Matthew Cox
Matthew Cox has been a defense reporter since 1998. Prior to working for three years in media relations at Thales, he worked for Military.com from 2011 to 2021, covering Army and Marine Corps readiness and modernizations with a focus on weapons development and procurement. Before that he worked for more than 12 years at Army Times. He focused on modernization, training, and readiness as well as covering light infantry units in combat in both Afghanistan from 2002 to 2008. He also spent four years in the U.S. Army during the second half of the 1980s, serving as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Recent stories by Matthew Cox
‘When in Doubt, Salute’: New Rules for Greeting Chaplains Without Rank Insignia
The Department of the Air Force has released new guidance for the policy that directs chaplains to remove rank insignia from their uniforms, an update that directs Airmen and Guardians to treat chaplains as they always have—as commissioned officers.
Where Things Stand with the Pentagon’s $350 Billion Reconciliation Request
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost ...
Next-Gen Airlifter Could Land and Take Off from Austere Airstrips
The Air Force is offering a few early hints of what it’s looking for in its next-generation replacement for the C-5 and C-17, including the ability to fly in and out of makeshift airfields on austere battlefields.
Experts: Adversaries Can Exploit App Data to Track Troops, Families
For millions of Americans, downloading smartphone apps and quickly allowing them access to the phone’s location data has become a daily routine. But for service members and their families, every download can offer U.S. adversaries a chance to threaten their personal safety, information security experts ...
GAO: Tanker Fleet Struggling with Readiness due to Parts Shortage, KC-46 Delays
The Air Force tanker fleet “did not meet” its availability and mission capable rate goals from fiscal 2019 to 2025, in large part because of parts shortages and delays fielding the KC-46 refueler, according to a Government Accountability Office report released June 10.
From 200-Plus to 31: How the Pentagon Cut Religion Codes
The Pentagon fulfilled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's promise to slash the number of Religious Affiliation Codes used by the military to track the volume of members adhering to different religions and to shape the chaplain corps to support them. The change reduces the number of ...
KC-46’s New Remote Vision System Completes Initial ‘Non-Contact’ Testing
Boeing has completed initial flight testing on its redesigned Remote Vision System for the KC-46 tanker, the defense giant announced June 4. The new system, dubbed RVS 2.0, is meant to replace the original camera and video system boom operators use to refuel other aircraft, ...
Air Force Hero Bob Lodge May Finally Get Medal of Honor with New Proposed Legislation
Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) is introducing legislation to award Maj. Robert “Bob” Alfred Lodge a posthumous Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life May 10, 1972—during the critical bombing campaign in the Vietnam War—to protect fellow members of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron
HASC Seeks Insight into Air Force, DOD Plans for Cargo Drones
Lawmakers want to know more about how the Air Force and Pentagon might employ autonomous cargo drones to resupply troops in remote locations in the future, according to reports attached to the House Armed Services Committee’s draft version of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization ...
Lawmakers Want USAF to Move Faster in Arming Tankers with Active Defenses
Lawmakers drafting the 2027 defense policy bill worry the Air Force is not moving fast enough to arm its tanker fleet with new protection systems capable of defeating incoming missile threats.
First Airman Graduates from Army’s New Jungle School, with More to Follow
The U.S. military’s newest jungle school has been an “embrace the suck” course for Marines and Soldiers since opening in January—not anymore. Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul just became the first Airmen to graduate the rebooted jungle warfare course in the punishing Panamanian jungle.
Wilsbach: No Gap in USAF’s Close Air Support After A-10s Retire
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers this week there will be no gap in the service’s close air support capabilities under its latest plan to retire the venerable A-10 Thunderbolt II at the start of the next decade.
KC-135 Pulled Out of Boneyard Weeks After Another Crashed in Iraq
The Air Force pulled a KC-135 out of storage at the “Boneyard” in early April, three weeks after another one of the service’s Stratotankers crashed in Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
Air Force Offering Fewer Reenlistment Bonuses in 2026: Here’s the List
The Air Force has drastically reduced the number of eligible career fields for Active-Duty Airmen seeking reenlistment bonuses in 2026, going from 89 to 24.
Air Force Raises Bar for Religious Waiver Requests, Reduces Chaplains’ Input
The Department of the Air Force issues a new policy on requests for religious accommodation, raising the bar for such requests as it implements guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The new policy emphasizes the role of commanders while limiting that of chaplains. It also ...