can talk about all of them. One of the big ones is, just. It's less secure, right? that's a massive myth. Open source security is less secure because all the code is in the open and everyone can go find the holes and generally quite the opposite actually, because the code is in the open, everyone can do their own audits and everyone can see what's happening under the covers of the magic box that you usually can't peer into with proprietary software. We have entire teams of like security. So the Kubernetes project is divided up into special interest groups or SIGs. So we have SIGs for security, we have a product security council and committee that is the incident response people for when there is a new CVE or a bug found, and all sorts of different types of things that are just tailored around security.”

-Eddie Zaneski

Time Stamps:

(00:02) Kubernetes and Open Source Evolution

(08:17) Security in Open Source Communities

(20:43) Software Bill of Materials for Cybersecurity

(24:04) Exploring Defense Unicorns and Open Source

(31:43) Navigating Careers in Open Source

(42:25) Breaking Barriers in Defense Innovation

(46:42) Collaborating for Defense Open Source

Links

Connect with Eddie

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—shapes how he helps clients in industries like manufacturing, energy, and public relations respond to complexity and streamline decision-making, much like DevSecOps optimizes software development and deployment.

Diving into the legacy of John Boyd and going beyond the OODA loop, Mark discusses Boyd’s influence on business strategy, finance, and software development. Mark brings a fresh angle to Boyd’s concept of rapid iteration, emphasizing how speed, adaptability, and customer feedback are key tenets not just in the military or on Wall Street but also in DevSecOps. We also delve into Boyd's "Destruction and Creation," connecting it to principles of continuous integration and delivery, and explore how his philosophy of action and adaptation aligns with the core practices of DevSecOps.

Throughout the episode, Mark highlights the critical role of psychological safety and cross-functional collaboration, both key to effective leadership and DevSecOps culture. Whether you're deploying code or managing high-stakes operations, this conversation illuminates the relevance of Boyd's theories for anyone aiming to navigate complexity, enhance agility, and drive innovation in their organization.

Key Quote

“You realize I have to continuously shatter and smash my understanding of the world or my perception of the world because if I don't I'm going to become Blockbuster video. And if I don't, I'm going to be Blackberry. Or if I don't, I'm going to stagnate and I'm going to become extremely vulnerable to my competitors or the rate of change or whatever it is, it's going to get me and I'm not going to be able to survive on my own terms and it's impossible for me to ever thrive.”

-Mark McGrath

Time Stamps:

00:58 Mark McGrath's Background and Career Journey

01:38 Discovering John Boyd's Theories

04:13 Joining AGLX and Applying Boyd's Theories

06:35 Understanding John Boyd's Broader Impact

17:47 Boyd's Conceptual Spiral and Continuous Reorientation

28:39 Challenging the Status Quo

33:33 The Importance of Humility

35:06 Comfort vs. Volatility

40:13 The Power of Feedback

48:07 Boyd's Universal Applicability

Links:

Connect with Mark

Learn more about AGLX

Check out the “No Way Out” Podcast

The Whirl of Reorintation Substack

Read Destruction and Creation

Read John Boyd, The Fighter Pilot Who Changed The Art of War

Read The Psychology of Military Incompetence

Read the Timeless Way of Building