Opinion Pieces by Rob
Defense spending: critical to Virginia's economy
Virginia's critical role in our nation's defense is undeniable. The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to 27 military bases, representing every branch, along with the Pentagon — the headquarters of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the largest office building in the world.
While news cycles and memes have recently focused on the future Space Force, I believe we need to first focus on another, already existing force: the Ready Reserve Force (RRF).
It has been nearly nine months since the USS McCain collided with Alnic MC off the coast of Singapore, and almost 11 months since the USS Fitzgerald collided with MV ACX Crystal south of Yokosuka, Japan. While I applaud the U.S. Navy's efforts to address the root causes of these tragic collisions, I believe more must be done to prevent similar events in the future.
MOST AMERICANS TODAY rely on the internet to carry out everyday tasks. Whether they are balancing their checkbooks through online banking platforms or sending emails, access to high-speed broadband has become essential.
When you woke up this morning, you likely opened your smartphone to read through the morning news or scroll through your social media. Well, for nearly 40 percent of Americans living in rural areas, these everyday conveniences are unavailable due to a lack of access to high-speed internet.
Over the past few years, China has quietly improved the lethality and survivability of its attack submarines, building nine new nuclear attack submarines with quieter engines that will make Chinese submarines harder to locate and neutralize in a wartime scenario.Not to be outdone, Russia is embarking on its own modernization of its nuclear attack submarines.
IT ALL starts with a spark, a twinkle in the eye of a student who has found her passion, solidified his future.
He might have just completed a career and technical education (CTE) program in manufacturing technology. She may have figured out a high-level math problem.
Our nation continues to address regional security challenges in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, including the contentious South and East China Seas and an increasingly belligerent North Korea.
The November terrorist attacks in Paris have led to some critical self-reflection here in the United States. In the aftermath of the slaughter that left at least 130 dead (the body count continues to rise) and some 100s more injured, Americans have linked arm-in-arm with our oldest ally—mourning the dead, pledging increased military support and redoubling our collective resistance to fear as a way of life.