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.