Navy removes head of drone programs

The Navy on August 5 removed Rebecca Gassler from the service’s top acquisition post for robotic and autonomous systems and replaced her with Christopher Miller under a new direct-reporting structure, according to a Navy statement and USNI News. The change came fewer than eight months after Gassler took over the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Robotic and Autonomous Systems, or PAE RAS, when the office was formally stood up in December 2025. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the new office, called the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems, will “tightly integrate” development, requirements and acquisition across the department. Miller will serve as acting DRPM RAS while also concurrently serving as acting PAE RAS, the Navy said. ### Who was removed, and how long had she been in the job? Rebecca Gassler was appointed PAE RAS in December 2025 after serving as deputy director of Project Overmatch, according to her Navy biography and earlier USNI reporting. USNI reported on August 5 that she was removed on Wednesday, fewer than eight months after assuming the role. December 17, 2025 memos cited by USNI made Gassler the first executive for the new robotics and autonomy portfolio. (navy.mil) At the time, the office was designed to pull dozens of unmanned and autonomous programs under one acquisition authority. ### Who is Miller, and what job does he keep? Christopher Miller was already leading the Navy’s PAE Maritime organization before taking on the robotics portfolio on an acting basis. (secnav.navy.mil) The Navy said on August 5 that Miller will report directly to William Toti, who is performing the duties of the under secretary of the Navy. (news.usni.org) March 16 Navy reporting on the service’s broader acquisition overhaul identified Miller as the current executive director of Naval Sea Systems Command and the official tapped to lead PAE Maritime. USNI later reported that PAE Maritime reached initial operational capability in July. ### What exactly changed in the org chart? Hung Cao said the Navy established DRPM RAS on August 5 as a “strategic restructuring” meant to integrate requirements and acquisition for robotic and autonomous systems. (navy.mil) The Navy said the office “leverages the successful and proven DRPM model first established for submarines” and will operate in concert with the Pentagon’s DRPM for unmanned offensive and defensive systems. (news.usni.org) William Toti said in the Navy statement that the department had been approaching robotic and autonomous systems through “arcane processes” that did not deliver capabilities fast enough. He said Cao had directed officials to replace that model with “clear accountability, faster decisions, and a relentless focus on the warfighter.” (navy.mil) ### How big is the portfolio Miller is inheriting? Nick Bergeron, deputy PAE for RAS, said in April that the Navy and Marine Corps previously had about 200 programs, projects and science-and-technology efforts tied to robotics and autonomous systems spread across six program executive offices and 25 program offices. Under the reorganization, he said, those efforts were being brought under a single accountable acquisition authority. (navy.mil) The RAS office’s public page describes itself as the Navy’s “central node” for unmanned systems integration across surface, subsurface and aviation domains. Recent items on that page include a commercial solutions opening for collaborative autonomous swarms and a June prototype award for next-generation subsea gliders. ### Why does the Navy say it set up a direct-reporting manager now? The Navy said the new structure is intended to fix what it called years of fragmented requirements, resourcing and acquisition practices. (defensescoop.com) Cao’s statement said the new office is designed to improve accountability and speed delivery to sailors and Marines. (secnav.navy.mil) March 16 remarks from Jason Potter and Vice Adm. Seiko Okano described the wider acquisition overhaul in similar terms. Potter said interim PAEs would have authority over program offices and related contracting and sustainment functions, while Okano said about 70% of functions and workforce at systems commands such as NAVSEA would transfer to the PAEs. (navy.mil) ### What comes next for the office? The Navy said it is reviewing whether to move DRPM RAS staff out of Washington and closer to fleet operators. Miller said the next step is to ensure “operational requirements drive rapid development” so the department delivers “the right solutions to the warfighter.” (news.usni.org) An August 15 deadline is already posted on the RAS office page for a commercial solutions opening on collaborative autonomous swarms. The Navy has also said the office is building a broader roadmap for industry engagement across the portfolio. (secnav.navy.mil) (navy.mil)