Megan Eckstein

About Megan Eckstein

Megan Eckstein is the deputy editor for USNI News. She previously covered Congress for Defense Daily and the U.S. surface navy and U.S. amphibious operations as an associate editor for Inside the Navy.

Recent Posts By the Author


The State of LCS: Navy Moving to Add Firepower, Capability to Both Classes

The State of LCS: Navy Moving to Add Firepower, Capability to Both Classes

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USS Detroit (LCS-7) receives regularly scheduled maintenance and upkeep during a scheduled dry-dock maintenance availability phase at BAE Systems shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla., March 29, 2019. US Navy Photo

This is the second of a two-part series on the current state of the Littoral Combat Ship program.

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – With both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship in serial production at two yards and those ships now kicking off an enduring multi-ship overseas presence, the Navy is turning its focus to increasing the lethality and survivability of the hulls. Read More →

The State of LCS: Navy Pushing More Ships to Sea This Fall as Class Matures

The State of LCS: Navy Pushing More Ships to Sea This Fall as Class Matures

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Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Kerri Corcoran, assigned to the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS-8), prepares to throw out a line while a tug boat comes alongside Montgomery to escort it into Davao City, Philippines on June 29, 2019. US Navy Photo

This is the first of a two-part series on the current state of the Littoral Combat Ship program.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Five years from now, there may be as many Littoral Combat Ships deployed as there are destroyers. Read More →

Surface Forces Striving for 'Combat-Ready Ships, Battle-Minded Crews'

Surface Forces Striving for ‘Combat-Ready Ships, Battle-Minded Crews’

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Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) respond to a man-overboard drill during a steel beach picnic in the Mediterranean Sea on Aug. 25, 2019. US Navy Photo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The head of the Navy’s surface force is pushing the fleet to be more ready for high-end combat, both in the skills of the crew and the material condition of the ships. Read More →

NavalX Innovation Support Office Opening 5 Regional 'Tech Bridge' Hubs

NavalX Innovation Support Office Opening 5 Regional ‘Tech Bridge’ Hubs

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James F. Geurts (left), assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition (ASN RDA), and Capt. Jon Margolick (right), U.S. Marine Corps Naval Expeditions (NavalX) liaison, announce the DoN’s plan to rapidly expand its collaboration capabilities through the creation of Tech Bridges on Sept. 3, 2019. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated to clarify that the PEO Carriers interaction with NavalX is ongoing and has not yet concluded.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Navy is expanding its NavalX innovation support office, setting up five regional hubs across the country that will bring military, industry and academia together to help solve nagging problems for the service. Read More →

USS Harry S. Truman Suffers Major Electrical Malfunction, Raising Questions About Upcoming Deployment

USS Harry S. Truman Suffers Major Electrical Malfunction, Raising Questions About Upcoming Deployment

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USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), left, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) transit behind the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) in the Atlantic Ocean on July 10, 2019. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is experiencing a malfunction of the ship’s electrical distribution system ahead of an expected deployment this fall, USNI News has learned. Read More →

DoD IG: Moran Misused Personal Emails For Business; No Misconduct in Relationship with Retired Commander

DoD IG: Moran Misused Personal Emails For Business; No Misconduct in Relationship with Retired Commander

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Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran speaks to sailors during an all-hands call at Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae, Korea on Sept. 11, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Defense Department Inspector General found that former Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran violated DoD policy in using a personal email account to conduct official DoD communications, but it did not find that he broke any policies regarding his ongoing relationship with a Navy commander accused of sexually harassing three female junior officers. Read More →

Pentagon Allowing Subsystems to Leverage Rapid Prototyping Authorities, Different Cyber Standards

Pentagon Allowing Subsystems to Leverage Rapid Prototyping Authorities, Different Cyber Standards

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Vehicles are staged to be reviewed by an assessment team during Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2019 at Camp Lejeune, N.C. July 11, 2019. ANTX East 2019 is an event designed to test new technology with academic, industry and Navy participants. US Marine Corps photo.

THE PENTAGON – As the Defense Department continues its push to speed up and simplify acquisition, it’s doing so in part by allowing select subsystems within larger programs to be exempt from more stringent rules on acquisition and cybersecurity. Read More →

USS George Washington More Than Halfway Through RCOH, Will Leave Dry Dock Next Month

USS George Washington More Than Halfway Through RCOH, Will Leave Dry Dock Next Month

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The final piece of the new main mast of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is installed at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding, March 15, 2019. The 34-foot upper mast section raises the ship’s distinctive profile 123 feet above the flight deck. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.

Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is more than halfway through its refueling and complex overhaul and is set to leave the dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding next month to begin the next phase of a four-year overhaul. Read More →