The head of the Defense Innovation Unit will leave his post in September, a DOD spokesperson confirmed Friday, according to Defense News, confirming a Politico report. Michael Brown has been DIU director since 2018.

Politico reported Brown is leaving because of a “glaring weakness in modernizing DOD,” citing an email Brown sent to coworkers.

Preston Dunlap, the former head of the Pentagon’s technological innovation initiatives, resigned last month, saying “much more must be done if DOD is going to regrow its thinning technological edge,” as On Base reported.

Progress on DOD’s modernization efforts will be a key discussion topic at ADC Installation Innovation Forum this fall in Phoenix.

Air Force photo by Senior Airman Haley Stevens