A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

It's the time of the year when we feature some of the smart conversations that occur around the country through the Eisenhower Series College Program. This episode features Christiana Crawford, Jody Daigle, and Amanda Raney as they examine the complex relationship between the United States and China. They joined podcast editor Ron Granieri to share their different yet complementary perspectives. Christiana emphasized the military's goal is to build strength to preserve peace, Jody drew parallels to the Peloponnesian War by highlighting fear, honor, and interest as drivers of conflict, and Amanda discussed the inherent tension of competing with China while also collaborating with it in critical fields like medicine. The speakers agreed that this complex relationship, full of both cooperation and competition, must be carefully managed. I have a much deeper understanding of that threat now after my studies here at the War College… I've wrestled with it and I've decided it's not a tension that can be resolved. It has to be managed. Christiana Crawford is a colonel, an operational planner and Western Europe Foreign area officer in the U.S. Marine Corps reserve. She was commissioned in 2004 from the U.S. Naval Academy. She recently served as the lead planner for Marine Corps Force modernization efforts in the Pacific. She is a graduate of the AY25 Resident Course and a member of the Eisenhower Series College Program at the U.S. Army War College. Jody Daigle was commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 2002 and is a colonel that has served for 23 years in the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces roles, with several combat deployments to Iraq and the Southern Philippines. His Indo-Pacific focus includes military capacity building and diplomatic service at U.S. embassies in India, China, and the Philippines. He is a graduate of the AY25 Resident Course and a member of the Eisenhower Series College Program at the U.S. Army War College. Amanda Ranney is a colonel and a medical operations planner in the Washington Army National Guard. She specializes in planning medical support for combat forces and leading medical units. Most recently, she commanded a multifunctional logistics battalion. In her civilian career, she manages clinical trials developing new cancer medicines. She is a graduate of the AY25 Resident Course and a member of the Eisenhower Series College Program at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: Generated by Gemini

Joining the discussion are Erik Sarson, an Army Special Forces officer, and Anna Scott, a British Army officer. They delve into the essential nature of military and civilian partnerships, emphasizing the transformative power of the U.S.-UK alliance. Erik shares compelling insights about the State Partnership Program’s role in global ties, while Anna reflects on the importance of soft power and shared values. Together, they explore how personal experiences can foster trust and manage disagreements among allies, highlighting the ever-evolving dynamics of international relations.

In this discussion, Craig Booth, a Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Air Force and a cybersecurity expert, explores the intersection of cyber vulnerabilities and modern warfare. He argues that digital weaknesses threaten the credibility of military coercion, compromising U.S. power projection. Booth highlights the strategic implications of adversaries leveraging cyber threats to undermine deterrence. He also emphasizes the necessity for proactive cybersecurity measures and the integration of advanced technologies to fortify national resilience against evolving cyber risks.

In the second half of their two-part episode, host Tom Spahr and Sean Shields discuss the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in western North Carolina. Shields details his experience leading the 20th Engineer Brigade and the critical importance of collaborating with other organizations like FEMA, the National Guard, and local officials. He notes this was a real-world application of his Army War College studies on defense support to civil authorities. The mission also marked the first use of the Maven system on an unclassified network, which provided a crucial, real-time common operating picture for all involved stakeholders.

In response to the Western Front-like stalemate seen in the Ukraine war, the U.S. Army is getting innovative. Sean Shields, commander of the 20th Engineer Brigade, joins host Tom Spahr to discuss his unit's "Sand Hills Project," an initiative born from observing the mobility challenges faced by Ukrainian forces. The project’s goal is to figure out how to breach modern, complex obstacle belts and restore maneuver to the battlefield, all while keeping soldiers out of harm's way. To achieve this, the project utilizes cheap, expendable, and scalable robotic ground and air vehicles to overwhelm and reduce enemy defenses. This is part one of a two-part series about the 20th Engineer Brigade.

From late 2024 to early 2025, numerous unidentified drones were reported over U.S. cities and military bases. While some of these "mystery craft" were later attributed to FAA-authorized research and other purposes, their presence highlighted the potential threat and vulnerability of defense and infrastructure facilities. Paul Lushenko, chief strategist for the U.S. military's Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), joined host Tom Spahr to discuss these concerns. Lushenko also underscored the ongoing efforts to refine doctrine, training, and policy to effectively address the evolving challenge posed by unmanned aircraft systems.

