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

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum aboard an E-4B Nightwatch aircraft while flying over the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025. (DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)

DOD’s deferred resignation program to be offered April 7-14

Tech

Retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, President Trump’s nominee to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrives for his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on April 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Lt. Gen. Caine, Trump’s nominee for Joint Chiefs chairman, is gung-ho about commercial tech

Emerging Tech

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) (C) talks with Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) during the confirmation hearing for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

5 hot topics Dan ‘Razin’ Caine might address during his confirmation hearing Tuesday

Tech

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum aboard an E-4B Nightwatch aircraft while flying over the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025. (DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)

DOD reopens deferred resignation program amid push to reduce civilian workforce

Tech

(Screenshot of Michael Duffey, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, testifying at his confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee, March 27, 2025)

Trump’s Pentagon acquisition chief nominee vows to review controversial CMMC program

Cyber

Lt. Gen. Dan Caine (left) meets with Sen. Jim Banks. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Banks’ office)

Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, Trump’s nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, set to testify at confirmation hearing

Tech

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing prepare a small unmanned aerial system for takeoff during an Adaptive Airborne Enterprise Exercise Talon Spear at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. June 21, 2023. The goal of Exercise Talon Spear is to integrate small unmanned aerial systems for the rapid mobility capability for agile combat employment. (U.S. Air Force photo Senior Airman Alexcia Givens)

SOCOM awards Anduril $86M contract for autonomy software integration

Emerging Tech

An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

Trump taps ‘The DoddFather’ to oversee critical technologies at the Pentagon

Emerging Tech

U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Navy John Phelan arrives to a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Senate confirms Trump’s pick to lead Navy and Marine Corps

Tech