Breaking Defense Will Add Assistant Editor to Staff
The defense media outlet will expand its newsroom capacity with a new hire starting later this month.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Military Jobs
Breaking Defense will expand its editorial team by appointing Mikayla Easley as assistant editor on September 28, 2026. The new role is intended to support the publication's continued growth.
Why it matters
The hire reflects a strategic focus on scaling editorial output within the niche defense sector. This expansion helps the outlet maintain pace with competitive demand for specialized reporting on military and policy developments.
Breaking Defense currently employs nearly 20 full-time defense journalists. The hiring of Mikayla Easley marks a new expansion in the publication's capacity.
The players
Breaking Defense
A defense-focused digital publication that provides industry reporting and analysis for military and policy professionals.
Mikayla Easley
An incoming assistant editor with previous editorial experience at Defense Scoop and National Defense Magazine.
The details
Breaking Defense created this new assistant editor role to facilitate broader editorial expansion. Mikayla Easley brings experience from previous roles at Defense Scoop and National Defense Magazine to the position. Her academic background includes a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Michigan.
Timeline
September 28, 2026: Mikayla Easley begins work as assistant editor.
Market Landscape
This expansion follows the broader industry trend of the ongoing consolidation of specialized trade journalism, which has seen outlets prioritize dedicated staffing for technical defense reporting. The move highlights how niche publishers are scaling their editorial teams to compete for specialized reader attention.
Operators should monitor the increased output frequency from trade outlets as a signal of shifting coverage priorities in defense policy. Expect a broader range of specialized content to become available following the September 28, 2026, start date.
The takeaway
Growing media organizations often signal a deeper competitive push into specialized industry analysis. Review your internal communications strategy to ensure you are engaging with the specific editorial beats that expanded outlets are now prioritizing.
What happens next
Mikayla Easley is scheduled to officially join the editorial staff on September 28, 2026.
Further reading
For more on hiring trends in the sector, visit Military Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Breaking Defense.
