AUVSI Commends U.S. Navy for Creation of Dedicated Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office 

September 4, 2025

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) applauds U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan for initiating the establishment of a Deputy Assistant Secretary (DASN) for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS), along with a dedicated Program Executive Office (PEO) and Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for RAS. These reforms are set in motion by a 30-day sprint and reflect a bold commitment to rapidly integrating uncrewed systems into naval operations. This action builds on the Secretary of Defense’s ‘Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance‘ memorandum and signals a whole-of-Department approach to accelerating the deployment of autonomous systems. 

“To stay the world’s dominant naval force, the U.S. Navy must build a hybrid fleet that pairs crewed ships with uncrewed systems,” said Michael Robbins, President & CEO of AUVSI. “Uncrewed surface and subsurface vehicles extend our reach, deliver asymmetric advantages, and keep sailors out of harm’s way—because robots don’t bleed. These systems are critical for power projection, logistics, and deterrence in contested waters. The dedicated RAS team creates the required structure and urgency needed to restore Congressional confidence and finally turn innovation into deployable capability. This step is long-overdue recognition that uncrewed systems are not just enabling tools, they are strategic capabilities critical to achieving the Navy’s mission in a rapidly evolving maritime domain.” 

While past approaches to unmanned integration have faced structural and coordination challenges, this move represents a turning point and a clear signal of the Navy’s commitment to streamlining acquisition and delivering operationally relevant systems. Secretary Phelan’s leadership and announcement signals a serious commitment to overcoming past shortfalls, coordinating across programs, and streamlining acquisition pathways to deliver operationally relevant systems. 

Said Robbins, “The U.S. Navy RAS team must move with urgency and transparency, engage regularly and transparently with industry, set clear performance goals, and embrace rapid experimentation and feedback cycles. AUVSI and our member companies stand ready to support the Department of the Navy in executing this vision, bringing together operational insight, industry innovation, and policy expertise to build a modern hybrid fleet that leverages uncrewed systems to enhance maritime dominance, protect sailors, and deliver strategic advantage in contested domains.”  

“This is the right move at the right time, and we commend the U.S. Navy for taking it.”