Bryan Bender
Phoenix, Washington
As seen in:
CNN Business,
MSN,
MSN Canada,
MSN South Africa,
Yahoo News,
Die Welt,
Boston.com,
Morning Defense Newsletter,
POLITICO,
POLITICO Playbook
and
Dad, author, VP @strategicmicom helping innovators build a more secure, sustainable future. Advisor @safeaerospace. Ex-@politico & @Bostonglobe. Tweets my own.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Bryan Bender
Regional Rivalries, National Imperative: State Governments Pick Up the Pace in Space Race
Numerous states are deploying innovative strategies to expand their commercial space ecosystem to grow their economies and play a bigger national role Washington, D.C. – A growing number of states are taking proactive steps to marshal their public and private sectors and academia to grow the commercial space industry, offering incentives to encourage new partnerships, attract startups, and identify dual-use technologies to expand their regional and national space footprint.
Congressional Leaders Laud NASA Moon Plans, But Fight Intensifies over Science Funding
“If we weaken academia, we don’t just weaken our research capacity, we lose our workforce and we lose the innovation that fuels our economy.” —Rep. Zoe Lofgren at ASCEND 2026 Congressional leaders with oversight of NASA were bullish on the progress of the Artemis program and plans to return astronauts to the surface of the moon and beyond, but also reinforced the clashes ahead on Capitol Hill over steep proposed cuts to the agency’s budget.
Space Force Seeks More Innovations to Characterize Space Threats, General Says
“We need to know not just where a satellite is, but also what it is doing, who owns it, and whether its maneuvers constitute a threat.” The Space Force, which is anticipating its biggest budget ever, must improve its “space domain awareness” as low Earth orbit becomes more crowded and adversaries pursue greater means to attack satellites and other assets, a top Space Force general told the ASCEND 2026 audience.
Pushing the Envelope: Licensing Process for Space Launches Catching Up to Demand but More Resources, Flexibility Needed
Washington, DC – The FAA’s approval process for regulating space launches is steadily improving due to recent streamlining efforts, but it must continue to evolve to sustain the dynamic ramp-up in activity in the coming years, government and industry leaders told ASCEND 2026. The demand for space launches is expanding exponentially: Of the 1,050 space launches over the past four decades, roughly half took place in the last four years.
From Garbage to Gold
While sitting at a water-front cafe in Cape Town, Richard Hardiman became annoyed by the plastic garbage floating past the otherwise lovely view of his home town harbour. Then he asked himself the question which seeds all innovation … why? Why has no one solved this problem already? Listen in to hear his answer. RanMarine builds drones that remove waste from water, supporting the natural resilience of our oceans and helping Smart Cities to reduce their carbon footprint.
Blue Economy - Blue Tech
Michael Jones, President and Founder of The Maritime Alliance joins us for our first episode with insight on the huge opportunities in the Blue Economy. The Maritime Alliance is the non-profit industry association for the largest BlueTech cluster in the United States. Located in San Diego, California, we focus on business ecosystem development, economic development, and workforce development by bringing together academia, industry, and government.
Inspiration from Expiration Anxiety
Amber Michel was a career mariner with a problem. Managing the giant stack of professional credentials required to maintain her license had become a full-time job, which she had to fit in during the few weeks at a time that she was ashore. Missing a single training session could cost a career. After 13 years at sea with the U.S. Merchant Marine, she came ashore to solve “Expiration Anxiety” once and for all. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:00 — 61.8MB) | Embed
Institutionalizing Innovation
On today’s show, we head to Washington state to talk about a Blue Economy initiative called Washington Maritime BLUE 2050, a year-long effort to develop the state’s maritime strategy through economic studies and pilot projects. Our guest is the Governor’s Maritime Sector Lead for the Washington State Dept. of Commerce, Joshua Berger. We talk about the state’s efforts to stimulate Maritime innovation and create jobs.
