Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Experts’ Validation Of The Fundamental Cybersecurity Competency Index (Fcci) Using A Commercial Cyber Range Through Human-Generative Artificial Intelligence (Genai) Teaming, Dariusz Witko, Yair Levy, Catherine Neubauer, Greg Simco, Laurie P. Dringus, Melissa Carlton

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The increasing volume of cyber threats, combined with a critical shortage of skilled professionals and rising burnout among practitioners, highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions in cybersecurity operations. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) offers promising potential to augment human analysts in cybersecurity, but its integration requires rigorous validation of the fundamental competencies that enable effective collaboration of human-GenAI teams. This research study employed a mixed-methods research project designed to evaluate human-GenAI teams, emphasizing the role of expert consensus in shaping the experimental assessment of the Fundamental Cybersecurity Competency Index (FCCI) in a commercial cyber range. We engaged 20 Subject Matter …

The Colder War: Predicting Government Deception In The Arctic Conflict, Chisom Nnennaya Okorafor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As rising temperatures increase the rate of polar ice cap melt, the Arctic is rapidly becoming a region of significant geopolitical interest, creating the potential for a revived Great Powers struggle. A key consideration surrounding potential conflict for democracies is the role of official government secrecy in foreign policy decision-making. This particular study examines the intersection of the two topics, creating a model of understanding and predicting U.S. government deception in conflicts. Specifically, this research identifies the gap between internal U.S. government knowledge and publicly broadcasted messaging surrounding the justifications for military and covert action. By analyzing case studies of …

Reform And Exploration Of Talent Cultivation In Public Security Intelligence, Lei Hong, Guangliang Gao

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] Public security intelligence work has undergone a significant transformation from passive defense to proactive early warning, with corresponding shifts in its core functions. The cultivation of public security intelligence talents rooted in practical combat has evolved alongside the development of intelligence work, necessitating a clear understanding of its historical development and future prospects.

[Method/process] By employing a comprehensive approach that integrates literature analysis, data interpretation, and historical examination, this study systematically reviews the evolution of public security intelligence education from the perspectives of practical intelligence work, the overarching public security education system, and the specific aspects of intelligence education.It …

Arms Up Or Down? The Effect Of International Organization Membership On Military Expenditures, Maria Christina Kardash

Student Publications

In this paper, I investigate the relationship between the total number of international organizations a state is involved in and its military expenditures as a percentage of GDP. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative analysis, I find support for my hypothesis that the more international organizations a state is a member of, the less a state will expend on its military. Qualitatively, I focus on the three main theories of international relations (realism, liberalism, and constructivism) to construct a theoretical foundation for my paper. Under realism, I focus on free riding behavior, under liberalism, I center on non-military priorities, and under …

Effectiveness Of Chinese Dual-Use Shipbuilding Within State-Owned Enterprises, Naveen Wineland

Student Publications

This paper examines how effectively China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have leveraged dual-use shipbuilding to support the naval modernization of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). While China’s commercial shipbuilding sector now dominates the global market and provides SOEs with massive economies of scale, workforce continuity, and supply chain depth, the ability to translate these advantages into advanced naval shipbuilding has been uneven. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of the developmental state and hidden developmental state, this analysis distinguishes between commercial and naval shipbuilding requirements and examines hull-level production data for major U.S. and Chinese surface combatant classes. The evidence suggests that …

Rethinking The Narrative Of Turkey’S July 15 Events: An Intelligence Operation Disguised As A Coup Attempt, Mustafa Kirisci, Ibrahim Kocaman, Murat Balci

Publications

Academia, think tanks, and international media have largely adopted the Turkish government’s narrative that the events of July 15, 2016, constituted a failed coup attempt. This dominant framing has shaped policy responses and scholarly interpretations despite the authoritarian context in which it was crafted. Many Turkish and Western scholars accepted the Turkish government’s narrative that the July 15 events were a failed coup attempt. They often rely on surface-level indicators and official statements without critically engaging with available evidence. Also, they disregarded substantial evidence and defendants’ statements in judicial proceedings that directly contradict official statements. One notable exception to this …

Book Review: Age Of Revolutions: Progress And Backlash From 1600 To The Present, Thimothy Martin, John Erickson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Fareed Zakaria

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Martin, director, Defense Strategy Course, US Army War College, and John Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies

Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present explores revolutions from the seventeenth century to today. Part I offers historical case studies of revolutions, including socioeconomic, political, and technological examples. Part II discusses current economic, technological, identity, and geopolitical revolutions and their implications—like the ways technology improves life but at the price of depersonalization and digital addiction for some. The reviewer recommends this book for lovers of international relations, history, philosophy, and strategic …

Book Review: Warfare In The Robotics Age, Jeremy Lewis

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Ash Rossiter and Peter Layton

Reviewed by Jeremy Lewis, US Army (retired)

With real-world examples and clear explanations of how robotics influence air, maritime, land, space, and cyber operations, Warfare in the Robotics Age offers an overview of the history of robotics in war. Covering topics including drafting robots into military service, reimagining robotic warfare, and adapting to a robot way of war, the reviewer recommends the book for policymakers, strategists, practitioners, and senior leaders.

