Stacie Pettyjohn
@spettyjohn.bsky.social
Director of the defense program and senior fellow CNAS
ICYMI: The Pentagon released its defense strategy last Friday. Our @cnas.bsky.social panel—@beccawasser.bsky.social, Mara Karlin, Dustin Walker & me—broke down the document and graded it. The results weren't pretty.
Watch our analysis here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3wr...
Watch our analysis here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3wr...
U.S. Defense at an Inflection Point: The 2026 National Defense Strategy
YouTube video by Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:42 PM
ICYMI: The Pentagon released its defense strategy last Friday. Our @cnas.bsky.social panel—@beccawasser.bsky.social, Mara Karlin, Dustin Walker & me—broke down the document and graded it. The results weren't pretty.
Watch our analysis here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3wr...
Watch our analysis here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3wr...
This afternoon at 2 pm I am breaking down the Trump administration's defense strategy on a @cnas.bsky.social pop up virtual panel with Dr. Mara Karlin, Dustin Walker, & @beccawasser.bsky.social
www.cnas.org/events/u-s-d...
www.cnas.org/events/u-s-d...
U.S. Defense at an Inflection Point: The 2026 National Defense Strategy
The 2026 National Defense Strategy arrives at a critical juncture and marks an unprecedented shift in U.S. As the Department of Defense translates…
www.cnas.org
January 28, 2026 at 6:11 PM
This afternoon at 2 pm I am breaking down the Trump administration's defense strategy on a @cnas.bsky.social pop up virtual panel with Dr. Mara Karlin, Dustin Walker, & @beccawasser.bsky.social
www.cnas.org/events/u-s-d...
www.cnas.org/events/u-s-d...
I spoke with Darian Woods on The Indicator from Planet Money about Trump's executive order attempting to prohibit defense contractors from buying back stock or paying dividends.
www.npr.org/2026/01/20/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/20/n...
Are defense firms showering their shareholders with too much money? : The Indicator from Planet Money
In early January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening bans on defense contractors paying dividends or buying their stock back.Today on the show, we learn about the Trump Admin...
www.npr.org
January 21, 2026 at 7:59 PM
I spoke with Darian Woods on The Indicator from Planet Money about Trump's executive order attempting to prohibit defense contractors from buying back stock or paying dividends.
www.npr.org/2026/01/20/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/20/n...
I enjoyed talking with John Amble about European air defenses and the counter drone problem more generally on the Modern War institute podcast.
mwi.westpoint.edu/mwi-podcast-...
mwi.westpoint.edu/mwi-podcast-...
MWI Podcast: Europe’s Airspace Violations and the Counterdrone Challenge - Modern War Institute
Late on the night of September 9, twenty-one medium-sized, fixed-wing drones were detected entering Poland's airspace. Polish and NATO aircraft were quickly scrambled, with several of the drones succe...
mwi.westpoint.edu
October 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I enjoyed talking with John Amble about European air defenses and the counter drone problem more generally on the Modern War institute podcast.
mwi.westpoint.edu/mwi-podcast-...
mwi.westpoint.edu/mwi-podcast-...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Recommended
Tune in to the @cnas.bsky.social ’s Brussel Sprouts podcast for a lively and wide-ranging conversation with Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Michael Kofman, James Joye Townsend Jr., & me on Russian drones incursions & how NATO can counter them.
www.cnas.org/publications...
www.cnas.org/publications...
NATO’s Counter-Drone Conundrum
Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.
www.cnas.org
September 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Recommended
I joined DW news to discuss the various drone incursions into European airspace and what options NATO has to counter them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKYF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKYF...
Which technology offers the best defense against drones? Lasers or mobile gun trucks? | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
www.youtube.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I joined DW news to discuss the various drone incursions into European airspace and what options NATO has to counter them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKYF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKYF...
Earlier this week @molkathcam & I were thrilled to be on the 100th episode of the At the Boundary podcast to discuss our new @cnas.bsky.social report on drone defenses with Jim Cardoso
attheboundary.buzzsprout.com/2231197/epis...
attheboundary.buzzsprout.com/2231197/epis...
