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

Television legend Bob Barker during World War II and fighting Adam Sandler in the 1996 movie, "Happy Gilmore." (Universal Pictures)

Bob Barker Was a WWII Naval Aviator, but His Most Infamous Battle Was with Adam Sandler

Longtime television host and World War II naval aviator Bob Barker died on Aug. 26, 2023, at age 99.

Sean Penn (left) and Volodymyr Zelenskiy walk through Kyiv on November 8, 2022. (Ukraine Presidential Press Service)

Sean Penn Captures the First Russian Bombs Dropping on Ukraine in New Documentary 'Superpower'

Filming over the course of that year, the 63-year-old actor captured history in Kyiv as the first Russian bombs dropped on...

The new "Frasier" reboot premieres on Oct. 12, 2023. (Ken Kwok/CBS Studios, Inc.)

The Spirit of Actor and Army Vet John Mahoney Might Still Be Part of the New 'Frasier'

The rebooted "Frasier" debuts on the streaming service in October, but Dr. Frasier Crane will be the only thing familiar to...

Dublin, Ireland's Aviva Stadium hosted the 2023 Navy-Notre Dame game. (College Football Ireland)

Cheer Up, Navy Fans: The Midshipmen Actually Aren't as Bad as Notre Dame Made Them Look

The Mids didn't score until the fourth quarter, when Navy kicker Evan Warren hit a 31-yard field goal with just 3:33 left in...

"Heart of Invictus" (Netflix/Archewell Productions)

Prince Harry's Invictus Games Docuseries Is Coming to Netflix

In March 2014, the first Invictus Games were held in London and have been held as regularly as possible since.

Michael Caine as Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur in 1977's "A Bridge Too Far." (United Artists)

The 7 Best Military and Veteran Movies of Michael Caine's Career

After some 70 years in film and television, it’s easy to see that military movies are among some of legendary actor Michael...

(U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Joseph Scanlan)

A Gen Z Marine Explores Solutions to the Military's Recruiting Crisis in 'We Don't Want You, Uncle Sam'

The brief "documentaries" attempt to capture the spirit and emotions associated with life as a young recruit.

The Young Punch is a tool invented by Airman 1st Class Christopher Young to help maintainers safely and efficiently apply grease caps to their MHU-141 munitions trailers and 20MM Universal Ammunition Loading Systems. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Jordan Smith)

This Nonprofit Offers Veterans Free Patent and Trademark Services for Their Creations

Protecting intellectual property (IP) can be a long, expensive process, especially for veteran entrepreneurs who are throwing...

(U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Barrieau)

The 10 Best Film Schools for Veterans

There's something about serving in the military that just makes veterans want to make movies -- movies about things they did...

Capt. Witold Pilecki is still a revered figure in Polish history. (Institute of National Remembrance)

The WWII Polish Resistance Hero Who Infiltrated Auschwitz Is Getting a Movie from the Producer of ‘1917’

Pilecki’s story is on the road to becoming a feature film, a joint venture between American and Polish producers.

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else." - John Madden (EA Sports)

US Troops Can Now Win Super Bowl Tickets Through a Military 'Madden' Tournament

On Sept. 1, 2023, the NFL and the United Service Organizations (USO) will begin registration for the third annual Salute to...

Just because you have to rely on food from a convenience store doesn't mean it can't be good, right?

8 Prison Recipes Soldiers at Fort Cavazos Can Use to Make Meals from the Shoppette

America's jails and prisons are filled with low-budget gastronomical geniuses, making the most of everything they can get...

Anthony Hopkins is Sir Nicholas Winton in "One Life." (Warner Bros.)

'One Life': Anthony Hopkins Stars as 'Britain's Schindler,' Who Rescued Hundreds of Jewish Children from the Nazis

Winton’s story is retold through a new movie that will make its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2023.

Sergey Shadrin in "Klondike." (Kedr Film)

New Film 'Klondike' Depicts Life on the Border During the Russia-Ukraine War

There are many who don’t realize the Russo-Ukrainian War began long before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Iain Glen in "Operation Napoleon." (Juliette Rowland/Magnet Releasing)

'Operation Napoleon' Brings the Work of Iceland's Clive Cussler to the Big Screen

One of the country's most popular and prolific writers, Arnaldur is the equivalent of a Clive Cussler or Robert Ludlum.

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

U.S. Marines inspect a destroyed Japanese tank in the Gilbert Islands, 1943.

Why Japanese Tanks Were Doomed in the Pacific Theater

Today, the Pacific remains a prominent strategic interest for the U.S. military, but the Marine Corps recently deactivated...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a ceremony at the Pentagon

Hegseth Says Wounded Knee Soldiers Will Keep Their Medals of Honor

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that he has decided that the 20 soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for...

U.S. Navy SEALs conduct Visit, Board, Search and Seizure training

The Italian WWII Frogmen Who Inspired the U.S. Navy SEALs

While uniquely American, SEAL doctrine owes a technical and conceptual debt to Italy’s WWII combat divers, who first combined...

New Mexico's Health Care Crisis Is Forcing Military Personnel to Decline Assignments

At New Mexico's three Air Force bases — Kirtland in Albuquerque, Cannon near Clovis and Holloman outside of Alamogordo — the...

Democrat Mikie Sherrill responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli in Lawrenceville, N.J.

Democratic Candidate for Governor of New Jersey Pushes Back After GOP Questions Her Service Record

Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey in this year’s high-stakes race, is defending her Navy...

Hegseth Abruptly Summons Top Military Commanders to a Meeting in Virginia Next Week

The directive did not offer a reason for the gathering Tuesday of senior commanders of the one-star rank or higher and their...

Latest Military Videos

Trump Says Dangerous Cities Could Be Troop 'Training Grounds'

President Donald Trump told a gathering of top U.S. military leaders that "dangerous cities" in the country could be...

What Will Happen if There Is a Government Shutdown

Washington is hours away from another federal government shutdown, with prospects looking bleak for a last-minute compromise in Congress...

Trump Vows to End Political Correctness in the Military, Pledges to Target the 'Enemy from Within’

President Donald Trump wants to use American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and joined Defense Secretary...

Trump Says Netanyahu Has Agreed to His Plan to End the War in Gaza

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday they’ve agreed to a plan to end the...

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

The BOD POD utilizes air displacement plethysmography to measure body composition, specifically the proportion of fat mass and lean mass. The device measures how much air one’s body displaces, allowing it to calculate body density and provide a detailed breakdown of body fat percentage and lean muscle mass (Janecze Wright, DVIDS).

The New Army Body-Fat Standard: A Step In The Right Direction?

As obesity rates climb across America, the Army’s new body-composition policy arrives at a critical moment. This is not just...

President of Colombia Gustavo Petro Urrego

US Revokes Visa for Colombia's President After He Urges American Soldiers to Disobey Trump

The State Department said on social media that “we will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”

Navy News

Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), delivers remarks during NETC’s change of command ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, June 18, 2025. The museum recently opened an exhibit honoring Vietnam prisoners of war. (United States Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Zachary Melvin)

National Naval Aviation Museum Honors Vietnam POWs with Emotional Exhibit

A new exhibit at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, is giving attendees a rare glimpse into life for...

President Trump has ordered the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to the waters off the coast of Venezuela.

Maduro Declares State of Emergency in Response to US Naval Presence in Caribbean

Nicolás Maduro has signed a decree declaring a state of external emergency in response to what his government calls growing...

Air Force News

NASA astronaut Victor Glover Jr., center, is flanked by former Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. James Harvey, left, and Lt. Col. George Hardy

Tuskegee Airman Who Served in 3 Wars Dies at 100

Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. George Hardy died at the age of 100, the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. announced.

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 66th Training Squadron’s Pre-Team 26-02 carry the American and POW/MIA flags during the annual POW/MIA memorial ruck march through Fairchild Air Force Base’s main gate during a memorial ruck march

Fairchild Air Force Base to Delay PFAS Cleanup Under Department of Defense Directive

Cleanup of chemicals at Fairchild Air Force Base could be delayed through 2032 as part of a nationwide directive.

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

French Foreign Legion Award Ceremony at Twentynine Palms (DVIDS, photo by Cpl Judith Ann Lazaro)

U.S. Marines and French Legionnaires Tackle Desert Warfare

In the scorching expanse of California's Mojave Desert, U.S. Marines and French Foreign Legionnaires recently wrapped up a...

Marines Say They Hit Recruiting Goals and Point to 'Unapologetic' Standards

Data provided by the Corps shows that it has recruited 30,536 active-duty and reserve enlisted Marines — just one person over...

Coast Guard News

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Motor Lifeboat CG-36538 was restored by dozens of volunteers after more than 8 years of hard work.

Cape May Maritime Museum Brings 73-Year-Old Coast Guard Lifeboat Back to Life

The CG-36538 was built in a Baltimore shipyard in Curtis Bay in 1952 and was primarily used for winter rescues and winter...

Bill Huizenga (R-MI) at House Committee on Financial Services hearing regarding navigating the digital payments ecosystem examining a Federal framework for payment stablecoins and consequences of a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency at the United States Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Huizenga bill would pay immigration agents, Coast Guard during government shutdown

Michigan U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga introduced legislation Wednesday aiming to ensure that Department of Homeland Security law...