Nick Mordowanec

Nick Mordowanec was previously a national news and investigative reporter for Newsweek, focusing on U.S. and international politics, military/defense, immigration, crime, social issues and features over a four-year period. Other coverage included education, economics, and wars in Ukraine and Gaza. His reporting on the opioid epidemic garnered a statewide Michigan Press Association award. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

Email nick.m@military.com with tips or feedback.

Latest Articles

The VA's latest annual veteran suicide report shows little difference between the last two recorded years. (Shutterstock)

VA Releases Newest Veteran Suicide Data. Here's What They Found.

"This moment demands clarity, not comfort. Good intentions are not enough," a leading suicide awareness advocate told...

The Boston-based technology and shipbuilding company Blue Water Autonomy unveiled its newest vessel, the Liberty Class, on Feb. 11. (Blue Water Autonomy)

New 190-Foot Navy Autonomous Warship 'Liberty' to Hit Water in 2026

The new vessel, starting building in March 2026, will focus on autonomous use and a 10,000 nautical range.

Cars cross the "Paso del Norte" International Bridge at the U.S.-Mexico border, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday Feb. 11, 2026, on the border with El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)

'Caught By Surprise': El Paso Officials Criticize Feds For Airspace Closure

“Our constituents deserve a clearer understanding of what happened," El Paso official Chris Canales told Military.com.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stands outside the Pentagon during a welcome ceremony for Japanese Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi at the Pentagon, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Exclusive: GOP Senator Introduces Legislation to Audit Pentagon. Here's Why.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is calling out the Pentagon for continually failing audits that she said harms both taxpayers and...

A U.S. Border Patrol patrol along the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, near the Paso del Norte International Bridge, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)

El Paso Airspace Closure, Federal Government Messaging Shows 'Breakdown'

El Paso, Texas, airspace near the U.S.-Mexico border was issued a 10-day NOTAM on Wednesday morning, but that correspondence...

U.S. Air Force veteran Choice Jackson spent eight years at Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County, Calif. (Choice Jackson)

Transitioning From Military to Civilian Life: An Air Force Veteran’s Story

"From what I learned in the military, I know how to pivot," Air Force veteran Choice Jackson told Military.com.

Military spouse Erica Thompson and her children are photographed inside a Washington lawmaker's office. (Erica Thompson)

Mold-Induced Housing Health Issues Lead Alabama Military Spouse to Capitol Hill

A military spouse from Alabama told Military.com that her children are seeing what old-fashioned advocacy can do to fix...

Lieutenant General Karsten "Hazel" Heckl leads the Combat Development and Integration and Marine Corps Warfighting Lab Marines and sailors on a farewell run, Aug. 8, 2024, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. (Matthew Krogull)

Marine Warfighting Lab at Quantico Gets $10 Million Boost: 'Top Priority'

"We know the exquisite level of work that it does," Rep. Eugene Vindman told Military.com about a $10 million infusion to the...

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Team “Thunderbirds” flyover the Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Super Bowl was against the Kansas City Chief and the San Francisco 49ers. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Breanna Klemm)

‘High Stress, High Stakes’: Behind-The-Scenes Look at Super Bowl Flyover

“Celebrating America 250 and Super Bowl 60, we wanted to go big and really have that majestical display of air power for...

Air and Marine Operations pilots with U.S. Customs and Border Protection conduct security flights in AS350 A-Star and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters over Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. in support of Super Bowl LIX, on February 3, 2026. (CBP Photo by Jeff Underwood)

Guarding the Skies: NORAD Defends Airspace Before, During & After Super Bowl

"Just like the players are practicing and training for the game, we're practicing and preparing for our execution in the...

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a spending bill that ends a partial shutdown of the federal government in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Independent Voters Shaping National Dialogue on ICE, Immigration, Greenland

A bumbling economy coupled with domestic and foreign policies not being received well by many Americans has put Donald Trump...

More than 12,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana are stacked on pallets aboard USCGC Seneca (WMEC 906) to be offloaded at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 30, 2025. Seneca is a Famous Class medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Diana Sherbs)

Coast Guard Seizes 200,000 Pounds of Cocaine in Six Months in Pacific Ocean

Operation Pacific Viper, which began in August, is getting rave reviews from federal officials.

Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Congress Wants Answers From Pentagon on Classified $60 Billion Defense Budget

The ranking member who wrote a new letter to DOD told Military.com that silence "raises serious transparency concerns."

Travelers walk to a security checkpoint at Terminal A at Logan Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

US Air Travel Biosurveillance Program Surpasses 1 Million Participants

The Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program began in 2021 and is a voluntary way for international travelers to...

LAPD officers and protesters confront each other during a demonstration in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations and U.S. attacks on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)

Democratic Lawmakers Get Legal Win Over DHS, Allowed to Visit ICE Detention Facilities

Democratic members of Congress are allowed to visit ICE detention facilities without prior advanced notice, a federal judge...

