The Pentagon enlisted tech billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday to co-lead a new project aimed at identifying future warfare technologies and capabilities that the US military must master. Musk previously served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before departing in May 2025.

In a speech Wednesday at the Quantico military base, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced that Project Meridian will be an effort led by America's best minds to study the future of warfare. Hegseth stated that the military is leveraging a unique source of American advantage involving innovators, senior leaders, and technologists.

Musk will co-lead Project Meridian alongside 34-year-old Anduril Industries co-founder Palmer Luckey and 83-year-old former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Musk's companies, including SpaceX and artificial intelligence firm xAI, already maintain major Pentagon contracts for satellite networks and classified system chatbot use.

Hegseth explained that the project's purpose is to creatively look to the future and identify domains to conquer and capabilities to master. Project members will include hand-picked private sector leaders and subject matter experts from innovation, academic, and policy ecosystems.

Hegseth directed that Project Meridian's findings be completed and submitted within 120 days.