Navy Creates New Office to Run Its Drone and Robot Programs, Shuffles Leadership

The Navy announced Wednesday it's creating a new office to oversee robotic and autonomous systems, part of a broader shakeup of the service's RAS leadership.

Chris Miller, who currently leads the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime office, will serve as acting head of the new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems, known as DRPM RAS. He'll report to William Toti, who is currently performing the duties of undersecretary of the Navy, according to a Navy news release reported by Breaking Defense.

The new office is an attempt to streamline how the Navy and Marine Corps develop and acquire unmanned systems, in line with guidance from Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.

Toti didn't mince words about why. "We are at an inflection point in naval warfare, and the Department has been approaching robotic and autonomous systems through arcane processes that do not deliver capabilities at the speed our Sailors and Marines need," he said in the Navy release. "Secretary Cao has directed us to replace that model with clear accountability, faster decisions, and a relentless focus on the warfighter."

Who's In, Who's Out

Miller now also becomes acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Robotic and Autonomous Systems, putting him in charge of acquisition for a range of Navy and Marine Corps unmanned programs, including the medium unmanned surface vessel program.

He replaces Rebecca Gassler, who was selected to oversee the office when the Navy initially stood it up in December.

Additional details on her departure were not provided in the release, and the Navy did not immediately respond to Breaking Defense's request for comment on why Gassler is leaving the post.

A Crowded Bureaucratic Map

This reorganization doesn't happen in a vacuum. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo in June establishing a separate Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for autonomy across the Defense Department, a move Breaking Defense first reported at the time.

That department-wide autonomy office, called DRPM-UxS, oversees ground vehicles, small air vehicles, and nearly all sea vessels. Notably, it does not include the Navy's medium unmanned surface vessel program, which stays under the Navy's new DRPM RAS instead.

DRPM-UxS reports to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, the same chain that runs the DRPM for submarines and the DRPM for Golden Dome.

According to the Navy, DRPM RAS is expected to "work closely" with DRPM-UxS on unmanned efforts. In practice, that means two separate reporting structures, run by different bosses, both touching Navy drone programs.

Moving People Closer to the Fleet

The Navy is also examining whether to transfer DRPM RAS staff from Washington to locations "close to Fleet warfighters," according to the release. The review aims to determine whether doing so would bolster collaboration with operational forces and keep Fleet feedback connected to capability development and fielding.

What's Unresolved

The Navy hasn't said how long Miller will hold the acting titles before a permanent DRPM RAS is named, or when the review of staff locations will conclude. Breaking Defense has not received comment from the Navy on Gassler's departure.