Author Archive
Ben Watson
Senior Multimedia Editor, Defense One
Ben Watson is an Army veteran who writes The D Brief daily newsletter and hosts the bimonthly Defense One Radio podcast. Since arriving in Washington in 2012, Ben has written and produced award-winning features on politics, international security, technology, and military history for NPR, The Atlantic and Defense One.
Policy
Defense One Radio, Ep. 168: The decline of America’s commercial shipbuilding industry
We conclude our series of conversations about America's ailing shipbuilding sector.
- Ben Watson
Threats
The D Brief: Rebels take another Syrian city; China’s big hack; Next DepSecDef?; NatSec poll results; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Seoul’s six-hour self-coup; Trump’s SecArmy pick; Palantir’s 18 theses; Lockheed braces; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Jihadists seize Aleppo; Taiwan leader visits Hawaii; More Chinese chip chokepoints; Shipbuilding woes, explored; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Jennifer Hlad
Policy
Defense One Radio, Ep. 167: How U.S. Navy shipbuilding sank so low
It's a complex problem built up over decades. Our guests discuss the causes, effects, and possible solutions.
- Ben Watson
Threats
The D Brief: Ceasefire pact in Lebanon; US strike in Syria; New SecNav tapped; Space execs’ pleas to NATO; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Invasion gains pace; Plane crash in Lithuania; New Pacific missile sites?; DepSecDef candidates; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: DOD’s Replicator program advances; Nuclear forensics in Idaho; Austin, Milley defend women in combat; Intel watchdogs resign; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Lauren C. Williams and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Austin to the Pacific; North Korean drones; Reforming how the USAF buys weapons; Suicides rise across DOD; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Patrick Tucker and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Trump’s DNI, AG picks; China’s improved bomber; USAF adds CCAs; Boosting US arms production; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Trump’s picks; GOP takes House; Chinese airshow’s drone zone; Gen. Harriet Tubman; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston