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, we learn about the US Army’s Command and General Staff College Information Advantage Scholar Program. Two officers from the 2024 IA Scholar cohort–Army MAJs Vincent Michel and Josh Keller–present their research and also discuss their overall experience. Additionally, Cognitive Crucible listeners are invited to the Command and General Staff College Information Advantage Symposium on 22 May 2024.

Recorded on: May 2, 2024

Research Questions: 

• MAJ Michel suggests as interested student examine: 
  • What are the necessary steps a unit must take to isolate a prevalent actor within the narrative space?
  • Are there additional factors that influence the narrative space and consolidation of gains?
• MAJ Keller suggests as interested student examine: 
  • Primary Research Question: How can Collateral Damage Estimation (CDE) adapt to accommodate nonlethal effects against satellite communication architecture?
  • Secondary Research Question: How can CJCSI 3370.01 Target Development Standards accommodate entity-level target development for satellite communication architecture on orbit? What are the resulting impacts to intelligence and targeting professionals?

Resources:

• Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
  • #166 John Agnello on Information Advantage
• YouTube Channel: Information Advantage Scholars USArmyCGSC
• Command and General Staff College Information Advantage Symposium – May 22 | Command and General Staff College Foundation, Inc. (cgscfoundation.org)
• Army Space Vision Supporting Multi-domain Operations
• TE Lawrence
• Army Doctrine Publication 3-13, Information Advantage
• Dangerous Narratives: Warfare, Strategy, Stagecraft by Maan, Clark, Steed, Drohan, Nesic, Holshek, Straub, Ronfeldt, and Arquilla
• The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently...and Why by Richard E. Nisbett
• The Wires of War: Technology and the Global Struggle for Power by Jacob Helberg
• The Battle Beyond: Fighting and Winning the Coming War in Space by Paul Szymanski and Jerry Drew
• Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bios:

Guest #1: Vincent Michel, U.S. Army
Information Operations,  Military Intelligence, Armor

Thesis: The Other Side to the Story: Consolidation of Gains and the Narrative Space

Education:
2018, M.A. Criminal Justice, American Military University
2013, B.A. Criminology, University of New Mexico

Past Assignments:
Mission Command IO Project Officer, MXCDID, Futures Concept Center, AFC, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Recruiting Company Commander, Evansville, IN

Future Assignment: IO Team Leader, 11th Cyber BN

Guest #2: Joshua Keller, U.S. Army
Space Operations, Field Artillery

Thesis:
ADAPTING TARGETING POLICY FOR NONLETHAL EFFECTS ON SATELLITE COMMUNICATION ARCHITECTURE
Education:
2012, M.A. Quantitative and Psychological Foundations, University of Iowa
2010, B.A. Psychology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Past Assignments:
Deputy OIC, SPCT #3, 1st Space BN, Ft Carson, CO
Assistant Ops Officer, 1st Space BDE, Ft Carson, CO

Future Assignment: 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Space Operations Officer, Ft Liberty, NC

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.

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