Defense Innovation Board Holds Summer 2024 Meeting

The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) held its summer board meeting in the Pentagon, July 17, 2024.

DIB Executive Director and Designated Federal Officer, Dr. Marina Theodotou, called the public meeting into session.

The DIB chair, Michael R. Bloomberg, gave brief remarks on the state of Department of Defense innovation efforts, before inviting DIB members discuss findings and recommendations from two studies initiated in January, "Aligning Incentives to Drive Faster Tech Adoption" and "Optimizing Innovation Cooperation with Allies and Partners."

DIB member, Adm. (Ret) Michael Mullen, briefed key takeaways from the "Aligning Incentives to Drive Faster Tech Adoption" study. The study notes the persistent incentive to maintain the status quo throughout the DoD, specifically leaders not providing top-down support to innovators and a disconnect between industry, the DoD, and the warfighter. Mullen added the study recommends the DoD encourage and reward risk-taking, establish career paths for professional innovators, for it to become a better customer industry, all while ensuring that supporting the warfighter remains the foremost priority.

Bloomberg then welcomed two guest speakers for the Incentives study, Alexis Bonnell, CIO and director of Digital Capabilities Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Maj. Michael Kanaan, military deputy Chief Information Officer, DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. Bonnell discussed improving the connection between the research community and the warfighter, and ongoing efforts within the Air Force laboratories in support of aligning advanced technology with current and future needs. Kanaan added insights into how artificial intelligence's (AI) role is shaping the DoD's approach to fulfilling its mission, and the strategic implications of AI to cybersecurity, enterprise-wide risk assessments, and deployment to the warfighter.

DIB member, Charles Phillips, briefed key takeaways from the "Optimizing Innovation Cooperation with Allies and Partners" study. He emphasized the need for a centralized coordinating body for innovation cooperation, regulatory and compliance reforms, modernization of information sharing processes, expanded support for Ukraine, and more fulsome engagement with NATO, AUKUS, and other allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The DIB chair also welcomed two guest speakers for the Allies and partners study. James Appathurai spoke about the NATO DIANA and NATO Innovation Fund initiatives, NATO efforts to support Ukraine, and the importance of streamlining innovation cooperation. Navy Capt. Colin Kane discussed the ongoing work of the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell, its mission to acquire capabilities at speed and scale, and its involvement in the Department's support for Ukraine.

The DIB chair and members voted unanimously to approve their findings and recommendations for DoD leadership.

Of note, the DIB is exploring and will soon announce two future studies that will support key DoD priorities related to unmanned systems and engagement with nontraditional defense industry.

The DIB provides the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and other senior DoD leaders independent advice and recommendations on innovative means to address future challenges and ways to leverage strengths across the public and private sector to advance national security and economic security.

Additional information about the Defense Innovation Board, its newly-released studies, and forthcoming studies can be found on its website.

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