Chris Gordon
Chris Gordon is the Pentagon Editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Chris has broad experience in journalism and communications, and developed a keen interest in defense policy and aerospace during his time on Capitol Hill where he worked with the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a reporter, Chris has covered everything from national security to hockey for a variety of publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Chris has reported from hotspots around the world, such as Ukraine and the Middle East. His award-winning work at Air & Space Forces Magazine focuses on U.S. military operations, national security policy, and senior Department of Defense leadership.
Chris is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Military Reporters & Editors, a nonprofit organization for journalists covering the military, national security, and homeland defense.
Chris can be contacted at CGordon@afa.org or chrisgordon.24 on Signal.
Recent stories by Chris Gordon
Pentagon Says US Has Spent Around $29B on Iran Operations, Full Cost Remains Unclear
The cost of operations against Iran has risen to $29 billion, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers May 12, a $4 billion increase from the Department of Defense’s last public estimate two weeks ago.
‘Doesn’t Happen Without These 6 Airmen’: F-16 Pilots Awarded DFCs for Midnight Hammer
A half-dozen pilots from one of the Air Force’s premier F-16 units, the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., have been awarded one of the service’s highest decorations for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear ...
US Strikes Iran in Response to Attacks as Ceasefire Tested
The U.S. military conducted strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, as the conflict with Iran flared up again—though officials say the ceasefire remains in effect.
From Boneyard to Flagship: B-1 Pulled from Retirement Returns to Service at Dyess
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
New USAFA Superintendent, Air Mobility Command Boss Among Three-Star Nominations
President Donald Trump’s administration sent a batch of three-star Air Force nominations to Congress for approval on April 30, including a new superintendent for the U.S. Air Force Academy and the next commander of Air Mobility Command, officially pushing that job down to a three-star ...
Hegseth: US Will Require ‘a Lot More’ Than 100 B-21 Bombers
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told lawmakers April 30 that the Pentagon should consider buying “a lot more” B-21 Raider next-generation stealth bombers, signaling top-level interest in expanding the official program of record for the aircraft.
Trump Picks Schiess as Next Space Force Chief
Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess has been nominated by President Donald Trump to become the next Chief of Space Operations, the top uniformed leader in the U.S. Space Force.
Iran War Has Cost $25 Billion So Far, Pentagon Says
The war in Iran has cost about $25 billion so far, Pentagon officials told Congress on April 29, providing the first public estimate of the cost of Operation Epic Fury.
Munitions Used vs. Iran Will Take Years to Replace, Even with Huge Pentagon Weapons Budget
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before ...
Budget Calls for More Airmen, More Guardians in 2027
The Air Force and Space Force would both expand their ranks next year under the Pentagon's proposed $1.5 trillion 2027 budget.
U-2 Fleet, Half of A-10s Would Retire; Air Force Plans to Add 108 Planes in ’27
The Air Force wants to divest 149 older aircraft and buy 108 new ones in fiscal 2027, continuing a trend that shrinks the overall fleet. Among the planes to be divested are the last 23 U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes in the inventory and nearly ...
Air Force Delays A-10 Retirement Until 2030
The Air Force is extending the life of the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack plane until at least 2030, pausing the service’s plan to retire the close air support aircraft amid active combat in the Middle East.
Air Force Recruits Most New Airmen Since 2004, Making Goal Early
The Air Force achieved its goal of recruiting 32,750 Active-Duty enlisted Airmen for 2026 five months ahead of schedule, military officials said this week—its biggest recruiting year in more than two decades.
Air Force, Navy Fighters Patrolling for Threats During US Blockade of Iran
U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets are playing a prominent role in patrolling for threats as part of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
100-Plus Aircraft Join US Military Blockade of Iran
The U.S. military’s naval blockade of Iran is relying on a significant amount of airpower to surveil the seas and protect maritime assets.