Marcus Weisgerber @MarcusReports Twitter profile

Pinned Tweet

Marcus Weisgerber

4 months

Some personal news: After nearly 10 years, next Friday will be my last day at @DefenseOne . I've decided to pursue an exciting career opportunity outside of journalism. More about that later. 1/X

48

7

194

Last Seen Profiles

@CasaLettori

@RubinsteinOk

@Banana4Coin

@marcela83822453

@Element25Ltd

@RaulVeg31952826

@WalterW18047475

@Cavsanada

@MargareteRosali

@IlverHouses

@NaisKnives

@shynem_

@HeleneBubrowski

@JesusCa02371826

@Do_Dil_EkGharMe

@minamiindoya

@vascomics

@kasumithr

@jaamda

@FrencHMonTanA

@ETSUVolleyball

@RiflesRegiment

@_tutsy

@Ivnlvar84293515

@markocantdunk

@ch_sokai

@Iamluannax

@laprovinciadico

@Scylla_Brantley

@snowwinter_zn

@winynnygf

@BESCitSci

@DaniellsBarrett

@INABVESV

@realfetish_asmr

@HiganSouteiVT

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

JUST IN: "The Crew made the decision to go" — Inside RCH 871, which saved 640 from the Taliban ... from @TaraCopp and me

2K

17K

59K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

BREAKING: Vice President Mike Pence announces that uniformed members of the U.S. Space Force will be called Guardians. Threre you have it: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardians

10K

6K

45K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: Boeing CEO David Calhoun says company executives should not have agreed to former President Trump’s terms for the new Air Force One. The company today announced it lost $660M building the two planes

6K

9K

49K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

The military jets using the call sign “FRANK” is significant. Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace in World War I better known as the “Arizona Balloon Buster.” He is credited with shooting down 14 German surveillance balloons

Frank Luke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aircraft Spots

@AircraftSpots

1 year

Chinese high-altitude surveillance #balloon : USAF F-22s FRANK01 & 02 launched from Langley AFB, VA joining up with KC-135R #AE04B3 57-1473 GASMN02 for aerial refueling.

66

473

2K

287

5K

22K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis talked to reporters at the Pentagon this afternoon. Asked his biggest military concern in 2018, he responded: “I don’t have concerns. I create them”

848

6K

16K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

"Putin’s war is not the result of NATO expansion. It is the cause of NATO expansion," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during an address at the Reagan National Defense Forum #RNDF2022

364

2K

8K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: The US Air Force will roll out its new B-21 stealth bomber the “first week of December,” Andrew Hunter, the head of USAF acquisition says #asc22

87

834

6K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

BREAKING: The Pentagon says defense contractors in Texas must get COVID-19 vaccine despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banning a vaccine mandate in the state. “These requirements are promulgated pursuant to Federal law and supersede any contrary State or local law or ordinance"

103

1K

5K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: Ukrainian forces who sunk a Russian warship with Harpoon missiles in June trained in the United States, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer Bill LaPlante says

88

577

5K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

“Air Force One I'm just going to call a very unique moment, a very unique negotiation, a very unique set of risks that Boeing probably shouldn't have taken, but we are where we are, and we're going to deliver great airplanes,” Calhoun said on the company’s quarterly earnings call

199

518

5K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

CEO: Boeing Should Have Rejected Trump’s Air Force One Deal

The company revealed that it has lost $660 million outfitting the next presidential jets—so far.

www.defenseone.com

259

720

4K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: The U.S. Air Force says it successfully fired a hypersonic weapon. A B-52 bomber launched the Lockheed Martin-made Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon. The ARRW missile flew at more than five-times the speed of sound

82

510

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

I’ve been battling myocarditis for more than a month. Diagnosed three days after getting the second shot. My doctors and I notified the @CDCgov and @pfizer . Still have yet to hear back from either of them

202

1K

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

Space Force Troops Get a Name: ‘Guardians’

VP Pence revealed the moniker for Trump’s oft-teased newest military service branch to stand alongside soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines.

www.defenseone.com

234

255

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

Pentagon says Russians at same air base in Syria were not targeted. Russians were informed about strike in advance, Pentagon spokesman says

107

941

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Since acting SecNav Thomas Modly said there is “no situation where you go to the media, because the media has an agenda,” I ask my Pentagon Press Corps colleagues to reply with examples of how press coverage of an issue helped protect troops or improve their quality of life. Go!

