The Cognitive Crucible

During this episode, we have a wide ranging conversation with futurist, Brian David Johnson (or BDJ). Threastcasting is an innovative, interdisciplinary technique being used by a wide range of organizations and institutions to create actionable models to comprehend possible futures and  identify, track, disrupt, mitigate and recover from them as well. Threatcasting bridges gaps and prompts information exchange and learning across military, academics, industrial and governmental communities. Click here for full show notes & resources Brian David Johnson is a Professor of Practice & Director of the Threatcasting Lab at Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society, and a Futurist and Fellow at Frost & Sullivan, a innovation company that’s focused on growth. Brian works with governments, militaries, trade organizations, and startups to help them envision their future. He has over 40 patents and is the author of a number of books of fiction and nonfiction. He’s also directed two feature films, and is an illustrator and commissioned painter. 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, you can 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.

Marine Corps Colonel Brian Russell discusses his experiences with Joint Task Force ARES, allied and joint force partnerships, and lessons learned which are relevant for synchronizing operations in the Information Environment going forward. He also provides an overview of the Marine Corps' information operations capability: the Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (II MEF Information Group) -- collect, protect, and project. Click here for full show notes & resources Colonel Brian Russell is the commanding officer of II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (II MIG) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He commissioned as a Marine Corps Officer in December 1995 from North Carolina State University. Upon completion of basic officer training he went on to become a field artillery officer. His combat deployments include serving as the Military Transition Team Leader in Habbaniyah, Iraq, the executive officer of Brigade Headquarters Group in Helmand Province, Afghanistan and Plans Director in Bagram, Afghanistan. Some of his notable staff assignments include: Operations Directorate at Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Operations Directorate at United States Cyber Command, and U.S. Plans Directorate at Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command. 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, you can 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.

During this episode, Johannes Tammekänd discusses the evolution of deepfake technology and ways of countering the threat. He describes the dynamic as an arms race which requires increasingly sophisticated techniques to identify imagery, audio, and video which has been altered. Additionally, we discuss the upcoming United States Presidential election and the potential for a deepfake video to cause a major upheaval in the transfer of power. Johannes also describes the biggest systemic risk of deepfakes as fundamentally altering our perception of reality. Click here for full show notes & resources Bio: Johannes Tammekänd is the CEO & Co-Founder of Sentinel, an Estonian based startup which helps democratic governments, defense agencies and internal media counter the threat of deepfakes through an AI-based detection and exercise platform. Previously he worked in NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense (CCD) Center of Excellence (COE) as a cybersecurity expert and architected deep learning systems for Payload-Security which he exited to CrowdStrike. Find out more about and register for the 29 Oct 2020 Virtual Panel on Convergence and Information Advantage, which is co-sponsored by IPA and AFCEA Alamo Chapter. 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, you can 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.

During this episode, Dr. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob drops by the Cognitive Crucible to discuss with John Bicknell his strategic communications research as well as his work with the United Nations global program focused on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) missions. Dr. Jacob observes that many strategic communications campaigns tend to focus on messaging and messaging strategy. He asserts, however, that these components should be secondary and that understanding networks is a critical component for any successful strategic communications campaign. Shifting the focus to networks and influences tends to drive social norms. We also discuss a course he teaches at the US Army War College: The Media in War and Peace which explores the role of the media in war and in peace including the techniques adopted by state and non-state actors to influence media performance before, during and after violent conflicts. Click here for full show notes & resources Bio: Dr. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob is Visiting International Scholar in the International Studies program at Dickinson College. Dr. Jacob earned his Ph.D. in Communications Studies, with a focus on strategic communications, from the University of Leeds in the UK. Dr. Jacob has worked with the United Nations on the revision of the Public Information and Strategic communications module of the Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards during peace operations. He also leads Dickinson College’s Bridge Program which provides educational opportunities to young people from regions of the world experiencing conflict and natural disasters—and for whom higher education would otherwise be impossible. Dr. Jacob co-leads the development of a methodological and ethical guide for violent extremism research at the RESOLVE Network--a research program hosted at the US Institute of Peace. Find out more about the Virtual Panel on Convergence and Information Advantage, which is co-sponsored by IPA and AFCEA Alamo Chapter. 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, you can 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.

During this discussion, Tom Kent joins The Cognitive Crucible to talk about his recent book: Striking Back: Overt and Covert Options to Combat Russian Disinformation. The wide ranging discussion covers the origins of Radio Free Europe, ethics, election meddling, and the story of The West. Click here for full show notes & resources Bio: Tom Kent teaches about Russian affairs and disinformation at Columbia University. He was president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty until 2018. Previously, he was Moscow bureau chief, international editor and standards editor of The Associated Press. He consults on disinformation, journalism and ethics for government, non-governmental organizations, media, and corporate clients. His new book: Striking Back: Overt and Covert Options to Combat Russian Disinformation will be published in September 2020. Find out more about the Virtual Panel on Convergence and Information Advantage, which is co-sponsored by IPA and AFCEA Alamo Chapter. 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, you can 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.

