Overhaul of the DoW’s Innovation Ecosystem

Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an overhaul of the War Department’s innovation ecosystem, which will now be led by Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of Research and Engineering and the Department’s CTO. This overhaul is designed to create a more unified and fast-paced enterprise to deliver technology to the warfighter with greater urgency.

Under the new structure, key organizations like the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) will be operationally aligned under the CTO to streamline efforts. These agencies, along with the CDAO, DARPA, OSC, and TRMC, will form a single, cohesive innovation ecosystem. The department also appointed Owen West as the new Director of DIU and Cameron Stanley as the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer. This restructuring is intended to provide industry with a clearer, more direct path to partner with the DoW and rapidly transition breakthrough technology into the hands of American warfighter.