Unshin Lee Harpley
Unshin Lee Harpley is a reporter at the Air and Space Forces Magazine. Previously, Unshin was a multimedia journalist at Voice of America where she covered local and national stories, including the 2020 Presidential Election. She hosted a weekly program promoting the English language and American culture, targeted at South Korean viewers and North Korean senior officials.
Prior to Voice of America, Unshin was in Seoul at Arirang TV and TBS eFM for three years where she reported on some of the region’s major political, social, and cultural events.
Unshin graduated from Iowa State University where she studied journalism at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Her grandfather, who named her, was a lieutenant colonel served in the Korean War, and she spent half of her life in the States and the other half in South Korea. With her unique background, she has always been eager to explore the dynamics at play within the U.S. military and its profound impact on both domestic and global polices.
She is also passionate about establishing connections within the DMV community and advocating for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices. Unshin can be reached at uharpley@afa.org
Recent stories by Unshin Lee Harpley
PHOTOS: On ‘I-Day’ at Air Force Academy, Class of 2028 Becomes Basic Cadets
The Class of 2028 at the U.S. Air Force Academy arrived at the school for in-processing day, known as ‘I-Day’ on June 26. The appointees checked in to commence administrative records processing, receive uniforms and equipment, and take the oath of office.
New Training Program Gives One MQ-9 Maintainer the Skills of Three
A new training initiative at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., is helping MQ-9 maintainers expand their specialties, essentially giving one Airman the skills of three to be able to generate sorties with minimal crews.
Two B-52 Bombers Fly Rare Mission in Support of SOUTHCOM
Two B-52 bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base flew a mission in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility last week, a relatively rare trip below the equator. The sortie comes on the heels of SOUTHCOM’s three-week multilateral exercise, Resolute Sentinel, which wrapped up June ...
Can More Be Done to Respond to Russia’s Space-Based Nuke?
Four months after issuing a public warning that was revealed to be about Russia developing a nuclear anti-satellite program, leading lawmaker Rep. Mike Turner still thinks the White House needs to do more to reveal details about the threat and subsequently deter Moscow from deploying ...
Space Force Adds New Company to Compete with SpaceX, ULA for NSSL Launches
The Space Force is moving to up competition for its most important launches, selecting Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) to take part in the next phase of its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. ULA and SpaceX were already part of NSSL ...
Brown: Goal Is to Get Ukraine Its First F-16s This Summer
Ukraine is poised to get its first F-16 fighters in the next few months, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. confirmed June 13, in a move that would bolster Kyiv’s air capabilities against Russia.
Air Force Launches Its Own Generative AI Chatbot. Experts See Promise and Challenges
Airmen and Guardians now have their own free generative artificial intelligence chatbot that can interact in a "human-like" manner, helping them with communications, task completion, and online coding like ChatGPT—but on a secure system. The Air Force and Space Force launched the Non-classified Internet Protocol ...
PHOTOS: Fourth- and Fifth-Gen Fighters Hold Combat Training in Hawaii
Hawaii Air National Guard is hosting a large-scale fighter exercise with F-22s, F-35s, F-16s, and A-10s, along with tankers, from May 29 to June 12. In total, 42 aircraft from nine states with 1,060 personnel are participating in Sentry Aloha, a biannual combat training.
Airmen and Guardians Conduct Second ICBM Test in Three Days
Airmen and Guardians test launched another Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on June 6, marking the second ICBM test from Vandenberg Space Force base in three days after a June 4 launch. The unarmed ICBM, equipped with one re-entry vehicle, was launched at 1:46 a.m. ...
B-1 Bomber Drops Live Munitions in Exercise over South Korea
A B-1 Lancer conducted the bomber’s first live munitions drop over South Korea in seven years on June 5. The one-day drill saw the B-1 from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squardron, with two Republic of Korea F-15Ks, release live 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions ...
Air Force Launches ICBM Test for the First Time in Seven Months
The Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. on June 4 at 12:56 a.m., Pacific Time. Another test is scheduled for June 6.
US Flies B-52 to Cap Off Its Largest Exercise in Africa
Moroccan Royal Air Force fighters escorted a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress on May 31 to help mark the 20th anniversary of the U.S.'s largest annual exercise in Africa. U.S. Africa Command's African Lion featured more than 8,100 participants from 27 nations, running from April ...
Air Force Lifts Suspension on Unit More Than a Year After Classified Documents Leak
A Massachusetts Air National Guard unit, 102d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (ISRG) is reopening on June 1, following over a year of suspension prompted by an Airman coming under FBI investigation for leaking classified documents in an online group chat. The unit’s IRS mission ...
Air Force Investigating After KC-135 Landing Gear Retracts While Parked
A KC-135 Stratotanker’s front landing gear retracted while it was parked on the flightline of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., on May 29, prompting the aircraft’s forward fuselage to touch the ground. Two maintainers were onboard and three other crew members were nearby the aircraft ...
Air Force Reservists Can Apply to Become Full-Time Guardians in June
Air Force Reservists specializing in space-related roles can apply to become full-time Guardians from June 1 to Nov. 30. Applications for part-time Guardian roles will open in 2026.