Pentagon taps DOD public affairs official as Stars and Stripes publisher

The Pentagon has appointed a Department of Defense (DOD) public affairs official as the acting publisher of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes weeks after firing three staffers at the independent publication for what it called subordination.

The DOD named Chris Devine, a former Marine Corps colonel, as the acting publisher of the news outlet, the Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell told The Hill in a late Tuesday statement.

Parnell said Devine, who was the executive director and principal adviser for public affairs policy, proponency and programs within the department’s public affairs office, brings “unmatched expertise, strategic vision, and a commitment to ensuring Stars and Stripes maintains editorial independence while delivering exclusive, mission-focused reporting that directly serves America’s warfighters and their families.”

“In this interim role, he will provide decisive leadership to modernize Stars and Stripes and to strengthen its mission,” Parnell said.

The appointment raises questions about the newspaper’s independence , as the Stars and Stripes is owned and partially funded by DOD but has historically enjoyed editorial freedom.

Devine, however, said he is committed to maintaining the news outlet’s independence from the Pentagon.

“I am confident that Stripes can modernize its platform to prioritize original reporting and content that is relevant and unique to the U.S. military community and not typically covered by commercial media,” Devine told Stars and Stripes.

Devine’s new role comes after the Pentagon fired the Stars and Stripes publisher, Max Lederer, Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte in August. DOD directed the long-time publisher to present separation notices to Korte and Slavin, charging the two with insubordination for comments made during a “CBS Sunday Morning” interview.

The trio sued the Pentagon in federal court , alleging the firings were violations of DOD’s own personnel rules and the First Amendment.

The Pentagon removed Jacqueline Smith, the newspaper’s ombudsman, in April. Smith, who later sued over her removal, was tasked with overseeing the news outlet’s editorial independence and reporting concerns to Congress.

The Pentagon has looked to take over the editorial control of the newspaper and refocus coverage on “warfighting” and get rid of “woke distractions .”

The Pentagon has also named Navy Capt. William Urban deputy publisher of the newspaper, a decision that prompted concerns among some Democrats in Congress.

The same day Lederer, Slavin and Korte were fired, DOD put out new guidance for Stars and Stripes, stating the outlet will maintain “editorial operations independent of the military chain of command, military public affairs activities, or other external influences, free from censorship or propaganda,” but has to “safeguard information by preventing the disclosure of classified information and controlled unclassified information and by avoiding the publication of material that would adversely affect national security or clearly endanger U.S. personnel.”