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: Navy jet downed by US cruiser; Tech titans push tieup; Trump’s latest DOD picks; More Taiwan aid; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston, Audrey Decker and Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Troops’ pay in jeopardy; CENTCOM’s Syria surge; Army to cut 5% of generals; USAF may trim F-35 buy; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 170: Year in review

We listen back on more than a dozen guests from conversations across 2024.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Ukraine-aid plan; US production woes; How Navy ‘wasted’ $1.8B; Jersey drone update; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Russian general slain in Moscow; Ukraine engages N. Korean troops; China’s wartime lessons; First Okinawa Marines move to Guam; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Israel pounds Syrian military sites; Taiwan gets tanks; Will AI firms eat the Pentagon?; One dead on Fort Eisenhower; and just a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Europe’s wartime crossroads; F-35’s training gap; Army’s to-do list; Space Force seeks boot camp; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Russia races for gains; House passes NDAA; Taiwan talks to Trump team; USAF preps for transition; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Immigration hits record; Costs, consequences of deportation plan; Aviators’ battered brains; Army: too top-heavy?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Israel strikes Syrian targets; Chinese warships surge near Taiwan; Trump Org’s new Saudi deal; Austin’s defense diplomacy; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: What’s next for Syria?; Defense-policy bill unveiled; New counter-UAV strategy; Some GOPers unsold on Hegseth; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Featured eBooks
Training and Simulation
Space Trends
Future of the Army
Policy

Defense One Radio, Ep. 168: The decline of America’s commercial shipbuilding industry

We conclude our series of conversations about America's ailing shipbuilding sector.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: A ‘3rd nuclear age’; Seoul’s self-coup fallout; Romania’s election nullified over Russian meddling; Soldiers charged with smuggling people; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Rebels take another Syrian city; China’s big hack; Next DepSecDef?; NatSec poll results; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Seoul’s six-hour self-coup; Trump’s SecArmy pick; Palantir’s 18 theses; Lockheed braces; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Seoul declares martial law; Biden rushes to arm Ukraine; Meet Aleppo’s conqueror; Last soldier to leave Kabul will get 4th star; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Jihadists seize Aleppo; Taiwan leader visits Hawaii; More Chinese chip chokepoints; Shipbuilding woes, explored; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Jennifer Hlad
Policy

Defense One Radio, Ep. 167: How U.S. Navy shipbuilding sank so low

It's a complex problem built up over decades. Our guests discuss the causes, effects, and possible solutions.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Ceasefire pact in Lebanon; US strike in Syria; New SecNav tapped; Space execs’ pleas to NATO; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: $7.3B request for sub work; New promotion hold; Musk’s conflicts of interest; Trump’s Africa policy; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson