70,905
Total Offices
42
Median Headcount
207
Total Jobs
Real Growth
Median increase +100 shows us companies getting funding to grow, and previous fledgling startups morphing into real companies.
Fewer USG Employees
Leading national security and defense tech companies are growing, while the current Administration is promoting budget cuts through personnel reduction which could present concerns in ensuring that there are enough USG employees to acquire and integrate emerging technologies.
The 2025 NatSec100 reveals a clear trend: the dual-use workforce is rapidly scaling. The median company increased its headcount by more than 100 employees year-over-year — a signal that early-stage startups are maturing into real, durable companies with growing operational demands.
This growth isn’t hypothetical. These companies are hiring engineers, machinists, program managers, supply chain leads, manufacturing technicians, and security-cleared specialists — building out the talent infrastructure required to deliver at scale.
It reflects a virtuous cycle: as more capital flows into dual-use startups, they’re able to build the teams necessary to pursue and fulfill national security contracts.
Yet this growth also reveals a brewing imbalance. While the NatSec100 companies are hiring at pace, headcount within the U.S. Government — particularly within the acquisition workforce — continues to decline. The number of Contracting Officers, Program Managers, and technical evaluators is shrinking just as the volume and complexity of innovative commercial offerings is increasing.
Where does this end? Without a corresponding investment in government-side talent, the gap between capability supply and acquisition capacity risks becoming a structural failure point. No matter how fast startups grow, if the Department lacks the personnel to solicit, assess, and onboard these technologies, the system bottlenecks.
Our inclusion in the NatSec100 reflects Overland’s growing momentum: doubling headcount, expanding to D.C., and delivering cutting-edge autonomy to warfighters. We’re deploying autonomous ground vehicles that operate reliably across extreme conditions—from deep snow to dense forests—enabling one operator to command fleets. This capability is built through deep collaboration with Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations units. With 20% PhDs, 20% veterans, and expanded facilities for software, hardware, and field testing, Overland is delivering what defense needs now: technical and operational excellence that helps protect lives on the battlefield.
Byron Boots, CEO
& Steph Bonk, President
Overland AI
Takeaway
The NatSec innovation workforce is no longer theoretical — it’s here, it’s scaling, and it’s nationally distributed.