Strategic technology leader and former Department of the Air Force CIO joins Defense Unicorns to accelerate growth and advance software as a deterrent to war

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Defense Unicorns, the leader in airgap-native software delivery and national security missions, today announced that Lauren Knausenberger has joined the company as Chief Business Officer. Knausenberger brings decades of experience advancing technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and innovation across mission-critical government and defense environments. In her new role, she will help drive Defense Unicorns' growth strategy, strengthen strategic partnerships, and expand the company's impact across the defense ecosystem.

"Lauren brings the rare combination of technical depth, business leadership, and mission focus that Defense Unicorns needs as we continue to scale," said Dr. Rob Slaughter, CEO of Defense Unicorns. "She understands the urgency facing our mission customers and the role software and AI can play in helping them move faster, operate more securely, and deliver greater mission impact. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team and look forward to the leadership and perspective she will bring."

"One of my core missions since serving as CIO of the Department of the Air Force has been to make software a true deterrent to war by giving our military and our allies the speed, resilience, interoperability, and technological advantage they need to prevent conflict first, and fight and decisively win when we must," said Lauren Knausenberger, Chief Business Officer of Defense Unicorns. "

Defense Unicorns is building the exact capabilities that we need to easily deploy software and AI where and when our warfighters and leaders need it most. I've already seen their software save lives, save money, and save soul sucking time that can go to other parts of critical missions. I'm excited to help scale that impact and support the team as it builds the software foundation for the future of defense, and even more excited to do it with this exceptional and fun group of unicorns."

Most recently, Knausenberger served as Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at SAIC, where she led strategy, AI-enabled transformation, rapid capability development, strategic technology partnerships, and SAIC Ventures. SAIC provides engineering, digital, artificial intelligence, and mission solutions across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets.

Prior to joining SAIC, Knausenberger served as Chief Information Officer of the Department of the Air Force, where she was responsible for Enterprise IT, Cybersecurity, Data and Artificial Intelligence. She supported approximately 20,000 cyber operations and support personnel around the globe and oversaw a technology portfolio valued at approximately $17 billion. As CIO, Knausenberger drove transformative changes to Air and Space Force digital infrastructure by scaling enterprise cloud networks, establishing continuous software delivery, overhauling security accreditation processes, democratizing digital learning, and defining the zero trust and AI foundation to support a modern, software-defined force. Knausenberger also serves as a board member for Enersys, a member of the AFCEA Executive Committee, and an advisor to private capital investing in defense technology.

Knausenberger's appointment comes as Defense Unicorns continues to expand its role in modernizing defense software and enabling the rapid delivery of secure, interoperable capabilities to the warfighter.

About Defense Unicorns
Defense Unicorns is a veteran-owned defense technology company founded in 2021 by Rob Slaughter, Jeff McCoy, and Andrew Greene to make software a strategic deterrent for the U.S. Department of War. The company builds open-source, airgap-native technologies that enable the secure development, delivery, and sustainment of mission software across cloud, on-premises, and tactical edge environments. Defense Unicorns' technology is trusted by the operators of some of the most critical systems in the world, including the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, and Space Force. Learn more at https://defenseunicorns.com.

Contact: Christina Babbitt, christina@defenseunicorns.com

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SOURCE Defense Unicorns