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
Newport News yard seeks experienced workforce for nuclear shipbuilding
Newport News Shipbuilding its expanding its search for talent, looking nationally for experienced tradespeople who can join the shipbuilding industry.
After 2014 decimation, Ukrainian Navy rebuilds to fend off Russia
Ukraine lost most of its Navy in the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. But rebuilding its fleet from scratch has allowed it to procure systems compatible and even interoperable with NATO.
Six questions with the US Navy’s 6th Fleet commander
Defense News caught up with Vice Adm. Gene Black in Ukraine to discuss the importance of securing the Black Sea, and how the U.S. and its allies plan to counter Russian military activity in the region.
Navy willing to pay more for more maintainable ships
The Navy is willing to pay more for new ships upfront if it means saving on maintenance and personnel costs throughout the life of the program.
Boeing conducts first manned-unmanned teaming event with MQ-25 tanker
Boeing demonstrated its unmanned MQ-25 tanker could take commands from pilots midair and deviate from preplanned missions, in the first manned-unmanned teaming test for the drone.
Acting US Navy undersecretary James Geurts to retire this month
The Navy’s acting undersecretary will step down this month and retire from government service, with no replacement immediately announced.
Year-long continuing resolution would cost the Navy $14B in spending power
A continuing resolution this fall would put $14 billion in Navy funds in the wrong accounts compared to Navy needs – meaning the service couldn’t buy the right ships and weapons, wouldn’t have enough money operate the fleet and may have to cut back on people due to the misalignment of funds.
Navy will incur some cost in replacing Freedom-variant LCS combining gears
Though the Navy argues the flawed combining gear is a "latent defect" in Lockheed Martin's design, the best-case scenario for the Navy still involves paying some of the cost of replacing the system on all Freedom-variant littoral combat ships.
Pentagon needs reorg before Navy can develop maritime strategy, says Rep. Luria
Rep. Elaine Luria says the Navy needs a proper maritime strategy that defines its role in the world, but that a reorganization at the Pentagon must be the first step.
HASC ‘skeptical’ of Navy plans to mitigate fighter shortfall, transition into future jet
Lawmakers have reservations about the Navy’s plans to transition from the Super Hornet into the Next Generation Air Dominance future fighter without creating a big gap in inventory.
