National Security Innovation
Michael Bloomberg has long been a strong champion of strengthening America’s national security.
As a business leader and philanthropist, he has championed initiatives that bring the agility and ingenuity of the private sector into closer partnership with the Department of Defense. As chair of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Board, Bloomberg led efforts to help the U.S. military modernize its acquisition processes and make it easier for innovative companies, particularly start-ups, to collaborate with defense leaders.
His work has helped the Department of Defense foster a culture of innovation, remove long-standing barriers to change, and ensure each military branch has access to the technologies and capabilities it needs to maintain a decisive edge.
“What Mike has done chairing the Defense Innovation Board and what he represents every single day in terms of his commitment to America, our servicewomen and men, and national security in general inspires me. It is real. It is genuine. It is driven by love of country.”
Susan M. Gordon, Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence of the United States of America
Defense Innovation Board
As chair of the Defense Innovation Board, Bloomberg worked to bring more of the private sector’s best practices to the Department of Defense. Under his leadership, the board published eight in-depth reports, which provided recommendations for speeding up the Department’s adoption of emerging technologies, improving acquisition systems, fostering a culture of innovation, better preparing and protecting service members, and more.
By connecting leaders from industry, academia, and the military, the board tackled some of the most pressing challenges facing defense modernization.
Read more about the board, and its most recent reports, here.
Commissioned Report on Defense Innovation
Michael Bloomberg commissioned a comprehensive report on using private-sector innovation to strengthen national security. The report outlined how to refocus technology adoption in a new acquisition pipeline, redirecting resources away from old legacy systems and toward critical capabilities. Its findings have helped to inform policy discussions aimed at ensuring the U.S. maintains its technological advantage in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Read the report here.
United States Military Academy Technical Scholars Program
Michael Bloomberg’s commitment to empowering the next generation of military leaders extends to his support for the United States Military Academy Technical Scholars Program. This initiative provides cadets with advanced opportunities to strengthen their expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), equipping these future officers to tackle the complex challenges of modern warfare.
Defense Industrialization Revitalization Effort (DIRE)
Through the Defense Industrialization Revitalization Effort (DIRE), Michael Bloomberg has examined strategies for rebuilding and modernizing the U.S. defense industrial base. This initiative addresses critical gaps in manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and workforce development, ensuring the United States can rapidly produce and scale the technologies needed for defense. DIRE focuses on reinvigorating partnerships between government, industry, and academia to rebuild capacity and secure the strategic advantage that comes with a robust and innovative industrial base.
Read the report from the effort’s latest workshop here.