Missy Ryan

Washington, D.C.

Reporter covering national security and defense

Education: Georgetown University, BA in English; Harvard University, master's in public policy

Missy Ryan writes about national security and defense for The Washington Post. She joined The Post in 2014 and has written about the Pentagon and the State Department. She has reported from Iraq, Ukraine, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile.
Latest from Missy Ryan

Biden surges arms to Ukraine, fearing Trump will halt U.S. aid

Biden’s Ukraine directive has stirred debate, as some officials worry it will cut too deeply into American stockpiles and jeopardize military needs elsewhere.

December 2, 2024
President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last year.

Russia debuts new missile in Ukraine strike as Putin threatens West

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the United States and Ukraine’s other partners that the weapon could be deployed against their interests as well.

November 21, 2024
The aftermath of a Russian missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Thursday.

Ukraine fires U.S.-made ATACMS missiles into Russia for first time

Ukraine’s ATACMS strike in Russia’s Bryansk region marks an intensification of the war amid uncertainty over Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

November 19, 2024
An ATACMS missile launches during a test in July 2002 at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. (Ellis Neel/AP)

Pentagon urged to make payments for slain, injured civilians

Groups have appealed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to address a backlog of civilian casualty claims before the Biden administration leaves office.

November 16, 2024
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, and Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hold a news conference May 20 at the Pentagon.

Trump Pentagon pick dismissed military diversity drive, demonized Islam

A Washington Post review of Pete Hegseth’s writing shows he rejected steps to integrate women and transgender troops across the military, and called for a “crusade” to protect “Judeo-Christian” values.

November 14, 2024
As defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, seen here in 2019, would lead one of the nation’s most diverse institutions, comprising men and women from a range of races, ethnicities, birthplaces and religions.

Top general faces brewing storm after Trump’s Pentagon pick

Pete Hegseth’s focus on military culture issues and countering diversity goals intensifies the Trump transition challenge for the Joint Chiefs of Staff chair.

November 13, 2024
Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. during his confirmation hearing in 2023 to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pete Hegseth has said exactly how he will shake up the Pentagon

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, has called for a war on what he calls the “woke” military, including potentially firing top brass.

November 13, 2024
“Fox & Friends” co-host Pete Hegseth interviews Donald Trump during an event at the White House in 2017.

Pentagon to appeal ruling that affirms plea deals for 9/11 defendants

A judge’s decision to allow plea deals in three 9/11 cases sets up a confrontation with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who opposes the Guantánamo court ruling.

November 9, 2024
U.S. military personnel stand guard at the Guantánamo Bay detention center in Cuba.

Pentagon anticipates major upheaval with Trump’s return to White House

Critics fear President-elect Donald Trump intends to make good on a host of campaign pledges with enormous implications for the nonpartisan military.

November 8, 2024
President Donald Trump reviews service members during a Pentagon ceremony in 2019.

Trump win complicates Biden’s lame-duck foreign policy

From Ukraine to Gaza, Trump’s unilateral and unpredictable tendencies could embolden both allies and enemies.

November 6, 2024
President Joe Biden takes questions at a White House briefing on Oct. 4. (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post)