# Rob Slaughter

> Rob Slaughter is the co-founder and CEO of Defense Unicorns, an Air Force veteran and a physicist by training. He helped build Space CAMP and co-founded and directed Platform One before starting Defense Unicorns with Jeff McCoy and Andrew Greene in 2021. His work centers on delivering secure software into military environments, including disconnected systems, and on the people and culture needed to support that delivery.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Defense Unicorns
- **Organizations:** Defense Unicorns, U.S. Air Force, Platform One, Space CAMP, National Space Defense Center, AFWERX, Project Blue
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree, Space Physics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Master’s degree, U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, Ph.D., Engineering Physics, U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Co-founded and directed the Defense Department’s Platform One team., Helped establish Space CAMP., Co-developed a free Linux Foundation management course on DevSecOps.

## Career timeline

- **2008** — Graduated from the Embry-Riddle space physics program and commissioned through ROTC.
- **2018** — Organized the Space CAMP team, including future co-founders Jeff McCoy and Andrew Greene.
- **2020** — Publicly profiled as co-founder and director of Platform One.
- **2021** — Co-founded Defense Unicorns with Jeff McCoy and Andrew Greene; the company dates its founding to March.
- **2022** — Co-developed Introduction to DevSecOps for Managers with Bryan Finster for the Linux Foundation.
- **2024** — Defense Unicorns announced a $35 million Series A in March.
- **2025** — SAIC announced a UDS integration partnership with Defense Unicorns on March 12.
- **2026** — Defense Unicorns announced a $136 million Series B on January 13 at a valuation above $1 billion.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and directed the Defense Department’s Platform One team.
- Helped establish Space CAMP.
- Co-developed a free Linux Foundation management course on DevSecOps.
- Led Defense Unicorns through its $35 million Series A and $136 million Series B announcements.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Appeared on Crossing the Valley, episode 96, published October 21, discussing his career and Defense Unicorns.
- **2026-09** — Featured on Fighter Pilot Podcast episode 224, The Software Problem; the company published the appearance September 14.
- **2026-09** — Defense Unicorns appointed Lauren Knausenberger chief business officer.
- **2026-06** — Discussed UDS Fleet and a March F-22 Open Mission Systems demonstration in Air & Space Forces Magazine.
- **2026-01** — Defense Unicorns announced its Bain Capital-led $136 million Series B at a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

## Links

- Website: https://defenseunicorns.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcslaughter/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robcslaughter/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rob-slaughter
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23