Pentagon Autonomy Czar

The Pentagon established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), often referred to as the Pentagon’s new “Autonomy Czar,” to centralize oversight of most drone, autonomous, and counter-drone programs across the Department of Defense. The move is intended to accelerate fielding of unmanned systems, reduce fragmentation between military services, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness in autonomous warfare amid rapid drone proliferation by adversaries.