During this episode, we discuss with COL Mike Jackson and Dr. Paul Lieber their recently co-authored article “Countering Disinformation: Are We Our Own Worst Enemy?”. Referencing Richard Stengle’s recent book: Information Wars: How We Lost the Global Battle Against Disinformation and What We Can Do About it, Mike and Paul make the case that well intentioned people frequently resort to “tribalism” which has a nonproductive effect. In 2015, Mike was part of a EUCOM and Department of State combined effort called the Russia Information Group (or RIG); he recounts the stand up of the RIG and relates lessons learned for improving information operations going forward. We conclude by discussing what’s at stake for America and our allies. Interested listeners should also check out: Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America by Christopher Wylie. Click here for full show notes & resources Colonel Michael Jackson is Chief for Plans, Policy, and Partnerships at the Cyber National Mission Force. He was previously the Senior Army Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. COL Jackson has served as an Information Operations officer since 2003 at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels -- collaborating with interagency partners, NATO Allies, and with partner nations. Dr. Paul Lieber is COLSA Corporation’s Chief Scientist (Data & Social Science), where he specializes in communication influence. A Board Member of the Information Professionals Association, he previously served as the Command Writer for two USSOCOM Commanders, likewise Strategic Communication Advisor to Special Operations Command-Australia. Within academic environs, Dr. Lieber was full-time Graduate faculty at both civilian and military institutions. Find out more about the Virtual Panel on Convergence and Information Advantage, which is co-sponsored by IPA and AFCEA Alamo Chapter. 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, you can 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.

Social media has become not just an essential communication space, but also a new kind of conflict space. Organized disinformation campaigns have proliferated, targeting everything from elections to corporations to public health. During this episode, we discuss with Doowan Lee disinformation and fake news related to crises--including the 2020 COVID pandemic. We also discuss national security threats in the information environment and the interplay between Russian and Chinese information operations. Click here for full show notes & resources Mr. Doowan Lee is the Senior Director of Research & Strategy at Zignal Labs, leading AI-empowered media intelligence analytics & influence risk solutions company. He leverages emerging AI technologies to support and enable open society & national security. Mr. Lee is a national security expert specializing in disinformation analysis and great power competition in the information environment. Before joining Zignal Labs, Mr. Lee was a faculty member and principal investigator at the Naval Postgraduate School where his work focused on countering violent extremist networks and authoritarian regimes. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, you can connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell on LinkedIn. Disclosure: 1) As an Amazon Associate IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

During this episode, Mr. Randy Rosin drops by the Cognitive Crucible to discuss his Ph.D. dissertation and his experiences while on active duty in the US Army. He also compares the different ways that cybernetics has been adopted in Russia and the United States. He asserts that Russian information operations are grounded in cybernetic theory, while the United States opted for a more technological route that has diluted applied cybernetics, which has implications for operations in the information environment going forward. Click here for full show notes & resources Mr Randy Rosin is a faculty member of the National Intelligence University in Bethesda, Maryland who teaches courses in information power, strategic communications, propaganda, cyber threat intelligence, denial and deception, and leadership. He enlisted in the Army in 1979 and served in uniform for over three decades. While in the Army, he served worldwide in senior intelligence and information operations positions. Mr Rosin is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Communications, at American University. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, you can connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell on LinkedIn. Disclosure: 1) As an Amazon Associate IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

During this interview, we discuss with Ben Riley of Georgia Tech some of the ways that the Department of Defense engages with the research community. Additionally, we discuss risk appetite and the necessity for having an innovation mindset. Click here for full show notes & resources Since 2015, Mr. Ben Riley has been a principal research associate at the Georgia Institute of Technology (or Georgia Tech). Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Ben held senior leadership positions in the Department of Defense including the Office for Defense Research and Engineering, the Rapid Reaction Technology Office, and the Task Force for Combating Terrorism Technology. Mr. Riley also served in the United States Navy for over 30 years. 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, you can 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.

During this episode, we discuss with Bob Thibadeau his work on lies and implications for the Information Age. *Correction: During the discussion, Dr. Thibadeau referred to neocortical computation as "bimodal" (e.g., vision and audition) but the more correct term is "intermodal" (the cognitive integration of all senses and actions). Interested listeners may engage with his "Whole of Society" effort at The Internet Court of Lies. Click here for full show notes & resources Professor Bob Thibadeau has been affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science since 1979. His expertise is in Cognitive Science, AI, and Machine Learning. Prof Thibadeau is one of the founding Directors of the Robotics Institute. And, he is author of the book "How to Get Your Lies Back: The Internet Court of Lies" and "Fiat Lies are Genocide on the Human Race," which is a brief summary available on Medium.com. 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, you can 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.