The Cognitive Crucible

Rand Waltzman, an Adjunct Senior Information Scientist at the RAND Corporation with 40 years of experience in AI, dives deep into the nuances of disinformation. He introduces the Disinformation 101 series, aimed at empowering individuals against false narratives. The discussion highlights tactics of disinformation, including cognitive denial of service, and underscores the need for critical thinking. Waltzman emphasizes individual responsibility in combating misinformation and the complexities of conspiracy beliefs, advocating for a proactive approach in the digital age.

Kay Nissen, Commander of the 2d Audiovisual Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, shares her insights on second-mover advantage strategies within military contexts. She discusses how timing and communication can outmaneuver traditional rapid-response doctrines, reflecting on lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Nissen emphasizes the importance of cooperative partnerships and understanding information tempo in decision-making. Her exploration of audiovisual storytelling also highlights the role of media in shaping military doctrine and public perception.

Chris Stirewalt, a prominent political analyst and author of *Broken News*, dives deep into the fractured state of American media. He explores how the shift from centralized news to a chaotic landscape influences public discourse and community engagement. Stirewalt intriguingly connects politics to 'kayfabe,' shedding light on the authenticity of political performances. He also draws parallels between the archetypes in professional wrestling and politics, highlighting how these roles shape public perception in both arenas.

Nick Loui, Co-Founder and CEO of PeakMetrics, dives into the fast-evolving landscape of online media and misinformation. He discusses the transformative power of AI in turning chaotic data into actionable intelligence, especially in the realm of social media. The conversation highlights the challenges organizations face in navigating information overload and managing their online reputation. Loui emphasizes the critical role of narrative and sentiment analysis in understanding data trends and combating misinformation, showcasing the need for a strategic approach to information management.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Sharon Russell lends her 20+ years of emergency response experience to the forum. Our discussion includes Sharon’s experience as the Deputy Incident Commander for the response to the Key Bridge incident, which happened in March 2024. Recording Date: 4 Sept 2024 Research Question: Sharon Russell suggests an interested student examine ways of developing responses to public information questions faster; go back 20-30 years of lessons learned data to identify communications strategies that worked and did not work. Resources: ‘Remarkably complex’ cleanup effort ramps up at site of Baltimore bridge collapse FEMA website FEMA Incident Command System Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio:  Ms. Sharon Russell is the Engagement Branch Chief and Deputy Division Chief of the Allies and Partners Force Development (APFD) Division, which is part of the Joint Staff Directorate for Force Development in Suffolk, Virginia.  This division uses coordinated engagements to develop collaborative force development capabilities between the Joint Force and its Allies and Partners. Ms. Russell also has 22 years of service in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. She is a commissioned officer currently assigned as the Reserve Chief of Staff for the Coast Guard’s 13th District.  Her military experience includes assignments focused on Marine Safety and Port Security, as well as emergency responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005), Irma (2017), and Florence and Matthew (2018).  Other response operations include Deepwater Horizon (2010), the capsized vessel GOLDEN RAY (2019) and the Key Bridge Response (2024).  She served as the lead planner for Maritime Security for the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida in 2012 coordinating 27 interagency organizations and provided security for 50,000 delegates, protectees and media.  In 2021, she served as the Coast Guard’s Incident Commander for COVID-19 vaccine operations, successfully leading the effort to vaccinate over 95% of the Coast Guard. Prior to her current assignment, CAPT Russell was assigned to the APFD Division as a Reservist, where she was hand-selected by the Division Chief to lead the highest priority effort, conducting a thorough analysis of the Joint Warfighting Concept and providing recommendations for release to Allies and partners.  Prior to joining the Coast Guard, Ms. Russell served at the US Department of State as the Office of Foreign Missions designated senior international environmental policy expert and advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary.  Her work focused on customs and shipping regulations for the import/export of hazardous materials and relevant diplomatic immunities for the Conditions of Construction Agreement (COCA) negotiations between the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Department.  With her experience in crisis management and long-range strategic planning from both a military and civilian perspective, Ms. Russell provides key leadership to inform current and future strategic issues affecting Allies and partners. Ms. Russell is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Emory University with a concentration in Spanish and Russian language.  She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Environmental Policy from American University and a Master of Arts degree in Emergency Management from Tulane University.  She now resides in Suffolk, Virginia with her husband Marty.  About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Scott Hall, a planner at U.S. Army Cyber, shares his insights into the complexities of synchronizing information environment effects for military advantage. He explores how information superiority can enhance decision-making and operational effectiveness compared to traditional structures. Hall discusses the challenges of integrating various military capabilities and the transformative role of AI and machine learning in data analysis. Additionally, he highlights the strategic lessons from Operation Fortitude, connecting historical deception tactics to modern warfare.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Genia Simkin discusses his firm’s Samizdat technology which makes it possible to bypass DNS blockades set up by autocratic regimes. Recording Date: 5 Aug 2024 Research Question: Genia Simkin suggests as interested student examine OSINT practices. For example, would it be possible to get an accurate sense (census, poll, survey, etc.) of how various populations that live in fear of and under the repressive rule of governments like those in Russia, Iran, or China feel about their governments' various policies and other important geopolitical questions so as to better understand what kinds of propaganda that they're subjected to is effective and they're able to see past? Resources: Samizdat Online makes it possible to bypass the DNS blockades set up by autocratic regimes. Through Samizdat Online, you will be able to access censored media from around the globe and share freely, without VPN. Samizdat = the clandestine copying and distribution of literature banned by the state, especially formerly in the communist countries of eastern Europe. Yevgeny Simkin Bulwark site Alfred North Whitehead Quote: “Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.” I, Pencil: My Family Tree by Leonard E. Read Wayback Machine Fact Checks and Context for Wayback Machine Pages by Mark Graham I Love Russia: Reporting from a Lost Country by Elena Kostyuchenko, Bela Shayevich, Ilona Yazhbin Chavasse Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took On the West by Catherine Belton Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio:  Yevgeny (Genia) Simkin is a technologist, analyst, comedian, musician, and entrepreneur who fled with his family to the US from the former Soviet Union in 1978, during the mass Soviet Jewish exodus of the 70s. Over the last 25 years, Simkin has developed a multitude of software products for the likes of CBS News, YouTube, USA Today, and, many other global media and tech companies. Additionally he's a regular contributor to The Bulwark and has intended but failed to find the time to write multiple insightful and arguably books on the ways in which humanity has failed to realize its potential. Last year, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Yevgeny co-founded Samizdat Online, an anti-censorship media platform that uses unique IP to make it possible to bypass Internet blocking commonly practiced by autocratic regimes such as Putin’s. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

