The Pentagon has appointed Christian Devine, the executive director of its public affairs office, as the acting publisher of Stars and Stripes, at least for now.
Stars and Stripes has been in circulation since World War II and markets itself as an independent news source for the military community, including active-duty members, Department of Defense civilians, veterans, contractors, and their families, with a strong adherence to the First Amendment principles.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell expressed pride in Devine’s appointment, highlighting his background as a Marine Corps colonel and his extensive experience in public affairs. Parnell noted Devine’s expertise and strategic vision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the publication’s editorial independence while focusing on mission-critical reporting for America’s servicemen and women and their families.
Devine’s interim role is aimed at providing leadership to refresh Stars and Stripes and reinforce its purpose. He will also continue his responsibilities in the public affairs office during the search for a permanent publisher, likely balancing both roles.
Devine remarked that Stars and Stripes is a dynamic organization with a notable history, and he hopes to support its legacy during this transitional period.
The Pentagon provides roughly half of Stars and Stripes’ annual budget, and it recently announced plans to reform the publication as it heads into 2026. Parnell indicated that the Department of War intends to refocus Stars and Stripes on its original mission of serving warfighters. This includes modernizing operations and shifting the content away from distractions that could affect morale, aiming to cater to a new generation of service members.
Parnell further emphasized that the revamped Stars and Stripes will concentrate on military-focused topics, avoiding content that resembles repackaged gossip columns or reprints from news agencies.
With a deep commitment to the publication’s legacy, the Pentagon fired longtime publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte in August. This action followed an incident regarding their unapproved appearance on a CBS program discussing the Pentagon’s changes to the paper and the refusal of Lederer to dismiss them as instructed by Pentagon leadership.
Since then, Slavin and Korte have launched a lawsuit against the Pentagon, alleging violations of their rights related to their dismissals. In September, a US District Judge denied a request from Stars and Stripes for a temporary restraining order to reverse the firings, stating that the claims did not meet the necessary burden for such an injunction.
