Jon Harper

Jon Harper is Editor-in-Chief of DefenseScoop. He leads an award-winning team of journalists in providing breaking news and in-depth analysis on military technology and the ways in which it is shaping how the Defense Department operates and modernizes. You can also follow him on X: @Jon_Harper_

Articles by Author

US President Donald Trump leaves after announcing the US Navy’s new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. President Donald Trump on December 22 announced a new class of heavily armed warships that will be named after himself — an honor usually reserved for US leaders who have left office. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump, Navy leaders reveal plans for new battleships armed with nukes, lasers, railguns and hypersonic missiles. Analysts anticipate problems.

Emerging Tech

Classroom in Bullard Hall at the Naval Postgraduate School. (Photo by Seaman Apprentice Abreen Padeken)

Naval Postgraduate School offering new accelerated master’s degree program in AI

AI

Then-Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey, Department of the Air Force Integrating Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Command Control Communications and Battlefield Management (C3BM) provides an overview of the progress being made to stand up the directorate to the audience at the 9th Annual Life Cycle Industry Days (LCID) in Dayton, Ohio, July 30, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)

Luke Cropsey, Air Force’s C3BM exec, tapped for promotion to top acquisition job

Tech

(Getty Images)

Hegseth directs DOD leaders to soon issue bonuses up to $25K to high-performing civilian employees

Tech

Admiral Kevin Lunday prepares to testify during his confirmation hearing to be the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

Senate approves Adm. Lunday as Coast Guard commandant after flap over hate symbol policy

Tech

Derrick M. Anderson, nominee to be assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-Intensity conflict, arrives for his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

American special operations forces get new civilian overseer

Tech

Kirsten Davies testifies during a hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee September 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Davies has been nominated to be the Chief Information Officer for the Department of Defense. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Kirsten Davies confirmed as Pentagon CIO

IT

US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 17, 2025. (Photo by Doug MILLS / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

More details released about $1,776 ‘warrior dividend’ payment announced by Trump

Tech

A Soldier assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) prepares his night vision lens prior to a weapons validation exercise at Fort Johnson, La., Apr. 26, 2025. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Oscar Reyes.)

SOCOM seeks candidates for agentic AI experimentation

AI