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: DOD halts ammo to Ukraine; USMC’s new narco sub; Reconciliation bill moves back to the House; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Meghann Myers
Threats

The D Brief: DOD budget developments; Trump touts Everglades detention center; Lancet: USAID cuts could cost 14M lives by 2030; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Audrey Decker
Threats

The D Brief: Putin’s summer offensive in Sumy; ‘Largest combined strike’ vs. Ukraine so far; Fordow repairs underway; More Israeli strikes in Gaza; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Patrick Tucker
Threats

The D Brief: Uneasy ceasefire; FY26 budget plan, finally; ‘Largest Patriot engagement’; China’s drone mothership; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: WH, DOD upset by Iran assessment; Comity at NATO summit; Military mission expands in US; AI’s latest natsec problem; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: DIA’s Iran-strike assessment; NATO’s Ukraine forecast; UK plans nuke-capable F-35s; FBI agents, re-redirected; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Attacks continue despite ‘ceasefire’; al-Udeid targeted by Iran; Inside the B-2 strike; Alligator Alcatraz; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Trump joins Israel’s war; Results of Iran strikes unknown; World reacts; What happens next?; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Israel, Iran trade strikes; Golden Dome, questioned; F-35 engine delay; Russian recession?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Will US strike Iran?; China’s orbital gray zone; Army’s artillery production; Europe’s fighter-jet spat; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Israel’s new war aim; NATO’s new concepts; China’s drones; Misinfo follows MN murders; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Featured eBooks
Future of Cybersecurity
Information Warfare
Future of Naval Warfare
Threats

The D Brief: Israeli campaign ‘a blueprint’; War shadows Paris airshow; Defense execs turn Army O-5s; Marine detains LA vet; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Israel bombs Iran; Courts debate Guard deployment; Navy merges drone efforts; SecDef pressed on firings; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Lauren C. Williams
Threats

The D Brief: Will Israel attack Iran?; CJCS sees no “invasion”; Budget testimony; AUKUS under review; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Protestors ‘a foreign enemy’; DOD DOGE team, ID’d; Trouble for USAF radar plane; Robot navy?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Trump sends Marines to LA; Hegseth, testifying; State’s AI hires; A first for China’s navy; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: POTUS turns Guard on LA protestors; Russia’s record-breaking strike; Fiber-drone photos; NATO-summit preview; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: ARRW is back; Amphib budgets; Putin’s AI plan; Europe’s aid to Ukraine; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: COCOM noms; Mass 3D-printing in the field; Trump, Xi talk; The future of deception; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

Defense One Radio, Ep. 181: What the Army is learning about FPV drones

The 173rd Airborne Brigade's commander unpacks lessons from recent exercises in Lithuania and Tunisia.

  • Ben Watson