Pentagon adds Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to advisory panel on future warfare
The Department of Defense announced that tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey will serve on an advisory group for Project Meridian, a Pentagon initiative focused on emerging warfare technologies.
The Defense Department said the new advisory group for Project Meridian, a Pentagon effort examining future combat technologies, will include Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, and Palmer Luckey, founder of defense contractor Anduril. The panel will be overseen by Pentagon official Emil Michael, a former Uber executive, and will also feature former House speaker Newt Gingrich.
Musk and Luckey are prominent donors to Republican political campaigns and own companies that hold federal defense contracts. Musk’s SpaceX has been a major contractor for U.S. space programs since 2018, while Luckey’s Anduril has secured several defense contracts and has expanded into areas such as underwater drones and unmanned aerial systems.
Luckey has previously described his vision for future conflict as involving “subterranean” warfare, with vehicles capable of moving through the earth’s crust.
"Bringing major industry players into these types of positions at the Pentagon is not something new, but what feels different now is the substantial financial support these two have, and continue to, deliver for the Republican party," said Brendan Glavin of Open Secrets, a non-partisan organization that tracks campaign spending.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.