Countering the Swarm: America’s Drone Deterrence Strategy - At The Boundary
🎙️ At the Boundary reaches its 100th episode with a critical conversation on one of the fastest-growing threats in modern warfare: drones. Host Jim Cardoso is joined by Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn and Molly ...
attheboundary.buzzsprout.com
September 27, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Earlier this week @molkathcam & I were thrilled to be on the 100th episode of the At the Boundary podcast to discuss our new @cnas.bsky.social report on drone defenses with Jim Cardoso
attheboundary.buzzsprout.com/2231197/epis...
attheboundary.buzzsprout.com/2231197/epis...
Tune in to the @cnas.bsky.social ’s Brussel Sprouts podcast for a lively and wide-ranging conversation with Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Michael Kofman, James Joye Townsend Jr., & me on Russian drones incursions & how NATO can counter them.
www.cnas.org/publications...
www.cnas.org/publications...
NATO’s Counter-Drone Conundrum
Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.
www.cnas.org
September 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Tune in to the @cnas.bsky.social ’s Brussel Sprouts podcast for a lively and wide-ranging conversation with Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Michael Kofman, James Joye Townsend Jr., & me on Russian drones incursions & how NATO can counter them.
www.cnas.org/publications...
www.cnas.org/publications...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
The drone age is here. My latest @cnas.bsky.social report with @spettyjohn.bsky.social argues that the Pentagon must rapidly scale counter-drone defenses and build resilience within the Joint Force, or risk losing a war against China. Check it out! ⬇️ www.cnas.org/publications...
Countering the Swarm
The counter-drone mission entails much more than simply air defense and cannot be relegated to traditional, isolated air defense formations.
www.cnas.org
September 11, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The drone age is here. My latest @cnas.bsky.social report with @spettyjohn.bsky.social argues that the Pentagon must rapidly scale counter-drone defenses and build resilience within the Joint Force, or risk losing a war against China. Check it out! ⬇️ www.cnas.org/publications...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
📢 Out Now
'Uncomfortable but essential reading.' — @ldfreedman.bsky.social
'How the United States Would Fight China' by
@hoanssolo.bsky.social draws on superb research to reveal the significant risk to the US in a potential conflict with China.
Get 25% off w/code GADY25 ➡️ tinyurl.com/yuvttv3e
'Uncomfortable but essential reading.' — @ldfreedman.bsky.social
'How the United States Would Fight China' by
@hoanssolo.bsky.social draws on superb research to reveal the significant risk to the US in a potential conflict with China.
Get 25% off w/code GADY25 ➡️ tinyurl.com/yuvttv3e
September 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
📢 Out Now
'Uncomfortable but essential reading.' — @ldfreedman.bsky.social
'How the United States Would Fight China' by
@hoanssolo.bsky.social draws on superb research to reveal the significant risk to the US in a potential conflict with China.
Get 25% off w/code GADY25 ➡️ tinyurl.com/yuvttv3e
'Uncomfortable but essential reading.' — @ldfreedman.bsky.social
'How the United States Would Fight China' by
@hoanssolo.bsky.social draws on superb research to reveal the significant risk to the US in a potential conflict with China.
Get 25% off w/code GADY25 ➡️ tinyurl.com/yuvttv3e
This BBC Inquiry podcast is a good overview on how drones are transforming the battlefield. It features Elke Schwarz , James Rogers, Oleksandra Molloy, & me. I focus on how to counter the rapidly growing threat posed by small drones .
bbc.com/audio/play/w...
bbc.com/audio/play/w...
BBC Audio | The Inquiry | How are drones changing the landscape of modern warfare?
What impact are drones having on military strategy?
bbc.com
August 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
This BBC Inquiry podcast is a good overview on how drones are transforming the battlefield. It features Elke Schwarz , James Rogers, Oleksandra Molloy, & me. I focus on how to counter the rapidly growing threat posed by small drones .
bbc.com/audio/play/w...
bbc.com/audio/play/w...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Three sharp minds. One messy world. In the latest @warontherocks.bsky.social episode, I am joined by @spettyjohn.bsky.social, Justin Logan & Wess Mitchell to talk about hard choices in the sequencing of American strategy. We have some pretty sharp disagreements too
pod.link/682478916/ep...
pod.link/682478916/ep...
