Marine Colonel Who Led Mideast Combat Deployment Wants His Own Drone Boats

Col. Chris Niedziocha, who led the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit during a recent Middle East combat deployment, wants future MEUs to carry their own uncrewed surface vessels. He sees drone boats scouting highly contested beaches and other littoral areas before Marines enter, reducing risk and giving commanders organic reconnaissance rather than relying entirely on Navy assets. The request follows growing combat use of maritime robots, including U.S. one-way attack vessels, and highlights a gap between Marine expeditionary concepts and the operational ownership of autonomous systems needed to execute them.