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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03), an Air Force Colonel, and Representative Pat Ryan (NY-18) today introduced the Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD) Formalization Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s national security by formalizing a key innovation partnership between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the military reserve force. Representatives Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Pat Fallon (TX-04) joined as original cosponsors of the bill.
“As a Colonel in the Air Force, I’ve seen firsthand how vital it is to connect battlefield experience with cutting-edge innovation. Just last week, I met with the private-sector problem-solvers who are ready to put their expertise to work strengthening our national defense,” said Rep. Nunn. “The JRD Formalization Act ensures we have a permanent, agile force inside the Department of Defense to accelerate new technology and keep America ahead of emerging threats.”
The JRD Formalization Act would establish and maintain the Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD) within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), ensuring permanent support for a team of nearly 50 reservists who bridge operational military expertise with commercial technology solutions.
These reservists support Combatant Commands directly and help accelerate the adoption of advanced, dual-use capabilities vital to U.S. defense missions. Specifically, the bill would:
- Amend Title 10 of the U.S. Code to require the Secretary of Defense to formally establish and maintain the JRD within DIU.
- Convert what is now a discretionary, temporary structure into a standing capability supporting mission readiness and long-term innovative planning.
- Reinforce DIU’s mission of dual fluency, ensuring seamless collaboration between military users and the commercial innovation base.
“As an Army intelligence officer and the co-chair of the Defense Modernization Caucus, I know firsthand the urgent need to drive innovative capabilities into the hands of the warfighter,” said Rep. Ryan. “On the ground in Iraq, I saw just how detrimental outdated platforms and systems can be – we can’t afford to keep operating legacy systems and relying on yesterday’s technology. This bill helps solve that problem. By leveraging our greatest asset – talented, patriotic Americans willing to bring their technical expertise to bear to serve our nation’s defense – we’re actively driving and enabling DoD to adopt new tech and capabilities and rapidly put them in the hands of our troops.”
“Our warfighters deserve access to the most advanced, effective technologies available,” said Rep. Rob Wittman. “As the Pentagon works to deliver capabilities at the speed of relevance, the Defense Innovation Unit and its Joint Reserve Detachment have played a vital role in bridging the gap between military requirements and commercial innovation. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the JRD Formalization Act so we can formalize these billets, strengthen DIU’s ability to scale its impact, bring dual-use technologies to the field faster, and ensure our forces stay ahead of emerging threats.”
The JRD plays a critical role in preparing the Department of Defense to respond more quickly to modern threats by integrating reservists with high-level technical and battlefield expertise into the innovation pipeline. Formalizing this structure ensures the U.S. remains competitive in emerging domains and maintains readiness through flexible, scalable solutions.
Bill text can be found here.
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