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Marines


MARINE INNOVATION UNIT
Marine Innovation Unit - Unit Logo
Marine Corps Forces Reserve
2000 Opelousas Ave., New Orleans, LA. 70114

About

MIU leverages existing Marine talent to win battles. The world's most powerful weapon is still the human mind. Our thinkers, innovators, and improvisers will prove decisive during future conflicts.

MIU serves as an in-demand, force multiplying, supporting entity to Total Force goals with exponential emphasis on capabilities that transition in a timely manner focused on outcomes.

MIU partners with Combat Development & Integration and Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory to support the Secretary of the Navy, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Major Subordinate Commanders.

Headquartered in New York, MIU is an all-volunteer team from diverse backgrounds working in advanced technology, academia, and makerspaces. Each unit member is team-oriented and strives to modernize the Marine Corps by advancing the unit's objectives and key results. MIU operates globally to provide the Active Component with the untouched talent pool of Reserve Component Marine experience across startups, venture investing, or management consulting in addition to special expertise in emerging “dual-use” technologies.


 

Recent Events
The Marine Innovation Unit visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps during their annual training in Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 1, 2022. The MIU is a newly activated unit designed to accelerate advanced capabilities, transform Naval Service capacity for technology employment, and retain and invest in highly...
The senior leadership of the newest Marine Corps unit, the Marine Innovation Unit speak with the Marine Corps Reserve Association. The Marine Corps has always relied on improvisation and resourcefulness to win battles. The world's most powerful weapon is still the human mind. Out thinkers, innovators, and...
Master Sgt. David Keith, the Marine Corps Reserve maintenance chief and staff noncommissioned officer–in-charge of additive manufacturing for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 (MALS-49), discusses with Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand’s staff the advances made for KC-130s using additive manufacturing at Stewart...
Master Sgt. David Keith, the Marine Corps Reserve maintenance chief and staff noncommissioned officer–in-charge of additive manufacturing for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 (MALS-49), discusses with Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand’s staff the advances made for KC-130s using additive manufacturing at Stewart...
Jason LaDuke, a company CEO of the electrical enclave during Cyber Yankee, participates in the daily debrief between the red and blue teams during Cyber Yankee 22 at Camp Nett, Connecticut, June 16, 2022. During Cyber Yankee service members are divided up into red teams and blue teams. Reserve Marines with...
Marines from the Marine Innovation Unit discuss network hacking plans during Cyber Yankee 22 at Camp Nett, Connecticut, June 13, 2022. The Reserve Marines from MIU participated in Cyber Yankee for the first time and plan to continue to support similar exercises to bring extra subject matter expertise in an effort...
Sgt. Ian McConnell a cyber warfare operator for Defensive Cyberspace Operations-Internal Defensive Measures (DCO-IDM), 8th Communication Battalion, and Sgt. John Kinsey a cyber warfare operator for Marine Special Operations Command 3-9 Cyber operations team discusses their network hacking plans during Cyber...
Maj. Michael Frank, company executive officer for Defensive Cyberspace Operations-Internal Defensive Measures (DCO-IDM) Company B, 6th Communication Battalion, presents an overview of the Cyber Yankee 22 exercise to distinguished visitors at Camp Nett, Connecticut, June 13, 2022. Reserve Marines with DCO-IDM...
Col. Matthew Swindle, commanding officer of the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU) engages with Frank Broomell, Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand’s National Security Counsel, about the vison and potential the Marine Innovation Unit has to offer to the ongoing initiatives from the Commandant of the Marine Corps at Stewart...
Capt. Matthew Guido, the Marine Corps Reserve assistant aircraft maintenance officer and officer-in-charge of additive manufacturing for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 (MALS-49), discusses with Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand’s staff the advances made for KC-130s using additive manufacturing at Stewart Air...

Mission

MIU leverages existing Marine talent to:

1.  Accelerate the adoption of advanced capabilities.
2.  Transform Naval Service capacity for technology employment.
3.  Retain and invest in Total Force human capital.  

