The Cognitive Crucible

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, Conrad Dungca of the Naval Information Warfare Command Pacific (NIWC Pacific) discusses Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). Conrad discusses each component of ISR, and how ISR fits into information operations.  Research Question: Conrad suggests two research questions: 1) how has ISR evolved and what is ISR, and what is the right direction for ISR; 2) how has ISR impacted people and the world? Resources: Fleet Tactics And Naval Operations by Wayne Hughes and Robert Girrier The Myth of Artificial Intelligence: Why Computers Can’t Think the Way We Do by Erik J. Larson Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-143 Guest Bio: Conrad Dungca grew up in Los Angeles, CA.  He graduated with merit from the US Naval Academy earning a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering, with an emphasis in Communications and Computer Engineering in May 1991. Upon graduation, he was commissioned an Ensign as a Student Naval Aviator. He attended primary flight training in Corpus Christi, TX, and advanced rotary wing flight school in Florida, earning his Naval Aviation wings of gold in 1994.  His service in the Navy was primarily flying the H-46 Sea Knight helicopter.  His other Navy tours included: Tutoring inner city high school students as a Navy Upward Bound Mentor at UCSD,  Engineer duty at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Assistant Operations Officer at the Joint US Military Advisory Group in the Philippines, Navy Recruiting Duty in San Diego, Officer In Charge of a Counter IED Unmanned Aerial Vehicle detachment in support of Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom, and Commanding Officer for two Navy Reserve Units supporting NAVAIR in the rapid research and development of naval aviation systems. Conrad Dungca served over 30 years in the US Navy, retiring at the rank of Navy Captain.  He is currently working at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pac) as the Lead Systems Engineer of the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Department supporting the engineering processes of over 180 department projects.  Prior to Conrad’s assignment to the ISR Department, he was involved with multiple communications related projects in NIWC Pac’s Communications and Networks Department, focusing mostly with the Navy afloat and ashore communications architectures and systems. 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.

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, Brian Murphy discusses issues surrounding ethics related to foreign disinformation–including difficult tradeoffs related to freedom and security. Research Question: Brian believes that we need more clearer criteria for what is disinformation and misinformation. There are no adequate definitions and there is too much subjectivity in current definitions. For example, relevant to disinformation, what is the difference between legitimate statecraft and propaganda? Resources: Some of Brian’s Publications: Book release Spring 2023 Russian Disinformation in America and the U.S. Government’s Ethical Obligations to Respond, Springer Nature Publishing. The Impact of Social Media Conveyed Russian-Backed Disinformation in a Polarized America: An Examination of the Executive Branch’s Ethical Responsibility to Respond (Georgetown University) The US Needs a Center to Counter Foreign Malign Influence at Home - Defense One Ukraine's History Shows Where Russian Disinformation Can Take Hold (logically.ai) Making Sense of Russian Disinformation and Propaganda (logically.ai) “Decaying National Security: Understanding the Implications of Imagined Tribalism and its Connection to the Decay of Nationalism in a Radically Changed Information Context” - RUSI Journal | Royal United Services Institute. Chapter:  Introduction to T&S and Law Enforcement - Trust & Safety Professional Association (tspa.org) The Ever-Shrinking Worlds of National and Homeland Security by Brian Murphy Brian Murphy PhD Dissertation: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONVEYED RUSSIAN-BACKED DISINFORMATION IN A POLARIZED AMERICA: AN EXAMINATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH’S ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-142 Guest Bio: Since September 2021, Brian Murphy has been the Vice President of Strategic Operations for Logically.  In his role, he assisted in developing and implementing advanced Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence solutions to find harmful threat content at scale and across languages and platforms on social media.   Before joining Logically, Mr. Murphy served as both the Principal and Acting Under Security for Intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security (2018 to 2021).  In these roles, he served as the Chief Intelligence Officer, Chief Information Sharing Officer, and Chief Counterintelligence Officer for the department.  In this capacity, he provided intelligence leading to more than 250K personnel. Mr. Murphy led intelligence analysis, data integration, and program management for 22 component organizations within the department.  Mr. Murphy was a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for over 20 years.  While there, he performed duties from street agent up to roles as a national manager.  While in the senior executive service at the FBI, he served as the primary point of contact for federal, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism programs.  During his career, he served in New York, Afghanistan, Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Washington, DC.  Murphy began his federal service in 1994 as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.  He would later return to this role in 2004 after he was recalled to active duty for service in Iraq. Mr. Murphy’s academic credentials include a PhD from Georgetown University; Master of Arts in Islamic Studies from Columbia University; Bachelor of Arts in Government College of William and Mary.  He is a certified U.S. Intel Community Intelligence Officer and Joint Duty Certified and maintains a Top Secret clearance. 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.

