Chad Hultz

About Chad Hultz

Chad Hultz is a writer and editor for Military.com, where he covers technology, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, alongside veterans’ issues and the outdoors. His reporting focuses on how emerging tools and policies shape the lives of service members, veterans, and their families, while also exploring the restorative role of the natural world in military culture.

A Marine Corps veteran and IT program manager, Chad brings both operational rigor and narrative depth to his work. He has contributed to NW News, The Seattle Times, and American Grit, an author and serves as senior writer and editor for OutdoorsNW. His expertise spans military affairs, technology, and the systems that connect people, policy, and place.

Expertise

Technology reporting: AI, cybersecurity, and digital systems
Veterans’ issues and benefits navigation
Outdoor culture and its connection to military life

Professional Roles

Writer for Military.com
Senior writer and editor for OutdoorsNW
Contributor to NW News, The Seattle Times, and American Grit
Author

Education

Graduate Certificate from University of Denver in Information Technology Management

Connect with Chad

Latest Articles

Norwegian soldiers provide M109 self-propelled howitzer maintenance training to Armed Forces of Ukraine soldiers at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 24, 2022. The maintainer training is provided by both US and Norwegian soldiers as part of their respective country’s security assistance package. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicko K. Bryant Jr., 7th Army Training Command)

Why ‘Good Enough’ Wins More Wars Than ‘Cutting Edge’

Modern wars are not decided by the most advanced systems on paper, but by what can be sustained in combat. Pentagon audits...

May 2007: Lt. Gen. James Mattis speaks to members of Marine Wing Support Group 27 in Al Asad, Iraq. (DoD photo)

Stoicism and Military Leadership: Why Calm Command Still Matters

Stoic leadership has shaped commanders from Marcus Aurelius to Eisenhower and Nimitz, showing why calm judgment...

Pentagon and the use of AI across the military. by Chad Hultz

The Biggest Mistake the Pentagon Made in Early AI Adoption

The Pentagon’s early push into artificial intelligence stumbled not because the technology failed, but because the data...

Military personnel looking at data on screen, created by Chad Hultz

Are We Building 'The Entity'? What Military AI Is Actually Becoming

As artificial intelligence spreads across the U.S. military, the real concern is not a rogue supercomputer, but whether human...

Veterans in Northeast Orgeon, Photo by Chad Hultz

Operation Give Back: How High Timber Dreams Supports Veterans Through the Outdoors

Operation Give Back: High Timber Dreams is a veteran-led nonprofit using hunting, fishing, and outdoor experiences to help...

Military personnel working in a TOC, created by Chad Hultz, Military.com

2025 in Review: How the US Military Put AI to Work

In 2025, artificial intelligence moved from pilot projects to practical use across the U.S. military. From Army intel and...

A member of the U.S. Air Force Band participates in the honor cordon as Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Pentagon, May 12, 2022. Photo taken by Lisa Ferdinando, DOD

Pentagon Fails Eighth Audit, Eyes 2028 Turnaround

The Pentagon failed its eighth consecutive financial audit and says it is still working toward a clean opinion by 2028...

Military members, veterans, and their families go ice fishing during an outing with the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors Program at Holland Lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2024. Credit: Sherman Neal / Sierra Club

New Report: 1 in 5 Veterans Lack Access to Nature

A new Sierra Club report shows one in five U.S. veterans lack nearby access to parks and nature, with the largest gaps in...

Pentagon Cyber Budget Surges to $15B in 2026 Bill

The 2026 NDAA boosts military cyber funding to about $15.1 billion, expanding operations, workforce and modernization...

The first step in the move out process is letting Campbell Crossing staff know of the impending move as soon as possible and filling out a notice to vacate form, said Karsten Haake, Lendlease project director for the Campbell Crossing community. Campbell Crossing is preparing for a 20-30% spike in turnover as permanent change of station, or PCS, season begins. Courtesy Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office

New STAY Act Aims to Cut PCS Moves for Military Families

A new bipartisan bill would require DoD to review tour lengths and reduce frequent PCS moves to improve stability for...

Apache Takeoff | U.S. Department of War Creator: Spc. Dustin Biven

Army Turns the Apache Into a Drone-Killing Gunship

The Army is giving the AH-64E Apache a new mission, transforming the iconic gunship into a fast-moving drone killer designed...

Hegseth Speaking to the Press - U.S. Department of War / Military.com

What Signal Is, and Why It Was Never Built for War Rooms

The Pentagon’s latest report makes one thing clear: Signal protects conversations, but it was never designed to safeguard U.S...

Some of the housing units available to service members and their families Oct. 27th, 2022, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The annual DoD Tenant Satisfaction Survey is a tool used by the Air Force and housing managers to assess the needs of service members and their families living on an installation (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Goodly)

Audit Finds Fresh Risks in Military Base Housing

A new federal audit shows major oversight gaps in privatized military housing, revealing missed warning signs, inconsistent...