108

704

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

Today, Brandon Nimmo, JD Davis, Chris Bassitt & Patrick Mazeika from the @Mets came to Pentagon where they met with military service members and toured the building #LGM

68

84

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

EXCLUSIVE: US Air Force Flew a Half Million Coronavirus Test Kits From Italy to Tennessee

141

941

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: Raytheon Technologies says it cannot quickly make new Stinger missiles, which the US has been sending to Ukraine. CEO Greg Hayes says the company must redesign electronics in the missile and seeker. "That's going to take us a little bit of time."

181

451

2K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

WOW: New York air traffic controller to Russian Air Force cargo plane: "We sincerely thank you for all of the assistance you're bringing in." The plane in on final approach landing on runway 31L at JFK momentarily

183

574

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: Here's the full list of weapons part of the Biden administration's $800 million aid package for Ukraine. Of note, 155-millimeter howitzers and 40,000 artillery rounds. It's the first time the U.S. military has provided artillery

70

383

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

Gen. McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, says the US military has Apache attack helicopters, MQ-9 Reaper drones, F-15 fighters and AC-130 Gunships flying over Afghanistan #Kabul

93

369

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

BREAKING: The U.S. has formally kicked Turkey out of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program over Ankara’s buying S-400 missile interceptors from Russia

130

901

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

JUST IN: The US Air Force says it needs $5 billion by June to fix weather-damaged bases. If Congress doesn’t come up with the cash, Air Force says it will ground planes, cut pilot training and cancel construction projects at other bases

311

826

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

LaPlante said the Ukrainian forces trained in the U.S. over Memorial Day Weekend in late May. The Harpoons were modified to fire from the back of flatbed trucks, he said

13

118

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

NEW TONIGHT: Biden Ditches Trump’s Red, White & Blue Air Force One Paint Scheme For Classic Blue-and-White

69

94

1K

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

BREAKING: @Boeing says it only has a $170M deal with @usairforce to help with requirements for new Air Force One

94

738

957

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

This is an incredibly comprehensive list of “shit Pentagon people say.” It was compiled by @JoyAngela during her time in “the building.” Send along anything that’s missing!

262

219

972

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

FYI, it’s THIS Richard Spencer, the current Navy secretary:

138

117

852

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

I can't recall a time when a branch of the military has issued a statement contradicting a president or president elect

Oriana Pawlyk

@Oriana0214

7 years

. @usairforce issues statement regarding @realDonaldTrump 's comments on @Boeing , Air Force One

13

264

242

40

870

864

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

JUST IN: It’s official ... This is paint job for Trump’s new Air Force One, as depicted in new Pentagon budget documents

313

408

755

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

EXCLUSIVE: US Preparing to Put Nuclear Bombers Back on 24-Hour Alert

194

1K

786

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

BREAKING: Richard Spencer is now the acting defense secretary. Transition happened at 3:04 p.m.

216

354

647

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

BREAKING: Trump's @StateDept has approved $1.8B in arms deals to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Kenya and UK

125

2K

756

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

When I flew out to the UK's Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier a few weeks ago, the ship's captain nonchalantly told me they had an F-TYPE @Jaguar in the hangar below. Well here it is on the flight deck alongside an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter @HMSQnlz Photo: @LockheedMartin

35

199

707

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

On the flight to New York, SecDef Esper was asked about Alexander Vindman. Here’s a transcript of the discussion

41

374

615

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

US Trained Ukrainian Missileers Who Sunk Russian Warship, Pentagon Official Says

Bill LaPlante also praised the quick “innovation” that delivered truck-mounted Harpoon missiles to Ukraine.

www.defenseone.com

5

71

618

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

Here's Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' letter of resignation. It comes one day after President Trump announced he would pull U.S. troops from Syria

39

329

551

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

. @DefenseOne @USNavy Navy destroyers USS Ross & USS Porter were the warships to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles into Syria

11

370

536

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Remember 8 months ago when Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman would't get screwed by the Army?

