The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) held its Spring Board Meeting virtually on April 17th, 2024. At 12:30 pm Eastern Time, DIB Executive Director and Designated Federal Officer, Dr. Marina Theodotou, called the meeting into session. The DIB Chair, Mr. Mike Bloomberg, and Board Members discussed the status of the two ongoing studies and heard from four invited guest speakers as follows:
The Allies and Partners study is examining how the DoD innovates with treaty allies and strategic partners. The DIB has engaged with a variety of DoD internal stakeholders, allies and partners, and industry professionals. Potential areas of focus include Department of Defense leadership in international engagement, capability integration, sharing technology and resources, collaborative investment in cutting-edge capabilities, export controls, and fostering a culture of trust with like-minded nations.
The Incentives for Tech Adoption study is assessing existing DoD incentive structures to identify gaps or misalignment with regards to enabling calculated risk-taking needed for innovation. The study is building on critical efforts such as Replicator, Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER), and Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT).
To inform the Allies and Partners study, the Board heard from Mr. Sander Oude Hengel, Defense Cooperation Attaché at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United States, and Chair of the Defense MoU Attaches Group. Mr. Hengel outlined the functions of the MoU body, and key challenges to promoting reciprocal defense equipment cooperation and defense trade with U.S. industry. The Board also heard from Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Intelligence Directorate at the United States Space Force's Space Systems Command. Chief Master Sergeant Lerch discussed efforts to collaborate with international partners on defense technology and information security, the importance of clearly defined standards, and difficulty in sharing information with allied and partner nations.
To address the Incentives study, the Board heard from Colonel Kristin Saling, Chief of Innovation with the United States Army Recruiting Command. Colonel Saling discussed training ideas, approaches, and methods of innovative organizations, and ways to synchronize strategy and policy in people analytics and talent management. Lastly, the Board heard from United States Army (Ret.) General Paul Nakasone, former Commander of the United States Cyber Command from 2018 to 2024. General Nakasone discussed how to transition large organizations to ensure mission readiness amid changing information security and emerging technology threat environments.
Board Members will deliver their final recommendations on both studies at their next in-person public meeting in July 2024.
The DIB provides the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and other senior leaders with 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 DIB can be found on its website.
