Author Archive
Patrick Tucker
Technology Editor

Patrick Tucker is technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.
Threats
FBI Opens a Case on Chinese Activity ‘Every 10 Hours,’ Intel Chiefs Say
China leads a pack of threats to the United States, they tell lawmakers.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
New ODNI Report Sees Growing Cyber Threats, COVID-Related Instability
Intelligence heads will brief lawmakers on Wednesday about threats from China, Russia, others.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
New ICBM Costs Can, Must Come Down, Hyten Says
The Joint Chiefs vice chairman says he’s been meeting with Northrop Grumman and believes he’s found a way.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
Space Force to Absorb USAF Command to Run Launches, Research
The Space and Missile Systems Center will become Space Systems Command.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
The Air Force Is Making an App That Basically Does What a General Does
The nascent app aims to generate options, recommendations, and mission orders.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
US Army’s Not Stupid for Wanting Long-Range Fires — But More Analysis Needed, Hyten Says
“You want each service to bring those long-range fires,” the Joint Chiefs’ vice chairman said.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
Putin Ups Efforts to Intimidate Ukraine and Its Allies
But experts say the mass mobilization does not suggest an imminent offensive.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Electric Cars, Smart Refrigerators Pose Cyber Risk To US Utilities, GAO Finds
The risks aren’t well understood by researchers, in part because of local and state control of electrical utilities.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
US Army Ready to Roll Out Futuristic Goggles to Larger Force
Service to spend up to $22 billion on Microsoft-based IVAS augmented-reality headsets.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
A Marine Logistics Base May Be the Warehouse of the Future
Virginia Tech researchers aim to use 5G networks to track items as they come and go.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Senators Offer to Let NSA Hunt Cyber Actors Inside the US
After SolarWinds hack, Gen. Nakasone seeks some sort of a fix for the cybersecurity ‘blind spot’ against Russia, China, but others cite privacy concerns in potential expanded authorities.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
China Is ‘Danger Close’ to US in AI Race, DOD AI Chief Says
JAIC leader stresses that AI ethics guidelines don’t slow down the United States. In fact, they are essential.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Drones Could One Day Make Up 40% of a Carrier Air Wing, Navy Says
The Department’s new unmanned plan directs focus not just on drones but on their “enabling technologies.”
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Key Official: Defense Information Operations ‘Not Evolving Fast Enough’
China will soon harness AI to supplant Russia as the world leader in information warfare, a DIA leader said.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Putin Authorized Smear Campaign Against Biden, US Intelligence Concludes
Less hacking, more laundering: 2020 tactics show evolution of Russian information warfare efforts.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Can Plant-Based Vaccines Speed Up Production?
Clinical trials for Medicago’s new manufacturing process may glean the go-ahead.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
ISIS Affiliate In Mozambique Riding a ‘Wave of Momentum’
New attacks are shutting down LNG production as Al Sunnah strengthens ties with the larger group.
- Patrick Tucker
Threats
‘Not Enough Being Done’ to Counter China’s Growing Aggression, US Military Officials Warn
“We have been trying to convey in Washington a sense of urgency,” said one of two senior U.S. military officials, as the Biden administration reviews Pentagon plans.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Splitting NSA, CyberCom Now Could Reduce Military Access to Intelligence, Milley Says
The Joint Chiefs chairman says the organizations have not yet worked out how to keep the data flowing after the long-awaited split.
- Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech
Key Elements Expected This Year for Pentagon’s Link-Everything Effort
A second NORTHCOM experiment aims to prove out various concepts for JADC2.
- Patrick Tucker