John Ismay
John Ismay is KPCC's Veterans And Military Issues Reporter.
Ismay spent a decade in the U.S. Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician and Special Operations Officer. He completed multiple overseas deployments, including a combat tour to Iraq in 2007.
His work as a writer began that same year. He became a specialist on different kinds of weapons used by insurgents, created hundreds of reports on their use, and developed countermeasures that saved American lives.
When he left the Navy four years ago as a Lieutenant Commander, he turned to journalism. The choice was inspired, in part, by the work he did with the New York Times on an award-winning investigative series about the discovery of chemical weapons in Iraq.
John continued his work at the Times, writing for the At War Blog, while attending Columbia Journalism School, where he focused on long term investigative projects and data analysis.
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Traditionally, the military did little for departing troops except hand them discharge papers. But in recent years, it has enacted a mandatory program... -
In an agency that was "built for men," VA leaders are working to add health care services for female veterans. -
The University of Southern California is doing something unique -- offering a college degree called an MBV – a Masters of Business for Veterans. -
The V.A. is building columbariums at several veterans cemeteries, where there is no more space for traditional burials. -
While the Army and Marines are just now opening all combat jobs to female troops, women have been serving on -- and commanding -- Navy warships for years. -
More than four years after the military’s discriminatory policies against gay and lesbian service members ended, veterans advocates say the Pentagon has... -
Service members with Other-Than-Honorable discharges receive no veterans benefits and are much more likely to become homeless. But the military has no... -
One of the most intense episodes of the U.S.-Iraq conflict is the subject of a new opera premiering in Long Beach, California. -
The nation's veterans are being asked to contribute DNA for the largest genetic research project in history. -
Los Angeles officials say they're housing more than 300 veterans a month. Still, the city's homeless veteran population continues to grow.