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

On the flight to New York, SecDef Esper was asked about Alexander Vindman. Here’s a transcript of the discussion

41

374

615

24

254

537

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

BREAKING: #Abrams tank maker General Dynamics says the company has enough workers and people to meet deliveries for #Ukraine , executives say on quarterly earnings call. "It's well within the capacity of the industrial base to accommodate," CEO Phebe Novakovic said $GD

10

114

567

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: US Special Operations Command chooses L3Harris Technologies to supply up to 75 attack planes in a deal that could be worth $3B

50

125

547

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: Following @POTUS statement yesterday that the US military would defend Taiwan, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall says: “I believe that we would assist them in some form.” He also adds: “I see no evidence of an immediate invasion of Taiwan.” #ASC

24

94

493

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

BREAKING: A Russian Air Force An-124 cargo plane carrying coronavirus medical supplies has landed at New York's JFK airport

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

WOW: New York air traffic controller to Russian Air Force cargo plane: "We sincerely thank you for all of the assistance you're bringing in." The plane in on final approach landing on runway 31L at JFK momentarily

183

574

1K

41

275

446

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Let’s start with atrocious conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center & the need for better armored vehicles to protect troops who were regularly getting killed by roadside. Here's how then Defense Secretary Robert Gates summed up press coverage of those two issues: " (2/X)

3

78

474

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

🧵Today as @Boeing delivers the final 747, here's a look at how the military has used the Queen of the Skies over the past five decades.

7

110

480

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

JUST IN: An Air Force C-17 from Fort Bragg in North Carolina just landed at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington. Two more C-17s from Fort Bragg are not far behind. Their destination is not listed

43

414

458

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

BREAKING: Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said @northropgrumman is secretly building FIVE B-21 stealth bombers right now. Kendall is speaking at the Air Force Association's annual conference right now

126

147

455

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

JUST IN: Biden Extends Ban on Turkey Buying F-35 Stealth Fighter

32

141

438

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

Hello from Andrews Air Force Base! It’s B-21 bomber rollout day. I’m en route to @northropgrumman in Palmdale, California, with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. Busy day at Andrews where French President Macron just left. Plus an Air Force One sighting

4

77

438

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

I've been MIA from Twitter for the past two weeks. Here's what happened to me after getting my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

Pentagon Tracking 14 Cases of Heart Inflammation in Troops After COVID-19 Shots

The heart condition is a complication of a coronavirus infection but also is being investigated for any link to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

www.military.com

58

194

411

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

If you’re in Boston look up. A Russian air Force cargo plane is about to fly over you!

85

192

388

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

JUST IN This happened to journalist @natsecwatson , a former @USArmy soldier, at @Dulles_Airport yesterday: CBP officer, holding Watson’s passport: “What do you do?” Watson “Journalism.” CBP officer “So you write propaganda, right?” Full exchange here

US Customs Officer Harasses Defense One Journalist at Dulles Airport

Repeating “You write propaganda, right?”, officer held passport until he received an affirmative answer.

www.defenseone.com

56

353

369

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

BREAKING: US should NOT sell Turkey F-35 Joint Strike Fighter if Turkey buys S-400 surface to air missile system from Russia, Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, head of European Command & NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, tells Senate Armed Services Committee

40

262

369

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: President Biden is talking to CEOs and just referenced Russia's use of hypersonic weapons in Ukraine. He said the Russian military is using fast-flying hypersonic weapons because its "the only thing they can get through" Ukrainian defenses

22

92

402

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

Of note, that roll out coincides with the Reagan National Defense Forum when dozens of top military officials are already in California. The B-21 is being built by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale about an hour away from the conference

3

31

391

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations, urges defense companies to hire Afghan and Ukrainian refugees emigrating to the United States. Shipbuilders have been struggling to hire trades workers, especially welders

8

66

389

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

WOW: Rail workers going on strike could slow weapons and equipment deliveries to Ukraine and American troops deployed overseas. It’s not just food and packages traveling on the rails, folks

Oriana Pawlyk

@Oriana0214

2 years

Small add from me tonight: U.S. Transportation Command, the military’s cargo and logistics arm, said it is prioritizing aid to Ukraine and overseas deployments in order to mitigate any impact from the strike. via @politico

15

47

135

56

129

375

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Here’s an EA-18G Growler landing on the USS Gerald Ford. The jet is participating in flight trials with the @USNavy ’s newest aircraft carrier

