Ideas
So Much for Keeping the Military Out of Politics
Acting Navy Secretary Modly’s Trumpian approach to the military and his firing of a carrier captain has gone over like a lead anchor. Now members of Congress are calling for his own firing.
Policy
Acting Navy Secretary Under Fire For Speech Calling Fired Captain ‘Stupid’
‘What the f-ck?’ a sailor can be heard yelling in the background of Modly’s speech over the ship’s PA system.
Policy
‘It Doesn’t Add Up To Me’: Current and Former Navy Officials Question Captain’s Abrupt Dismissal
“Why wasn’t there an investigation done before the captain was relieved?” one former senior official asked.
Threats
Aircraft Carrier Captain Fired For ‘Poor Judgement’ In Sending Coronavirus Letter
Acting Secretary Modly’s Thursday decision to sack the skipper of Theodore Roosevelt was quickly criticized as retaliation for embarrassing Navy leaders.
Business
US Navy Speeds Weapon Buys To Keep Small Suppliers Afloat Amid Coronavirus
The service has already accelerated deals for anti-air missiles and submarine-hunting planes.
Threats
US Sailors Pour Off Aircraft Carrier and Into Coronavirus Isolation on Guam
Navy leaders praise ship’s captain for urgent evacuation request; 3,700 will leave the ship within days.
Threats
US Navy Evacuating Aircraft Carrier Infected by Coronavirus
A skeleton crew will man critical stations while Theodore Roosevelt is disinfected pierside in Guam, Acting Secretary Modly said.
Science & Tech
Can Better Airplane Boarding Procedures Slow the Spread of Coronavirus?
A new computer model offers a better way to understand how people move in tight spaces, which can affect how viruses spread.
Ideas
The US Navy Can, and Should, Do More Against the Coronavirus
Aircraft carriers and big-deck amphibious ships can help — as they have often done in humanitarian-relief efforts overseas.
Science & Tech
US Navy Working to Keep Subs and Destroyers From Becoming COVID-19 Hotspots
Meanwhile, the coronavirus is putting the military health-care system under stress.
Threats
After Discovering a Sailor With Coronavirus, the US Navy Crowded Dozens Into One Space
The incident shows how hard it may be for the Navy to limit coronavirus spread aboard its ships.
Science & Tech
Acting Navy Secretary: We Need More than 355 Ships, and That’s Not Even Counting Robot Vessels
The Navy needs more human-crewed ships…and more unmanned vessels, than previously thought.
Defense Systems
Congress questions Navy's plan for large drone ships
The Navy wants to increase production of unmanned surface vessels, but Congress remains wary of long-term success.
Policy
A New Nuclear Warhead? STRATCOM Chief Can’t Answer Yes or No
The W93 has been the focus of questions since it appeared in the 2021 budget proposal.
Defense Systems
Navy 2021 budget shows IT, cyber adjustments
The Navy has realigned cyber spending into a new category that includes the Joint Regional Security Stacks program.
Ideas
Top 5 Things to Watch in Congress' 2021 Defense Budget Hearings
On Wednesday, military and civilian leaders of the Defense Department will testify before Congress on their $705 billion budget request for 2021.
Ideas
State of Defense 2020: Special Report
Our annual service-by-service look at the big questions facing the U.S. military.
Policy
DOD's 2021 Budget Would Trim Arsenal, Shift Funds To Arms Development
Some experts say the budget proposal assumes a worrying amount of near-term risk.
Policy
17 Sailors and Six Marines Died in Avoidable Accidents. Congress Asks: Are the Problems Fixed?
After ProPublica wrote about inadequate training and faulty equipment, lawmakers grilled Navy and Marine leaders about the accidents and whether America is ready for war.
Defense Systems