Overview

• U.S. Central Command announced the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force to speed delivery of innovative capabilities to forces in the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.
• CENTCOM chief technology officer Joy Shanaberger will lead the effort, which targets getting combat-credible capability to warfighters in 60 days or less.
• The team will align work from Army Task Force 39, Navy Task Force 59, Air Force Task Force 99 and SOCOM Task Force 179 to accelerate fielding of proven solutions.
• Innovation efforts will focus on capability, software and technology diplomacy, with specialists spanning resourcing, evaluations, information systems, data integration, acquisition, logistics and warfighter integration.
• CENTCOM tied the initiative to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s July directive on rapid drone fielding and highlighted last week’s Red Sands exercise in Saudi Arabia, where more than 300 personnel evaluated 20 counter-drone systems.