Author Archive
Caitlin M. Kenney
Staff Reporter, Defense One

Policy
Marines Will Restructure Infantry Battalions by September
The changes are informed by the service’s Infantry Battalion Experiment, part of Force Design 2030.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Gen. Eric Smith Tapped as Next Marine Commandant
Assistant commandant expected to press on with sweeping Force Design 2030 changes.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces
Lawmakers and Army officials have discussed cuts through decade’s end, including to Green Berets, psyops, and enablers.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Threats
After Ship Seizures, US Moves to Increase Patrols Off Iran
Aircraft, drones, and Navy and Coast Guard vessels will try to send a warning message, officials said.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Business
Navy Has Fixed the Gears of Nearly Half of Its Freedom-Class Littoral Combat Ships
Eight ships have yet to get the combining-gear fix, including three the Navy wants to retire in two years.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
NATO Details Defense Plans—And Reiterates Call for More Member Spending
One leader said the updated plans help make the case for nations to meet the 2%-of-GDP guidelines.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Threats
MEU to Debut New Artillery, Missile, and Multi-Domain Unit
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will take along several innovations when it deploys this summer.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Threats
Marines Update Evacuation Playbook
A pre-deployment exercise allowed the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to practice what they learned from the Afghanistan withdrawal and other non-combatant evacuation operations.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
After 2 Rollovers, Marines Overhaul Amphibious Combat Vehicle Training
A brand-new unit will teach Marines to drive the vehicles through the surf.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Navy Shipbuilding Plan Draws Lawmakers’ Ire Anew
Like last year’s, the new long-range plan offers a three-option menu and fewer amphibs than Congress mandates.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Science & Tech
Navy Expands Unmanned Operations to 4th Fleet
U.S. Southern Command’s naval component will follow 5th Fleet into heavy-duty experimentation with drones.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Science & Tech
Sea-Air-Space Conference Wire 3: The Next Drone-Using Fleet
Day 2 of the Navy League conference brought word that 4th Fleet will join 5th Fleet as a focus of the Navy's experiments with unmanned craft.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Threats
Sea-Air-Space Conference Wire: Amphibs, Drones, and More
As the nation's largest naval conference opens just outside Washington, the leaders of the Navy and Marines disagree about just how and when to acquire amphibious warships.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Navy, Marines Reevaluating Munition Stockpiles Due To Ukraine War
“Ukraine's war has taught us that we must transition from just-in-time stockpiles of weapons and munitions to just-in-case stockpiles,” Sen. Collins said.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Seapower Chairman Wants Answers on Amphib Fleet Funding
Sen. Tim Kaine also said he expects the Navy’s 30-year-shipbuilding plan this week.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Pentagon’s No. 2 Civilians Fire Back in ‘Woke’ Wars
“There's been no detraction from the primary mission,” Navy Undersecretary Erik Raven told dubious GOP senators.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 119: Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger
There's no "woke-ness" problem in the Corps, Berger says.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Is the LPD-17 Flight II Amphib Worth It? Depends Who You Ask
Navy officials say the amphibious ship is too expensive, while the top Marine calls it “affordable.”
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Policy
Navy On Path To Violate 31-Amphibious-Ship Requirement in 2024
Budget proposal asks Congress to allow ship retirements that lawmakers explicitly nixed last year.
- Caitlin M. Kenney
Threats
Fewer Than 1/3 of Navy’s Amphibious Ships Are Ready to Deploy
“We can’t live with that,” Marine commandant says after high-profile missions were delayed or scuttled.
- Caitlin M. Kenney