A department memo pushed commands to measure time savings, scale verified use cases and accelerate GenAI.mil adoption.<\/p>\n
The Department of the Navy is asking sailors, Marines and civilian employees to document and compete on measurable AI-driven productivity gains as part of a new effort to accelerate adoption of generative AI across the workforce.<\/p>\n
The service launched the department-wide challenge<\/a> in a March memo reflecting how it approaches technology innovation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to make sure that [using AI] is something that folks see themselves in and feel ownership on,\u201d the memo\u2019s co-author and Navy CTO Justin Fanelli told GovCIO Media & Research in an interview.<\/p>\n The department is seeking to identify existing decentralized innovation and allow department staffers to become what Fanelli referred to as \u201chigh-achieving mavericks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe found the mavericks who were leaning farthest forward, and we wanted to share their work with the rest of the workforce so that we can get as many people on the lean forward boat as possible quickly,\u201d Fanelli said. \u201cWe see that happening now. We want to make sure that it is institutionalized and that we are able to document the success stories.\u201d<\/p>\n At the center of the effort is the AI Efficiency Challenge, which invites individuals and teams to submit verified time-saving data and replicable use cases. Modeled after successful Marine Corps innovation programs, the challenge uses transparent metrics and a department-wide scoreboard to highlight measurable gains and encourage participation.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we give them better tools, we want them to show us who can turn better tools into bigger outcomes. It\u2019s an ROI contest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Alignment with Pentagon\u2019s AI Push<\/p>\n The initiative builds on a December 2025 directive from War Secretary Pete Hegseth requiring department personnel to incorporate generative AI into their \u201cdaily battle rhythm\u201d<\/a> through GenAI.mil. The Navy\u2019s memo directed all Navy and Marine Corps organizations to transition to the platform.<\/p>\n