Blake Stilwell

About Blake Stilwell

Blake Stilwell is an associate editor covering military entertainment, veteran employment and entrepreneurship and military history.

He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angles, work that includes ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO. After spending two years in Washington with White House Communications, he joined the Near East Foundation as its Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media and government partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015, and joined Military.com in 2019.

Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Coffee or Die, Recoil Magazine, Skillset Magazine, We Are The Mighty, American History Magazine, MHQ and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in his native Ohio. He spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house.

Expertise

2001 - 2007: Combat Photojournalist, United States Air Force
2007: Intern, ABC News, Longform Documentary
2008: Assistant Editor, NBC Olympics
2008-2009: Media Manager, HBO
2009-2011: Technician, White House Communications Agency
2013-2015: Media Officer, Near East Foundation
2015-2019: Managing Editor, The Mighty Networks
2019-Present: Associate Editor, Military.com

Education

2002: AA, Audiovisual Production, Community College of the Air Force
2004: BFA, Graphic Design, American Intercontinental University
2008: MA, Television, Radio, Film, Syracuse University
2013: MS, Public Relations, Syracuse University
2013: MA, International Relations, Syracuse University
2013: Certificate of Advanced Study, Middle Eastern Affairs, Syracuse University

Connect with Blake

Email: blake.stilwell@military.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/blakestilwell

Latest Articles

Val Kilmer as Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in the 1986 film 'Top Gun.' (Paramount Pictures)

Val Kilmer, Iceman in ‘Top Gun’ and Hollywood’s Most Underrated Leading Man, Dies at 65

Beloved actor Val Kilmer wasn't a veteran, but he was part of one of the most unintentionally successful U.S. military...

Master Sgt. (ret.) William Crawford in 2010. He received a posthumous Medal of Honor in 1944. (Beverly Crawford-Kite)

The Still-Living Janitor Who Received a 'Posthumous' Medal of Honor

Army Pvt. William Crawford was declared killed in action and was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor, which was presented to...

Boarding team members from USS James E. Williams board North Korean cargo vessel Dai Hong Dan to provide assistance on Oct. 30, 2007. (U.S. Navy)

That Time US Navy and North Korean Sailors Teamed Up to Battle Somali Pirates

While the United States isn't specifically required to help North Korea, an important part of the U.S. Navy's ongoing mission...

Belgians still place fresh flowers at the Eric Fisher Wood Memorial in Meyerode, built at the site where his body was found.

The Son of an American Legion Founder Led a Guerrilla Campaign of Terror Against the Nazis

By today's standards, Eric Fisher Wood Sr. would probably not have joined the National Guard, let alone join two armies to...

Mark Matthews saw combat with the 10th Cavalry in the American West and on Saipan during World War II.

The Oldest-Ever Buffalo Soldier Enlisted in 1910 and Lived to Fight in 2 World Wars

Retired 1st Sgt. Mark Matthews was a soldier who saw the U.S. Army evolve from horse-mounted cavalry to diesel-driven...

The USS Jack H Lucas. The Lucas is one of the latest Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyers in the U.S. Navy. The USS Robert Kerrey is the most recently named ship. (Department of Defense/EJ Hersom)

The Navy's New Destroyer Is Named for the First SEAL to Receive the Medal of Honor

The USS Robert Kerrey will be an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the third named for a Navy SEAL after the USS Michael P...

Marine Corps Pfc. Harold Gonsalves. (U.S. Marine Corps)

The Medal of Honor Recipient Erased in the Pentagon's DEI Purge

Private 1st Class Harold Gonsalves received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions during the Battle of...

Bette Horstman was a medical officer on Saipan during World War II.

Civil War Nurses, USS Constitution Commander Among Female Veterans Removed in Pentagon DEI Sweep

Women veterans from the Civil War, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War are not exempt from Defense Department's...

This Department of Labor Program Touts New Jobs at Higher Wages for Transitioning Service Members

Any service member who is thinking about leaving the military and doesn't know where to start, this message is for you...

Coast Guard Capt. Earl Fox salutes during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Fox was the last veteran of World War II to serve on active duty. (U.S. Navy/Petty Officer 1st Class Pete Milnes)

The Last WWII Veteran on Active Duty Served for Nearly 55 Years After the War

Dr. Earl Russell Fox joined the Navy during World War II, stayed in the Naval Reserve after the war and then joined the Coast...

"The father of modern cardiovascular surgery," Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was a World War II veteran and helped create the modern VA medical system. (Dept. of Veterans Affairs)

Not Just for US Veterans: 7 Medical Breakthroughs the VA Gave to the World

With the VA facing job cuts, it's important to remind not only veterans, but also lawmakers, health officials and the...

The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, opens to the public on March 25, 2025. (National Medal of Honor Museum)

5 Powerful Artifacts in the New National Medal of Honor Museum

The new National Medal of Honor Museum is set to officially open to the public on March 25, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.

Sometimes called, Zheng Yi Sao or "Wife of Zheng Yi," she's known to history as Ching Shih for what she accomplished once he died.

A Chinese Woman Led the Largest and Most Successful Pirate Fleet in History

While Caribbean pirates like Blackbeard could boast a handful of ships and hundreds of men. Ching Shih commanded an entire...

The 1998 film "The Thin Red Line" was an adaptation of a World War II veteran's book. (20th Century Studios)

The 5 Most Realistic Army Movies, According to an Army Historian

It might surprise some war movie fans to know that at least one Army historian doesn't think there's anything special about...

