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

(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

(Getty Images)

NDAA would mandate new DOD steering committee on artificial general intelligence

AI

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (C) inspects reservists operating a Hummer 2 Drone during a training session at Loung Te Industrial Parks Service Center, in Yilan County on December 2, 2025. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP via Getty Images)

NDAA pushes Pentagon to establish joint drone and counter-drone program with Taiwan

Weapons

U.S. Soldiers with 127th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB), utilize a Ground Based Operational Surveillance System (Expeditionary) (G-BOSS(E)), to increase overwatch capabilities during patrol base operations in Wellton, Ariz., Aug. 29, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Erica Esterly)

US military deploys 4 Army-built surveillance and reconnaissance systems for southern border mission

Tech