Tom Bowman
Tom Bowman is a NPR National Desk reporter covering the Pentagon.
In his current role, Bowman has traveled to Syria as well as Iraq and Afghanistan often for month-long visits and embedded with U.S. Marines and soldiers.
Before coming to NPR in April 2006, Bowman spent nine years as a Pentagon reporter at The Baltimore Sun. Altogether he was at The Sun for nearly two decades, covering the Maryland Statehouse, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the National Security Agency (NSA). His coverage of racial and gender discrimination at NSA led to a Pentagon investigation in 1994.
Initially Bowman imagined his career path would take him into academia as a history, government, or journalism professor. During college Bowman worked as a stringer at The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Mass. He also worked for the Daily Transcript in Dedham, Mass., and then as a reporter at States News Service, writing for the Miami Herald and the Anniston (Ala.) Star.
Bowman is a co-winner of a 2006 National Headliners' Award for stories on the lack of advanced tourniquets for U.S. troops in Iraq. In 2010, he received an Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of a Taliban roadside bomb attack on an Army unit.
Bowman earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont, and a master's degree in American Studies from Boston College.
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Since peace talks fell apart, the U.S. and Taliban have ramped up violent activity. We examine the shifting currents of the war in Afghanistan — the longest in U.S. history.
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President Trump says the U.S. Navy ship shot an Iranian drone down. That statement conflicts with those of Pentagon officials who say the Boxer used electronic jamming to take it down. -
Days after Turkey defied NATO and the U.S. by accepting the first components of an advanced Russian missile defense system, the White House says Turkey won't be able to buy 100 new F-35 fighter jets.
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The planes were ready to go on Thursday night, but with 10 minutes to spare, President Trump called off a military action meant to retaliate against Iran for shooting down a U.S. drone.
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President Trump chose Orlando, Fla., for the official kickoff of his reelection campaign. Also, he tweeted about an intensified immigration enforcement effort.
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Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan withdrew from consideration to be permanent secretary and resigned. Army Secretary Mark Esper will serve as acting secretary.
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Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan asked President Trump to withdraw his nomination to assume the post permanently. Trump says Shanahan will be replaced by Army Secretary Mark Esper.
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Before the two tankers were attacked Thursday there were four other ships attacked in the last month around the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy watches the sea lanes there closely.
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Warships from the U.S. and Russia narrowly avoided a collision in the Philippine sea. The countries are blaming each other.
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Gen. Robert Neller will step down as Marine Corps commandant this fall. In a wide-ranging interview, he talks about Russia and China, cyberwarfare, female Marines and sexual assault in the Corps.
