Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Department of War (Secretary of War memorandum)

Summary

Memorandum signed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directing the Department of War (the Department of Defense) to become an 'AI-first' warfighting force. It sets seven initial Pace-Setting Projects, orders components to name at least three priority projects within 30 days, tasks the Chief Digital and AI Office with data access and delivery, and directs a cadence under which the latest commercial AI models are deployed within 30 days of public release, as a procurement criterion. It was issued alongside memoranda on the defense innovation ecosystem and on the Advana data platform.

Key dates

1. January 9, 2026Takes effect
2. January 9, 2026Issued
3. October 16, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. I direct the Department of War to accelerate America's Military AI Dominance by becoming an "AI-first" warfighting force across all components, from front to back.

   Supports: AI-first directive

   The seven initial PSPs outlined below establish the new execution standard

   Supports: Seven Pace-Setting Projects

   enables the latest models to be deployed within 30 days of public release. This shall be a primary procurement criterion for future model acquisition.

   Supports: 30-day model deployment

   Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Department of War U.S. Department of War Primary source

2. On January 9, 2026, the Department released two key memoranda: (1) Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Department of War

   Supports: Issue date; companion memoranda

   Pentagon Releases Artificial Intelligence Strategy Covington & Burling (Inside Government Contracts) Reporting or analysis