Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the members of a newly reconstituted Defense Policy Board, naming former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as chair and former Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., as vice chair of the influential advisory panel.

Hegseth's department continues to reshape its advisory bodies under President Donald Trump's administration.

The Defense Policy Board, established in 1985, provides independent advice to the secretary of War, deputy secretary of War, and undersecretary of War for policy on national security strategy, regional defense issues, force structure, military modernization, and other matters.

Lighthizer, who served as U.S. trade representative through the first Trump administration, will lead the panel. Coleman, who represented Minnesota in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, will serve as vice chair.

Among the 15 members announced Monday is venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz, whose firm has invested in major defense technology companies including SpaceX, Skydio, Hadrian, and Anduril, as well as artificial intelligence developer OpenAI.

Several of those companies hold War Department contracts as the Pentagon expands investments in autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.

The new board also includes Blake Masters, a former Republican Senate candidate in Arizona, and Michael Anton, who previously served as director of policy planning at the State Department during Trump's first term.

Other members include retired Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, former national security officials, business leaders, and policy experts selected to advise Pentagon leadership on long-term strategic challenges.

The advisory board does not have decision-making authority but has historically played a prominent role in providing outside expertise on long-term defense planning and emerging national security challenges.

Previous boards have included former senior military officers, diplomats, lawmakers, academics and business leaders.

Hegseth dissolved the previous Defense Policy Board in April 2025 following an internal review, saying at the time that the panel needed to be realigned with the Department of War's strategic direction and policy priorities under the Trump administration.

The Pentagon formally reestablished the board in August through a notice published in the Federal Register.

The announcement comes as the department emphasizes military modernization, defense innovation, and strategic competition with China.

Although the board has no policymaking authority, its recommendations have historically informed senior Pentagon leaders on issues including military strategy, force posture, regional security, and emerging technologies.