Military Deputy at DIU Aims to Equip U.S. Forces with Cutting-Edge Tech for Future Battles

DIU's new full-time military deputy, Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, has taken up the mantle of ensuring that U.S. forces are equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and technologies faster than ever before. This comes as DIU undergoes a transformation under its new leadership to better align with the needs of combatant commands and operational requirements.

Kunkel's appointment marks a significant shift for DIU, which is now focused on delivering tangible results by fielding in-demand technologies more swiftly. Speaking to DefenseScoop, Kunkel emphasized his commitment to maintaining the military’s edge through innovation and agility. "We have walked into every fight over the last 30 years with swagger," he said, underscoring the historical confidence of U.S. forces in their technological superiority.

DIU's pivot is part of a broader initiative led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to enhance the department’s conversion ratio—essentially improving the efficiency of converting research and development funding into deployed assets. Under this directive, DIU aims to reduce costs while increasing capabilities on the battlefield. Kunkel’s role as an active-duty military officer is seen as crucial in bridging the gap between innovation hubs like DIU and operational units within the military.

Owen West, who recently took over as DIU's director, highlighted the importance of this alignment. "Solo [Kunkel] is forward-leaning," said West, noting Kunkel’s full support for Hegseth’s vision to deploy cheap yet effective machines on battlefields to minimize human risk.

Since taking up his position in May 2026, Kunkel has been actively engaging with all combatant commands to understand their operational challenges and technological needs. This engagement is critical as it allows DIU to tailor its projects more precisely to the requirements of frontline units. "We’ve been all over the place," he noted, emphasizing the importance of these interactions in shaping future technology development.

DIU’s approach includes embedding personnel within combatant commands to facilitate direct communication and collaboration between operational needs and technological solutions. Kunkel believes that having an active-duty general officer at this level can significantly enhance DIU's ability to influence high-level decision-making processes. "Having an active-duty general officer that is able to make the connections at higher levels in the combatant commands and the services, I think that’s where we’re really paying off," he explained.

Recent efforts have already yielded tangible results. For instance, a recent six-hour working session with Space Force personnel helped DIU refine its project portfolio by identifying areas of mutual interest and aligning future projects more closely with operational needs. Persistent, long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies emerged as a common requirement across multiple combatant commands.

As DIU continues to evolve under this new leadership structure, it aims to foster what Kunkel calls "happy marriages" between technological innovations and military operations. This strategic alignment is expected to not only enhance the operational effectiveness of U.S. forces but also contribute significantly to national defense objectives in an increasingly complex global security environment.