Pentagon Creates 'Autonomy Czar' to Centralize All Drone Programs
Tags Defense Tech · Policy & Law
The Pentagon appointed a new 'Autonomy Czar' to centralize oversight of all unmanned and autonomous systems under a single authority, accelerating development, procurement, and fielding of U.S. drone capabilities. The position holds contracting authority across all military services and reports directly to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This organizational restructuring follows the UK's £5 billion drone investment and reflects growing emphasis on autonomous warfare systems.
Technical significance
Centralized command structure will streamline acquisition of autonomous systems but raises concerns about oversight concentration. The role's contracting authority enables faster procurement of AI-enabled weapons, potentially bypassing traditional service-level review processes. Follows UK's largest-ever military drone commitment, indicating coordinated Western investment in autonomous warfare.