Military News

Get the Military Insider Newsletter

Get the latest on pay updates, benefit changes and award-winning military content. Right in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for subscribing!

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

One last step.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

Most Popular Military News

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis serving in Afghanistan. (I Have Your Back/Facebook)

New York Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Will Finally Receive Medal of Honor

Advocates pushed for years for Michael Ollis to receive the nation's highest honor. On Tuesday, their dream became a reality.

The West Pittston United Methodist Church, where hundreds of residents and veterans gathered to honor U.S. Navy veteran Jeffrey Kalnas, who died without immediate family, ensuring he was not buried alone. (Facebook)

Hundreds Turn Out to Honor Navy Veteran Who Would Have Been Buried Alone

Hundreds of strangers filled a Pennsylvania church to ensure a U.S. Navy veteran who died without family received the send...

An enlisted soldier's rank insignia on a uniform jacket.

Why Some Disabled Veterans Can't Get Both VA Disability and Military Retirement Pay

Military service members planning medical retirement face a critical decision point at the 20-year mark.

Cher Ami, the heroic messenger pigeon who saved the Lost Battalion in WWI. (Army Photo)

How a Wounded Pigeon Named Cher Ami Saved the Lost Battalion in WWI

A wounded pigeon named Cher Ami helped save a battalion of American soldiers, becoming one of the most recognized animals in...

First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipientv

This 20-Year-Old Sacrificed His Life and Became the First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipient

Every February, Black History Month shines a light on Americans whose contributions shaped the nation. One belongs to Pfc...

Latest Military Videos

Zelenskyy Says Russia Is 'Hesitating' about Another Round of US-Brokered Talks

Zelenskyy says Russia is 'hesitating' about another round of US-brokered talks.

Trump Administration Briefly Closes El Paso Airspace, Blames Mexican Cartel Drones

Trump administration briefly closes El Paso airspace, blames Mexican cartel drones.

Iran Commemorates 1979 Revolution as Nation Is Squeezed by Anger

Iran commemorates 1979 revolution as nation is squeezed by anger over crackdown and tensions with US.

Letters from a WWII Soldier to His Sweetheart Offer Intimate Picture of Love

Letters from a WWII soldier to his sweetheart offer an intimate picture of love during wartime.

Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Letters from a WWII Soldier to His Sweetheart Offer an Intimate Picture of Love During Wartime

A trove of more than 200 letters from World War II that were found in a Tennessee home offers an intimate picture of love...

A KC-135 refueling aircraft flies over the Dale Mabry Highway entrance to Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa. A base employee who shared classified information with a woman to impress her learned his fate on Tuesday morning in federal court.

Ex-Army Colonel at Macdill Shared Classified Battle Plans to Woo Woman

A retired Army combat veteran who worked as a high-level civilian contractor at Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base...

Navy News

New 190-Foot Navy Autonomous Warship 'Liberty' to Hit Water in 2026

The new vessel, starting building in March 2026, will focus on autonomous use and a 10,000 nautical range.

Judge Temporarily Blocks Pentagon From Punishing Sen. Mark Kelly for Call to Resist Unlawful Orders

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Pentagon from punishing Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a former U.S. Navy pilot, for...

Air Force News

Transitioning From Military to Civilian Life: An Air Force Veteran’s Story

"From what I learned in the military, I know how to pivot," Air Force veteran Choice Jackson told Military.com.

Mold-Induced Housing Health Issues Lead Alabama Military Spouse to Capitol Hill

A military spouse from Alabama told Military.com that her children are seeing what old-fashioned advocacy can do to fix...

Space Force News

POLARIS at NATO Exercise REPMUS 25 in October 2025. POLARIS is a small, gimballed free space optical communication solution for naval vessels and unmanned surface vessels. (Photo source: NATO DIANA, courtesy of Astrolight)

Russian Satellite Activity Exposes Gaps in Satellite Communications Security

Military.com spoke with Astrolight CEO Laurynas Mačiulis on why laser-based optical communications offer a resilient...

U.S. Space Force Capt. Erin Davis, 1st Range Operations Squadron range operations commander, maintains situational awareness inside the Morrell Operations Center during support for the Falcon 9 Starlink 6-78 mission, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, Nov. 20, 2025. The Starlink 6-78 mission marks the 100th launch from the Eastern Range this year. The MOC supports every space launch from CCSFS and Kennedy Space Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen)

US Space Force Turns 6: Has It Met Expectations?

The U.S. Space Force marked its sixth anniversary in December, reflecting a shift from stand-up to sustained operations as...

Marine Corps News

Virginia Supreme Court Rules US Marine’s Adoption of an Afghan War Orphan Will Stand

The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that a U.S. Marine and his wife will keep an Afghan orphan they brought home in defiance...