George Petras is an award-winning journalist with the USA TODAY Graphics team.
In a career of more than 25 years, his expertise covers a wide range of issues, include defense and the military, science, medical, and unexpected, offbeat stories. He specializes in translating jargon and technical terms – the language of exclusion – to plain English, for the benefit of greater reader understanding.
He's covered a variety of stories at USA TODAY and previously at Bloomberg, including breaking news on mass shootings, military conflicts, space exploration, congressional policy, and other events. He's a member of the U.S. Naval Institute.
He's finished the Marine Corps Marathon three times, the Scooter Cannonball twice, and has racked up about 150,000 miles on motorcycles and Vespa scooters.
Newsom wants to empty California’s death row before leaving office
Why even a thin layer of ice can disrupt an aircraft’s flight
'We are in overspeed condition': Final minutes of Florida jet crash
More than 59 million ballots have been cast as early voting surges
How did high-speed passenger trains collide? Nearly 70 dead in Spain crash
Teller explains why Houdini fascinates us 100 years after his death
Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on original Star Trek, has died at 90
New search begins for Amelia Earhart plane suspected to be buried in lagoon
Russia reports suspected plague death. Pneumonic plague symptoms, explained
After Christa Pike, a closer look at executions in America
How to create a spooky Halloween yard, from decorations to lights
How many billionaires attended Trump’s dinner with Xi?
You may be seeing Trump’s name everywhere. Here’s why
Travis Kelce named as victim of Ponzi scam. Here's how to spot one
Saudi Arabia pipeline shutdown could push fuel prices even higher
Trump promised $5,000 checks, what happened to his other payouts
Hundreds dead, 1,000+ missing after glacier collapse. See how it happened
Six months in six charts: Here's how the Iran war has affected you
Case map, graphs show resurgence of disease once eliminated in the US
Hawk Fire burns over 15,000 acres near Reno despite containment
Grim discoveries emerge as Lake Mead's water levels drop
Navy ship incidents come under scrutiny amid USS Lincoln concerns
Maps show the travel strain on USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier
Trump orders Navy revert to older catapult tech: What's it look like?
Amelia Earhart vanished in 1937. Is this mystery object her long-lost plane?
ICE may spend up to $20 million to give agents electric shock gloves
Presidential shell game: How Trump ditched Air Force One to evade Iranian plot
National Guard to stay in DC for years. See crime stats, where troops are from
How Trump's birthright executive orders would impact citizenship
See how the cyclosporiasis outbreak spread from farm to table
At least 57 dead after border breach into Spain's tiny Ceuta: Maps
Measles cases reach highest level in 35 years. See the charts
See how oil prices soared after latest strikes in the Middle East
Final flight home: How fallen US service members return to American soil
Map shows where Iran-backed Houthis threaten oil route with attacks
Wildfire smoke can harm kids. Here's how to protect them
Graphics show how gases and particulates of wildfire smoke can hurt you
How do body cams work? Why many ICE agents aren't using them
See how Strait of Hormuz traffic slowed amid Trump Iran blockade
Despite Trump’s claims of winning Iran war, strikes continue
Cyclosporiasis vs other GI illnesses: Key differences explained
Map tracks spread of 'explosive' diarrhea outbreak: Tips to prevent
Idaho will use police firing squads to execute condemned inmates
See how many in the US are impacted by birthright citizenship