Pentagon’s autonomous weapons policymaker departs for academia

Michael Horowitz exited his position at the Pentagon this week after serving as the first-ever deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities, according to a social media post he shared on Friday.

Horowitz took on that leadership role in July 2023, after the DOD created it in an organizational restructure as a new office in the policy directorate combining what was then the separate Emerging Capabilities Policy Office with the Force Development Office. 

Before that, he served as the Office of Emerging Capabilities Policy’s first director, a position he entered in 2022.

Horowitz joined the Pentagon with more than two decades of experience in management, research and academic positions pertaining to international security topics. During his tenure, he elevated international engagements on artificial intelligence policymaking and led strategic initiatives to enable oversight of the military’s development and deployments of emerging combat capabilities. 

Horowitz notably played a major role in revamping DOD Directive 3000.09 — the overarching policy that sets definitions and a framework for generating and buying weapons with autonomous features. 

To join the department, he took a leave of absence from the University of Pennsylvania, where he previously served as director of Perry World House and Richard Perry Professor. In his announcement on social media Friday, he revealed that he’s returning to Perry World House to again take the helm as its director. He said he’ll “focus on strategy, emerging tech, and international relations, among other issues.”

“Yesterday was my last day @DOD_Policy @DeptofDefense. It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve our great nation as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, helping an amazing team drive forward on emerging capabilities like #AI, force development, AUKUS, and more!” Horowitz posted on the platform X.

In response to an inquiry from DefenseScoop on Friday, a Pentagon spokesperson said they could not immediately confirm whether the next official to serve as deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities — in an acting or permanent capacity — has been selected at this time.

Once named, Horowitz’s successor will report to Amanda Dory, who currently serves as the acting undersecretary of defense for policy.