A Fresh Coat of Paint for the Magazine.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: EDITOR'S NOTES

National Defense readers may have noticed a new look in the magazine starting with the August issue. This marked the first redesign for the publication in more than five years.

For a magazine, a redesign is like a fresh coat of paint on the outside or inside of your house. It just makes you feel good.

All the credit for the new look goes to Creative Director Brian Taylor, whom I have always called the "magazine's secret weapon."

Along with his eye-popping and award-winning cover designs, he lays out every page of every issue. He is one of those behind-the-scenes guys who makes everyone look good.

Along with the redesign, we have added a new section to the magazine called "Dispatches." The name is meant to reflect the travel near and far the writing staff does to bring readers news and trends about the defense industry. In the first two issues since the redesign, we have published datelines from London, Paris, Farnborough, United Kingdom and Baltimore.

The Dispatches section includes news briefs previously found in the magazine as well as other sections including "Further Reading," a quick summary of a report or book readers may have overlooked.

"Hello, Goodbye" is a monthly look at transitions in the defense industry that includes executives who have moved on to new jobs, mergers and acquisitions and newly christened ships or recently opened factories or facilities.

"Innovation Nation" covers emerging defense technologies that have the promise to change the national security landscape. See this month's story on page 10, where Sandia National...