The Pentagon has found a new publisher for The Star-Spangled Banner (at least temporarily), naming Christian Devine, executive director of the Pentagon’s Office of Public Affairs, to lead the military newspaper.
Stars and Stripes, which has published newspapers since World War II, describes itself as “a source of independent news and information for the U.S. military community, including service members, Department of Defense civilians, veterans, contractors and their families” and is “governed by the principles of the First Amendment.”
“The Pentagon is proud to appoint Chris Devine as acting publisher of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,'” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital.
Parnell continued: “As a former Marine Corps colonel and seasoned public affairs leader, Chris brings unparalleled expertise, strategic vision and 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 position, he will provide decisive leadership in modernizing the Stars and Stripes and strengthening its mission.”
Devine will continue to serve as executive director and chief adviser to the Pentagon’s Office of Public Affairs until a permanent Stars and Stripes publisher is found. He is expected to split his time between the two shows.
“This is a vibrant media organization with a prestigious history and purpose, and I hope that during this time I can provide a strong voice to the men and women who continue to contribute to its distinguished legacy,” Devine said in a statement.
The Pentagon, which funds about half of Stars and Stripes’ annual budget, has announced plans to overhaul the long-running military publication starting in 2026, according to the newspaper’s website.
“The Department of War is returning the Stars and Stripes to its original mission: providing coverage to our warfighters. We are returning the Stars and Stripes to its original mission: providing coverage to our warfighters. We are returning the Stars and Stripes to its original mission: providing coverage to our warfighters. We are taking the Stars and Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from distractions that undermine morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members,” Parnell posted on X.
“The Star-Spangled Banner will be tailor-made for our warfighters. It will focus on combat, weapons systems, physical fitness, lethality, survivability and all military aspects. No more repurposed DC gossip columns; no more AP reprints,” Parnell continued.
“Stars and Stripes has a proud tradition of covering news important to our service members. The Department of War is committed to ensuring that the outlet continues to reflect this proud tradition.”
As part of the shakeup, Stars and Stripes’ longtime publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Eric Slavin and Middle East correspondent Lara Kot were fired in August.
At the time, a person familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that the firings were the result of Slavin and Cote’s unauthorized appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning,” which profiled the Pentagon’s efforts to overhaul the paper, and Lederer’s refusal to fire them as directed by Pentagon leadership.
They have since filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon over the firings, claiming they face “imminent retaliation and termination in violation of their First Amendment and statutory rights.”
In September, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden dismissed Stars and Stripes’ request for a temporary restraining order to reverse the firing, stating that they “ultimately failed to meet the substantial burden of showing that they were clearly entitled to a preliminary injunction.”