Author Archive

Caitlin M. Kenney

Staff Reporter, Defense One

Caitlin M. Kenney
Caitlin M. Kenney is staff reporter at Defense One, where she writes about the Navy and Marine Corps. She has covered the U.S. military for several years across the country, previously as a Pentagon reporter for Stars and Stripes. She’s a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Policy

Marines Will Restructure Infantry Battalions by September

The changes are informed by the service’s Infantry Battalion Experiment, part of Force Design 2030.

Policy

Gen. Eric Smith Tapped as Next Marine Commandant

Assistant commandant expected to press on with sweeping Force Design 2030 changes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.