Ideas
Don’t Let the Pentagon Monopolize Nuclear Policy
Expert voices from State and Energy must be brought into the Trump administration’s nascent Nuclear Posture Review.
Policy
What One Joint Chief Of Staff Thinks of Trump
Do the generals have too much influence? I asked the U.S. Air Force’s top military leader.
Ideas
What’s Wrong With the Pentagon’s Civilian Personnel System?
Quite a lot, a new report points out.
Business
Boeing Might Be the Biggest Winner in Trump’s Military Buildup
The Chicago aerospace company leads more than a half-dozen contractors whose programs stand to get 9- or 10-figure boosts if the president’s budget proposal becomes law.
Policy
Trump Picks ‘Mr. Fix-It’ to Run Daily Ops at Pentagon
Patrick Shanahan’s missile-defense background could prove important in a Trump administration.
Ideas
The Military Value of the Defense Department’s Energy Efforts
As the Trump administration reviews climate and energy policies, they should do it with a key goal in mind.
Ideas
I Ran Intel at the Pentagon. Here’s My Advice on Insider Threats
If I were still in government, this is what I would be telling Defense Secretary Mattis and the DNI.
Ideas
When the Generals Become Democracy's Guardians
Military officers have checked some of the president’s uglier populist impulses. But what does that mean for liberal values?
Business
Mattis Takes on the Pentagon Bureaucracy
The defense secretary wants to reform the sprawling department’s business functions and reorganize key executive offices.
Science & Tech
US Military Is Looking to Add AI to Its Cyber Defense
The Pentagon's outgoing chief information officer said the Pentagon has already looked into IBM’s Watson platform.
Business
F-35 General: Boeing Heard Nothing ‘Unreleasable’ in F-35 Call With Trump
“The discussions that we had were all pre-decisional,” Lt. Gen. Bogdan tells lawmakers.
Policy
The Future Depends on Fixing Readiness Now, Vice Chiefs Tell Lawmakers
Service leaders’ annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill also serves as Phase One of Mattis’ long-range plan.
Policy
Defense Department Hiring Freeze Rules Coming Soon
Here are some of the civilian exemptions senators are demanding to Trump's federal freeze-out.
Business
Trump Says He Fixed F-35 Program in Two Months
The president says the project is “now in good shape,” but pledges to continue considering Super Hornet bids from Boeing.
Policy
Can James Mattis Protect Trump From Hubris?
The president-elect and the risks of overconfidence.
Threats
Defense Secretary Nominee Cautions Against ‘Stumbling’ into Cyberwar
James Mattis also said he was “philosophically OK” with elevating U.S. Cyber Command into a unified command.
Business
Trump is Now America’s Arms Deal Negotiator
His meetings and bombshell tweets with the heads of America’s two largest weapon makers show Trump will play a role in hammering out contracts.
Business
Defense Contractors Should Fear More Than Trump’s Tweets
It’s not just Lockheed and Boeing. As president, Trump can mess with just about any contract he wants, even high-priced fighter jets, ships and armored trucks.
Ideas
Will Obama’s Mattis Be Trump’s Mattis?
In General Mattis, Trump picked an insider warrior-diplomat who worked with the Obama administration, respected Hillary Clinton, and knows the Middle East better than most.
Ideas