diff --git a/roles/compute-prep/defaults/main.yml b/roles/compute-prep/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc0af11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/compute-prep/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+# compute-prep/defaults/main.yml
+
+ssh_pki_dir: "{{ playbook_dir }}/ssh_pki"
+
+pod_sshkey_name: "headnode"
+