Innovation Steering Group
In March 2021, the deputy defense secretary established the Innovation Steering Group to advise department leadership on science, technology, technology transition and related matters. Since then, the ISG mapped the sprawling defense innovation ecosystem to understand the DOD’s innovation capabilities and gaps, launched the DOD’s front door website for new companies and talent to easily discover DOD innovation opportunities, stood up the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve program and built the foundation of the 2023 National Defense Science and Technology Strategy. The ISG also spurred new commitments by the services to reinvest in their research, test and lab infrastructure and increased coordination on technology protection programs, particularly in support of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
In June 2021, the deputy defense secretary created the DOD AI and Data Acceleration initiative to dispatch operational data teams to all 11 combatant commands to decrease the barrier to entry for data projects at combatant commands and to deliver data-centric capability to the warfighter. Since then, ADA teams have supported efforts across the global enterprise. For example:
- The U.S. European Command ADA team supported the creation of an Airlift Mission Tracker which allowed EUCOM, NATO and other partner organizations to have common situational awareness on orders and missions in transit, in near real-time, in support of the EUCOM Control Center-Ukraine/International Donor Coordination Centre.
- The U.S. Transportation Command ADA team supported the creation of an app using advanced analytics and effective data ingestion and management to create a common operating picture of vessels carrying equipment, supplies or personnel.
In February 2022, the DOD consolidated the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Project Maven, the Chief Data Officer, Defense Digital Services and the enterprise data analytics platform Advana to create the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office as a principal staff assistant to the secretary of defense and deputy defense secretary on all matters related to data and AI. CDAO leads and oversees the DOD’s progress on AI and data-modernization as well as delivers data-centric capabilities and support to the Joint Force. For example:
- CDAO has since established the framework and roadmap necessary to achieve an AI-enabled military, as well as the AI hierarchy of needs, defining the incremental steps to success.
- CDAO has established industry-leading guidelines for the development of RAI and led the deputy defense secretary’s adoption of the RAI S&I pathway.
- CDAO continues to work closely with our allies and partners to ensure a coordinated approach to AI development, sponsoring the 16-nation Partnership for Defense and continuously engaging with our NATO and Five Eyes Alliance partners.
Innovation Ecosystem
In November 2022, the deputy defense secretary launched the Innovation Ecosystem initiative to focus the DOD’s innovation leaders on the task of removing systemic barriers that prohibit a healthy, competitive, innovation ecosystem. This effort identified nearly 50 of the most critical pain points that companies, universities and innovators are experiencing — each one representing a variety of individual obstructions to innovation. For instance, in order to better-align science and technology and acquisitions processes the Innovation Ecosystem initiative launched a Transition Tracking Action Group to understand which technologies transition from research, development and acquisitions into the hands of the warfighter.
In December 2022, the DOD stood up the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability, a multiple-award contract vehicle that will provide the DOD the opportunity to acquire commercial cloud capabilities and services directly from the commercial cloud service providers at the speed of mission, at all classification levels, from headquarters to the tactical edge.
- The DOD has awarded 13 cloud task orders with an updated total lifecycle amount now over $200 million with 57 other packages in the process for award. The CIO has nine Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control packages in processing.
In December 2022, the secretary of defense established the Office of Strategic Capital to develop, integrate and implement proven partnered capital strategies to align and scale investment in critical technologies for national security.
- In December 2022, the secretary of defense and SBA Administrator launched the Small Business Investment Company- Critical Technologies initiative via a letter of intent.
- In August 2023, the deputy defense secretary hosted the SBA administrator to highlight President Joe Biden’s AM Forward Initiative, as well as discuss collectively advancing critical technology and manufacturing priorities vital to national security and the potential of the SBA’s SBIC program to help entrepreneurs overcome any barriers to access.
In August 2023, the deputy defense secretary directed the organization of Task Force Lima in analyze and integrate generative AI tools, such as large language models across the DOD, while helping to minimize risk and redundancy.