Breaking Defense further expands staff with three key appointments at editor level

Breaking Defense is adding to its core editorial and content team by making three key moves in editorial and content operations.

First, we are pleased to announce the hire of Rachel Cohen for the new position of Digital Managing Editor. In this new role, Cohen will take point on working with our outstanding video team to help manage our growing news video operation, while also bringing curation and other improvements to our newsletters. She will also manage our editorial social media operation and video and podcast platforms, to increase awareness for the Breaking Defense reporting and video’s staff’s best work. Finally, Cohen will also be involved in special editorial events that Breaking Defense may produce.

An award-winning journalist, Cohen has covered the military and the defense industry since 2016 and served as the editor of Air Force Times. She has reported from military bases across the US, Europe and the Pacific. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Military Times, Defense News, Military.com, Air and Space Forces Magazine, The War Zone, Inside Defense, and elsewhere.

Coinciding with Cohen’s arrival, Managing Editor Lee Ferran has earned a well-deserved promotion to Deputy Editor of Breaking Defense. In this role, Ferran will continue to run the overall day-to-day editorial operations of the publication and be involved in strategic development for our news operation. Lee also has an increased role in our news videos and international news gathering operation.

“Rachel Cohen has been someone I’ve long admired for her keen editorial mindset, both as an editor and as a reporter,” said Aaron Mehta, Breaking Defense’s editor in chief. “I’m wildly excited that she’s joining us to bring that thinking to this new challenge, which is vital to make sure the outstanding work of our editorial team gets the attention it deserves. Anyone who knows Rachel’s work knows she’ll bring a lot to the team, and I can’t wait for her to start.”

Added Mehta, “I’m also so happy for Lee, my partner-in-crime who quietly does the real work behind the scenes so I can take the credit. Don’t tell him I said that.”

David Smith, Publisher and Managing Director at Breaking Defense, said he’s “delighted that we can add a pro of the caliber of Rachel Cohen to our editorial management team. Her addition is key to scaling our approach as we continue to grow at an extraordinary pace.”

“At the same time, I’m so pleased for Lee Ferran, as his promotion to Deputy Editor acknowledges the key role he plays and his contributions in helping to grow Breaking Defense, the world’s largest news operation dedicated to defense,” he said.

Breaking Defense is also adding to our special project content staff with the addition of Casey Laughman as Managing Editor, Special Projects & Technology. In this role, Laughman will provide writing and project management support for our custom content, custom video, events, webinars and special projects, reporting to Editor for Projects and Technology Barry Rosenberg.

Laughman brings over 25 years of media experience to Breaking Defense, in various roles as an editor and managing editor with trade media brands and as a reporter early in his career at The Associated Press. Most recently, Laughman was at Defense News, where he managed custom content, including white papers, webcasts and events.

“With Casey Laughman we saw a unique opportunity to add quality and precise skills in editing, writing and project management for our custom and special project work, as we continue to grow on that side of the ledger as well,” Smith said.

“Added to our other staff announcements and developments, it’s been a very busy August for Breaking Defense,” Smith added. “We continue to grow and develop our awesome team, with success centered on culture, values, vision, talent and investment. This is the foundation that has enabled Breaking Defense to be the leading media outlet in our field.”