Defense Innovation Unit Strategies for Adopting Commercial Tech

FY2026 Signals Joint Defense Tech The Pentagon isn’t looking for more tech. It’s looking for tech that fits the fight. What wins? interoperable, multi-domain, coalition-ready tech that aligns with how the U.S. and its allies will fight. Hear me out… 1. Integration Is the Mission PE 0604826J is the COG for CJADC2. It funds interoperability pilots with NATO, secure data sharing across services, and cross-domain C2 experiments like Bold Quest. Your tech needs to plug into this joint ecosystem. 2. Multi-Domain C2 Is Non-Negotiable The budget holds firm on digital datalinks, secure comms, and allied data exchange. Your tech must talk across domains and allies, don’t expect traction. 3. Rapid Prototyping Isn’t Dead—It’s Evolving RDER may be gone, but its intent lives on. The budget still backs prototypes that can shape joint force design. Demo utility in a joint context and watch your TRL skyrocket. 4. Congress ‘All In on Joint Tech’ is a buying signal. • $400M → Joint Fires Network • $400M → Joint battle management tools • $1B → Accelerated tech fielding • $2B → DIU scaling commercial tech 5. AI/ML, Autonomy, C5ISR—Joint prioritization isn’t just lip service. Budget lines explicitly call out: • Multi-service unmanned systems • Maritime robotics • Coalition-ready EW and ISR

How do we get critical technology to the warfighter faster? Our acquisition system has powerful tools like Other Transactions and SBIR Phase III, but we're often slowed down by legacy processes, appropriation, risk aversion, and a misalignment with the commercial tech world. It's time for targeted, common-sense reforms. I've been developing a few concrete proposals for the next NDAA (or sooner if some DoW innovators want to take them and run). 1. Demystify Innovation Authorities (OTA & SBIR): Mandate robust, role-based training and create a "safe harbor" for the good-faith use of these authorities. Empower our workforce to use the tools they already have. 2. Buy Software Like It's 2026, Not 1986: Officially define Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) as a commercial product, not a level-of-effort service. This simple change aligns acquisitions with the commercial market and eliminates a major bottleneck for buying modern software. 3. Fix Out-of-Cycle Funding: Transform the unpredictable Unfunded Requirements (UFR) scramble into a structured 'Innovation Readiness Fund.' This provides a dedicated, rapid funding vehicle to get proven, warfighter-demanded tech to the field without waiting for the next budget cycle. 4. Create a "Buying Cell for DoD Marketplaces": Pilot a centralized buying cell that acts as a "Contracting-as-a-Service" for DoD's innovation marketplaces. This removes the burden from local contracting shops and ensures any program with funding can buy quickly. These fixes unlock the speed and potential we already have. They empower our people and deliver better capability, faster. What are your thoughts? Which of these ideas would have the biggest impact on your work? #DefenseAcquisition #NDAA #GovCon #Innovation #OTA #SBIR #ProcurementReform #DigitalTransformation #MilitaryModernization #DoD COL Christopher M. Hill Sr. A.V. W. Marina Nitze Arun Seraphin Joshua McMillion Ryan Connell Jenna Roueche' Arun Nair Matt Nelson Joshua Marcuse David Bonfili Noah Sheinbaum Tyler Sweatt Bryon Kroger Nikhil Shenoy Justin Fanelli Eric Lofgren Agile Acquisitions, LLC

Driving Security Through Process and Resource Innovation - scaling non traditional defense innovation 🚀 ✨ The Big Picture: Since 2016, the Defense Innovation Board (DIB) has served as a strategic advisory committee to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, focusing on transformative changes in technology, culture, and strategy. Chaired by Mike Bloomberg (formerly led by Eric Schmidt ) the DIB bridges policy and innovation to tackle the most pressing challenges in defense. 🔥 Why It Matters: The recently released report, “Scaling Nontraditional Defense Innovation,” outlines dramatic recommendations to reshape U.S. defense capabilities. Even if only 25% is implemented, it will revolutionize the way America approaches defense innovation. 🔑 Top 3 Recommendations (My Take): 1️⃣ Oasis Fund: Bridging the “valley of death” to ensure critical technologies move seamlessly from R&D to operational deployment. 2️⃣ Expanding DIU: Transforming the Defense Innovation Unit into a central hub (Sherpa) for guiding suppliers and DoD customers. With its $1B annual budget, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) reports directly to the Secretary of Defense. 3️⃣ Focused Tech Priorities: Committing to 5-10 game-changing technologies by 2027 with unwavering dedication to delivering capabilities on time. 🌐 What’s Next? If these recommendations gain traction, the U.S. could see unprecedented collaboration with startups, streamlined processes, and faster deployment of transformative technologies. 🔗 Dive Deeper: Check out the full report and learn more about the DIB’s work. 💬 What do you think? Can these changes redefine defense innovation for the future? Let’s discuss! #DefenseTech #Innovation #NationalSecurity #ProcessInnovation #ScalingInnovation