CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE Chris Brose: How Anduril is paving its path as the next defense unicorn
Oct 20, 2025
In this conversation, Chris Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Anduril Industries, dives into the urgent need for U.S. military modernization amid global competition, especially with China. He discusses the importance of software and autonomy in defense, how talent is gravitating toward startups, and Anduril's unique approach to rapid production and innovation. Chris also shares insights from the battlefield, emphasizing the value of real-world feedback and maintaining company culture while scaling.
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Joining Anduril After One Curious Meeting
- Chris Brose first met Anduril in 2017 after Googling Palmer Luckey and agreed to meet because the founders were explicitly focused on defense.
- He joined despite uncertainty, attracted by their mission and software-first vision.
Software-Defined Strategy Scales Opportunities
- Anduril deliberately chose a software-defined, commercially-inspired model to build multiple defense product lines.
- That vector let them pivot into unexpected opportunities while staying on a coherent trajectory.
Scale By Structuring Parallel Businesses
- Scale by running product lines as parallel businesses with independent teams and centralized common platforms.
- Design hardware and processes to be simple to build and hire a workforce quickly.
