Thomas Novelly

NEW @defenseone.bsky.social: New images show that General Atomics has flown a second drone wingman, a notable development in the Air Force's CCA competition.

Hegseth fired the Air Force’s top lawyer. The JAG who took on the job is stepping away. It’s been eight months since the service had a Senate-confirmed leader in the role.

SCOOP: Eight months after Defense Secretary Hegseth fired the Air Force’s top lawyer, the JAG tasked with those duties has stepped down. No one has yet been nominated to permanently fill either of the service’s top legal jobs.

More here @defenseone.bsky.social:
www.defenseone.com/threats/2025...

Howdy, folks! I'm now a senior reporter at @defenseone.bsky.social! Follow me for the latest on air & space warfare, national security and emerging technologies. Excited to be a part of this team!

@kheel.bsky.social, @ktoropin.bsky.social, @dflawrence.bsky.social, @stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @patriciakime.bsky.social and Rich Sisk are simply the best in the biz. I'll miss working with them.

Excited to share where I'll be reporting next soon. But, tonight, I raise a glass to all these folks.

I revealed the schemes of an alleged cult preying on VA benefits. I spent a week with Space Force Guardians marking history at boot camp. I disclosed longstanding issues facing the V-22 Osprey, and I detailed growing health and cancer concerns in the Air Force. It made an impact.

Zach is one of the best editors in the biz and encouraged me to take big swings with investigations and features. Travis is a journalism role model for me and made sure my daily stories always focused on people first. Their guidance resulted in some of the best work of my journalism career thus far.

Personal news: Today is my last day with @militarydotcom.bsky.social. Four years ago, @zachfb.bsky.social and @travistritten.bsky.social took a chance on a guy far outside DC to be the Air/Space Force Reporter and brought me on to join an incredible team of journalists. Best choice I ever made.

F-35 Pilot Was on Phone for Nearly an Hour with Engineers Before Ejection and Fiery Crash The 39-page crash report, released this week, detailed the circumstances of the fiery crash, which completely destroyed the F-35, valued at $196.5 million.

F-35 Pilot Was on Phone for Nearly an Hour with Engineers Before Ejection and Fiery Crash www.military.com/daily-news/2...

If you’re a guardsman assigned to the DC mission, I want to chat! DM me here or reach me on Signal: tomcnovelly.61

THANK YOU: the X-37B "does not swirl and manoeuver like an X-wing Starfighter or Tie-fighter, changing orbital plane at will. In many ways, on-orbit it is just another satellite, moving in a fixed orbital plane...The wings only function in the atmosphere, not in space"

BREAKING: @militarydotcom.bsky.social has acquired an Air Force service record matching with Sean Charles Dunn, the 37-year-old DOJ employee and veteran accused of assaulting a federal officer by throwing a sandwich at him.

Story to come @militarydotcom.bsky.social:

Bookmarking this to keep an eye on as we learn more about Golden Dome - CRS collected all of their relevant reports on US homeland air and missile defense in one place

www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

I’m blessed to do this work and I’m thankful for all the great people I’ve met along the way.

Here’s to another decade, y’all!

I’ve covered crime scenes and political campaigns. I’ve filed stories from wildfires and nuclear missile sites. I’ve reported on hurricanes and military operations. I’ve sourced from dusty VFW halls to the Pentagon.

I made the front page and was part of a Pulitzer finalist team.

I turned 30 today! I’m feeling nostalgic, reflective and, most importantly, incredibly grateful.

In my 20s I’ve lived and reported in DC, MI, TN, KY, SC, CO and, now, back in DC.

Being a journalist for the past decade has given me more experiences than I could ever even fathom:

Pilots Who Conducted Iran Strikes Invited to White House on July 4, Raising Security Concerns The B-2 Spirit bomber pilots and crew involved with the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last month have been invited to attend a July 4 celebration at the White House, but it's not clear what mea...

NEW: B-2 Pilots on the Iran mission were invited to Trump's July 4 picnic. But the White House and Air Force can't say what measures are being taken to protect their identities.

Former pilots, including a B-2 commander, said that raises security worries. My latest:
www.military.com/daily-news/2...

