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Sean Carberry on Muck Rack

Sean Carberry

  • Senior Editorial Lead, The Asia Foundation
Washington, D.C.
As seen in: MSN, NPR, The Atlantic, Substack, VICE, The Hill, The Diplomat Magazine, WNYC (New York, NY), IrishCentral, Atlantic Council and
Covers:  International development, international affairs, national security, conflict.
Storyteller, writer, editor. Author: Doubling Down and Passport Stamps www.passport-stamps.com Former @DOD_IG, @NPR, @NationalDefense Go @nhlbruins.

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Sean Carberry’s Biography

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Sean Carberry is a Peabody and Lowell Thomas award-winning journalist, writer, and editor. Most recently he served as managing editor of National Defense. In his 2.5 years in that role, he won seven journalism awards for his reporting and commentary writing. In his more than 15 years as a radio and print journalist, he has traveled to dozens of countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. He was NPR’s last Kabul-based correspondent in 2012 thr…

Sean Carberry’s Journalist Portfolio

Energetics Community Warns of China’s Edge Developing Explosive Materials

Energetics Community Warns of China’s Edge Developing Explosive Materials

Defence Media Award-winning story on China's lead in developing more powerful explosive and propellant chemic…

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Articles

EDITOR'S NOTES: Just Say No to Conference Swag: Point/Counterpoint

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By Stew Magnuson Verified, Sean Carberry
| National Defense Verified
EDITOR'S NOTES: Just Say No to Conference Swag: Point/Counterpoint The night before penning this column, a late fall storm rolled through the greater Washington, D.C., region, causing all the lights to go out. But no problem. I had flashlights spread throughout the house — not a single one of them purchased. They were all picked up at various defense trade shows as “swag,” the free items vendors distribute to get their name out there. So, thanks BAE Systems, DARPA and Kongsberg.
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Defense Innovation Unit Flying to Close Drone Gap

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By Sean Carberry
| National Defense Verified
TWENTYNINE PALMS, California — A pair of F-18s circle above a battered desert city reminiscent of Ramadi in 2006. A loud buzzing cuts through the roar of the jet engines, and a small quadcopter lifts off and hovers above a potential threat. The copter releases a smaller, quieter drone that descends to the target to provide a closer view. The operator confirms the target is a threat, positions the large drone over the target and releases two small munitions. They whistle as they fall to the ground.
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BUDGET MATTERS: Wall Street Wants Bigger, Predictable Defense Budgets

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By Sean Carberry
| National Defense Verified
There are few things D.C.-based media love more than speculative journalism, and since Election Day, cable news and inside-the-beltway outlets have been awash in pundit-driven conversations about what Donald Trump’s win means for policy matters ranging from immigration to national security. Wall Street is another bastion of speculation, and there, traders are trying to read the Trump tea leaves to determine the valuation of defense contractors going forward.
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Awards

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Society of Professional Journalists Award

2010 - Radio Documentary

Sigma Delta Chi award for America Abroad's three-part documentary series "The Arab World's Demographic Dilemma" exploring the region's youth bulge and the economic, political, social, and religious factors that would lead to the Arab Spring.

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Peabody Award

2011 - Podcast and Radio

Team award for NPR reporting on "The Arab Spring from Egypt to Libya."

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Society of Professional Journalists Award

2024 - Newsletter/Trade Publication Column

Dateline award for excellence in local journalism for "Budget Matters" column on defense spending.

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Defence Media Award

2024 - John Morrocco Award for In-Depth Reporting

Award for Nation Defense Magazine reporting on the Army's 2024 Project Convergence experimentation.

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Defence Media Award

2024 - Best Land Systems Submission

Team award to National Defense magazine staff for comprehensive coverage of the Army's 24 by 23 initiative to field new technologies.

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Military Reporters and Editors

2024 - Best Commentary/Opinion Writing

Awarded for Budget Matters column in National Defense magazine

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Overseas Press Club, Lowell Thomas Award

2011 - Best radio news or interpretation of international affairs

NPR coverage of the Arab Spring

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Defence Media Award

2023 - Best Technology Submission

Award for National Defense Magazine report: "Energetics: Community Warns of China’s Edge Developing Explosive Materials"

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Military Reporters and Editors

2024 - Best Commentary/Opinion

Defence Media Award

2025 - John Morrocco Award for Best In-depth Defence Reporting

Society of Professional Journalists Award

2025 - Best Trade Publication Column
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