A U.S. military veteran trains for a cybersecurity career at his home workstation, reviewing real-time threat data during a hands-on learning session.(Image created by Chad Hultz,Military.com)

Why Veterans Should Consider Cybersecurity Careers

Cybersecurity jobs are booming. Here’s why veterans are well suited for high-demand cyber roles.

Army maintainer personnel benefit from advanced technology that PPMx brings. They are better equipped to anticipate future component failures and perform proactive and planned maintenance at the most opportune times and locations, using the correct parts and tools, while prolonging the lifespan of equipment. (Pfc. Abraham Ziong, AH-64D Apache helicopter crew chief for Company D, Task Force Lobos, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Image courtesy of U.S. Army, SSG Richard Wrigley)

How AI Is Helping the Military Predict Failures

AI tools are helping the military predict equipment failures before they happen. Here’s how mission-focused analytics are...

Military News

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Most Popular Military News

U.S. Navy Capt. Douglas B. Whimpey, incoming commander of First Naval Construction Regiment (First NCR), issues remarks to participants and guests gathered for a change of command ceremony at the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum on Naval Base Ventura County. Homeported in Port Hueneme, California, First Naval Construction Regiment exercises command and control over assigned Navy, Marine Corps and/or Joint Commands in contingency and peacetime missions. (Christopher Okula)

Navy Commodore Relieved of Duties, First In Role To Lose Job in 2026

The relieved commodore lost the "trust and confidence" of superiors, will retain a staff position.

U. S. Marine Corps officer Captain William H. Dabney (VMI Class of 1961) during the Vietnam War. While in Vietnam, he commanded India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, on Hill 881S during the Battle of Khe Sanh, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross in 2005. (Virginia Military Institute)

This Marine Married Chesty Puller’s Daughter and Was Recommended for the Medal of Honor at Khe Sanh

In 1967, Vietnam, Capt. Bill Dabney chose the Marine unit closest to the enemy—an instinct that soon put him and his men at...

Boxes are loaded onto a moving truck as part of a Permanent Change of Station on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, July 18, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Henry)

Pentagon Overhauls Military Moving System After Years of Family Complaints

The Pentagon is overhauling its broken military moving system to centralize control, modernize technology and restore trust...

Portrait of Samuel J. Seymour as an elderly man wearing a suit and tie. Public domain / newspaper archive photo.

The Last Living Witness to Lincoln’s Assassination Told His Story on a 1950s Game Show

Samuel J. Seymour was just five years old when he sat in the balcony at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, and heard the...

2026 Military Pay Charts

Military service members will receive a 3.8% pay raise in 2026. Some senior officers may receive smaller percentages.

Two military spouses take a selfie together inside an aircraft.

The Community You Carry With You as a Military Spouse

Military spouses understand “community” differently from most people. We build it, lose it and rebuild it faster than feels...

Latest Military Videos

Japanese American Soldiers Once Branded 'Enemy Aliens' Promoted Posthumously

Japanese American soldiers once branded 'enemy aliens' promoted posthumously.

NATO Chief Wishes 'Good Luck' to Those Who Think Europe Can Defend Itself

NATO chief wishes 'good luck' to those who think Europe can defend itself without US help.

Families of Syrians Detained at al-Aqtan Prison Gather in Raqqa

Families of Syrians detained at al-Aqtan prison gather in Raqqa, hoping for their release.

US Military Carries Out Exercises from Aircraft Carrier in Indian Ocean

US military carries out exercises from aircraft carrier in Indian Ocean.

Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Soviet Army soldiers chatting to the children just liberated from the Auschwitz concentration camp. (Wikimedia Commons)

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Soviet Troops Liberated Auschwitz 81 Years Ago Today

Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 81st anniversary of that liberation. Commemorations are taking place...

Alex Vindman, Who Testified Against Trump During His First Impeachment, Enters Florida Senate Race

Alex Vindman, who became a key player along with his twin brother in President Donald Trump's first impeachment, announced...

Navy News

US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in the Middle East as Tensions With Iran Remain High

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying warships have arrived in the Middle East.

Yemen Rebels Threaten New Red Sea Attack as US Aircraft Carrier Heads Toward Iran

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels threatened new attacks on ships traveling through the Red Sea corridor, likely trying to...

Air Force News

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Commander Warns the US, Says His Force Has its 'Finger on the Trigger'

Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the United States and Israel “to avoid any miscalculation.”

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Paul A. Millis, crew chief assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, raises a lift in preparation for a Flight In Support of a Deployed Unit (FISDU) at the Shannon Airport, Ireland, March 12, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders/Released)

Irish Lawmaker Wants Legislation Requiring US Military Aircraft Inspections

Conor Sheehan, an Irish Labour Party politician, called Ireland's lack of aircraft inspections "troubling."

Space Force News

President Donald Trump holds top a signed executive order as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watches in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

How Trump’s 2025 'War' Agenda Rewired the Pentagon

Trump’s 2025 executive actions reshape how the current administration defines national security.

A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Clearing The Orbits: Space Force Partnerships In Orbital Cleanup

The growing congestion of Earth orbit has raised risks to satellites, space stations, and long-term space sustainability. The...

Marine Corps News