A Veteran Was Detained by Marines. It Highlights Concerns over the Military's Growing Ties to Law Enforcement. Marcos Leao's detention by Marines marks what many legal, defense and policy experts say is an unprecedented violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the U.S. military from performing domestic...

NEW: The Army veteran detained by Marines in LA told me about the incident, which raised legal fears among experts.

"I would feel bad if someone else was going through that same thing as me, because they would probably freak the heck out."

More @Militarydotcom:
www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Standby for news

If you're a member of the Texas or California National Guard, I'd like to chat with you and we can grant you anonymity. I can be reached on Signal at tomcnovelly.61 or through my DMs here!

The Marines Are in Los Angeles Around 200 Marines armed with rifles, riot control equipment, gas masks, roughly 20 hours of civil disturbance training and the ability to temporarily detain civilians arrived in the country's second-...

The Marines Are in Los Angeles - a look at the Marines now deployed to an American city, how they were prepared, and the history of Marine Corps training in non-lethal tactics by @dflawrence.bsky.social and @tomnovelly.bsky.social

The Marines Are in Los Angeles Around 200 Marines armed with rifles, riot control equipment, gas masks, roughly 20 hours of civil disturbance training and the ability to temporarily detain civilians arrived in the country's second-...

The troops are not allowed to conduct law enforcement. But authorities to temporarily detain citizens and accompany federal law enforcement blur the line between forces meant to police the public and those that fight the country's wars.

Story by @dflawrence.bsky.social + @tomnovelly.bsky.social

'Deeply Negative Message': Relatives of Fort Gregg-Adams' Namesakes React to Trump Renaming Relatives of the late Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams-Earley anticipated it, but when President Donald Trump announced their parents' names would be stripped from the Virginia base, t...

"It's very disheartening," the daughter of the late Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg told @militarydotcom.bsky.social on Wednesday. "My father worked his entire life trying to move the Army and, as a result, the nation forward, and now we're watching it slip backwards."
www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance As Trump viciously attacked his perceived political foes, he whipped up boos from the gathered troops directed at California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Really important story - army officials asked soldiers to identify themselves if they don't agree with Trump's politics that way he'd get only supportive soldiers in uniform during his political rally on base. Heavier soldiers were also barred from participating.

Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance As Trump viciously attacked his perceived political foes, he whipped up boos from the gathered troops directed at California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Soldiers who cheered Trump's political attacks were filtered based on support for the Trump administration and physical appearance.

One unit-level message bluntly saying: "No fat soldiers."

Story by @stevenbeynon.bsky.social and @ktoropin.bsky.social

White House Asked Joint Chiefs Chairman for Candidates to Lead NASA, Worrying Experts The White House made the unusual move of reaching out to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for advice on who should serve as the next NASA administrator, causing experts to worry ...

ICYMI: In an unprecedented move, Trump is asking the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who should serve as the next NASA administrator. A White House official said its because Trump "wants to ensure his next nominee is aligned with his America First vision"
www.military.com/daily-news/2...

'You Deserve Better': Veterans Rally on National Mall Against Trump Cuts Thousands of veterans gathered and raised their fists to the rhythm of the punk rock band Dropkick Murphys on Washington, D.C.'s National Mall on Friday, rallying against the Trump administration's fe...

"When sh-- ain't right, we're going to speak up," the lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys said to a crowd of veterans on the National Mall in DC on Friday. "That's what it's all about and guess what? Sh-- ain't right!"
www.military.com/daily-news/2...

With thoughts from me and Todd Harrison about why this is so puzzling and, in my opinion, such a disconcerting idea

www.military.com/daily-news/2...

White House Asked Joint Chiefs Chairman for Candidates to Lead NASA, Worrying Experts The White House made the unusual move of reaching out Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for advice on who should serve as the next NASA administrator, causing experts to worry…

White House Asked Joint Chiefs Chairman for Candidates to Lead NASA, Worrying Experts www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Here's the reason the White House is providing tonight for the "full suspension" on Afghanistan.

Again, with many allies remaining behind there: