Mission Critical: Defense Recruiting

Billions are spent on defense technology every year. A surprising amount of it never makes it into real-world use. In this episode of Mission Critical: Defense and Aerospace Recruiting , Katherine Jerald sits down with Duke Hartman , CEO at Integer Technologies , to unpack one of the most misunderstood problems in the industry: why great technology so often fails to get deployed. Duke shares how t...

Everyone talks about missiles. Almost no one talks about the bottleneck that decides whether they actually get built. In this episode of Mission Critical: Defense and Aerospace Recruiting, Katherine Jerald sits down with Will Edwards, CEO and co-founder of Firehawk Aerospace, to discuss the overlooked weakness inside the defense industrial base: rocket propulsion manufacturing. Firehawk Aerospace...

DevSecOps is talked about constantly in defense and national security. Very few leaders actually have to make it work in real mission environments. In this episode of Mission Critical: Defense and Aerospace Recruiting , Katherine Jerald sits down with Yolanda Clarke , Founder and CEO of Powder River Industries , to break down what DevSecOps looks like when failure is not an option. Yolanda explain...

What if military satellite communications worked on standard cell phones? Not as a future concept, but today. In this episode of Mission Critical: Defense and Aerospace Recruiting , Katherine Jerald is joined by Tim Hillner , co-founder of Fairwinds Technologies , to unpack a breakthrough that is redefining tactical communications. Tim and his team recently demonstrated the world's first tactical...

Small engineering firms are not just competing with the primes… they may be the future of national security space. Janet Grondin, CEO of Stellar Solutions, joins Mission Critical to explain why small systems engineering companies are positioned to solve the hardest problems in the space ecosystem, and why culture has become a strategic advantage. With more than 27 years of leadership across the Ai...

Small drones are no longer just tools... they're transforming the very nature of warfare. Retired Major General Frank Muth joins Mission Critical to explain why the battlefield of tomorrow is already here, and how Deltawerx Aerospace is building drones designed for it. Frank shares the mission of Deltawerx Aerospace; building ultra-compact drones with changeable payloads that deploy in seconds. Wi...

04At just nineteen, Onkar Singh Batra is redefining what it means to lead in aerospace. As founder and CEO of Apolink , a YC-backed startup building a 24/7 Internet for satellites, he's tackling one of space's most complex challenges; eliminating communication dead zones in low Earth orbit. In this episode, Onkar shares how he went from launching satellites in high school to leading a Silicon Vall...

Katherine welcomes Jim Rimay , President of MilDef US , a systems integrator and full-spectrum provider specializing in rugged IT for the most demanding military and government environments. With Swedish roots and a growing U.S. presence, MilDef is bridging two worlds, bringing Nordic collaboration and balance to the fast-paced American defense market. Jim shares how cultural integration, customiz...

You can now follow mission critical on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionCriticalSearch In a time when AI-generated noise clutters every feed, Jon Ostrower is doing the opposite; Building a trusted, slow growth media brand rooted in depth, clarity, and real human connection. In this episode, Jon shares the founding story of The Air Current and the contrarian media bet that made it one of ae...

What makes a space company win? According to Debra Facktor , it's not just engineering — it's the people . As Head of U.S. Space Systems at Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., Debra has led the organization through one of its boldest pivots to date — from a missed contract opportunity to becoming a key player in the SDA's Tranche 1 and 2 programs. But as she reveals in this conversation, the real t...

What's the secret behind one of the fastest-scaling satellite companies in Europe? According to Tina Ghataore, it's not just tech — it's talent, vertical integration, and the courage to challenge industry narratives. In this episode, Tina Ghataore , Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer at Aerospacelab , reveals the leadership and strategy behind building a global satellite business with staying powe...

What happens when innovation, mission-critical needs, and geopolitical shifts come together in one game-changing deal? In this episode, we talk to Per Norén , CEO of Ovzon AB , a Swedish satellite communications company that's leading the way in secure, mobile connectivity solutions. Per shares insights on Ovzon's $110 million contract with the Swedish Defense Material Administration, marking a mi...

