The DIU's mission is to accelerate DoD adoption of commercial technology, transform military capacity and capability, and strengthen the American national security innovation base.

DIU operates six portfolios dedicated to solving national security demand in AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning), Autonomy, Cyber, Human Systems, Energy, and Space.

[3] From May 2016 to February 2018, its managing partner was Raj Shah,[1] a Wharton MBA graduate who flew F-16s in Iraq as an Air National Guard reservist and cofounded Morta Security, later acquired by Palo Alto Networks.

Kirchhoff served as a strategist in President Obama's National Security Council and as the civilian assistant to General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Amlani is a former White House Fellow and cofounder of the airport security service CLEAR, who co-led many of DIU's autonomy and software initiatives.