Book Review: China’S Quest For Military Supremacy, Zenel Garcia

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Joel Wuthnow and Phillip C. Saunders

Reviewed by Zenel Garcia, associate professor of security studies, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College

Joel Wuthnow's and Phillip Saunders’s China’s Quest for Military Supremacy is a sharp, deeply researched examination of the People’s Liberation Army’s transformation into a modern force with regional ambitions and global implications. The book reveals how China’s military advances are tempered by internal structural weaknesses, political constraints, and a deliberate focus on deterring US intervention—especially over Taiwan. Balanced and insightful, it’s essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the shifting dynamics of power in …

Book Review: America’S Cold Warrior: Paul Nitze And National Security From Roosevelt To Reagan, James Graham Wilson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: James Graham Wilson

Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, US Army War College class of 2010

In America’s Cold Warrior: Paul Nitze and National Security from Roosevelt to Reagan written by James Graham Wilson and reviewed by Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, readers follow the life of Paul Nitze. As a businessman and government official, Nitze lived a life of service, holding positions as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, and Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department. He also helped craft America’s Cold War policy. “Nitze’s life is more than …

Book Review: Upstart: How China Became A Great Power, R. M. Ihme

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Oriana Skylar Mastro

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Kelly R. M. Ihme, PhD, General Hoyt S. Vandenberg Chair of Aerospace Studies and assistant professor, Department of Distance Education, US Army War College

Upstart: How China Became a Great Power, by Oriana Skylar Mastro, tracks China’s transition from a minor regional influence in the 1990s to a global power. The author developed and used the Upstart Strategy, which examines emulation, exploitation, and entrepreneurship, to offer predictive modeling that political and military leaders can use to anticipate China’s future trajectory. Reviewer Kelly Ihme applauds the specific and actionable recommendations for America and …

Book Review: Spetsnaz: A History Of The Soviet And Russian Special Forces, Chase Metcalf

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Tor Bukkvoll

Reviewed by Colonel Chase Metcalf, assistant professor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

Tor Bukkvoll delivers an in-depth and compelling history of Soviet and Russian Spetsnaz, tracing its evolution from strategic reconnaissance units to key players in hybrid and irregular warfare. The reviewer recommends the book for scholars, military professionals, and anyone interested in Russian special operations forces.

Book Review: Algorithms Of Armageddon: The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Future Wars, Kevin M. Boyce

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: George Galdorisi and Sam J. Tangredi

Reviewed by Kevin M. Boyce, retired aviation command and control officer US Marine Corps, Futures Lab director, Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College

Authors George Galdorisi and Sam J. Tangredi explore the risks and implications of AI on national security in Algorithms of Armageddon: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Future Wars. With Russia and China pursuing weaponized AI systems, America must master the algorithms of war to remain dominant.

Book Review: The First Cold War: Anglo-Russian Relations In The 19th Century, Whitney Grespin

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Barbara Emerson

Reviewed by Dr. Whitney Grespin, Irregular Warfare Initiative fellow

An instructive historical case study and strategic diagnostic, The First Cold War: Anglo-Russian Relations in the 19th Century, clearly distills complex dynamics, reminding readers that to deal with Russia, the United States must remember Russia's motives and fears.

Political Violence In America: Turning Point Or Flashpoint?, Alan Saquella

Publications

The murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk reignited an old debate in the United States: Are we approaching a turning point in political violence, or is this simply another flashpoint in a long, uneven history of partisan conflict?

Political scientists and commentators appear divided. Some warn of a spiraling wave of tit-for-tat violence, fueled by incendiary rhetoric and amplified by online echo chambers. Others emphasize that such acts are rare, often the work of lone actors rather than coordinated movements, and that the broader public overwhelmingly rejects violence as a political tool.

For security professionals, the challenge is not to …

Parameters Autumn 2025, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

From The Editor In Chief, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Autumn 2025 issue of Parameters. We open with two In Focus commentaries. The first, “A Case for Military Proportionality: Disabling Nuclear Plants” by Henry Sokolski, offers practical ways in which military planners can disable civilian targets, such as nuclear infrastructure, without undermining operational goals, alliance cohesion, or long-term political objectives. Our second commentary, “The Consequences of Declining Patriotism in the United States” by Neil N. Snyder, presents findings from a national survey showing a decline in patriotism, especially among Generation Z nonveterans. His article highlights a growing civil-military values gap with implications for recruitment and national …

The Consequences Of Declining Patriotism In The United States, Neil N. Snyder

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Patriotism, an important determinant of American civil-military relations, is in decline among many Americans. This article analyzes the results of an extensive national survey fielded to assess Americans’ attitudes and finds that more veterans value patriotism than Generation Z nonveterans, that Americans’ trust in their military is correlated with their value for patriotism, and that members of Generation Z are more likely to consider serving in the US military if they value patriotism. Although patriotism is normally a source of national unity, it may now be a source of division between veterans, nonveterans, and Generation Z.

Russian Arctic Land Forces And Defense Trends Redefined By Nato And Ukraine, Troy J. Bouffard, Lester W. Grau, Charles K. Bartles, Mathieu Boulègue

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Russia’s Arctic land forces have been weakened by the Russia-Ukraine War and NATO’s northern expansion, creating a strategic window for Western militaries to bolster their Arctic capabilities. Unlike existing studies that focus on maritime operations and the Northern Sea Route, it integrates technical assessments of ground-based Arctic platforms with analysis of military-district reforms. Using a mixed methodology that incorporates equipment specifications, Russian government documents, media reports, and NATO strategic-response evaluations, this article constructs a comprehensive baseline understanding of Russia’s Arctic land-force potential and readiness. Policy and military practitioners will benefit from actionable insights into Arctic force-design …

Humanitarian Intervention And Just War Theory, Nathaniel R. King

The Ozark Historical Review

Since the end of World War II, the United States has engaged in a new type of warfare. No longer fighting conventional wars, the United States has begun to enter into an intervention style of warfare. Often, intervention occurs on humanitarian grounds, rather than for reasons of conquest, which can often lead to unwanted destruction and alienate local populations. At the same time America’s military tactics shifted the world saw the resurgence of universal human rights. Increasingly included within these rights was the right to protection, or R2P. Just war theory becomes joined with humanitarianism when the action of intervening …