Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd

Official account of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies. Follow @DoWCTO 🇺🇸⚙️

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

I'm proud to work alongside @USWREMichael to drive our new Critical Technology Areas forward in the @DeptofWar.

We will not waste any time in delivering the most advanced capabilities to our fearless warfighters. Every second counts.

[Under Secretary of War Emil Michael @USWREMichael]

The national security challenges we face today demand that the @DeptofWar innovate with uncompromising speed.

Proven, tangible technologies must be placed into the hands of our warfighters so they never face a fair fight.

That’s why today I’m announcing the @DeptofWar’s new list of Critical Technology Areas.

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Scaling Directed Energy means decoupling payloads from platforms. As we push for modular, containerized systems like HELIOS and LOCUST across the fleet, we are breaking traditional acquisition timelines to deliver low-cost, deep-magazine combat power at the speed of relevance.  Read more here: https://t.co/BjV38AOqpX

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

@GoHawks_1914 If you have any ideas on how to solve the "human bottleneck," let's chat.

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

We are scaling Directed Energy to meet the modern threat environment head-on. The Army’s push for $460.9M in FY27 RDT&E for M-SHORAD includes nearly $95M dedicated purely to upgrading laser weapon variants (DE M-SHORAD) to counter rotary-wing and C-RAM threats. Affordable, infinite-magazine intercept capabilities are moving out of the lab and straight to the maneuver force.
Read more here: https://t.co/eIS1kwsDH1

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

The Microelectronics Commons program has selected 26 critical projects across all 8 regional hubs to advance to their second year.

To bridge the valley of death and deliver warfighter utility, clear communication between innovators and leadership is key.
Read more: https://t.co/c2sC3KLJqL

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

@zachglabman @LaFrogman I'll take it!

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

@AndurilObserver Let's just say I saw a number of technologies there that will continue to give our enemies nightmares 🇺🇸

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Proud to attend the Technology Readiness Experimentation (TREX) Day last week at Camp Atterbury. Witnessing cutting-edge, combat-ready tech firsthand proves our commitment to rapid innovation. We are ensuring our forces hold the decisive edge.

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

@kelly_hous34945 @10 Send your info to https://t.co/bixLbLh90d

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Honored to stand on the bricks at @IMS for the Joint Enlistment Ceremony this Armed Forces Day weekend. Seeing 250+ next-gen service members take the oath to celebrate America’s 250th birthday alongside @SenatorBanks is a powerful reminder of why we must always equip them with the best.

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Modern problems require precise solutions. The @USAirForce just leveled up the MQ-9 Reaper, successfully testing APKWS laser-guided rockets to take down aerial drones.
By turning a surface-to-surface weapon into a drone-killer, we’re driving lethal, cost-effective innovation.
https://t.co/A3GLOW0eT4

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Big news! We've selected 5 sites for our directed-energy counter-drone pilot. We’re accelerating lasers & microwaves and taking a huge step forward in defending our homeland and military installations from hostile drone threats.

See more here: https://t.co/qTGdW8iAvn

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

The future of point defense is here. With FAA & Pentagon approval, AV’s LOCUST Laser is ready to protect our critical infrastructure. This high-precision, low-cost kinetic alternative is a game-changer for national security. Proud to see U.S. tech leading the way.

https://t.co/iXeoFrB9i6

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

"I can neither confirm nor deny..."

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[CBS News @CBSNews]

The Pentagon dismissed reports of “kamikaze dolphins” in the Strait of Hormuz, with Gen. Dan Caine joking, “Like sharks with laser beams.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added he could not confirm such claims, but said he "can't confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins" adding "I can confirm" Iran doesn't.

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Great seeing the future of the @USMC on display at #ModernDayMarine

Blown away by the innovation from the exhibitors today, especially the Marine-led companies. With game-changing gear and incredible new technologies, we're ensuring our warfighters always have the winning edge. Semper Fi!

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

The DoWs "Golden Dome" is taking shape.

The new Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) is a 150kW-300kW containerized beast designed to fry cruise missiles. Army + Navy teamwork to bring "speed of light" defense to the frontline.

Read more here: https://t.co/MqPVAwYCTD

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Honored to join the distinguished crowd at #Amethyste last night. It was a privilege to engage with such a high-caliber cross-section of Washington—from senior Administration colleagues and policymakers to business leaders and journalists.

This year’s gathering carried extra weight as we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the partnership between France and the US. This historic alliance mirrors the spirit of unity at Amethyste: a commitment to collaboration that remains essential as we navigate the future of critical technologies.

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

The battlefield has evolved since my days as a Marine. Join me at #ModernDayMarine in DC 4/28 - 4/30 to see the "bleeding edge" of autonomous systems, AI-driven power, and next-gen tech. Let’s equip the future of the @USMC together!

Register now: https://t.co/b5ZqXF4kT9

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris

[Assistant Secretary of War Mike Dodd @ASWCTDoddFather]

Excellent meeting yesterday with Ambassador Otaiba.

The U.S.-UAE partnership remains a cornerstone of regional stability. We are deepening our collaboration on critical technologies—from AI to secure telecommunications—to fortify global national security and stay ahead of emerging threats.

Together, we’re ensuring that the next generation of innovation is built on a foundation of shared security and trust.

Insomnia Adversariis Nostris