Michael Brown
Director of the Defense Innovation Unit
In office
September 24, 2018 – September 2, 2022
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byCaptain Sean Heritage, USN (interim)
Personal details
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Stanford University Graduate School of Business (MBA)

Michael A. Brown was managing director of the Defense Department's Innovation Unit.[1] He previously served as chief executive officer for Symantec.[2][3] Brown has also served as chairman of the board for Line 6 and for EqualLogic and as CEO and chairman of the board for Quantum Corp.[4][5]

In 1980, Brown received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Harvard University. In 1984, he earned an Master of Business Administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.[4][5] In November 2016, Brown was named a Presidential Innovation Fellow.[3]

On April 2, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Brown to be the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.[6] On July 14, in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Brown requested that his nomination be withdrawn, citing an ongoing Department of Defense Inspector General investigation.[7] Brown left his position as managing director on September 2, 2022, and on September 9, 2022, the DoD Inspector General found the allegations to be unsubstantiated.[8]

References

  1. ^ "How We're Structured". Defense Innovation Unit. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Mehta, Aaron (September 24, 2018). "Former Symantec boss takes over the Defense Innovation Unit". Defense News. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Doubleday, Justin (September 24, 2018). "Pentagon picks former Symantec CEO, China report co-author to lead Defense Innovation Unit". Inside Defense. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Michael Brown". U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Chinese Investments in U.S. Venture Technology: Accessing the Crown Jewels of U.S. Innovation". Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Key Members for the Department of Defense", White House, April 2, 2021
  7. ^ "Mike Brown backs out of nomination for top Pentagon contracting job". FedScoop. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Capaccio, Anthony (September 13, 2022). "Ex-Defense Innovation Unit Chief Is Cleared of Improper Hiring". Bloomberg News. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
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