In this engaging discussion, John Bicknell, the CEO and Founder of More Cowbell Unlimited, sheds light on cognitive indicators and their role in enhancing decision-making under pressure. He delves into the complexities of global information security and the challenges posed by state-sponsored threats. The conversation highlights innovative technologies that the US Army is prototyping and emphasizes the importance of clarity in communication. With a blend of humor, he shares insights on how military strategies can transition into civilian contexts, making for an entertaining yet informative exchange.

Remi Whiteside, a Ph.D. researcher specializing in media and data literacy, dives into critical issues surrounding malign information in the military. He reveals the alarming lack of educational programs within the US Army for information professionals to combat misinformation. The conversation also highlights the media consumption habits of young adults, their struggles with discerning political content, and the need for improved analytical skills among soldiers. Whiteside advocates for greater interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance media literacy within military frameworks.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Ellen McCarthy discusses how to conceptualize and develop standards and measurements on information quality, how to align AI with accurate and reliable information, and how challenges and potential of leveraging AI can support information quality. Also, be sure to check out and register for the upcoming 28 October symposium co-sponsored by TIM and IPA: Beyond the Noise - Elevating Information Quality in a Generative AI Era. Recording Date: 5 Sept 2024 Research Question: Ellen McCarthy suggests an interested student examine macroeconomic indicators or drivers of information consumption. Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #119 Katherine Carman on Truth Decay Ellen McCarthy Bio October 28, 2024 Symposium Gallup: U.S. Confidence in Institutions Mostly Flat, but Police Up Gallup: Confidence in Institutions DOJ: Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding and Directing U.S. Company that Published Thousands of Videos in Furtherance of Russian Interests Information Sharing and Analysis Centers Alfred North Whitehead quote: “Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.” Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: The Honorable Ellen McCarthy is a national security professional with extensive experience in government and the private sector. She has held several high-level positions in the U.S. intelligence community and has worked on a wide range of national security issues. Ellen served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research from 2018 to 2020. In this role, she oversaw the State Department's intelligence analysis and provided support to senior policymakers on foreign policy matters. Before that, she was the President of Noblis NSP, a national security-focused science and technology company. She also served as the President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), a non-profit organization focused on addressing intelligence and national security priorities. Prior to her time in the private sector, McCarthy held various leadership positions in the intelligence community, including serving as the Chief Operating Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Director of Intelligence Operations at the U.S. Coast Guard. She was also lead for Human Capital and Security for the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and started her career as an all source intelligence analyst within the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Atlantic Intelligence Command. She is a wife, mother, daughter and friend. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.