Teaching the Holocaust in the Age of Misinformation Original
Teaching the Holocaust in the Age of Misinformation Can a planned education center offer “new narratives” more powerful than the antisemitism on social media? Author Bryan Bender interviews the "interactive biography" of Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch. | Sarah Adler for POLITICO Bryan Bender is a former senior national correspondent for POLITICO, focusing on defense and national security.
Inside the ugly transition at the Pentagon (dated Jan 20,2021)
The Pentagon blocked members of President Joe Biden’s incoming administration from gaining access to critical information about current operations, including the troop drawdown in Afghanistan, upcoming special operations missions in Africa and the Covid-19 vaccine distribution program, according to new details provided by transition and defense officials.
Zachód poczuł się zbyt pewnie. Teraz Rosja i Chiny mają przewagę nuklearną
W porze lunchu eklektyczna grupa fizyków, ekonomistów i przedstawicieli nauk społecznych grała w Kriegspeil, formę szachów wzorowaną na pruskich grach wojennych, w których gracze nie widzą pionów przeciwnika i wnioskują o jego ruchach na podstawie skąpych informacji od sędziego. Następnie spędzali resztę dnia pracy na opracowywaniu doktryn wojskowych, teorii odstraszania i międzynarodowych ram kontroli zbrojeń, aby zapobiec wojnie nuklearnej.
The Dangerous and Frightening Disappearance of the Nuclear Expert
The Dangerous and Frightening Disappearance of the Nuclear Expert The vanishing profession of preventing nuclear war More than a dozen experts across the ideological spectrum I spoke with — hawks and doves alike — agreed a renaissance is needed to rebuild lost muscle memory and fashion new strategies to deter increasingly belligerent nuclear peers and new wannabe nuclear states.
The Dangerous and Frightening Disappearance of the Nuclear Expert Original
The Dangerous and Frightening Disappearance of the Nuclear Expert Tensions among nuclear powers are rising, but decades of peace have resulted in a dearth of people trained to deal with the continuing threat. Illustration by C.J. Burton for POLITICO Bryan Bender is a former senior national correspondent for POLITICO, focusing on defense and national security.
‘Thousands of Men Have Come Home Because of Him’
DENVER — If you are a close relative of a soldier, or a sailor, or a Marine, or a pilot who is still missing in action, there’s a good chance you’ve sat across a table from a tall, mustachioed man with a light Texas drawl looking for answers. At the first such meeting, he would more than likely have soberly recounted the circumstances of your loved one’s disappearance in battle.
The Black Vault’s AAWSAP/AATIP and Post 2017 UAP/UFO Timeline Project
EXACT Date in 2007 Unknown Source: Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program (Original NY Times Article) By Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean.
Spy agencies report hundreds more UFO sightings since 2021
National security agencies are studying hundreds of new reports of UFOs, including many that appear to perform maneuvers that are highly advanced, the nation’s top intelligence official reported on Thursday. In total, 510 “unidentified aerial phenomena” observed in protected airspace or near sensitive facilities have been compiled as of August of last year, according to the report to Congress from the director of national intelligence.
Wettrennen zum Mond: Chinas aggressives Raumfahrtprogramm setzt USA unter Druck
Das Wettrennen zum Mond zwischen den Vereinigten Staaten und China verschärft sich. Die kommenden zwei Jahre könnten entscheiden, wer die Oberhand gewinnt. Das sagt Nasa-Chef Bill Nelson und warnt davor, dass Peking auf dem Mond Fuß fassen und versuchen könnte, die rohstoffreichsten Gebiete zu kontrollieren – oder sogar die USA fernzuhalten. „Fakt ist: Wir befinden uns in einem Wettlauf ins All“, sagte der ehemalige Senator und Astronaut aus Florida der WELT-Partnerpublikation „Politico“.
‘We better watch out’: NASA boss sounds alarm on Chinese moon ambitions
The race to the moon between the United States and China is getting tighter and the next two years could determine who gains the upper hand. So says NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who warns that Beijing could establish a foothold and try to dominate the most resource-rich locations on the lunar surface — or even keep the U.S. out. “It is a fact: we’re in a space race,” the former Florida senator and astronaut said in an interview.
POLITICO Pro: Harris taps new slate of National Space Council members
Harris taps new slate of National Space Council members Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday selected a new slate of members to the National Space Council’s User Advisory Group. The council’s job: To provide industry, scientific and academic guidance to the high-level policymaking body.
From blockchain to photos, a look at America’s struggle to track Ukraine aid
The cable comes to light as Republicans are increasingly calling for more vetting of the money and weapons flowing to Ukraine. It also comes as Russia ramps up its attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, making it even harder to account for what’s already poured in of the more than $50 billion the United States has committed to Ukraine. The cable, signed by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, is a snapshot in time.
‘We haven’t got this figured out just yet’: Pentagon, industry struggle to arm Ukraine
“High-end conflict consumes a lot of munitions and a lot of weaponry,” Mike McCord, the Pentagon’s top budget official, said in an interview. “We are also looking at the supply chain limitations.
Defense bill could roll back Covid vaccine policy, top Dem says
Preventative Medicine Services NCOIC Sergeant First Class Demetrius Roberson administers a Covid-19 vaccine to a soldier on Sept. 9, 2021 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. | Jon Cherry/Getty Images SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Final defense legislation set to be unveiled next week could undo the Pentagon’s policy of kicking out troops for not taking the Covid vaccine, the Democratic chair of the House Armed Services Committee said Saturday. Rep.
POLITICO Pro: POLITICO Pro Q&A: Corey Hinderstein, deputy NNSA administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation
POLITICO Pro Q&A: Corey Hinderstein, deputy NNSA administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation Hinderstein spoke to POLITICO about how the war in Ukraine has scrambled the nuclear security framework just days before Moscow postponed talks on New START inspections that were scheduled for this week in Egypt. As the nation’s top cop for policing nuclear treaties and vulnerable material for the past year, Corey Hinderstein has witnessed an unsettling number of unchecked atomic dangers stack up.
Drones over D.C.: Senators alarmed over potential Chinese spy threat
This story is based on interviews with seven government officials, lawmakers, congressional staffers and contractors. They were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about private and sometimes classified discussions involving government officials. The officials say they do not believe the swarms are directed by the Chinese government.
U.S. speeds up plans to store upgraded nukes in Europe
U.S. speeds up plans to store upgraded nukes in Europe The fielding of an improved gravity bomb has been moved up to December as Vladimir Putin threatens the region.
A Space Rescue Service? Calls grow to create a quick response force for astronauts in distress.
For the foreseeable future, private astronauts will travel at their own risk. Congress has barredthe federal government from regulating the safety of human spaceflight until at least next October, as part of a hands-off approach intended to allow the industry to mature.
POLITICO Pro: The Pentagon’s big defense and nuke strategies are out. Here are 16 things we learned
The Pentagon’s big defense and nuke strategies are out. Here are 16 things we learned China, Russia, Iran are at the top of the list. The Pentagon is doubling down on China as America’s largest military competitor, while maintaining that Russia is an “acute” threat, in a trio of highly anticipated strategy papers released in one fell swoop Thursday.
Zwrot USA w sprawie bomby atomowej w Europie
Rozmieszczenie w europejskich bazach ulepszonej grawitacyjnej bomby jądrowej B61-12, zrzucanej z powietrza, planowane początkowo na wiosnę przyszłego roku, zostało przesunięte na grudzień z uwagi na szantaż nuklearny, do którego ucieka się Putin Stanowi to jednak zaskoczenie dla niektórych obserwatorów, którzy obawiają się, że może to jeszcze bardziej podsycić i tak już niebezpieczną sytuację w Europie Przyspieszenie przez USA modernizacji arsenału jądrowego w Europie jest przesłaniem dla...
U.S. speeds up plans to store upgraded nukes in Europe
The upgrades to the B61 program have been openly discussed in budget documents and public statements for years, and Pentagon officials have said the upgrades are necessary to ensure the stockpile is modernized and safe. Asked for comment, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen.
