As the Pentagon accelerates its push to integrate artificial intelligence across the military, it is turning its attention to a critical challenge: recruiting the technical talent needed to turn that strategy into reality.
The Department of Defense has unveiled “War Force,” a recruitment initiative aimed at bringing AI specialists and software engineers into government service to help implement the Pentagon’s AI Acceleration Strategy.
Operating under the Office of Personnel Management’s broader Tech Force program, the effort is targeting individuals with expertise in frontier AI, machine learning, automation, data systems, and software development.
Selected recruits will serve two-year appointments, primarily in Washington, D.C., supporting critical IT and software modernization initiatives.
“War Force is a call to action for patriotic forward-deployed engineers who want to serve their country and the warfighter,” Defense Department chief technology officer Emil Michael said.
Applications for the first cohort close on July 10.
Backing the Pentagon’s AI Push
War Force builds on the Pentagon’s broader campaign to accelerate AI adoption across operational and enterprise missions.
Earlier this year, it granted multiple technology companies access to classified networks to deploy frontier AI tools in support of that effort.
