Megan Eckstein

Naval warfare reporter

Megan Eckstein is the naval warfare reporter at Defense News. She has covered military news since 2009, with a focus on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, acquisition programs and budgets. She has reported from four geographic fleets and is happiest when she’s filing stories from a ship. Megan is a University of Maryland alumna.

All Stories By Megan

House panel takes aim at Navy size, new capabilities in defense bill

Here are some of the issues House lawmakers take issue with, in regard to the Navy's fleet plans.

5 weeks ago

US Navy’s submarine fleet is too small. Here’s how selling some may help.

The U.S. Navy’s fleet includes 49 attack submarines, despite a formal requirement for 66. It’s also facing crewing and maintenance problems.

5 weeks ago

Navy addresses chain of command for surface ship fires

A new memo assigns the type commander as the deputy primary commander for an in-port emergency, clarifying who should coordinate the response effort.

Surface navy expanding use of data in sailor detailing process

Though the SURFMEX data tool won't address overall manning levels, it's meant to ensure the right sailors are in the right jobs to boost ship readiness.

Navy christens third ‘Overlord’ robot ship, with more on tap

Mariner will join four other USVs in California in fiscal 2023 for at-sea operations and experimentation, to accompany land-based testing in Philadelphia.

How far has the US Navy come since the McCain, Fitzgerald collisions?

Six officials with first-hand knowledge of the surface force then and now spoke to Defense News leading up to the anniversary of the McCain collision.

Surface navy looks for ways to more quickly field ships, weapons

The Navy is too slow to get new ships and shipboard systems out on deployment, a 3-star admiral says. Growing threats mean the Navy must move faster.

Navy moves to align its strategy with National Defense Strategy priorities

The CNO's updated Navigation Plan is quite similar to last year's original plan — but it intentionally couches Navy priorities and capabilities in the terms of the new National Defense Strategy, to make a stronger case for Pentagon funding.

American MV-22 Ospreys move to Australian ship for RIMPAC exercise

Australian amphibious ship Canberra is working through integration issues with as many kinds of foreign aircraft as it can -- including taking the unprecedented step of embarking a pair of U.S. MV-22 Ospreys for three weeks during RIMPAC 2022.

Two sailors injured after engine room fire starts on Peruvian ship during Pacific exercise

A ship participating in the RIMPAC 2022 exercise experienced an engine room fire, and two sailors were flown ashore for medical treatment.

Council tests out-of-the-box ideas to boost at-sea safety

After two catastrophic collisions in 2017, the U.S. Navy moved forward with dozens of recommendations meant to ensure it couldn’t happen again. But during this process, something became clear: Despite spending billions of dollars on readiness initiatives, the Navy’s mishap rate hadn’t improved in the last 30 years.

Six questions with the head of US Fleet Forces Command

"If you can envision a Venn diagram of all the Navy’s current problems and give a reason for those, at the center of that Venn diagram would be maintenance."

"Young men don't lose brothers well." Vietnam recon veterans recall those who didn't come home

What Type of Savings Accounts Are Out There? — Money Minute

Real world conflicts inform military leaders on the future of electronic warfare

The future of electronic warfare and cyber threats | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 6.8.24