UFOs being taken seriously by American experts
UFOs being taken seriously by American experts ‘New territory’: America’s top aerospace sleuths join UFO hunt The country’s largest organization of technical experts has concluded that recent incursions pose a safety hazard to aircraft. NASA on June 9, 2022 announced it plans to study UFOs. A long exposure photo of a drone is pictured.
‘New territory’: America’s top aerospace sleuths join UFO hunt
“We’re stepping in a new territory,” said Ryan Graves, a former Navy fighter pilot and defense contractor who is co-chairing AIAA’s Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Community of Interest. He’s joined by Ravi Kopparapu, a planetary scientist at NASA who is studying the potential habitability of Earth-like planets. “This topic is not for everyone,” added Graves, who came forward with his own experience with UFOs hovering over his F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet in 2014 and 2015.
Pentagon eyes locking in Starlink funding for Ukraine
A U.S. official involved in the discussions said that there is little confidence that Elon Musk can be trusted, forcing DoD to identify a way to keep Starlink or a suitable backup running in Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
POLITICO Pro: POLITICO Pro Q&A: Lt. Gen. John Shaw, deputy commander, U.S. Space Command
POLITICO Pro Q&A: Lt. Gen. John Shaw, deputy commander, U.S. Space Command Shaw spoke about the military’s plans to hand over the space traffic management mission to the Commerce Department so it can focus on potential threats. Space Force Lt. Gen. John Shaw, the deputy commander of U.S. Space Command, has gained a reputation as a futurist.
Security clearances, annexations and encirclements Original
The inaction is sparking complaints that the Pentagon wants to keep the power to pull security clearances without what they see as the stronger and fairer review process that is afforded contractors. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo With help from Paul McLeary and Daniel Lippman Subscribe here | The Pentagon is being accused of again blocking long-sought reforms that would give military and civilian personnel the same appeals process as contractors when their security clearances are revoked or denied.
Putin announces Russia will annex four Ukrainian territories after sham referendums
"I'm sure the federal assembly will support the laws of formation of the four new regions in Russia, four new subjects of the Russian federation," Vladimir Putin said in a speech Friday. | Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Vladimir Putin on Friday declared that four provinces of Ukraine will become Russian territory based on referendums that took place this week, a move that is expected to unleash a wave of sanctions and widespread condemnation from other nations.
Zachód wzywa Chiny i Indie, by przemówiły Putinowi do rozsądku w sprawie broni atomowej
Amerykanie naciskają na sojuszników, partnerów i inne kraje w regionie Indo-Pacyfiku, zwracając uwagę na wagę przemawiania jednym głosem przeciwko użyciu broni jądrowej Uważają też, że jednym z najbardziej obiecujących sposobów wpłynięcia na Putina jest oparcie się na prezydencie Chin Xi Jinpingu i premierze Indii Narendrze Modim Według wielu europejskich i amerykańskich urzędników ci dwaj przywódcy mają narzędzia, by przekonać Putina Kreml wygłasza coraz bardziej wojownicze groźby, że Rosja...
Calls grow for China and India to talk sense into Putin
“They should do it. I hope they would,” added the official, who like others interviewed for this article asked not to be identified in order to discuss internal deliberations. A senior State Department official said that U.S. diplomats have been pressing Russia’s regional friends and foes alike to pressure Putin not to go the nuclear route.
U.S. steps up intel, surveillance after Putin’s nuke threats
That means that unless Putin or his commanders want the world to know in advance, the U.S. might never know when Russian forces have swapped out conventional munitions for atomic bombs. It is an increasingly vexing problem as Russian forces struggle to regain the momentum in Ukraine and signs grow that Putin is increasingly unpopular at home, especially after he ordered a limited military draft last week.
