Navy sees scores of applications for tech-focused Reserve unit, mirroring Army push

WASHINGTON — The Navy has received scores of applications for a new effort to recruit commercial technology professionals into the Navy Reserve’s Navy Innovation Unit (NIU), following in the footsteps of similar initiatives from the Army and Marine Corps.

The Navy announced a search to recruit commercial technology experts into the unit on June 12, and said it’s seeking those with experience in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, autonomous and unmanned systems, among other things. Specifically, the Navy said it wants senior engineers, software architects, and other technical leaders for the new unit.

“We’ve gotten over 200 applications for the direct commission officer program as it stands right now, and a lot of these are senior executives from the names you’d recognize, both on the traditional tech scene, whether it’s from hyperscalers or defense primes, all the way down to some of the vibey startups in El Segundo, in Austin, and elsewhere,” Benjamin Kohlmann, assistant secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, told Breaking Defense. 

The program mirrors efforts from the Marine Corps, which activated the Marine Innovation Unit in 2023 to pull civilian talent into the service’s Reserve force in an effort to deploy advanced capabilities. 

Likewise, the Army stood up Detachment 201 in 2025 as part of a push to recruit senior tech executives into the Army Reserve as senior advisors. For example, the service commissioned Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer for Palantir, and Andrew Bosworth, chief technology officer of Meta, into the unit as lieutenant colonels in 2025. 

“We certainly worked with the Army to figure out best practices, both in terms of how to market this, how to structure it, and that’ll be an ongoing process,” Kohlmann said. “They’re probably a year, year-and-a-half ahead of us on this, and we’re in touch with some of their leaders just to have that consistent feedback loop and share best practices.”

The service intends to keep the program small, and wants to start commissioning officers in the fall. Those entering the program may commission up to the rank of commander, Kohlmann said. 

“We’re still trying to figure out the exact footprint,” Kohlmann said. “There’s some variables that we’re considering right now, but the goal is to have the individuals selected by early October, and hopefully commission — at least the direct commission — officers by that time.” 

Those personnel will then head to Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, R.I. for five weeks to become acclimated to the Navy, like other direct commission officers do. Officers who undergo ODS come from backgrounds in the legal or medical field, or others with a professional degree, and complete ODS to provide foundations for military service. 

Meanwhile, Selected Reserve personnel will flow directly from their current rank or rate into the organization, Kohlmann said. Applications are open until July 31.

“The benchmark for success to me is that in a couple years’ time, once we’ve gotten this off the ground and have some earlier durations, is that there is an insatiable demand from active-duty commanders for the services of talented folks like this in the Reserves,” Kohlmann said.