About UsWe are building a more secure world.Accelerate DoD adoption of commercial technology | Transform military capacity and capabilities | Strengthen the national security innovation baseDefense Innovation UnitDIU_9e1362b2-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea00U.S. Department of DefenseThe Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the Department of Defense (DoD) to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and inside the Pentagon, DIU is the Department's gateway to leading technology companies across the country.Technology CompaniesDIU is the only DoD organization focused exclusively on fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military at commercial speeds. Our expert team, working in seven critical technology sectors, engages directly within the venture capital and commercial technology innovation ecosystem, many of which are working with the DoD for the first time. Our streamlined process delivers prototypes to our DoD partners, along with scalable revenue opportunities for our commercial vendors, within 12 to 24 months. Upon completion, successful prototypes may transition to follow-on production-Other Transaction agreements or Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracts.DIU OrganizationsDIU brings innovation missions together to strengthen the national security innovation base. In addition to our original mission, Pentagon leadership in 2019 directed DIU to assume oversight of NSIN and NSIC, which operate as two distinct DoD organizations with complementary innovation missions.National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC)NSIC is a Department of Defense initiative that enables dual-use hardware startups to advance key milestones in their product development by addressing the shortfall of private investment from trusted sources. Details about how to apply for funding are available on the NSIC website. https://www.nsic.milNational Security Innovation Network (NSIN)NSIN programs attract new talent to solve national security challenges, leverage start-ups and academic communities for new concept development, and facilitate the launch of new, dual-use ventures by commercializing DoD lab technology and through customer discovery. https://www.nsin.mil/DIU OfficesDIU has moved to a regional approach based out of these five satellite offices to better connect with the labs, bases, accelerators, and investors where we may not have a presence. Email info@diu.mil for more information. ^^ * Silicon Valley ^ * Boston ^ * Austin ^ * The Pentagon ^ * ChicagoDIU TeamOur leaders are invested in U.S. national security and represent the best talent from government and business. Contact us with questions or for additional information.Doug BeckDirector, Defense Innovation Unit and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Mountain View, CASteven J. ButowMilitary Deputy, DIU, Mountain View, CALiz Young McNallyDeputy Director, Commercial OperationsKirstin RiesbeckDeputy Director, People, Finance & Management, Washington, D.C.Aditi KumarDeputy Director, Strategy, Policy & National Security Partnerships, Washington, D.C.Cheryl IngstadDeputy Director, Digital Platforms & Developer Ecosystem, Washington, D.C.John ChenChief Information Officer, Mountain View, CAJared DunnmonSenior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Mountain View, CANick EstepDirector, Emerging Technologies Portfolio, Mountain View, CARaymond P. GobbergCommercial Engagement Lead, Mountain View, CAPatrick GouldDirector, Cyber & Telecommunications Portfolio, Mountain View, CADr. Andrew HigierDirector, Energy Portfolio, Mountain View, CAKatherine KoleskiDirector of Congressional Affairs and Policy, Washington, D.C.Tom MerrittGeneral Counsel, Mountain View, CADavid MichelsonDirector, Autonomy PortfolioJustin NormanActing Portfolio Director and Technical Director, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Portfolio, Mountain View, CAPete PrabhakarChief of Staff, Washington, D.C.Cherissa TamayoriDirector, Acquisition, Mountain View, CADr. Christian WhitchurchDirector, Human Systems Portfolio, Mountain View, CAScott WilliamsActing Director and Deputy Director, Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD)Portfolio Deputy Directors & Technical LeadsAustin BakerDeputy Portfolio Director, SpaceNiels OlsonChief Medical Officer, Human SystemsA more secure world_9e136640-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea00To strengthen national security_9e13682a-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea00TransparencyEvery year, we produce an annual report to provide public insight into what we have done and where we are going. These reports offer a snapshot of how we are performing against our mission, project highlights and updates, organizational evolution, and leadership's goals and expectations for the coming calendar year. Browse our reports to learn more about the value we create and how you might work with us in the future.Artificial IntelligenceSpeedScaleRelevanceArtificial IntelligenceAccelerate the DoD's operational readiness, strategic reasoning, and ability to anticipate adversary intent by adapting commercial AI/ML solutions to the DoD's data and analysis problem sets._9e1368ac-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea001PredictionsImprove mission readiness while reducing costs by isolating critical signals from noise_9e136910-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea001.1Machine Learning Predictions ~ Whether a task requires understanding years of historical data, tracking real-time performance from millions of sensors or integrating in publically/commercially-available data sources, AI can improve mission readiness while reducing costs by isolating critical signals from noise. With data-enabled predictions and forecasts, DoD can fix systems before they break, inform target identification, support real-time threat assessments, assess supply chain vulnerabilities, and enhance post-disaster damage responses.EthicsEnsure that AI system models and techniques are planned, developed, and deployed with the highest ethical standards_9e13696a-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea001.2Responsible AI Development ~ Commercial AI systems offer impressive solutions to the DoD's most pressing challenges. Our portfolio ensures that these models and techniques are planned, developed, and deployed with the highest standards of ethical AI development in mind. Our AI applications may vary by mission area, but each application is built to reflect a common commitment to fairness, accountability, and transparency through each stage of the development cycle. We spend time both building acquisition processes to do this efficiently and effectively as well as running programs to bring the latest commercial tools focused on these areas into the Department.InfrastructureStay on the cutting edge of data, software, and hardware infrastructure_9e1369c4-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea001.3AI Infrastructure ~ As AI systems are developed and deployed with increasing frequency, the DoD must stay on the cutting edge of data, software, and hardware infrastructure. Foci in this area include data management, Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) tools, advanced approaches to resource-efficient training and deployment, post-deployment AI system monitoring, and cutting-edge hardware.Emerging TechnologiesEnsure that DoD is able to responsibly leverage emerging AI technologies at the speed and scale of relevance_9e136a1e-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea001.4Emerging AI Technologies ~ AI technology is moving faster than it ever has, and our portfolio aims to ensure that DoD is able to responsibly leverage