"Compliance is a revenue driver, because you're going to attract more customers that want your business when your shop looks pristine." – Shawn Cheadle   You've got a great product. You're chasing contracts. Maybe you're eyeing VC funding or dreaming of an IPO. But if you ignore legal and compliance early on, those dreams could blow up at the worst possible moment.   In this episode, Katherine sit...

"What this industry didn't need was another aerospace executive. It needed someone willing to ask why we do things the way we do" – Peter Krauss Peter Krauss didn't grow up in aerospace. He never worked in defense. So how did he become CEO of one of the most innovative space tech companies in the world? That's exactly what makes this episode of Mission Critical so powerful. As the new CEO of Terra...

"the reality is people, through their careers, have been held back because of taking risk and failing" – Mitch Stevison The space industry is evolving at warp speed, and the leaders who will thrive are those willing to embrace disruption, challenge legacy thinking, and build resilient teams. In this episode, Mitch Stevison shares what future CEOs and executives in aerospace and defense must change...

"The last two to three years have brought more change to the satellite industry than the previous two decades combined." – Tim Winter In this episode of Mission Critical , Katherine Jerald sits down with Tim Winter , CEO of iDirect Government, to discuss the massive disruptions shaping the satellite communications (SATCOM) industry and what they mean for government, defense, and commercial players...

Ready for a masterclass in team building? Trailblazer Chandra Marshall from Lockheed Martin shares her journey from political science major to influential leader in multi-domain combat systems. Chandra's leadership style is anchored in psychological safety—creating environments where team members are free to voice their ideas and challenge the status quo, thereby driving innovation and effectivene...

Why is this very moment in history being called the "gold rush of our time"? Retired Colonel Ram Riojas joins Katherine to tell us all. With 26 years of distinguished military service, Ram has been a trailblazer in the evolution of air, space, cyber and Special Ops, as a founding member of the US Space Force and US Space Command, essentially helping shape the Space Force before it even existed. Ra...

Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace and former Apache pilot, is here to share his extraordinary journey from the cockpit to the cutting edge of space technology. Discover how space's vital role in our daily lives, from communications to finance, also makes us vulnerable to global threats. Tim delivers a stark warning about the dangers of ignoring space security, urging us to consider the implica...

What does it take to lead a company at the forefront of hypersonic technology? You're about to find out! Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major, joins Katherine to unpack his unique journey from Navy nuclear engineer to attorney, and now, a visionary leader transforming aerospace innovation. With over 100 days as CEO, Dan shares his leadership philosophy, the power of adaptability, and how he's building...

What happens when space science patterns unlock the future of expertise. This week, Dr Layla Martin, a Harvard, Yale, and MIT alum, and the creator of the groundbreaking Orbit methodology, joins us to discuss how to turn your expert knowledge into income in today's AI-driven economy. As a space theorist and pattern recognition expert, Dr Martin reveals how she translates natural patterns into acti...

Imagine skyrocketing a company from $800 million to a multi-billion dollar entity—how is it done?   This week our guest is Alfonzo Ianniello , the visionary CEO of Codan Limited. Codan is a manufacturer and supplier of communications, metal detection, and mining technology. It's products include Minelab, DTC & Zetron "Always be dissatisfied at all elements of the organization, whether it's your cu...

Ready to master change? This week, inspirational leader and a powerhouse in aerospace and energy, Lee Steinke, joins Katherine to discuss her uncommon career switch from the oil and gas sector to aerospace. Hear how, during the chaos of the pandemic, Lee seized the opportunity to pivot industries, using her geological expertise to find surprising similarities between drilling rigs and rocket launc...

What does it take to climb from an entry-level position to the executive suite in aerospace? Join us as Nikki Malcolm, CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), shares her incredible journey from an 18-year-old filing assistant to leading one of North America's largest commercial aerospace manufacturing clusters. Nikki's story is a testament to the power of cur...

Buckle up for an inspiring episode with Heather Bulk, the powerhouse CEO and co-founder of Special Aerospace Services. Over the past 17 years, Heather has propelled the company to impressive heights, growing it to over 250 employees and delivering cutting-edge tech and services to Space Force, NASA, and industry giants like Blue Origin and Northrop. But Heather's talents extend beyond the boardroo...