Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

Last year, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Pacific (NIWC PAC) partnered to proactively develop a Common Operational Database (#COD) that could enable unmanned systems to operate effectively and in concert within disconnected, denied, intermittent, and/or limited bandwidth (#DDIL) environments. In January of 2024, DIU awarded prototype agreements to three companies: Ditto, Syntiant and Harper DB. All three were successful in their proof of concept efforts to support this project. “The capability to enable scalable mission autonomy was proven in government-run test and evaluation exercises and will continue to be used and improved for the realization of the hybrid fleet,” said Mike Tall, Senior Science and Technology Manager (SSTM), Project Overmatch. DIU Program Manager and Navy Lieutenant Commander Al Williams noted that, “The combination of these capabilities will significantly improve maritime domain awareness / command & control (C2) in critical maritime DDIL environments as a key force enabler.” Read more about Project COD and its technology here: https://lnkd.in/gsMPQqDF Ditto HarperDB, Inc. Syntiant Corp. US Navy

U.S. and Indian defense leaders were at Stanford University this week for the latest summit of the INDUS-X partnership. Titled “Harnessing Investment Opportunities to Enhance Cross-Border Defense Innovation Ecosystems,” the two-day event is the third meeting of the INDUS-X initiative since its launch just over one year ago. “This relationship is absolutely critical to both our nations, as well as to the free and open international system upon which we both depend,” said DIU Director Doug Beck. “It is also a reflection of the deep integration of our tech sectors in pushing the bounds of technology - something that everyone from Silicon Valley, Bangalore, and our other shared areas of tech leadership - understands, but something that, until now, we have not done a good enough job of harnessing for our shared strategic objectives.” https://lnkd.in/eWTvXrke

Meet DIU-Defense Acquisition University Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) FY2024 Fellow Becky Lingenfelter!  As an ICAP fellow, Rebecca supports DIU’s Autonomy portfolio and shares a personal highlight from the first half of the program. “My personal highlight is being a functional part of the award process and assisting in awarding a $98 million prototype award in less than 40 days from the request prototype proposal. The streamlined acquisition process, open collaboration, and innovation  of DIU made this award possible.” Rebecca is an agreements and contracting officer at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division and has over twenty years of experience supporting Crane’s Expeditionary Division. In addition to her work as a contracting officer, Rebecca facilitates the Other Transaction Authorities working group where she develops and leads training sessions on various contracting strategies.

Thank you to jHub Defence for hosting the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) #Cyber and #Telecoms Portfolio at the Project ADA Early Market Engagement Day. Project ADA and the Joint Cyber Hunt Kit (JCHK) projects aim to enable joint cyber operators while conducting hunt operations in ally and partner environments. Personnel in the photo include (left to right): Martin Smith, Naila Golamnobee, Patrick Gould, Kate Stowe, Elizabeth Corbett and Andrew Kuribayashi-Coleman.

Members of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) attended the third annual Northeast Indiana Defense Summit, hosted by Congressman Jim Banks. Regional outreach is a critical part of our mission to integrate the very best commercial technology into the United States Department of Defense. Attendees ranged from lawmakers and government officials to economic and technology industry leaders. Among the featured speakers was Nicholas Estep, LtCol, PhD, Director of DIU’s Emerging Technology portfolio. “I was grateful for the opportunity to highlight DIU’s role in expanding the National Security innovation base via large scale adoption of dual use technologies,” Estep said. “On top of that, I have a greater appreciation for the academic and industry presence in Northeastern Indiana that’s addressing some of the DoD's most pressing and complex problems.” Mike Dodd

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) LightCycle (Data Mesh) AOI just posted! The Department of Defense (#DoD) currently operates multiple network transport layers, which serve different enclaves of separate information domains relying on multiple message brokers for data stream management. #Data distribution across this network of enclaves is often managed by individual applications, leading to surges, latency, and geographic dependence. DoD is looking for a commercial solution that can: - Reliably and efficiently distribute data across multiple, geographically-dispersed network enclaves that can communicate with each other using routing protocols and devices. - Allow for data sharing between different classification levels and prevent unauthorized access to data. - A data distribution solution that will manage the transport and caching of data across a globally-distributed infrastructure using an asynchronous publisher-subscriber (Pub/Sub) messaging system. Full details here: https://lnkd.in/ePWik-s5 Responses requested by 9/17/2024.

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), along with members from SERDP & ESTCP and the local community, were in Pennsylvania this week to observe cutting-edge prototype technologies working to concentrate and remediate The demonstration was held on the site of the former NAS JRB Willow Grove and current Biddle ANG base. Live field demonstrations were provided by ALLONIA, Cyclopure and ECT2 - three of ten DIU contract awardees on the PFAS project. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are very stable in the environment due to their unique chemical structure, and are relatively resistant to natural breakdown processes. Among their many uses, PFAS are contained in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a substance that for many decades was used to suppress fires. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZeJu_7R

Meet DIU-Defense Acquisition University Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) FY2024 Fellow Ralph Barnes! As an ICAP fellow, Ralph gained experience in commercial markets. “DIU’s commercial engagement approach helps program managers locate and engage with companies that work within the industries covered by the DIU portfolios. I believe this is the success factor for how DIU better understands the art of the possible in these industries.” Ralph is a Contracting and Agreements Officer team lead at the U.S. Army Contracting Command Orlando Office (AACC-O) where he supports the U.S. Army PEO STRI in developing the Army’s next generation of key simulation systems. These training systems enable PEO STRI programs to develop, deploy and operate training capabilities in a secure, flexible and interoperable manner.  Interested in becoming an ICAP Fellow? Today is the last day to apply! https://lnkd.in/gGMbmjSA

New position posting for our National Defense Innovation OnRamp Director. Oversee Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) regional network of physical and virtual spaces, and regional representatives connecting DoD innovation organizations with the broader defense ecosystem.

Meet DIU-Defense Acquisition University Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) FY2024 Fellow Brittany Harris!  As an ICAP fellow Brittany primarily supports DIU’s Space portfolio and is learning about effectively acquiring innovative commercial technologies through flexible acquisition authorities. “The process doesn’t have to be complicated to prudently spend taxpayer dollars to get after the nation’s most difficult problem. These [“flexible” acquisition] authorities allow procurement professionals to move fast while still following the same key principles: Deliver on a timely basis the best value product or service to the customer while maintaining the public’s trust and fulfilling public policy objectives.” Brittany is a Senior Procurement Analyst and an unlimited warrant Contracting Officer for the Air Force Installation Contracting Center – Operating Location Space in Colorado. Brittany conducts policy reviews and inspections for six contracting units supporting various space missions and base operations. She also advises the Senior Contracting Official and guides Squadron leadership, Contracting Officers, and Program Managers to develop sound business solutions. Interested in becoming the next ICAP fellow? Applications are open until August 30, 2024. Apply today!  https://lnkd.in/gGMbmjSA