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 explains how DevSecOps must be designed into programs from day one, not bolted on at the end, and why treating security as a core design requirement is the only way to deliver speed without compromising trust, accreditation, or mission outcomes. Drawing on more than 20 years of military service and deep experience across defense programs, she shares how real DevSecOps depends as much on organizational structure and leadership accountability as it does on tools and pipelines.

"If security is siloed, you're not doing DevSecOps."

This conversation goes beyond theory to explore how DevSecOps operates in practice across defense and national security programs, how leaders should evaluate whether it's real or just PowerPoint, and what it takes to scale secure systems in environments where the consequences are real.

Inside this episode: – What DevSecOps actually means in defense and national security programs – Why security must be integrated at the start of system design – How DevSecOps reduces schedule risk, rework, and failed ATOs – The fastest way to tell if an organization is really doing DevSecOps – How team structure and accountability determine DevSecOps success – Lessons from military leadership that translate directly into secure system delivery – What leaders should ask when outsourcing DevSecOps support – How Powder River Industries scales DevSecOps without breaking mission trust

If you work in defense technology, national security, or government IT, this episode offers a practical, experience-driven look at how DevSecOps works when it has to deliver for real missions, real customers, and real consequences.

Connect with Yolanda Clarke:https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandaclarke/ https://www.powderriverindustries.com/

Connect with Katherine Jerald: http://www.elraysearch.com

Produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com