The Department of Defense presented this Monday the 15 members of the renewed Defense Policy Board (DPB), an independent advisory body in charge of offering strategic recommendations to the Pentagon leadership on matters of national security, military planning and defense policy.

The new council will be chaired by former United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who held that position during President Donald Trump's first administration. Former Republican senator from Minnesota, Norm Coleman, was appointed vice president.

The announcement marks a new stage for the Defense Policy Board, after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the dismissal of all members of the previous panel in April 2025 as part of a comprehensive review of the Pentagon's advisory bodies.

At that time, Hegseth justified the measure by pointing out that it sought to align the advisory bodies with the new strategy and public policy priorities promoted by the administration. Months later, in August 2025, the Department of Defense formally reestablished the board through a notice published in the Federal Register, although the integration of its new members was only announced until now.

An advisory body with influence on defense policy

Created in 1985, the Defense Policy Board's mission is to provide independent analysis and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary and the Pentagon Policy Officer on issues related to the structure of the Armed Forces, military modernization, regional strategy and other matters related to national security.

Although its resolutions are not binding, the panel's opinions often serve as a reference for the development of Department of Defense policies and strategic decisions. In addition to Lighthizer and Coleman, Pete Hegseth named 13 other members with profiles from the business, academic, military and public policy sectors.

Among the most relevant names, investor Marc Andreessen, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, stands out. The company maintains investments in technology and defense companies such as Anduril, SpaceX, OpenAI, Applied Intuition, Saronic, Shield AI, Skydio and Hadrian, several of which have current contracts with the Department of Defense.

Businessmen, former officials and military members make up the new panel

The new Defense Policy Board also adds Blake Masters, an entrepreneur and investor who was previously COO of Thiel Capital and a Republican candidate for the Arizona Senate in the 2022 elections.

The other members include Michael Anton, former Director of Policy Planning at the State Department; Rachel Bovard; Tom Feddo; former congressman Mike García; Kenneth Jones; Daniel McCarthy; security expert Michael Pillsbury; retired Admiral Chas Richard; Francis Sempa; Christopher Williams and Theo Wold.

The formation of the new panel reflects the Pentagon's interest in combining the experience of former government officials, national security specialists, retired military personnel and representatives of the private sector, particularly the technology and defense industries. With this announcement, the Department of Defense completes the reorganization process of one of its main advisory bodies, whose function will be to advise the Pentagon leadership on the strategic challenges facing the United States in an international environment marked by growing geopolitical tensions, technological competition and the modernization of the military capabilities of rival powers.

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