Michael Brown is the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) at the U.S. Department of Defense. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin and at the Pentagon, DIU’s mission is to accelerate the adoption of commercial technology into the military and access and stimulate the national security innovation base.

Previously, Michael served two years (2016-2018) as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow at the Defense Department. He is the co-author of a Pentagon study on China’s participation in the U.S. venture ecosystem, a catalyst for the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) providing expanded jurisdiction to CFIUS. Additionally, he led the initiative for a new Defense Department-sponsored investment vehicle, National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC) to fund dual-use hardware technology companies. Both FIRRMA and NSIC were signed into law by the President in August 2018.

Prior to civil service, Michael was the CEO of Symantec Corporation (2014-2016), the global leader in cybersecurity and the world’s 10th largest software company. He was also the former Chairman & CEO of Quantum Corporation (1995-2003), a leader in the computer storage industry.