U.S. Department of Defense

On Topic

The Department of Defense is responsible for the security of the United States and oversees all branches of the armed forces; the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, along with all special forces and weapons systems. Within the DoD are the secretary of defense—the chief defense policy advisor; and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the chief military advisor.

An X-47B pilot-less drone combat aircraft is launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia (REUTERS/Jason Reed).

Blog Post

Lessons and Context of the Navy’s First Carrier Drone Flight

May 15, 2013, Peter W. Singer

The Navy’s X-47B UCAS just became the first unmanned aerial system to launch from an aircraft carrier. In light of this milestone in military innovation, Peter Singer looks at what this means for the future of U.S. air defense.

Recent Activity

Refine by: U.S. Military Affairs | Defense | U.S. Defense Strategy | Middle East and North Africa

Opinion | The Washington Post

How to Cut the Pentagon Budget Better Than Sequestration Does

May 13, 2013, Michael E. O'Hanlon
Book

The Road to War
Presidential Commitments Honored and Betrayed

2013, Marvin Kalb
Opinion | The National Interest

Which Military Opinions To Listen To

April 11, 2013, Paul R. Pillar
Interview | Charlie Rose

A Discussion About Drones

March 29, 2013, Peter W. Singer
Opinion | The New York Times

Will Russia Take "Yes" for an Answer on Missile Defense?

March 29, 2013, Steven Pifer
Opinion | The Daily Beast

Why The U.S. Is Not in a Cyber War

March 10, 2013, Ian Wallace
Opinion | The National Interest

Ill Will and the Multiplier Effect: Counterterrorism Attacks in Pakistan

March 5, 2013, Paul R. Pillar
Past Event

15 Ways to Rethink the Federal Budget—Part I: Budgeting for a Modern Military

February 22, 2013
In the News

There's a defense wing of defense hawks, and they've been pretty vocal about the impact on the Defense Department and national security, generally. And we know there's a hard-core group as well that's opposed to any and all revenue increases. And between the two of those, there's no agreed-upon path of what to do, and so it looks like they may prefer the sequester to any alternative — certainly the alternatives the Democrats are offering up.
February 21, 2013, Sarah A. Binder, National Public Radio
Opinion | The Monkey Cage

Thoughts on the Hagel Filibuster and its Political Implications

February 14, 2013, Sarah A. Binder