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 Air Force, Space Force and Northrop, Janet has seen every side of the industry. At Stellar, she leads a company built on a culture of empowerment that removes bureaucracy and lets engineers solve mission critical problems at speed. From helping stand up Space Systems Command International Affairs to supporting early stage space companies through Stellar Ventures, Janet offers a rare view into how innovation truly moves inside national security space.

If you work in defense, space, engineering or government acquisition, this conversation offers a clear eyed look at how the ecosystem is changing. Whether you are a program manager, recruiter, founder or policy leader, Janet's insights reveal the realities shaping the next decade of space capability.

You will learn:
• Why small engineering firms often outperform the primes
• How culture becomes a competitive advantage in national security space
• Why SDA's integration challenges need small, nimble strike teams
• The biggest blockers facing early stage space companies selling to government
• What the next generation of Space Force talent must bring to the mission
• How Stellar Ventures connects breakthrough technologies to real government needs

Connect with Janet:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetgrondin/
https://stellarsolutions.com/

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

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. With over 200 patents and a product the size of a deck of cards, Deltawerx is answering the Army's call to arm every warfighter with their own drone—now, not five years from now.

If you work in defense, aerospace, or adjacent technologies, this conversation offers a frontline view of how unmanned systems, AI, and rapid deployment platforms are shifting warfare's center of gravity. Whether you're an operator, strategist, recruiter or policymaker, the implications are massive.

You'll learn:

· Why every war fighter may soon carry their own drone

· How expendable, pocket-sized UAVs are reshaping strategy

· Why U.S. policy must accelerate to keep pace with adversaries

· How drone tech is rewriting the economic and psychological calculus of war

· The leadership mindset needed to navigate this moment of military transformation

Connect or learn more about Frank:
Connect with Frank Muth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-muth

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

Mission Critical is produced in partnership with https://www.podlad.com

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 Valley space-tech company, what he's learned about leadership before his 20th birthday, and why true innovation in aerospace comes from those willing to think differently.

"You can't go at it alone. Space forces you to be a team player."

This conversation isn't just about technology.
It's about the next generation of aerospace leadership — visionaries who value mission over pedigree, teamwork over ego, and impact over age.

Inside this episode:
– How Apolink is building the always-on communication layer for low Earth orbit
– What it takes to earn credibility as a young founder in aerospace
– The funding and focus behind YC's newest space startup
– How leadership evolves when you're managing engineers twice your age
– Why slowing down and reconnecting with nature cured his founder burnout
– What "the next frontier of connectivity" means for the future of aerospace operations

If you're in aerospace, defense, or satellite communications, this episode is a look at the kind of leadership and innovation that will shape the industry's future.

Connect with Onkar Singh Batra
https://apolink.space
https://www.instagram.com/ionkarbatra
http://linkedin.com/in/ionkarbatra

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