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

Official photo for Major Gen. Lorna Mahlock, United States Marine Corps.

Lorna Mahlock set as Cybercom deputy commander amid major transition period for the organization

Cyber

Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, vice commander, United States Special Operations Command prepares to test naval special warfare (NSW) dive equipment as part of a visit to Naval Special Warfare Group 1 in San Diego, Feb. 10, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Propert)

U.S. Southern Command gets new commander amid tensions over drug boat strikes, Venezuela and Cuba

Tech

U.S. Cyber Command — Inside U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland. (Josef Cole / DOD / U.S. Cyber Command)

Senior DOD officials back Cybercom 2.0, as Cyber Force debate continues to churn

Cyber

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine walks through NATO Headquarters in Brussel, Belgium, January 21, 2026 during the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session. (DOW photo by Benjamin Applebaum)

Pentagon’s new ‘non-kinetic effects cell’ bolsters Gen. Caine’s goal to better integrate cyber into U.S. military operations

Cyber

A sign for the National Security Agency (NSA), US Cyber Command and Central Security Service, is seen near the visitor’s entrance to the headquarters of the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade, Maryland, February 14, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Pentagon leaders expect Cybercom 2.0 to help thwart Chinese actors ‘living off the land’

Cyber

Sign with logo for Salesforce is visible on office tower in San Francisco, California, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Salesforce lands $5.6B Army contract for data analytics, cloud capabilities

Tech

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jose Sanchez reenlists during Warrior Shield 24, Republic of Korea, March 28, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Davin Tenbusch)

Some Marines could receive $50K retention bonus ‘kickers’ if they reenlist and switch their MOS

Tech

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment practice target lock-on against an incoming drone during Project Flytrap at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany, June 9, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Elijah Magaña)

Army seeks acoustic detection systems to counter small drones

Tech

DIA headquarters at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. (Photo source: DIA website)

Defense Intelligence Agency seeks AI validation tools as Hegseth pushes for tech deployments

AI