War on the Rocks
Discussions over drinks with security, defense, and foreign policy insiders and experts. The original War on the Rocks podcast series.
pod.link
July 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Three sharp minds. One messy world. In the latest @warontherocks.bsky.social episode, I am joined by @spettyjohn.bsky.social, Justin Logan & Wess Mitchell to talk about hard choices in the sequencing of American strategy. We have some pretty sharp disagreements too
pod.link/682478916/ep...
pod.link/682478916/ep...
In @breakingdefense.com Molly Campbell & I argue that Ukraine’s spiderweb drone attack on Russian airbases should be a wake up call for the United States. The DoD needs to make significantly larger investments in CUAS for home & abroad.
breakingdefense.com/2025/06/spid...
breakingdefense.com/2025/06/spid...
'Spider's Web' warning: The US must prioritize drone defense to avoid Russia’s fate - Breaking Defense
CNAS's Stacie Pettyjohn and Molly Campbell argue in this op-ed that Ukraine's clandestine operation should be a wake-up call for the US military and its own base defense.
breakingdefense.com
June 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
In @breakingdefense.com Molly Campbell & I argue that Ukraine’s spiderweb drone attack on Russian airbases should be a wake up call for the United States. The DoD needs to make significantly larger investments in CUAS for home & abroad.
breakingdefense.com/2025/06/spid...
breakingdefense.com/2025/06/spid...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
With interviews featuring Leon Panetta, Frank Kendall, Michael A. Brown, @spettyjohn.bsky.social, Paul Scharre, @mchorowitz.bsky.social @aaronbateman.bsky.social, @michaelkofman.bsky.social, Kate Epstein, Thomas G. Mahnken, Benjamin Jensen, Jack Shanahan, James Roche and many more
June 5, 2025 at 10:39 PM
With interviews featuring Leon Panetta, Frank Kendall, Michael A. Brown, @spettyjohn.bsky.social, Paul Scharre, @mchorowitz.bsky.social @aaronbateman.bsky.social, @michaelkofman.bsky.social, Kate Epstein, Thomas G. Mahnken, Benjamin Jensen, Jack Shanahan, James Roche and many more
ICYMI here is the video from the @cnas.bsky.social conference of my conversation with Air Force Chief Gen Allvin where we discussed force design, Golden dome, drone attacks, the budget, & more.
youtu.be/I3nTs1RZhwA?...
youtu.be/I3nTs1RZhwA?...
The Future of Warfare with General David Allvin
YouTube video by Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
youtu.be
June 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
ICYMI here is the video from the @cnas.bsky.social conference of my conversation with Air Force Chief Gen Allvin where we discussed force design, Golden dome, drone attacks, the budget, & more.
youtu.be/I3nTs1RZhwA?...
youtu.be/I3nTs1RZhwA?...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
The Royal Air Force has unveiled a new electronic warfare drone to fly with its fighter jets, including F-35s, into contested airspace. RAF says it plans to develop more drones to work with its warplanes. Insight from @cnas.bksy.org’s @spettyjohn.bsky.social www.airandspaceforces.com/raf-new-plan...
RAF Unveils Its Own Plan for New Drones to Fly Alongside Fighters
The U.K. Royal Air Force has unveiled new electronic warfare drones designed to fly with fighter jets into contested airspace,
www.airandspaceforces.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The Royal Air Force has unveiled a new electronic warfare drone to fly with its fighter jets, including F-35s, into contested airspace. RAF says it plans to develop more drones to work with its warplanes. Insight from @cnas.bksy.org’s @spettyjohn.bsky.social www.airandspaceforces.com/raf-new-plan...
ICYMI: I had a great conversation with Josh Wallin and Jack Shanahan about what the Pentagon needs to do to safely and rapidly field AI-enabled capabilities. @cnas.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnI...
Safe and Effective: Advancing DOD Test and Evaluation for AI and Autonomous Systems
YouTube video by Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
www.youtube.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
ICYMI: I had a great conversation with Josh Wallin and Jack Shanahan about what the Pentagon needs to do to safely and rapidly field AI-enabled capabilities. @cnas.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnI...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Pleased to release my latest @cnas.bsky.social report on how to revitalize the U.S. defense industrial base so that it can keep pace with modern conflict, deter a future China challenge, and secure U.S. and global interests.
Read more here: www.cnas.org/publications...
Read more here: www.cnas.org/publications...