In May 2025, the U.S. Army War College hosted its fourth annual Strategic Landpower Symposium. The event featured General Xavier Brunson, commander of United Nations Command, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, as the keynote speaker. In a discussion with host Tom Spahr, General Brunson shared insights into his demanding role and the critical strategic importance of the Korean Peninsula. He underscored the necessity of reviving the "emotion" that motivated international support for South Korea during the Korean War. General Brunson also emphasized the delicate balance between maintaining a "fight tonight" readiness and continuously modernizing forces to counter advancements in North Korean and Chinese military technology.

Despite the fact that so many of them make it look easy, the daily lives of senior U.S. military leaders can be incredibly demanding. Laura Weimer examined how senior leaders manage their well-being (or, at times, struggle to do so) amidst these demanding careers, and she’s in the studio with host JP Clark to share her discoveries. Drawing from her research, Weimer highlighted the unique pressures of senior roles, including frequent relocations, intense scrutiny, and the weight of consequential decisions. She also discussed the inevitable challenges of mid-life, such as caring for aging parents and navigating evolving family dynamics, which compound work-related stress. Weimer’s key takeaway? Developing a strong sense of identity, meaning, and purpose is essential for fostering resilience and sustaining leadership effectiveness. I don't know if necessarily it's the Army's job to help us figure out our identity. I do think it would be valuable for the Army to acknowledge the value of those conversations and maybe even prompt those conversations. Links to resources referenced by Laura in the episode: Joe Byerly, “Learning to Live a Halfway Interesting Life,” From the Green Notebook (March 19, 2025) https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2025/03/19/learning-to-live-a-halfway-interesting-life/  Briana Barker Caza, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Erin Reid, and Stephanie Creary. "How to Make Room in Your Work Life for the Rest of Your Self." Harvard Business Review (May 30, 2018), https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-to-make-room-in-your-work-life-for-the-rest-of-your-self Cal Newport, “The Most Important Piece of Career Advice You Probably Never Heard,” Cal Newport, May 21, 2008, https://calnewport.com/the-most-important-piece-of-career-advice-you-probably-never-heard/ Nick Craig and Scott A. Snook. 2014. “From Purpose to Impact.” Harvard Business Review, May. https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact. Arthur C. Brooks, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (Penguin, 2022). Simon Sinek, "The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy," A Bit of Optimism Podcast, 7 January 2025. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wnHgVpkuX0i4CdCEHSFkg?si=c58cf2607d274eb7 This is restricted access (academic): Herminia Ibarra, “Provisional Selves: Experimenting with Image and Identity in Professional Adaptation.” Administrative Science Quarterly 44 (4) (1999): 764–91. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055. Laura Weimer is an Active Duty Army lieutenant colonel (Military Police) and a graduate of the AY25 Resident course at the U.S. Army War College. She most recently commanded the Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, TX, and will be returning to Texas in June to serve in U.S. Army Futures Command (soon to be Transformation and Training Command). She taught Military Leadership and Intro to Sociology at West Point from 2013-2016 and holds a Ph.D. In Management from Harvard University, an M.A. in Sociology from Duke University, and a B.S. In Chemistry/Life Sciences from West Point. Her research and writing is focused on leader identity, development, and personal well-being. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Then Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dan Caine, USAF, when he appeared before the 1 April, 2025 Senate Confirmation Committee. Caine was nominated and later confirmed as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces and the principal military advisor to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. Photo Credit: Screen capture from CSPAN video of 1 April, 2025 Senate Confirmation Hearing.

Join Robby Haugh, Adam Schultz, and Josh Aldred, all members of the Carlisle Scholars Program, as they dive into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in military strategy. They discuss their innovative experiments using AI for strategic planning and share how it can enhance decision-making. The trio emphasizes the importance of maintaining human oversight to prevent biases and ensure effective AI implementation. Their insights reveal that while AI offers powerful tools, human intuition and oversight remain crucial in military operations.

Celestino Perez, Associate Professor at the U.S. Army War College and director of the Carlisle Scholars Program, dives into the fascinating world of military strategy competitions. He reveals how these events, like the Annual Army War College Strategy Competition, focus more on learning than winning, uniting teams from worldwide institutions. Perez emphasizes the importance of adaptive communication and strategic empathy when tackling complex challenges, particularly relating to national security. The conversation highlights how competition fosters critical thinking and shapes future leaders.