John Grady

About John Grady

John Grady, a former managing editor of Navy Times, retired as director of communications for the Association of the United States Army. His reporting on national defense and national security has appeared on Breaking Defense, GovExec.com, NextGov.com, DefenseOne.com, Government Executive and USNI News.

Recent Posts By the Author


Budget Analysis Shows DoD Spending Doesn't Line Up With Focus On High-End Fight

Budget Analysis Shows DoD Spending Doesn’t Line Up With Focus On High-End Fight

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U.S. Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fire an M777 Howitzer during a fire mission in northern Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve on Mar. 24, 2017. US Marine Corps Photo

The National Defense Strategy says the Pentagon should focus on countering and deterring China and Russia, but the department’s $738-billion budget request for Fiscal Year 2020 suggests it intends to put money into other lesser priorities, the author of a major analysis of Pentagon spending told USNI News. Read More →

Pentagon Urging South Korea, Japan to Continue Intel-Sharing, Resolve Trade Spat

Pentagon Urging South Korea, Japan to Continue Intel-Sharing, Resolve Trade Spat

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U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall G. Schriver speaks to reporters on the 2019 Report on Military and Security Developments in China at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 3, 2019. DoD photo.

Japan and South Korea would be “much better off removing obstacles, rather than making it more difficult” to share critical intelligence about ballistic missiles launched from North Korea and possible cyber and space threats they face from Pyongyang or Beijing, the senior Pentagon official charged with that region’s security said Wednesday. Read More →

Competition to Build 5G Networks, Hypersonics Focus for Pentagon Research Chief

Competition to Build 5G Networks, Hypersonics Focus for Pentagon Research Chief

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The X-51A Waverider, shown here under the wing of a B-52 Stratobomber is set to demonstrate hypersonic flight. US Air Force Graphic

The Department of Defense has made significant progress in the past 15 months in offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities to counter developments from China and Russia, its chief engineer said Tuesday. Now, the Pentagon is aiming to make the same kind of progress in developing 5G networks and microelectronics. Read More →

Japanese Defense Head Warns of Chinese Intrusions Near Senkaku Islands

Japanese Defense Head Warns of Chinese Intrusions Near Senkaku Islands

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Gen. Koji Yamazaki, the chief of staff of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, speaks with Vice Adm. John Alexander, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD-25) during Exercise Iron Fist 2019 on Feb. 3, 2019. US Navy Photo

The most immediate threat facing Japan has been China’s ramped-up maritime intrusions into the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, Japan’s senior military official said Thursday. Read More →

Panel: U.S., China South China Sea Tensions Show No Signs of Easing

Panel: U.S., China South China Sea Tensions Show No Signs of Easing

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Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning underway. PLAN Photo

While Washington defends its Navy’s transits through disputed waters in the South China Sea as upholding international freedom of navigation, Beijing blasts these operations as provocative and clear violations of its domestic law, a leading Chinese naval expert said last week; and both positions could harden.

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NORTHCOM Says U.S., Canada Must Maintain ‘Clear-Eyed’ View of Arctic Threats

NORTHCOM Says U.S., Canada Must Maintain ‘Clear-Eyed’ View of Arctic Threats

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U.S. Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, commander, United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, briefs the media in 2018. US Air Force Photo

The United States and Canada must maintain a “clear-eyed” view of new security challenges in the Arctic, to include the ability of Russian submarines to launch cruise missiles from the region, the head of U.S. Northern Command said on Monday. Read More →

SOUTHCOM CO: China’s Influence Growing in Western Hemisphere  

SOUTHCOM CO: China’s Influence Growing in Western Hemisphere  

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Adm. Craig Faller, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, arrives to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras on June 20, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

China’s soft power moves in the Western Hemisphere – from building ports to sharing information on space and offering wireless 5G technologies – “have hard aims” with military implications that are drawing increased attention in Washington, the admiral in charge of U.S. Southern Command told a Senate panel on Tuesday. Read More →

Navy Needs To Think Small When Planning Irregular Surface Warfare Strategies

Navy Needs To Think Small When Planning Irregular Surface Warfare Strategies

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A boarding team from dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) approaches merchant vessel Golden Nori after pirates released the Japanese chemical tanker Dec. 12, 2007. The pirates seized the ship off the coast of Somalia in late October. The release of Golden Nori marked the first time in more than a year that no ships were held by Somali pirates. Navy Photo

Great power competition dramatically expands the challenges of confronting irregular naval warfare such as defending against maritime pirates or preserving the security of data sent through undersea cables, a panel of experts said at the Hudson Institute last week.

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