From Production Lines to Front Lines
The United States needs a different DIB than it has today if it wants to deter and prevail in future great power conflict.
www.cnas.org
April 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pleased to release my latest @cnas.bsky.social report on how to revitalize the U.S. defense industrial base so that it can keep pace with modern conflict, deter a future China challenge, and secure U.S. and global interests.
Read more here: www.cnas.org/publications...
Read more here: www.cnas.org/publications...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Instead of fixating on cheap drones, the Pentagon should carefully invest in a mix of inexpensive and high-end airpower, argues @spettyjohn.bsky.social.
America’s Eroding Airpower
Washington must upgrade its fleet of planes, drones, and missiles.
www.foreignaffairs.com
April 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Instead of fixating on cheap drones, the Pentagon should carefully invest in a mix of inexpensive and high-end airpower, argues @spettyjohn.bsky.social.
I have been thrilled to work with @jackieschneider.bsky.social & the @hooverinstitution.bsky.social on several wargaming initiatives.
First, a panel conversation on women in wargaming with Bethany Goldblum, & Emma Barrosa www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP22...
First, a panel conversation on women in wargaming with Bethany Goldblum, & Emma Barrosa www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP22...
Women of Wargaming: From World War II To Today | Hoover Institution
YouTube video by Hoover Institution
www.youtube.com
March 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I have been thrilled to work with @jackieschneider.bsky.social & the @hooverinstitution.bsky.social on several wargaming initiatives.
First, a panel conversation on women in wargaming with Bethany Goldblum, & Emma Barrosa www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP22...
First, a panel conversation on women in wargaming with Bethany Goldblum, & Emma Barrosa www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP22...
The announcement that the US Air Force is going to move ahead with the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter (F-47) is welcome because as I note in my Foreign Affairs piece, the US needs a mix of high-end and low-cost AirPower to compete with China.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
America’s Eroding Airpower
Washington must upgrade its fleet of planes, drones, and missiles.
www.foreignaffairs.com
March 21, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The announcement that the US Air Force is going to move ahead with the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter (F-47) is welcome because as I note in my Foreign Affairs piece, the US needs a mix of high-end and low-cost AirPower to compete with China.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Women of Wargaming featuring @spettyjohn.bsky.social Bethany Goldblum and Emma Barrosa youtu.be/NP224DLDSCs?...
Women of Wargaming: From World War II To Today | Hoover Institution
YouTube video by Hoover Institution
youtu.be
March 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Women of Wargaming featuring @spettyjohn.bsky.social Bethany Goldblum and Emma Barrosa youtu.be/NP224DLDSCs?...
Happy to share my latest in Foreign Affairs on why the US needs cheap drones & missiles to provide mass & stealthy aircraft to deter China & retain the ability to project power anywhere in the world.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
America’s Eroding Airpower
Washington must upgrade its fleet of planes, drones, and missiles.
www.foreignaffairs.com
March 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Happy to share my latest in Foreign Affairs on why the US needs cheap drones & missiles to provide mass & stealthy aircraft to deter China & retain the ability to project power anywhere in the world.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Great piece by @spettyjohn.bsky.social in @foreignaffairs.com on how the US Air Force needs a high/low mix of more sophisticated capabilities and precise mass for a potential conflict against China - highly recommend checking it out: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state... cc @cnas.bsky.social
https://foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…
March 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Great piece by @spettyjohn.bsky.social in @foreignaffairs.com on how the US Air Force needs a high/low mix of more sophisticated capabilities and precise mass for a potential conflict against China - highly recommend checking it out: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state... cc @cnas.bsky.social
Reposted by Stacie Pettyjohn
Today in
@ForeignAffairs
I preview part of my book, which argues that China's turn toward power projection was both inevitable and badly timed (for Beijing).
Here's the short version... [1/5]
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...
@ForeignAffairs
I preview part of my book, which argues that China's turn toward power projection was both inevitable and badly timed (for Beijing).
Here's the short version... [1/5]
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...
China’s Self-Defeating Strategy
Power projection once made empires—now it can undo them.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Today in
@ForeignAffairs
I preview part of my book, which argues that China's turn toward power projection was both inevitable and badly timed (for Beijing).
Here's the short version... [1/5]
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...
@ForeignAffairs
I preview part of my book, which argues that China's turn toward power projection was both inevitable and badly timed (for Beijing).
Here's the short version... [1/5]
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...