Dr Ewan Kirk has been appointed the Ministry of Defence's new Director Innovation, the MOD announced on 4 November 2026. He will lead UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), part of the newly designed National Armaments Innovation area under Director General Innovation Anthony Reeves.

According to the MOD, NA Innovation brings together around 4,800 experts and scientists across UKDI, the Defence Investment Unit, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre. It has a ringfenced £1.6 billion defence innovation budget over the next four years for UKDI, alongside support for £2.1 billion of investment in core science and technology.

The MOD said Kirk will build relationships with the UK technology sector, venture capitalists and private equity investors, and foster ties with innovation bodies across the armed forces and cyber command. National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce described the appointment as a significant step in making innovation central to defence delivery. Kirk said innovation thrives when ideas move quickly from the lab to the front line. John Cunningham had led UKDI as interim director since it was formed in early 2025.