Pentagon Creates New ‘Drone Czar’ Role to Unify All Unmanned Systems Under Single Command

The Pentagon has established a new senior position — the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Offensive and Defensive Systems (DRPM-UxS) — to consolidate oversight of all military drone and counter-drone programs under a single chain of command. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the move in a 29 June 2026 memorandum, describing unmanned and autonomous systems as “a strategic priority” and “essential to maintaining decisive military advantage.”

Scope of the New Role

The DRPM-UxS will report directly to Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and will oversee Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, and unmanned systems programs across the Defense Innovation Unit, military departments, and all service components — spanning air, land, and sea domains.

The Pentagon has not yet named anyone to fill the position.

Why Now

The creation of DRPM-UxS reflects the hard operational lessons of the Russia-Ukraine war, where drones at every scale — from FPV quadcopters to autonomous naval vessels — have reshaped combat. With programs scattered across multiple commands, agencies, and innovation offices, the Pentagon faced coordination gaps, procurement overlaps, and doctrinal inconsistencies. The new structure is designed to unify strategy, acquisition, and capability development into a coherent portfolio.

The move also dovetails with the Army’s $500 million AeroVironment C-UAS contract awarded the same week, signalling a broad push to accelerate unmanned capability across the force.

Sources: Defense One | Washington Times | USNI News | Pentagon official memorandum