 

Branches, Sections and Staff

MIU has four branches ran by Reserve Component personnel, and supported by a Headquarters Branch staffed primarily by Active Component Marines.

Advanced Capabilities

The Advanced Capabilities Branch (ACB) provides high-demand, low-density civilian and academic skill sets and capacity to pressing Active Component (AC) gaps. The ACB will include key sections to fill these gaps. The Consulting and Strategy Section will operate adjacent to the Wargaming, Experimentation, and Prototyping and Acquisitions Sections, and be the primary lead on problem-solving engagements for strategically important Marine Corps challenges across the operating forces.

Commercial Engagement

The Commercial Engagement Branch (CEB) is a diverse team that maps industry players and maintains situational awareness of technological and commercial advancements (e.g., innovative breakthroughs, funding, M&A, industry news, etc.). Team members are subject matter experts who have professional or academic experience and can facilitate outreach to key players when there is a demand signal from the Defense Engagement Branch.

Defense Engagement

The Defense Engagement Branch (DEB) team supports our Active Component customers in applying technology solutions to solve Marine Corps problems. The team brings diverse expertise and additional capacity to support our customers in building impactful relationships within the USG innovation ecosystem. Ultimately, our goal is to build lasting partnerships in this ecosystem to help our customers deliver high-value, time-sensitive solutions to the warfighter.

Innovation Laboratory 

The MIU Innovation Laboratory Branch (ILB) supports Force Design 2030 and the Active Component by recruiting and training Marines with high-value, low-density skills, conducting experimentation and prototyping, and providing direct support to Active Component stakeholders in priority and emerging technology areas.

Talent Management Section

The MIU Talent Management (TM) section leverages existing Marine Reserve talent to accelerate the capability development process for the Marine Corps. We source high-demand, low-density civilian and academic skill sets. Additionally, we support Service modernization efforts by retaining top talent in the Marine Reserves. These efforts require process innovations and experimentation with new ways to identify, recruit, screen, and join talent to the MIU and Marine Forces Reserve.

Liaison Officers

The Liaison Officer’s (LNO) mission is to accelerate capability development by identifying existing and emerging efforts across the DOD and applying them to Marine Corps Force Design problems. Liaison Officers within the MIU have experience across DOD capability development, startups, management consulting, and emerging “dual-use” technologies. These Marines serve in an Active Reserve billet to specified government Science and Technology (S&T) and innovation organizations in order to accelerate and transition advanced capabilities.

Support Staff

The MIU support staff enables MIU to effectively accomplish its mission. This is achieved by taking an innovative approach to traditional staff functions and processes. The objective is to maximize impact by gaining efficiency and minimizing administrative burden. It is composed of Active Component, Active Reserve, and Selected Marine Corps Reserve Marines.
 


 

Contact Information

Marine Innovation Unit
10 McDonald Street
Stewart Air National Guard Base
Newburgh, NY 12550

For inquiries about the application process: 
 miu@usmc.mil

For media inquiries: 
 miu_commstrat@usmc.mil

For inquiries in regards to support:
 miu_engagement@usmc.mil


 

CURRENT BILLET OPENINGS

 



Join Us

MIU is seeking top talent from Reserve Component Marines with experience across startups, venture investing, management consulting, and special expertise in emerging “dual-use” technologies:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Autonomy and Robotics
  • Big Data
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Materials
  • Human Systems
  • Quantum Computing
  • Space
  • Supply Chain
  • Synthetic Biology
  • and more

MIU will also hire for a select number of Active Reserve billets in FY23 to serve as Liaison Officers (LNOs) to government Science and Technology (S&T) and innovation organizations. Basic requirements for LNO’s are listed below.

  • Open to E-5 to O-6
  • Open to any MOS - civilian / academic skills are what matters most
  • 2-3 year orders with full PCS entitlements
  • Location dependent on organization
  • Active TS/SCI required

 


2022 ANNUAL REPORT

 



Apply to Join

The application process to join MIU in any capacity is highly competitive and involves a talent board.

If you are interested in applying, please click the link below.