11

74

360

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Just met Jackson at the Pentagon. He’s a medical alert assistance dog for a Vietnam vet who had trouble leaving his house until he came along five years ago. 15/10 CC: @paws4vets

23

52

360

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

5 years

JUST IN: The @usairforce has more F-35s in its inventory than F-22s. @LockheedMartin delivered the 196th Joint Strike Fighter (pictured) this week

10

106

337

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

“I gained even more of an appreciation for the important accountability role of the press early in my tenure when newspaper reports exposed two glaring bureaucratic shortcomings, in the outpatient treatment of wounded warriors at Walter Reed ... (3/X)

1

57

358

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

F-22 Shoots Down Chinese Balloon Off Coast of South Carolina

It appears the Raptor just got its first air-to-air kill.

www.defenseone.com

9

59

365

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

JUST IN: @LockheedMartin becomes the latest defense contractor to suspend political contributions joining @Boeing , @northropgrumman , @RaytheonTech , @BAESystemsInc and @LeidosInc

17

158

337

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

3 years

NEXT WEEK: The U.S. Air Force will name its new F-15EX fighter jet. What should they call it? How about this: F-15EX Lightning Rod

183

49

319

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

JUST IN: "U.S. early earning systems detected the incoming ballistic missiles well in advance, providing U.S. and coalition forces adequate time to take appropriate force protection measures," a U.S. defense official tells reporters at the Pentagon

21

108

255

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: The US could begin training Ukrainian troops how to use sophisticated NASAMS missile defense system as soon as next month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says at Pentagon briefing #Ukraine

10

97

328

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

"... and resistance to purchasing life-saving MRAPs for troops downrange. Responding to both of these critical issues, which only came to my attention through the media, became my top priority and two of my earliest and most significant management decisions." (4/X)

1

49

324

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

JUST IN: Here's something you don't see every day: Drone-maker General Atomics issues a public statement criticizing the U.S. government for not sending its drones to Ukraine. Company says it's even offered two its drones and train the Ukrainians for price of $1

12

80

297

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 months

EXCLUSIVE: The secret history of the Air Force One shadow fleet. Defense One has assembled the most comprehensive history of four Boeing 757s that the Air Force doesn't acknowledge exist

The secret history of the Air Force One shadow fleet

Service officials do not acknowledge the existence of four of the world's most prominent Boeing 757s.

www.defenseone.com

11

93

299

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

Today's US strike on Syrian air base did not target people, Pentagon spokesman says. Infrastructure and weapons targeted

8

157

211

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

Discovered at the Pentagon ... #WaitWhat ? #NoJoke #IWantToBelieve CC: @thexfiles

20

110

262

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: Finland has chosen to buy the F-35 over the U.S.-made F/A-18 Super Hornet and three other European-made fighter jets. It's the second consecutive win for the F-35 in Europe following Switzerland choosing the F-35 in June

21

77

268

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

8 years

"Long line at the gas station." Great @usairforce caption on this pic of KC-10 refueling an F-35 as B-2 & F-16s wait

12

146

262

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

Spotted at the Farnborough Air Show in England: A @taylorswift13 -themed Air Asia plane. Who wants one?? #FIA18

49

68

247

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

BREAKING: Defense Secretary Mattis orders review of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Air Force One programs

25

302

207

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

The was the mold infestation at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to thousands of American troops. After learning about the conditions from @Oriana0214 's reporting, then-SecAF @HONDeborahJames moved quickly to clean up the base

Congress to Air Force: More answers needed on Al Udeid

As more members of Congress question the deplorable conditions at Al Udeid Air Base, the Air Force is scrambling to clean up.

www.airforcetimes.com

7

40

269

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

It Will Be Years Before Raytheon Can Build New Stinger Missiles

The U.S. has been sending its Stingers to Ukrainian forces battling Russia.

www.defenseone.com

9

63

246

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

"Some people here [in the US] and in Europe still think that Russia is a sleeping bear. But in fact, is a frightened jackal, in a bear's skin," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrylov says

7

37

259

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Judging by the number of DMs, texts and emails I’ve received from natsec and non-natsec people about the @realspaceforce trailer, a lot of people are going to be watching this show

Space Force

@realspaceforce

4 years

Wait, who's in charge of what now? Steve Carell, welcome to Space Force. May 29th.

