Craig Whitlock

Washington, D.C.

Investigative reporter

Education: Duke University, AB in history

Craig Whitlock is an investigative reporter who specializes in national security issues. He has covered the Pentagon, served as the Berlin bureau chief and reported from more than 60 countries. He joined The Washington Post in 1998.
Latest from Craig Whitlock

Fat Leonard thought he was going free. Now he’s locked up in Miami.

Leonard Francis, the U.S. fugitive and celebrated con man, thought Venezuela was giving him his freedom. Instead, he was put on a plane back to the U.S.

December 21, 2023

Who is ‘Fat Leonard,’ the fugitive Venezuela turned over to the U.S.?

The 59-year-old Malaysian citizen escaped U.S. custody last year days before he was to be sentenced in the biggest military corruption scandal in the nation’s history.

December 20, 2023

Venezuela hands over ‘Fat Leonard,’ mastermind in U.S. Navy scandal

Leonard Francis, who admitted guilt in the largest corruption scandal in U.S. military history, is to be extradited to the United States in a major prisoner swap.

December 20, 2023

Unapologetic ex-ambassador avoids prison in illicit lobbying case

Richard Olson, a former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and the UAE, sentenced to three years probation for illegally lobbying on behalf of Qatar

September 15, 2023

Diamonds, girlfriends, illicit lobbying: The fall of a former ambassador

An ex-ambassador to Pakistan and the UAE faces sentencing after an investigation exposed tuition payoff for one girlfriend and an emir’s gift of $60,000 in diamonds.

September 9, 2023

5,000 pilots suspected of hiding major health issues. Most are still flying.

Federal authorities have been investigating about 5,000 pilots suspected of falsifying their medical records to conceal conditions that could make them unfit to fly.

August 27, 2023

Senators propose crackdown on retired military work for foreign powers

The bill, which includes stiffer penalties for lawbreakers, comes in response to The Post’s investigation on the issue.

June 20, 2023

Retired NSA director won lucrative consulting deals with Saudis, Japan

Retired Army Gen. Keith Alexander won federal approval to serve as $700,000 cyberwarfare adviser to Saudi Arabia after 2018 death of Jamal Khashoggi

April 25, 2023

Former top U.S. admiral cashes in on nuclear sub deal with Australia

The Australian government has hired a dozen retired U.S. Navy officers as high-dollar consultants while it negotiates a nuclear sub deal with Washington

March 7, 2023

Fearing scandal, Air Force blocked generals’ foreign consulting deals

The two generals oversaw key U.S. supply routes through Azerbaijan and later negotiated deals there to earn as much as $5,000 a day in retirement.

December 6, 2022