Erwin Leder in the Wolfgang Petersen's “Das Boot.” (Karlheinz Vogelmann/Bavaria Studios)

The Most Innovative War Movies Ever Made

Every once in awhile, a war movie comes along that does something truly innovative to make its story memorable. These are...

Military News

Get the Military Insider Newsletter

Get the latest on pay updates, benefit changes and award-winning military content. Right in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for subscribing!

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

One last step.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

Most Popular Military News

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., left, confronts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Federal Government Shutdown Grinds into a Second Week as Tempers Flare at the Capitol

As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Trump Targets Blumenthal, Calling for Investigation into Senator's Vietnam Service Claims

President Donald Trump is targeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal again after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S...

Pvt. Paul Douglas, age 50, performs a rifle inspection with his drill instructor aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot S.C., 1942. Douglas, at age 50 was the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island, and went on to become a purple heart recipient and Chicago senator (DVIDS).

At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

When 50-year-old Paul Douglas showed up at Marine Corps boot camp in 1942, the white-haired economics professor looked more...

Pack and transport platoon of the Russian army. Southern Military District. Ministry of Defense of Russia (Wikimedia Commons).

Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Cavalry Troops in Rare 21st-Century Encounter

A short video circulating online this month appears to show a Russian mounted patrol being struck by a Ukrainian drone near...

When The Government Can Afford Everything Except The Essentials

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as “essential.” Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into...

Troops Will Miss Paychecks Next Week Without Action on the Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families, because those in uniform...

Latest Military Videos

Air Force Pilot Ejects Before F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in California Desert

Military officials say a fighter jet with the Air Force's Thunderbirds demonstration squadron has crashed in the Southern California...

Senate Leaders Voiced Opinions on Hegseth

Senate leaders of both parties voiced opinions on Hegseth and use of military force against Venezuela

Russia Military Releases Video It Says Shows Troops Waving Russian Flag in Ukrainian City

Russia released footage of what it said was troops waving a Russian flag in the key Ukrainian city of...

Should You Accept the First Job Offer?

All jobs aren’t created equal, and in the frenzy and frustration of a post-military job search, anything that feels...

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

Army and Vietnam War veteran Everett Carter paints in his Huntsville, Alabama studio. (Photo from WZDX/Fox 54)

Vietnam Veteran Heals War Wounds Through Art

Army veteran Everett Carter, showcasing his artwork on Small Business Saturday, uses painting to honor friends lost in...

Leutnant Friedrich Lengfeld served as a German company commander during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest in WWII. (1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry)

German Officer Sacrificed His Life Trying to Save an American Soldier in the WWII Battle of Hurtgen Forest

A 23-year-old German lieutenant heard a wounded American soldier crying for help in a minefield on Nov. 12, 1944. Lt...

Navy News

Lawmakers to Hear from Navy Admiral Who Ordered Attack That Killed Boat Strike Survivors

The Navy admiral who reportedly issued orders for the U.S. military to fire upon survivors of an attack on an alleged drug...

WEST POINT, New York (Dec. 12, 2020) The United States Naval Academy Midshipmen face off against the U.S. Army Black Knights during the Army-Navy football game at the U.S. Military Academy’s Michie Stadium. The game marked the 121st meeting between the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen and the U.S. Army Black Knights. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Burke/Released)

America's Game: How Army and Navy Built One of the Most Legendary College Football Rivalries

For most players, the Army-Navy game marks their last time in pads. For the seniors, it's typically their final competitive...

Air Force News

Air Force Pilot Safely Ejects Before F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in California Desert

Military officials say a fighter jet with the Air Force's Thunderbirds demonstration squadron has crashed in the Southern...

Dominican Republic Grants US Access to Restricted Areas for its Deadly Fight Against Drugs

For a limited time, the U.S. can refuel aircraft and transport equipment and technical personnel at restricted areas within...

Space Force News

U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rachel Harmon and Master Sgt. Tom Anderson, weapons loaders assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, checks an inert GBU 12 laser guided missile on an MQ-9 Reaper at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base in Springfield, Ohio.

Two Space Force Units Bring the 'Invisible Front Line' to Ohio

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned for Friday for the Space Intelligence Production Cell at the Springfield-Beckley Air...

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

U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz stand at attention during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Tumon, Guam, Dec. 2, 2025 (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Ryan Little)

Christmas Across the Corps 2025: Top Community Events

Christmas Across the Corps 2025: Tree lightings, Santa photos, parades, and free festivals at Quantico, Lejeune, Pendleton...

Marine Dies in Training Exercise at Camp Pendleton

Authorities say a U.S. Marine has died during a training exercise at Southern California's Camp Pendleton.

Coast Guard News

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., arrives at the chamber.

Senators Want Answers From Coast Guard on How it Probes Displays of Swastikas or Other Hate Symbols

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., warned that “relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes not only sends the wrong message to...

Coast Guardsmen assigned to the Law Enforcement Detachment conduct small boat operations with sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Charleston during a southern border support mission in the Pacific Ocean, May 30, 2025. (Navy Seaman Joey Sitter, DoW).

Coast Guard Reverses Course on Policy to Call Swastikas and Nooses 'Potentially Divisive'

The U.S. Coast Guard has released a new, firmer policy addressing the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses just...