Skip to Main Content
Project on Government Oversight

Ben Freeman, Ph. D.

Investigator

bfreeman@pogo.org |

Areas of Expertise: Military contracting, foreign lobbying, Star Creep (rank inflation in the military), military procurement, military whistleblowers

Ben Freeman specializes in Department of Defense personnel issues, weapons procurement, and the impact of lobbying by foreign governments on U.S. foreign policy. Additionally, he has utilized his expertise testifying before the Senate and as an instructor in the School of Security and Global Studies at American Military University, where he teaches research methods and analytics.

Prior to joining POGO, Freeman earned a Ph.D. in political science from Texas A&M University, where he was also an instructor in the Political Science Department and the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He recently completed a book on lobbying by foreign governments in the U.S. titled The Foreign Policy Auction. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, on National Public Radio, and in numerous other media outlets.

POGO highlights:

  • Testified before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel on Star Creep—the rising proportion of Generals and Admirals in the U.S. military.

  • Spearheaded POGOs Propaganda Project Database, which this spring will release more than 1,000 previously unpublished communications from lobbyists working on behalf of foreign governments.

  • Project Manager of the POGO/Taxpayers for Common Sense report Spending Less, Spending Smarter: Recommendations for National Security Savings FY 2012 to FY 2021.