emerging AI technologies at the speed and scale of relevance. Areas of recent interest include generative AI, large foundation models, and efficient approaches to edge computation for AI systems.AutonomyAccelerate the adoption and scaling of trusted commercial autonomy and improving our ability to counter adversarial systems_9e136ab4-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002Small UASIncrease access to tactical drones, lowering procurement barriers, and supporting the U.S. drone industrial base. Click here to learn more._9e136b0e-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.1Counter UASDelivere defensive systems to detect, track, identify and defeat adversarial UAS._9e136b72-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.2Maritime AutonomyIncrease domain awareness, hazard defeat, and resilient logistics._9e136c4e-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.3Mission AutonomyOptimize AI/ML and autonomous learning behaviors, artificial agents, and simulation environments to enable operations in contested battle areas_9e136cc6-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.4LogisticsStreamline supply chains and reducing human exposure during hazardous logistics operations_9e136d2a-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.5ManufacturingProduce safer, faster, and more cost-effective construction scale additive manufacturing and 3D printing capabilities_9e136d8e-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.6Ground MobilityAdvance commercial AV technology to improve safety systems, fuel economy, increase force protection, and reduce boots on the ground._9e136df2-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea002.7Cyber & TelecomSecure and protect the DoD's computer networks, warfighting systems, critical infrastructure and information from attacks to enable communications and enhance situational awareness._9e136e56-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea003ThreatsIdentify and assess cyber threats to help secure DoD systems, enhance situational awareness, and better understand adversaries._9e136ee2-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea003.1SecurityDevelop secure systems to ensure the DoD can continue operations in the face of disruptive or destructive cyber attacks._9e136f96-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea003.2DefenseDefend DoD systems from cyber attacks that attempt to adversely affect the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of these systems._9e13702c-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea003.3EnablementField capabilities that enable the DoD to attack and exploit the weaknesses of an adversary's military and related networks._9e1370cc-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea003.4Emerging TechnologyAdvance initiatives derived from multi-disciplinary, deep-tech offerings._9e13716c-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea004Quantum SensingImprove the precision, accuracy, and sensitivity of sensors_9e13720c-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea004.1Quantum Sensing for Strategic DoD Missions ~ Sensors designed at the atomic level offer the promise of significant improvements in precision, accuracy, and sensitivity compared to classical sensors, enabling key warfighting missions: precision weapon employment, position, navigation, and timing (PNT), communications, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), and electronic warfare.HypersonicsAddress the need for low-cost, high-cadence test capabilities for the hypersonic community_9e1372d4-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea004.2DIU started the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) initiative in early 2023 to address the need for low-cost, high-cadence test capabilities for the hypersonic community. DIU will continue to support the hypersonic community of interest by on-boarding new performers and novel solutions critical to hyprsonics.Advanced MaterialsDevelop technologies around materials and propulsion, nanotechnology, photonics, microelectronics, additive manufacturing and quantum information science_9e137392-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea004.3We are focused on developing technologies around materials and propulsion, nanotechnology, photonics, microelectronics, additive manufacturing and quantum information science.EnergyLeverage advancements in the commercial sector to strengthen resilience on military installations and enhance operational energy capabilities. _9e137432-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea005Installation ResilienceOptimize energy generation, storage and delivery to ensure installation infrastructure is smart, secure, and efficient_9e1374e6-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea005.1Operational EnergyEnhance the range, duration and efficiency of military platforms to optimize performance in contested environments and extreme conditions._9e137590-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea005.2Human SystemsOptimize the human system and its enabling platforms through enhanced equipment, innovative training, and novel health applications_9e137630-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea006LethalityOptimize current capabilities and introducing new technology to continuously improve the warfighters ability to shoot, move, and communicate._9e13777a-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea006.1SurvivabilityLeverage biotechnology and biomedical applications to enhance warfighter performance, recovery, and threat detection capabilities._9e137824-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea006.2ReadinessIntroduce technology that advances warfighter training, personnel management, and testing capabilities to enhance force readiness._9e137950-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea006.3SpaceDevelop on-demand access to space, persistent satellite capabilities, and broadband space data transfer_9e137a36-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea007Indications & WarningsImprove situational awareness and support decision makers by leveraging small, low-cost imaging satellites with a range of sensing modalities to build our capacity and broaden our focus for pattern-of-life analysis._9e137aea-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea007.1Peacetime Indications & WarningsOrbitsAdopt commercial launch-as-a-service to improve flexibility to launch various payloads from air, land or sea; enable precision delivery of payloads to prescribed orbits with minimal delay; and increase launch cadence and capacity to ensure responsive access to space._9e137b9e-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea007.2Responsive Access to Mission-Designated OrbitsCommunications & GPSProvide a scalable means to meet the future needs of DoD satellite control networks and enable Service members to navigate on the ground through GPS denied and/or degraded signal environments._9e137c84-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea007.3Reduced Latency Communications & GPS ResiliencyHardwareModernize critical legacy hardware systems using new, adaptable approaches, such as software-defined systems, that extend the life of hardware, improve capabilities, and eliminate the challenge of parts obsolescence._9e137d42-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea007.4Hardware-to-Software Transformation ModernizationOperations & LogisticsProvide low-cost, responsive access to exotic orbits as well as new nodes for logistics and in-space developmental tests._9e137e00-34e6-11ef-9e79-5f6b0d83ea007.5Multi-Orbit Operations & Logistics2024-06-27https://www.diu.mil/aboutOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net