Advisory board urges deeper innovation at the Pentagon

– Defense program managers and other lower-level leaders must prioritize innovation, says a new report from the Defense Innovation Board.
– The DIB recommends making officials across the Department responsible for innovation, not just leaders.
– The report emphasizes the need for a culture of innovation and risk-taking, driven by empowered senior leadership.
– The Defense Department needs to transform processes and procedures to make them faster, easier, and more inclusive.
– The Pentagon has been relying on work-arounds to access outside innovation but must take a new approach to risk and failure.
– The report warns that the Pentagon is creating obstacles for start-ups trying to contract with the Department, leading to vendor lock-in and cumbersome processes.
– The Defense Innovation Board is currently chaired by Michael Bloomberg and features Reid Hoffman and Mike Mullen.