Department of War Establishes Central Office to Manage U.S. Military Unmanned Systems

U.S. Department of War Announces New Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems

Reorganization Aims to Centralize Drone and Autonomous Systems Oversight

The U.S. Department of War has announced a significant reorganization of its unmanned systems enterprise, establishing a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) as of July 1. This new position will oversee the Department’s drone and autonomous systems activities across various organizations.

The DRPM-UxS will report directly to the Deputy Secretary of War, with the goal of centralizing responsibility for the development, procurement, fielding, sustainment, and integration of unmanned and autonomous systems. A memorandum signed on June 29 outlines that the DRPM-UxS will act as “the single joint integrator for all unmanned and autonomous system programs within the Department of War.”

This announcement builds on a series of executive actions from 2025, including Executive Orders focused on domestic drone production, acquisition reform, and counter-unmanned systems capabilities.

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated, “This structural reorganization directly implements a series of decisive actions taken by the administration. Drones and autonomous systems represent the most consequential battlefield innovation of this generation.”

Coordination of Existing Efforts

Instead of creating a new acquisition program, the memorandum establishes a management structure designed to coordinate existing drone and autonomous systems initiatives currently spread across multiple organizations.

The new office will initially oversee activities involving:

• Group 1 through Group 3 unmanned aerial systems
• Unmanned ground systems
• Unmanned surface vessels, excluding the current Navy medium unmanned surface vessel (mUSV) program
• Unmanned underwater vehicles, in coordination with the Department’s submarine portfolio manager
• Autonomy, artificial intelligence, and swarming software
• Counter-unmanned systems
• Logistics supporting unmanned systems
• Department-wide unmanned and counter-unmanned systems marketplaces

The memorandum also grants the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of War the authority to adjust the portfolio as needed over time.

To establish an operational baseline, the new office will provide oversight and strategic direction for missions and funding currently assigned to organizations such as the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group. Additionally, the memorandum designates the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as the Department’s primary interface with the commercial industry for unmanned and autonomous systems within the portfolio.

Expanded Responsibilities and Authority

The memorandum grants the DRPM-UxS extensive responsibilities that extend beyond mere program coordination.

Among its authorities, the office will:

• Serve as milestone decision authority for designated unmanned systems acquisition programs.
• Establish joint technical and interoperability standards, including Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) and Open Mission Systems/Universal Command and Control Interface (OMS/UCI) requirements.
• Coordinate Department-wide budgeting and program priorities for unmanned systems.
• Oversee testing, evaluation, and production readiness decisions.
• Consolidate governance of Department-wide unmanned systems marketplaces.
• Direct the use of streamlined acquisition mechanisms, including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), where appropriate.

Focus on Domestic Manufacturing and Industrial Capacity

The Department’s announcement links the organizational change to broader efforts aimed at expanding domestic drone manufacturing capabilities.

Previous executive actions have directed the military to procure and train with “low-cost, high-performing drones manufactured in the United States,” while also strengthening the domestic drone industrial base.

The memorandum assigns responsibility for supply chain resiliency and industrial base due diligence to the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, in collaboration with the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering and the Department’s Chief Information Officer to enhance cybersecurity and fortify supply chains against potential threats.

Implementation Timeline

The memorandum outlines an aggressive implementation schedule following the appointment of the new portfolio manager.

Within 30 days of the appointment, the DRPM-UxS is expected to begin staffing key management, contracting, legal, communications, information technology, and security functions. Within 90 days, the office must define the Department’s unmanned systems program baseline and submit a comprehensive implementation plan addressing the execution of its new authorities, coordination with Combatant Commands, and industrial base strategy. The office will also provide monthly portfolio updates to the Deputy Secretary of War and quarterly in-person briefings on program status, production milestones, and operational testing.

Implications for the Defense Drone Industry

The establishment of the DRPM-UxS marks a significant organizational change within the Department’s unmanned systems enterprise in recent years.

While the announcement does not create new procurement programs or allocate additional funding, it centralizes oversight of acquisition, technical standards, budgeting, logistics, and commercial engagement under a single office reporting directly to the Deputy Secretary of War. This consolidation may streamline coordination across military departments and provide industry with a more unified framework for future unmanned systems initiatives.

The move also underscores the Department’s ongoing commitment to accelerating the deployment of autonomous systems and strengthening the domestic industrial base as unmanned technologies play an increasingly prominent role in U.S. military operations.