Lee Ferran

Managing Editor

Lee Ferran is the Managing Editor of Breaking Defense, responsible for editing coverage, organizing, scheduling and optimizing editorial operations, and developing our content platforms. Lee brings significant journalistic experience to the role, working at ABC News for over nine years as a national security reporter, investigative reporter and editor of their enterprise investigations unit. Over his career Lee has covered US military budgets and spending, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and controversial counter-terrorism programs. He's the recipient of two News Emmy Awards. Lee's an avid traveler, movie addict and amateur coder, with particular interest in media technology. A native of Georgia, Lee is a graduate of Wake Forest University.

Stories by Lee Ferran

DARPA wants to alter human skin biomes to fight deadliest enemy: mosquitos

DARPA wants to alter human skin biomes to fight deadliest enemy: mosquitos
DARPA wants to alter human skin biomes to fight deadliest enemy: mosquitos

Researchers developing long-lasting topical cream that alters skin’s “microbiome” so troops can ward off disease-carrying insects.

Russian hackers raided defense contractors for two years, stole sensitive info: US

Russian hackers raided defense contractors for two years, stole sensitive info: US
Russian hackers raided defense contractors for two years, stole sensitive info: US

“Given the sensitivity of information widely available on unclassified [cleared contractor] networks, the FBI, NSA, and CISA anticipate that Russian state-sponsored cyber actors will continue to target CDCs for U.S. defense information in the near future.”

Military CIOs say they take ‘fix our computers’ rant ‘to heart’

Military CIOs say they take ‘fix our computers’ rant ‘to heart’
Military CIOs say they take ‘fix our computers’ rant ‘to heart’

An Air Force officer’s semi-viral screed implored the military to fix basic computer functions before doing anything else. He told Breaking Defense the CIOs’ response was “genuine progress.”

Popular in defense: Breaking Defense’s most read stories in 2021

Popular in defense: Breaking Defense’s most read stories in 2021
Popular in defense: Breaking Defense’s most read stories in 2021

From Chinese fighter jets to secret space weapons, here’s what was most read for Breaking Defense in 2021.

Biden to warn Putin off Ukraine but not threaten direct military response: Official

Biden to warn Putin off Ukraine but not threaten direct military response: Official
Biden to warn Putin off Ukraine but not threaten direct military response: Official

A senior official says the US has prepared economic countermeasures, could rotate troops to European allies if they ask.

DARPA’s aerial turducken, the LongShot, still cooking towards 2022 milestone

DARPA’s aerial turducken, the LongShot, still cooking towards 2022 milestone
DARPA’s aerial turducken, the LongShot, still cooking towards 2022 milestone

Preliminary designs reviews for the mothership drone, to be launched from an aircraft before firing its own missiles, are planned for mid-2022.

US Military ‘Well Postured’ For Any Chinese Cyber Onslaught, CIO Nominee Says

US Military ‘Well Postured’ For Any Chinese Cyber Onslaught, CIO Nominee Says
US Military ‘Well Postured’ For Any Chinese Cyber Onslaught, CIO Nominee Says

Elsewhere in the hearing John Sherman called attention to a growing concern at the Pentagon over the radio spectrum, saying “spectrum sharing” should be a DoD watchword.

Russian ‘SolarWinds’ Hackers Launch New Attack On IT Supply Chain, Microsoft Says

Russian ‘SolarWinds’ Hackers Launch New Attack On IT Supply Chain, Microsoft Says
Russian ‘SolarWinds’ Hackers Launch New Attack On IT Supply Chain, Microsoft Says

New campaign is evidence “Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling — now or in the future — targets of interest to the Russian government,” researchers say.

Intel Assessment: ‘High’ Chance Of International Conflict Over Water By 2040

Intel Assessment: ‘High’ Chance Of International Conflict Over Water By 2040
Intel Assessment: ‘High’ Chance Of International Conflict Over Water By 2040

From Asia to the Middle East, worries rise like flood waters over the future of water security.

Russia Suspends Military NATO Office After Espionage Accusations

Russia Suspends Military NATO Office After Espionage Accusations
Russia Suspends Military NATO Office After Espionage Accusations

The Russian foreign ministry alleged NATO’s “policy towards Russia is becoming increasingly more aggressive,” and called the expulsion of its officers, as well as the downsizing of the liaison mission “unfriendly gestures.”

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