DIU gets a new leader

Former Symantec CEO Michael Brown is stepping into the Defense Innovation Unit’s top role, the agency announced Sept. 24.

Brown’s appointment concludes a seven-month search after former managing director Raj Shah stepped down in February, and comes weeks after the agency changed its name from Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) in August.

So far, DIU has awarded 81 prototyping contracts, 13 of which are being used by military members. Brown intends to build on that progress.

"My background complements the strong team that has already accomplished great things in the last two years," said Brown, who was Symantec’s CEO and chairman from 2014 to 2016, in a statement announcing his appointment.

He takes over for Navy Capt. Sean Heritage, who led DIU on an acting basis after the resignation of Raj Shah. Heritage takes on the role of DIU Navy Lead.