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.
Threats

The D Brief: A second Southern Spear; Boeing strike ends; Heavy-lift competitor sticks landing; Anduril’s S. Korean lashup; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Shutdown ends; USAF’s new missile; New ONR chief; Norway mulls big defense bet; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Shutdown nears end; Allies limit intel-sharing over boat strikes; Price tag for US occupations; Marines want multiple prototypes; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Acquisition reforms; SecDef’s purge; Army’s million-drone plans; Shutdown deal?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Buildup near Venezuela continues; War plans for Nigeria; China’s 3rd carrier; Powder sickens 7 at Andrews; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Acquisition reforms, debated; Boat-strike briefing; US troops to Damascus; China’s mini drone carrier; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: A narrower natsec focus; ‘Pigpen-like mess’ at DOD; DC Guard deployment extended; Shutdown sets record; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Acquisition-reform draft; US pitches Gaza force; Nuke-test differences; Vietnam’s fake islands; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Rationale shifts at boat-strike deadline; Hegseth bottlenecks Hill talk; Judge blocks Portland deployment; Trump threatens Nigeria; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Venezuela targets picked?; STRATCOM nom pressed on tests; USAF fighter plan; New Guard quick-reaction forces; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

Defense One Radio, Ep. 197: Europe’s “drone wall”

Patrick Tucker explains what he learned during a recent trip to Eastern Europe.

  • Ben Watson
Featured eBooks
Future of the Army
Special Ops Technology
Future of the Air Force
Threats

The D Brief: New nuke tests?; Pushback on European drawdown; Arms-export overhaul expected; Marines axe planned regiment; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: More boat strikes; OSD’s communications bottleneck; Navy scrutinizing sailors’ tweets; Shutdown effects; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Hurricane evacuation; B-1s off Venezuela; DOD civs fret amid shutdown; Plutonium for sale; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Caribbean buildup; Carrier loses two aircraft; Court reverses Guard ruling; China’s AI-powered robots; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: SOUTHCOM steps down early; Ops near Venezuela; Setback for Chicago deployment; Illegal funding diversion?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Trump reportedly authorizes Venezuela ops; USAF axes new command; Army tank to arrive early; Reporters leave Pentagon; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Another boat strike; Troops in Memphis; Cost of Guard’s domestic deployments; News from AUSA; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Gaza ceasefire; Chicago deployment on hold; Qataris in Idaho; AUSA news; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 196: “The Wounded Generation” by David Nasaw

A celebrated historian shares years of research into the quiet and not-so-quiet struggles of millions of American veterans returning home from World War II.

  • Ben Watson