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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The Pentagon has proposed cutting 8% of its budget annually for five years but prioritized funding in areas like drones, military assistance for the southern border and a U.S. Iron Dome. -
The DOGE team is aiming to cut 8% from next year's defense budget, officials tell NPR. -
The Army released the identity of the third crew member aboard the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the deadly airport crash near DCA as Capt. Rebecca Lobach, an aviation officer and past ROTC cadet. -
Federal authorities have restricted helicopter flights near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The move comes days after a deadly collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter. -
At the request of the family, the Army is not going to release the name of the female member of the Black Hawk crew killed in Wednesday's crash. The withholding of the name is a highly unusual move. -
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an investigation into retired general Mark Milley — who often clashed with President Trump — and determine whether he should be reduced in rank. -
President Trump signed a number of new executive orders Monday night aimed at the U.S. military. Here is a breakdown of what he signed. -
Vice President Vance cast a tie-breaking vote as Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement to win Senate approval. -
NPR reporters revisit Afghans who fled their home country after Taliban's takeover in the summer of 2021. -
The selection of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Trump Defense Department has renewed scrutiny of his political and religious views and his aggressive criticism of the military he'd be leading.
