DoD Merges Innovation and Science Boards Into Science and Technology Innovation Board

Overview

• Secretary of War Pete Hegseth approved combining the Defense Innovation Board and the Defense Science Board to form the Science and Technology Innovation Board.
• The department says the consolidation will replace overlapping advisory groups with faster, coherent guidance for the warfighter.
• The new board will have two permanent panels: Strategic Options to identify concepts and capabilities that strengthen deterrence, and National Security Innovation to advise on pathways, emerging tech and scaling.
• Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Emil Michael says the STIB unites scientific rigor with private‑sector agility to move ideas from concept to the field.
• The Pentagon posted a board appointments page and says the STIB will attract top talent from science, technology and commercial innovation hubs.