{"id":34105,"date":"2022-10-25T16:05:25","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T16:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2022\/10\/25\/ash-carter-who-helped-establish-defense-innovation-unit-dies-at-68\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:27:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:27:44","slug":"ash-carter-who-helped-establish-defense-innovation-unit-dies-at-68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/2022\/10\/25\/ash-carter-who-helped-establish-defense-innovation-unit-dies-at-68\/","title":{"rendered":"Ash Carter, who helped establish Defense Innovation Unit, dies at 68"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter<\/a> died Monday evening after a heart attack, according to a family statement. He was 68.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter<\/a>, a native of Philadelphia, served in the top Defense Department role under President Barack Obama from 2015 to 2017. He also served in a variety of other Pentagon leadership roles over five presidential administrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Tuesday\u2019s statement, his family described Carter\u2019s <\/a>death as a \u201csudden loss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile he was known for his keen understanding of military technology, nuclear weapons, and international affairs, Secretary Carter loved nothing more than spending time with the troops, making frequent trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit U.S forces with his wife Stephanie,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter\u2019s tenure as defense secretary is perhaps most remembered for his order to open to women all military jobs, including combat assignments. The decision came after years of study by military leaders and strong opposition from conservative groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Months later, Carter also announced the military would end its ban on transgender troops serving in the ranks. That order was later overturned by President Donald Trump when he took office, and subsequently reversed again after President Joe Biden was elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statment, Obama called Carter \u201ca keen student of history, a brilliant physicist, and a steadfast defender of our men and women in uniform.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs president, I relied on Ash\u2019s strategic counsel as we invested in innovation and a stronger, smarter, more humane, and more effective military for the long term.,\u201d he said. \u201cUnder his leadership, America accelerated its counterterrorism efforts, opened combat roles to women, modernized its weapons systems, and strengthened our alliances around the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter, who rose from the Pentagon\u2019s acquisition chief to deputy defense secretary, spearheaded innovation efforts and outreach to the commercial tech sector, including establishing the Defense Innovation Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To protect troops from roadside bombs at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he oversaw the rapid development and fielding of mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, known as MRAPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Carter\u2019s swearing-in ceremony in 2015, he said the Pentagon had to \u201cthink outside this five-sided box,\u201d a dig at the Pentagon\u2019s plodding weapons development process. He later launched the department\u2019s \u201cBetter Buying Power\u201d initiative, meant to guide the acquisition workforce to smarter and more efficient purchasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Terrible news this morning. I had the opportunity to work for Secretary\u00a0Carter at the Pentagon.\u00a0He was easily one of my most demanding bosses, who turned out to be one of my biggest champions when I decided to run for office. 1\/ https:\/\/t.co\/CQVXUqRMNj<\/a><\/p>— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) October 25, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>