David Martin has been CBS News' national security correspondent, covering the Pentagon and the State Department, since 1993. In that capacity, he has reported virtually every major defense, intelligence, and international affairs story for the "CBS Evening News," as well as for other broadcasts, including "60 Minutes" and "48 Hours." He also contributed to "60 Minutes Wednesday."
He joined CBS News as its Pentagon correspondent in 1983. Martin's duties later expanded to include the State Department and intelligence beats.
Before that, he covered defense and intelligence matters for Newsweek magazine from its Washington bureau (1977-83). Martin was a reporter with the Associated Press in Washington (1973-77), covering the FBI and CIA. He also was a member of the AP special assignment team (1977).
Martin began his journalism career as a researcher for CBS News in New York in 1969. He then became a news writer with the AP broadcast wire (1971-72) and a fellow at the Washington Journalism Center (1973).
Martin is the author of two books, "Wilderness of Mirrors" (Harper & Row, 1980), an account of the secret wars between the CIA and KGB, and "Best Laid Plans: The Inside Story of America's War Against Terrorism" (Harper & Row, 1988).
He was born July 28, 1943, in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Yale University in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in English. During the Vietnam War, Martin served as an officer aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer.
Martin and his wife, Dr. Elinor Martin, live in Chevy Chase, Md. They have four children.