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, George Pullen discusses the space economy through a national security lens. Along the way, he answers some basic economic questions like: what is an economy, and what is GDP and why does it matter? Research Question: George Pullen believes the following questions should be studies more: How does space-based solar power plays into our energy future? What are the impacts of economic activities happening in and around space ports? How does blockchain fit into the space economy? Resources: George Pullen’s MilkyWayEconomy Website https://www.milkywayeconomy.com/ Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space by Namrata Goswami and Peter Garretson The United States Space Force: Space, Grand Strategy, and U.S. National Security by Lamont C. Colucci Tailoring Deterrence for China in Space by Krista Langeland, Derek Grossman Spacepower Ascendant: Space Development Theory and a New Space Strategy by Joshua Carlson Blockchain and the Space Economy by George Pullen Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-141 Guest Bio:  Prof. George Pullen is a free-market economist, who for the last decade has been refining his economic philosophies as a Senior Economist at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, DC. Previous to that he worked as a trader, portfolio manager, and banker. He is driven by a curiosity and passion for convergence, connecting people and ideas across diverse disciplines and finding new questions that need answers. He is the author and co-author of six books on economic topics related to deep tech and a Partner and Chief Economist for MilkyWayEconomy. - Forecasting and Strategy for the 5th Industrial Revolution of the Space Economy. 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.

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, Dr. Tom Ferris discusses his fascinating research related to cognitive ergonomics. Research Questions: Tom thinks the following questions need additional study: Human sensing and cognitive insights obtrusive physiology; making inferences during human studies; finding ways of measuring workload, stress and emotional workload in humans. Design for what we know about humans; sensing and detecting emotional states and having machines respond accordingly; control science and getting machines to work better based upon human cognitive sensing. Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #71 Hasard Lee on the F-35 and Cognitive Load Tom Ferris The Design Of Everyday Things by Don Norman IPA Monthly Brown Bag Meetings Calling Authors & Thought Leaders: LLMs and GPT-3 IPA Blog Submission Guidelines Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-140 Guest Bio:  Dr. Thomas Ferris is an Associate Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University. Dr. Ferris' research interests are in human factors and cognitive ergonomics, and can be described as the study of cognition in human-machine engineered systems. His primary focus involves human information processing and design to support attention and interruption management. In particular, he investigates novel interface design techniques, employing alternative display modalities such as the sense of touch. Other research interests include human error, decision making under time pressure and human-automation interaction. He has interest and experience in applying his research to the domains of medicine (anesthesiology), military operations (command and control, UV control and operations), aviation (cockpit automation and air traffic control) and ground transportation. 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.

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. Austin Branch and Andy Whiskeyman, both professors of the practice at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), discuss the recent Phoenix Challenge Conference which was held in London from Feb 27th to Mar 3rd 2023. The Conference was meant to bring together: Academia, Industry, and Government. Those three communities are vital to success in the information field. The first two days were plenary sessions meant to orient the group and ensure common focus for the day three working groups. The day three working groups were split into three: Industry/Government: creating a forum for dialog and creating shared solutions. Academia: preparation for the Academic Phoenix Challenge. Creating an environment to harness academic excellence in support of common obstacles and opportunities. Government session: Integrated deterrence, Narrative, Assessment. These were all the initial working groups designed to create the initial conditions for future success. These themes will continue throughout the year. Conference outputs will work to develop solutions, recommendations, etc. for key leaders in Government (in the information field, specifically OIOP (OSD), and for Head MSE (MoD). Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-139 Guest Bio:  Austin Branch is Professor of the Practice at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS). Andy Whiskeyman is Professor of the Practice at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security; Associate Professor at the College of Information and Cyberspace at National Defense University, and a non-resident fellow at Joint Special Operations University 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.

