Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and U.S. Cyber Command launched the Joint Cyber Hunt Kit (JCHK) project in the fall of 2024 with the shared goal of leveraging the best of commercial technology to standardize cyber incident response kits. After evaluating a competitive pool of nearly 100 submissions, DIU and CYBERCOM selected three vendors to receive prototype contracts: Omni Federal, Sealing Technologies, a Parsons Company, and World Wide Technology (WWT). “Working with DIU accelerated US Cyber Command’s ability to reach small and large vendors to solve cyber’s most challenging problem sets,” said @Khoi Nguyen, Command Acquisition Executive and Director of the Cyber Acquisition and Technology Directorate (J9) at USCYBERCOM. The project team is also working with the United Kingdom’s Joint Cyber Defence Unit (JCDU) and Australia's Joint Capabilities Group to share requirements and mission essentials. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eY8uFh9F jHub Defence

Less than a year after receiving contract awards, two vendors have provided the first Hydrogen at the Tactical Edge of Contested Logistics (HyTEC) prototype systems to United States Marine Corps units in Hawaii and Arizona for operator testing and evaluation. The HyTEC project is a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office (E2O), and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC PAC) partnership to produce hydrogen in austere environments, enabling mobile and disaggregated forces to persist. NovaSpark Energy Corporation and Zepher Flight Labs each provided one prototype for training and evaluation at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma. “These HyTEC prototypes are the first electrolysis based hydrogen generation systems within the DoD designed to operate in an expeditionary environment using electrical energy from renewable sources, tactical generators, or tactical vehicles,” said David Lorio, DIU HyTEC Program Manager and contractor. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ezUbZ7rP

Later this month, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), alongside Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) and the United Kingdom’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), will launch the 2nd AUKUS Innovation Challenge. The 2025 #AUKUS Maritime Innovation solicitation will focus on undersea communication and autonomy. Learn more about the upcoming opportunity here: Australia: https://lnkd.in/g9dZBY8c UK: https://lnkd.in/d9Aqq4JG

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched the Enterprise Workflow and Reporting Platform (eWARP) project to provide a faster, more comprehensive, and more intelligent budget execution and project management tool for improved leadership visibility. eWARP looks to address challenges in current project and financial management platforms, such as the need for better visibility and integration to track real-time organizational finances, track project milestones, manage vendor contracts, and monitor performance across multiple projects. “Our leadership needs accurate and on demand knowledge of the status of our projects to share with DoD leadership, our DoD partners, and Congress,” said Jaime Fitzgibbon, AI program manager and contractor. DIU has awarded three prototype contracts through its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process: CORAS, GovSignals, unstructured.io, and Pryzm

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking to fill four job openings for Maritime Project Officers. These positions will enable DIU’s integration across the Fleets and will focus on identifying, scoping, curating, and translating UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY Fleet problems into Commercial Solutions Opening (solicitations) output. They will apply a recent, relevant tactical lens to this work and will be tightly integrated with commercial technology markets, and support the execution of CSOs with DIU’s technology portfolios.  These positions are based in Mountain View or San Diego.l and are open to active duty Naval officers. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gqJpwqse

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded prototype contracts to four companies for its Artemis project, which will operationally evaluate long range, one way platforms. DIU is partnering on this effort with the DoD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment). The project also has support from Congress and a goal to provide loitering munitions capable of operation in an electromagnetic contested environment, at a price point that allows for mass deployment. “We are excited about the non-traditional companies who are providing low-cost, adaptable, long-range, UAS platforms with the potential to maximize operational flexibility for the Joint force,” said Trent W. Emeneker, DIU program manager for the effort and contractor.  “This was the intent of Congress’ direction to rethink how to get capabilities to the warfighter at speed and scale that can deliver much faster than traditional Programs of Record.” The four companies on contract include Swan,  Dragoon Technology LLC, AeroVironment, and Auterion. All were selected via DIU’s competitive Commercial Solutions Open process. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eWfXUKZA

What a weekend! Thanks to everyone who came out to Capital Factory House for the joint Disruptive Defense programming. More than 3,500 representatives from companies, government, academia and capital came together with the teams from Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), AFWERX, NavalX and other United States Department of Defense partners The three-day event included conversations on artificial intelligence, autonomy, energy, quantum, manufacturing and supply chains, digital tools and more. Speakers included Congressman Jake Ellzey, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Defense (HAC-D), Gen. Tim Haugh, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service Agency, and DIU’s Liz Young McNally Travis DeMeester (CTR) Nicholas Estep, LtCol, PhD Steve Butow and Newt McKissick Catch up with the conversations you missed here: https://lnkd.in/eKaXEp3W

Congrats to our own Nat Higgins for being selected by Distinctive Edge Partners as one of their Government award winners!

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is moving into the next phase of its Transition of Quantum Sensing (TQS) program, which will demonstrate the military utility of quantum sensors to address strategic Joint Force competencies like positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), as well as anomaly detection. The milestone is the result of increased scientific understanding on the technology of quantum sensors and comes after coordination with subject matter experts from across the #DoD community. “In less than six months, we went from strategy, to source selection and awards, and are now off and executing unique technical solutions across five lines of effort: inertial sensors, gravimeters, magnetic anomaly detection, magnetic navigation, and technology insertions & component development,” said Nicholas Estep, LtCol, PhD, Director of the Emerging Technologies Portfolio at DIU. Over the next 12 months, the TQS project will undergo 10 field tests of quantum sensing applications in relevant DoD environments spanning ground, air, and maritime domains. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ej-MhfEB

We are proud that Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)’s pioneered and proven Commercial Solutions Opening and OT process is being scaled, tied to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment's Software Acquisition Pathway. “The Software Acquisition Pathway demonstrates how the Department is building new muscle to break down barriers to adopt the very best tech with the focus, speed, and scale required to deter major conflict or win if forced to fight,” said DIU Director Doug Beck. We're excited to share the flexibility and agility with of DIU’s CSO experience and expertise with new #acquisition teammates across the United States Department of Defense. Cherissa T. Sunmin Kim Nicholas DuPre Joshua Tuxhorn  David Rothzeid Raj S. Michael A. Brown Robert Trejo Lauren Dailey Defense Acquisition University https://lnkd.in/evmkXMae