Congress Mandates New 'Intelligence Community Innovation Unit'
+ establishment of chief technology officer positions within the intelligence agencies ... and other interesting things in the 2024 NDAA
Congress has passed the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a new 'Intelligence Community Innovation Unit'
The act directs the establishment of an “Intelligence Community Innovation Unit” within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, inspired by the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit. The unit will focus on transitioning promising prototype technologies into production and serving as a conduit between the intelligence community and the private sector, especially targeting collaborations with small- and medium-sized businesses. The unit is expected to be staffed by up to 50 full-time experts in rapid acquisition pathways. The Director of National Intelligence will present a plan for establishing the unit within 180 days of the NDAA's enactment, followed by another 180 days to operationalize the organization. Additionally, the 2024 NDAA proposes the formation of an Intelligence Innovation Board, similar to the Defense Innovation Board.
Another significant directive in the NDAA is the establishment of chief technology officer positions within major intelligence agencies, including the CIA, DIA, and NSA. The act mandates that the DNI establish new policies for the acquisition, adoption, development, coordination, and maintenance of AI capabilities. These policies will include minimum performance guidelines for AI models used by intelligence agencies.