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, Dr. Matthew Canham discusses the importance of cognitive security, and his neurosecurity framework. Research Question: Are there a finite and discoverable set of Principles of Influence for AI analogous to the Principles of Influence in humans? (Reference: Dr. Robert Cialdini’s Seven Principles of Influence in Humans which form the basis of (most) social engineering attacks: Reciprocity, Social Proof, Liking, Authority, Commitment & Consistency, Scarcity, Unity) Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #113 Jeff Engstrom on Chinese Systems Warfare #135 Dave Maxwell on North Korea and Influence Operations #110 Sean McFate on The New Rules of War Matthew’s personal website Cognitive Security: Exploring the Human Layer w/ Dr. Matthew Canham | CSI Talks #1 https://youtu.be/OGmvoj5Dj_A Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui AntiFragile, 2014, Nassim Nicholas Taleb Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy America, 2015, Qiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui War Without Rules: China's Playbook for Global Domination, 2022, Robert Spalding The New Rules of War: How America Can Win--Against Russia, China, and Other Threats, 2020, Sean McFate The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War, 2022, Mark Galeotti The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age, 1997, James Dale Davidson & Lord William Rees-Mogg The Network State: How To Start a New Country, 2022, Balaji Srinivasan What Technology Wants, 2010, by Kevin Kelly Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion, 2021, Robert B Cialdini PhD Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade, 2016, Robert Cialdini Ph.D. Security risks of ChatGPT and other AI text generators Paul Wagenseil January 17, 2023 Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-138 Guest Bio: Dr. Matthew Canham is a security consultant and researcher dedicated to understanding and addressing the human element in cybersecurity. His research focuses on human susceptibility to mis-dis-mal (MDM) information operations and remote online social engineering attacks. He is also the host of the Cognitive Security Institute, an organization which holds monthly online meetings to discuss topics in cognitive security. You may watch past presentations here: https://www.youtube.com/@cognitivesecurityinstitute579/videos 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.

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, Vic Garcia and Mike Berger of Peraton give a deep dive into IO-related challenges facing the United States and allied nations, plus dynamics between the intelligence and the operations communities, and the importance and current state of IO assessments. Research Question:  Vic Garcia suggests: How are the Chinese leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in order to build influence across the globe? What are the implications on US foreign policy? [Expanding off of the question above] Mike Berger asserts: What are examples of strategic competitor (Chinese and Russian) efforts to build influence* in different information environments across the globe? How successful have they been in these efforts, and what challenges do they present to US national interests? Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #82 John DeRosa and Alex del Castillo on Measuring Effectiveness of Operations in the Information Environment #81 Cassandra Brooker on the Effectiveness of Influence Activities #115 Russ Burgos on Information Supply, Demand, and Effect #129 Eliot Jardines on Open Source Intelligence Axis of Disinformation: Propaganda from Iran, Russia, and China on COVID-19 by Andrew Whiskeyman, Michael Berger The Hundred-Year Marathon: China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower by Michael Pillsbury and Malcolm Hillgartner Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences by Alexander George and Andrew Bennett (2004). Like War: The Weaponization of Social Media by P.W. Singer and Emerson Brooking (2018). Intelligence Support for Operations in the Information Environment, by RAND—authors include Michael Schwille, Anthony Atler, Jonathan, Welch, Christopher Paul, Richard C. Baffa (2020). Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-137 Guest Bio:  Colonel (Ret) Vic Garcia culminated his 30-year Army career after having served as the J39 Information Operations Division Chief at two separate combatant commands: U.S. Special Operations Command (2016-20) and U.S. Central Command (2013-16). During his tenure at SOCOM he oversaw the creation of the Joint MISO Web-operations Center (JMWC), and helped lead organizational change for the PSYOP, Civil Affairs, Cyber and Space communities within the SOF enterprise. Prior to this, while at CENTCOM, Vic led the command’s IO efforts against ISIS/Daesh propaganda, leading to improved web operations including development of a team directly supporting JSOC. Vic served in a variety of infantry and PSYOP assignments, including command of information warfare task forces in Iraq for Multi-National Forces -Iraq, and in Qatar for Special Operations Command – Central. He also saw service in Kandahar, Afghanistan as an infantry deputy Brigade commander; and as a MIST Team leader supporting Joint Task Force Liberia, created to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in that country. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2 awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and others. His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point; a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy University; and a Master’s of Science in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Vic currently works for Peraton supporting information warfighting capability development. Dr. Mike Berger is Chief of Research for the Information Warfare organizational unit (OU) in Peraton’s Cyber Mission Sector. In this capacity, he serves as the lead for analysis and assessments for the Operational Planning, Implementation, and Assessment Services (OPIAS) contract—the largest information warfare support contract in the US Government (USG). Dr. Berger oversees primary source research, personnel, and operational assessments supporting information operations (IO) / irregular warfare (IW) activities across OPIAS’s supported Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs) and USG agencies. Through the course of his work, Dr. Berger has established and successfully managed the most expansive foreign audience opinion research portfolio in the Department of Defense, including over 700,000 survey interviews, 600 focus groups, and 2,000 elite interviews in a variety of sensitive locations across the globe. A central focus of his research includes illuminating the current challenges faced by America and its partners in the information environment. Dr. Berger holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland, United Kingdom). He enjoys establishing new research projects, leveraging new technologies to enhance data analysis, and developing operational assessment teams in support of forward deployed warfighters. 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.

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, Dr Vicki Nash discusses the Oxford Internet Institute, Internet governance, and regulation related to children. Research Question: What are the benefits of technology use in children or young people; for example: benefits related to forming one’s own identity, one’s own sense personality, self-efficacy? Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #18 Tom Sear on Xenowar #41 Toomas Ilves on the Estonian Perspective Victoria Nash’s OII Webpage Unicef Growing Up in a Connected World report OfCom Children and Parents Media Users survey It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by danah boyd Cloud Empires: How Digital Platforms Are Overtaking the State and How We Can Regain Control by Vili Lehdonvirta Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-136 Guest Bio: Victoria Nash is Director of the Oxford Internet Institute (OII). Her research interests draw on her background as a political theorist, and concern the normative policy implications of evidence characterising children’s use of Internet technologies. Recent research has included an analysis of age verification policies as a tool for balancing the interests of children and adults online, and an examination of the data risks posed to children by connected toys and the Internet of Things. She holds several digital policy advisory roles, including membership of the UK Government’s multi-stakeholder UK Council on Internet Safety (UKCIS) Evidence Group, and serves on the Advisory Board of Internet Matters. She is frequently called on to give expert evidence in UK and EU policy consultations on broader issues such as platform governance and Internet regulation. 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.  

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, Dave Maxwell discusses the importance of human rights upfront, influence campaigns, the pursuit of a free and unified Korea, resting on a foundation of deterrence and defense in the context of countering North Korea. Research Questions: Dave suggests technologies be developed which help Western governments access and penetrate North Korea. Also, he believes the potential succession in North Korea is an important research area, as well as mapping out the entire human terrain of key personalities and communicators. He also asks: how can we use defectors and escapees to help with the above research projects and bridge the North and the South. Finally, Dave thinks these “big 5” questions related to North Korea are important: What do we want to achieve in Korea? What is the acceptable durable political arrangement that will protect, serve, and advance US and ROK/US Alliance interests on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia? Who does Kim fear more: The US or the Korean people in the north? (Note it is the Korean people armed with information knowledge of life in South Korea) Do we believe that Kim Jong-un has abandoned the seven decades old strategy of subversion, coercion-extortion (blackmail diplomacy), and use of force to achieve unification dominated by the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State in order to ensure the survival of the mafia like crime family cult known as Kim family regime? In support of that strategy do we believe that Kim Jong-un has abandoned the objective to split the ROK/US Alliance and get US forces off the peninsula?  Has KJU given up his divide to conquer strategy - divide the alliance to conquer the ROK? Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #99 Roger Carstens on Hostage Negotiations & Diplomacy National Strategy for Countering North Korea by Robert Joseph, Robert Collins, Joseph DeTrani, Nicholas Eberstadt, Olivia Enos, David Maxwell, and Greg Scarlatoiu Otto Warmbier Unified Republic of Korea Marked For Life: Songbun: The North Korean Social Classification System by Robert Collins Army of the Indoctrinated: The Suryong, the Soldier, and Information in the KPA by George Hutchinson Becoming Kim Jong-un: A Former CIA Officer’s Insights into North Korea’s Enigmatic Young Dictator by Dr. Jung H. Pak See IPA’s website at the link below for many other book and online resource suggestions related to North Korea Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-135 Guest Bio: David Maxwell is a retired US Army Special Forces Colonel and has spent more than 30 years in Asia as a practitioner and specializes in North Korea and East Asia Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Editor of Small Wars Journal. He is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation (where he focuses on a free and unified Korea), and a Senior Advisor to the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy. 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.

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, US Air Force LtCol Dan “Plato” Morabito discusses his theory of information warfare. Plato takes what may be considered a first principles approach by defining objectively information, knowledge, and problems with knowing. Then, he assembles a novel taxonomy of information warfare which combines trust, access, and cognition–all of which are required for knowledge creation. After discussing “problems of knowing,” he defines information warfare and a theory for victory. Research Question: What is the role of the US Government to counter malign influence when the enemy is fighting for a strategic advantage directly with America's center of gravity, the American people, and can this be accomplished while preserving freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and other democratic principles? Resources: How We Lost the Information War of 2028 (December 2021) by Dan “Plato” Morabito National Security and the Third-Road Threat: Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Information Warfare (Fall 2021) by Dan “Plato” Morabito Cyber Persistence Theory: Redefining National Security in Cyberspace by Emily Goldman, Michael Fischerkeller, and Richard Harknett Why America Loses Wars: Limited War and US Strategy from the Korean War to the Present by Donald Stoker Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-134 Guest Bio:  Lieutenant Colonel Daniel “Plato” Morabito, commander of the 834th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 67th Cyberspace Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, holds a master of science in leadership and information technology from Duquesne University, a master of science in cyberspace operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology, a master of military operational art and science from the USAF Air Command and Staff College, and a master of arts in military operations from the US Army Command and General Staff College. 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.