POLITICO Pro: Colorado senators make final plea to keep Space Command
Colorado senators make final plea to keep Space Command Colorado's two Democratic senators are making a final plea to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to keep U.S. Space Command from moving to Alabama. Specifically, they warn that moving the headquarters to Huntsville could create a delay in the new command’s ability to carry out its full mission.
POLITICO Pro: Feds take tentative steps to regulate private space travel
Feds take tentative steps to regulate private space travel But industry advocates say it is still too soon for government intervention. The heady days of private space travel free of government bureaucrats may soon be coming to an end.
The Struggling Arkansas Town That Helped Stop Russia in Its Tracks
Travis Daniel stands in front of the mural he commissioned on the downtown building he remodeled into studio apartments for the growing defense workforce. "It’s time to get on up in the modern age.” | Photos by John David Pittman for POLITICO Bryan Bender is a senior national correspondent for POLITICO CAMDEN, Arkansas — The mural Travis Daniel commissioned for the derelict building he purchased and renovated into studio apartments is a soaring tribute to this rural community’s economic lifeline.
Sweden’s narco wars dominate election campaign
ESKILSTUNA, Sweden — In mid-August, a woman shopping in a mall in the southern Swedish city of Malmö was accidentally shot by a gunman police believe was targeting a rival gang member. Just days later, a woman and small child were hit by stray bullets during a shoot-out — likely between rival gangs — near a playground in the central town of Eskilstuna.
Germany unveils new energy cost relief, vows to cap prices
BERLIN — The German government on Sunday announced a €65 billion relief package to cushion citizens and companies from skyrocketing energy costs while also vowing to reform the energy market to collect excess profits and cap prices. "We will get through this winter," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a press conference as he announced various support measures as well as an extension of Germany's hugely popular state-subsidized €9 transport ticket.
Scrubbed launch ratchets up pressure on NASA’s moon mission
Photographers reset remote cameras near NASA's new moon rocket as she sits on Launch Pad 39-B, Sept. 2, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. | Chris O'Meara/AP Photo NASA on Saturday will try again to launch its mega-moon rocket and space capsule for a maiden voyage around the moon, after nearly a week of troubleshooting several glitches with the Space Launch System that scrubbed the initial launch on Monday. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
POLITICO Pro: White House seeks $13.7 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine
White House seeks $13.7 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine The funding, to cover October through December, is being sought ahead of Congress’ plans to pass a continuing resolution as a temporary funding measure to begin fiscal 2023.
Commission calls for stripping Robert E. Lee of honors at West Point
The biggest changes are set for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where multiple buildings and other facilities are named for Lee, who served as superintendent before leading the Confederate Army during the Civil War. | US Military Academy The congressional commission reviewing Pentagon property honoring the Confederacy is recommending renaming facilities and removing depictions dedicated to Robert E. Lee and other leaders at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Największy sprawdzian od dziesięcioleci. Oczy świata skierowane na NASA
Artemis I jest pierwszym krokiem na drodze do stałej eksploracji powierzchni Księżyca oraz do lotu na Marsa. Artemis II ma być już misją załogową Głównym zarzutem wobec rakiety SLS, która była tworzona przez prawie dwie dekady, jest to, że została oparta w dużej mierze na starszych projektach.
Commission calls for stripping Robert E. Lee of honors at West Point
The US military is running low on ammo after sending so much to Ukraine If there was ever a doubt that the United States has been supplying significant amounts of weapons to Ukraine to help it counter the Russian …
NASA faces its biggest test in decades
The stakes are high: On the next mission, astronauts will be aboard. It’s also NASA’s chance to show the world that it’s not just billionaire privateers who are charting the new space age and fueling public fascination with the prospect of exploring other worlds. “The public still has great affection for NASA. There is not a better brand, certainly in government,” said Lori Garver, former deputy NASA administrator.
White House launches new war on secrecy
The initiative comes amid extraordinary scrutiny over the proper management of classified documents as the Justice Department investigates former President Donald Trump for allegedly mishandling sensitive national secrets after leaving the White House.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Bryan
Contact Bryan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack