National Security Journal
Type of site | Digital media outlet, online magazine |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Owner | National Security Journal Inc. |
| Editor | Harry J. Kazianis (Editor-in-Chief) |
| Website | nationalsecurityjournal |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Launched | 2020s |
| Current status | Active |
The National Security Journal (often abbreviated as NSJ) is an American digital media outlet and online magazine dedicated to military affairs, defense technology, foreign policy, and global security analysis.[1] Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the publication focuses on providing expert commentary, tracking weapons systems, and analyzing international geopolitical conflicts.[1]
History
The National Security Journal was established in the 2020s to fill a growing niche in the digital media landscape for specialized, high-volume defense analysis and military technology tracking. The publication was spearheaded by Harry J. Kazianis, a veteran defense journalist and foreign policy analyst. Prior to establishing the National Security Journal, Kazianis served as the Senior Director of National Security Affairs at the Center for the National Interest and was the Executive Editor of its publishing arm, The National Interest.[2]
Kazianis designed the National Security Journal to operate alongside his other major defense media venture, 19FortyFive, utilizing a similar editorial model focused on generating accessible, expert-driven geopolitical commentary.[3] The outlet was explicitly structured to cover great-power competition, with a particular focus on the United States' strategic rivalries with China and Russia. To manage the publication, National Security Journal Inc. was incorporated as a corporate entity in the state of Delaware.[1] Over time, the publication aggressively scaled its daily output to syndicate content across major aggregators, becoming widely accessible on platforms such as Google News.[4]
Format and Academic Indexing
Despite its name, the United States-based National Security Journal functions fundamentally as a commercial digital magazine and commentary site, rather than a peer-reviewed academic journal.[1]
Because it operates as a media outlet and does not utilize a traditional academic peer-review process, the publication is not indexed in major academic citation databases. It does not appear in Scopus, Web of Science, or ProQuest, nor does it hold traditional academic impact factors.[5] This distinguishes it significantly from the peer-reviewed New Zealand-based publication of the exact same name, as well as from academic heavyweights in the field such as International Security or the Journal of National Security Law & Policy.
Editorial Stance and Content Focus
The National Security Journal explicitly states that its operational mission is to provide non-ideological public opinion, news, and analysis on the state of global security.[1] Rather than adopting a strict partisan editorial line, the publication relies on inviting subject-matter experts, military veterans, and academics to provide diverse perspectives on tactical and strategic issues.
The site's content heavily leans toward international relations theories and great-power politics. Its coverage frequently engages with realist perspectives on foreign policy, examining the structural causes of global conflicts such as the Russo-Ukrainian War. The publication features contributions and extensive commentary surrounding the theories of prominent political scientist John Mearsheimer.[6] Mearsheimer's framework of offensive realism and his controversial assessments of NATO expansion are frequently cited, debated, and analyzed within the journal's pages as a lens for understanding modern geopolitical alignments.[7]
Beyond geopolitical theory, the publication features deep-dive analyses into specific weapons platforms—such as submarines, aircraft carriers, and fifth-generation fighter jets—as well as tactical developments in active conflict zones.[4]
Organization and Leadership
National Security Journal Inc. manages the publication, with Kazianis serving as both the Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief.[8] The core editorial staff consists of specialized editors who oversee different geographic regions and technological domains.
As of 2026, the editorial masthead includes:
- J. Beth Gorton – Editor
- Kris Osborn – Military Technology Editor, known for his coverage of emerging weapons systems and defense procurement.
- Dr. Brent M. Eastwood – Senior Defense Editor
- Steve Balestrieri – Senior Defense Editor
- Reuben F. Johnson – Senior Defense Editor (Europe), reporting from Warsaw, Poland.
- Stephen Silver – Senior Editor
- Dr. Andrew Latham – Daily Defense Columnist, offering a regular column on defense strategy and international relations theory.[8]
The publication also maintains a stable of contributing editors drawn from prominent think tanks. Regular contributors include scholars from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) such as Mackenzie Eaglen and Dr. Michael Rubin, Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and Dr. Andrew A. Michta of the Atlantic Council.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 [[nationalsecurityjournal.org](https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/about-us/) "About Us"] Check
|url=value (help). National Security Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ [[nationalinterest.org](https://nationalinterest.org/profile/harry-j-kazianis) "Harry J. Kazianis"] Check
|url=value (help). The National Interest. Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ [[19fortyfive.com](https://www.19fortyfive.com/author/harrykazianis/) "Harry J. Kazianis"] Check
|url=value (help). 19FortyFive. Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ 4.0 4.1 [[nationalsecurityjournal.org](https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/) "National Security Journal - Home"] Check
|url=value (help). National Security Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ [[scimagojr.com](https://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=5600155013&tip=sid&clean=0) "Scimago Journal & Country Rank"] Check
|url=value (help). Scimago Journal & Country Rank. Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ [[mearsheimer.com](https://www.mearsheimer.com/publications/) "Publications - John J. Mearsheimer"] Check
|url=value (help). Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ [[nationalinterest.org](https://nationalinterest.org/profile/john-j-mearsheimer) "John J. Mearsheimer"] Check
|url=value (help). The National Interest. Retrieved 2026-07-03. - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 [[nationalsecurityjournal.org](https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/meet-the-staff-and-editorial-team/) "Meet the Staff and Editorial Team"] Check
|url=value (help). National Security Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