1K

10K

41K

9

33

255

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

BREAKING: Pentagon says Iran fired "more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq." #Soleimani

14

199

244

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

There are so many stories about pilots being starved for oxygen in numerous military aircraft. @TaraCopp , @StephenLosey , @ValerieInsinna , @laraseligman & others have covered extensively (6/X)

Clearing the air: F-35s to get upgrade for oxygen generating system over hypoxia concerns

In response to reports of hypoxia-like symptoms experienced by F-35A pilots at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, the program office intends to make changes to the onboard oxygen generating system to...

www.defensenews.com

2

42

257

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Bill LaPlante says the Ukrainian officials were not trained in the US & would not say where they were trained. Here is the full quote for context

6

49

249

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: Raytheon Technologies Invests in Hypersonic Aircraft Startup Hermeus. It’s the first investment by the aerospace and defense giant’s new venture arm.

6

60

247

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

BREAKING: Several Pentagon eateries are closed as workers participate in "Day Without Immigrants Strike" @Starbucks @BurgerKing among closed

5

152

239

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

The USAF called the successful test a “major accomplishment.” The ARRW missile failed during three prior tests

4

20

224

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

EXCLUSIVE: Lockheed Martin is pitching an F-22/F-35 hybrid to U.S. Air Force to counter Russian and Chinese threats

31

139

189

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

7 years

BREAKING: The Pentagon says it successfully shot down an ICBM with the Ground Based Midcourse Defense interceptor

13

165

193

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

BREAKING: Poland will give its MiG-29 fighter jets to the US. Presumably the US will give them to Ukraine

14

47

218

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

OMG, @thexfiles is insane tonight! #thexfiles

2

27

211

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

An Army Lakota helicopter has been flying low level over downtown Washington while an FBI surveillance plane orbits the city from high above

16

161

205

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

JUST IN: Boeing says took a $660 million loss building the new Air Force One "primarily driven by higher supplier costs." The charge was reported in the company's quarterly earnings today. The current contract requires Boeing, not the taxpayers, to pay for its cost overruns

15

41

212

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

NEW: Since the creation of the defense secretary cabinet position in 1947, there had previously only been two acting secretaries. There have been four over the past 21 months of Trump’s presidency

Trump Fires Esper, Taps NCTC Director to be Acting SecDef

Christopher Miller becomes Trump's fourth acting defense secretary just 72 days before Inauguration Day.

www.defenseone.com

12

110

201

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 months

This is my last story for @DefenseOne . It's taken years to report and closes out a 20-year career in journalism

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 months

EXCLUSIVE: The secret history of the Air Force One shadow fleet. Defense One has assembled the most comprehensive history of four Boeing 757s that the Air Force doesn't acknowledge exist

11

93

299

14

46

214

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

YAL-1, better known as the Airborne Laser, was a test aircraft built to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles. The modified 747-400 had a nose-mounted laser powered by chemicals that were stored in tanks inside the plane. The military canceled the project in 2011

4

31

207

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

6 years

Listening to President Trump, you would think the military is getting $700B. Not the case. Federal law caps the Pentagon fiscal 2018 budget at $549B. Plus, Congress hasn't actually passed a 2018 budget and the government might shut down this week. But other than that, all good

1

84

195

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

SCOOP: Pentagon Reorganizes Industrial Policy Office to Shore Up Defense Firms, Supply Chain. The restructure gives two new deputies to the assistant secretary for industrial policy—and "dissolves" another.

2

48

196

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

1 year

JUST IN: President Biden authorized the military to shoot down the balloon on WEDNESDAY “as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a new statement

8

82

199

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

2 years

Ukrainian military pilots question whether US-made Gray Eagle drones would be effective in war with Russia, @JackDetsch reports. “It’s very dangerous to use such expensive drones in our case, because of the enemy’s air defense. It’s not Afghanistan here”

‘It’s Not Afghanistan’: Ukrainian Pilots Push Back on U.S.-Provided Drones

Both the Biden administration and Ukraine are worried that American strike drones would get shot down quickly.

foreignpolicy.com

18

37

197

Marcus Weisgerber

@MarcusReports

4 years

Link to Gates the press conference where Gates made those comments: (5/X)

1

33

197