On 9 January, the Department issued three complementary memoranda that together signal a decisive shift in how innovation, data, and artificial intelligence are governed and delivered. Read together, they establish a clear expectation: speed, accountability, and operational impact now define success. Transforming the Defense Innovation Ecosystem to Accelerate Warfighting Advantage restructures the Department’s innovation enterprise around outcomes that matter to the warfighter. It designates the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering as the single, empowered Chief Technology Officer, streamlines governance, and aligns innovation efforts to three results—differentiated technology, scalable products, and new ways of fighting. Program offices and acquisition portfolios retain ownership of delivery, supported by an integrated ecosystem focused… Read More

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The Department of the Air Force is advancing a major transformation in how acquisition authorities are structured and executed with the establishment of Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs). This change represents a foundational shift from the traditional Defense Acquisition System toward a warfighting acquisition system, aligning authority and accountability closer to execution and operational outcomes. Why PAEs Matter Section 1802 of the FY26 NDAA directed the replacement of Program Executive Officers (PEOs) with PAEs. The statutory language provides expanded authority for PAEs including changes to personnel and resources. On 7 November 2025, the Secretary of War directed the transformation of the Department’s acquisition system to accelerate the delivery of urgently needed… Read More

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