Apple Vice President Doug Beck will be the next leader of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, DIU announced in a press release. He will head DOD’s efforts to adopt commercial technology and advise DOD leaders on technology innovation, competition and strategic impact.

“The DIU director will serve as a focal point for new and emerging commercial technology sectors to help identify dual-use pathways and adaptations that enable rapid transition and fielding of new technologies and as an advisor to me and to the Deputy Secretary of Defense on their potential strategic impact,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote in an April 4 memo.

Beck, a Navy Reserve captain, has worked at Apple since 2009.

“Doug’s experience in the commercial world and with the joint force structure will help DIU get to a new level of scaling commercial technology to the men and women in uniform,” Acting DIU Director Mike Madsen said.

Beck will start at the Pentagon May 1.

Defense Innovation Unit photo