Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Toward A More Effective Dod Contribution To Strategic Competition In The Western Hemisphere, R. Evan Ellis

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2025 R. Evan Ellis

Innovative new thinking on the security dimension of the challenges posed by the PRC’s engagement in Latin America and the DoD’s role in the whole-of-government US response is needed. This monograph highlights risks from PRC influence networks, digital architectures, and dual-use commercial facilities in the region, particularly at ports and in the space sector; shows how PRC economic engagement and other support sustains illiberal regimes, indirectly contributing to the risks these regimes pose by hosting criminal and terrorist groups and other US adversaries, such as Russia and Iran; and illustrates how commercial, people-to-people, and security engagements …

Study To Understand The Effects Of Biofouling And Corrosion On Underwater Munitions: Implications For Risk Management And Resource Allocation, Center For International Stabilization And Recovery, Fenix Insight

Global CWD Repository

The project's primary objective is to understand the impacts of the underwater environment on munitions as a means to identify the residual risk these munitions pose, so people undertaking detection and clearance efforts can reliably assess operational risk and make informed decisions.

A Comparison Study Of Senior And Junior Deck Officers’ Interpretations Of The International Regulations For The Prevention Of Collisions At Sea, Ian Heffernan, Tom O'Mahony

Articles

The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (IRPCS) provide a comprehensive set of instructions for watchkeeping officers to follow and prevent collisions at sea. This study compares how six newly qualified deck officers and six Master Mariners, who were all trained at the same college, applied the IRPCS. Individual, semi-structured interviews were used to uncover how the 12 participants applied and interpreted the rules for three authentic scenarios. Phenomenography was used to capture the qualitatively different means by which participants interpreted the IRPCS. For basic collision avoidance situations, the results indicated little difference between the cohorts' ability …

Insider Risks And The Evolving Role Of Executive Protection Professionals In Cybersecurity, Alan Saquella

Publications

Insider risks have long been a critical concern in corporate security, traditionally encompassing threats from employees, contractors, or third-party vendors with access to sensitive information. However, as digital transformation accelerates, the convergence of physical and cyber threats has created new vulnerabilities. Executive protection (EP) professionals, historically tasked with safeguarding high-profile individuals from physical threats, now find themselves on the frontlines of combating cyber-criminal attacks. Expanding their skill sets to include cybersecurity awareness is no longer optional—it is a necessity.

This article explores insider risks, the growing need for executive protection professionals to adapt, and practical ways they can enhance their …

Book Review: Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, And A Quest To Honor America’S First Black Generals, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Doug Melville

Reviewed by: Reverend Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain (retired), US Army War College Class of 2010

Author Doug Melville’s multigenerational biography presents the little-known story of his family and two of its military veterans who always believed in the American dream—Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., the first Black US Army general, and his son, General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the first Black US Air Force brigadier general. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson reviewed the book because he was so impressed when he heard then–Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. speak in chapel at his evangelical college.

Copyright: …

Book Review: Airpower Pioneers: From Billy Mitchell To Dave Deptula, Robert E. Underwood Iii

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Editor: John Andreas Olson

Reviewed by: Colonel Robert E. Underwood III, DPhil, armor officer and US Army Goodpaster Fellow, US Army Advanced Strategic Plans and Policy Program

In this review, Robert E. Underwood III bills Airpower Pioneers as a refreshing read that highlights the tension between bureaucracy and innovation against a backdrop of the lives of 12 aviation pioneers. The importance of relationships and their relevance adds a layer of depth to the book.

Copyright: ©2025 Robert E. Underwood III

The Future Of Stealth Military Doctrine, Theodoros G. Kostis

Joint Force Quarterly

In this article, Theodoros G. Kostis examines the evolution and future trajectory of stealth technology in military operations. Traditionally, stealth doctrine has focused on reducing radar cross-section (RCS) to evade detection, as seen in fifth-generation aircraft like the F-22 and F-35. However, these platforms face limitations against modern integrated air defense systems. To address this, future stealth strategies will integrate artificial intelligence (AI), swarm tactics, and miniaturization of platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones. Kostis proposes the SiVSMD (Stand-In Variable Speed Multiple-Domain) Offensive Concept, which uses AI-driven, small, flexible platforms to penetrate heavily defended areas with …

Weapons In Space: Technology, Politics, And The Rise And Fall Of The Strategic Defense Initiative, Todd W. Pennington

Joint Force Quarterly

Aaron Bateman's Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative provides a comprehensive history of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), revealing its technological, political, and international complexities through newly declassified records. Bateman explores SDI’s origins, rooted in President Reagan’s vision to neutralize nuclear threats, and examines the challenges posed by its reliance on space-based technologies that blurred the line between missile defense and offensive space weapons. The book details the entanglement of SDI with arms control efforts, European allies’ concerns over space militarization, and logistical hurdles like the reliance on NASA’s shuttle program. …

The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, And The 21st Century’S Greatest Dilemma, Peter Khooshabeh, Robert Underwood

Joint Force Quarterly

Mustafa Suleyman’s The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma explores the transformative and disruptive impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology (SynBio), highlighting their potential benefits and existential risks. Suleyman, a co-founder of Google DeepMind, examines the "containment problem"—how to manage the unforeseen consequences of these rapidly advancing technologies. He underscores the democratization of power these technologies enable, their global accessibility, and their potential to create profound societal changes. While Suleyman argues that reinforcing nation-states is essential for containment, the book raises questions about whether international cooperation might be a more viable solution. Suleyman presents …

China’S Use Of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting, Ian Forsyth

Joint Force Quarterly

China’s Use of Armed Coercion, edited by James A. Siebens, examines how China employs military and paramilitary forces to coerce and signal without triggering war, offering valuable insights for policymakers and military strategists. The book analyzes over 200 coercive operations (2000–2021) and highlights China’s ability to frame its actions as defensive while advancing its regional ambitions through intimidation, direct deterrence, and coercion. Case studies, such as sovereignty disputes with the Philippines and India, underscore how China’s military actions are calibrated to avoid outright conflict but maximize psychological and political pressure. The book also explores China’s integration of military and …

Polybian Warfare: The First Punic War As A Case Study In Strategic Competition And Joint Warfighting, Casey B. Baker

Joint Force Quarterly

The First Punic War (264–241 BCE) between Rome and Carthage offers timeless lessons on strategic competition and joint warfare, particularly relevant for modern military strategy. This 23-year conflict highlights the challenges of long-term rivalries, where adaptability, alliances, and mastery of new domains like maritime power were critical to success. Rome’s transformation from a land power to a dominant naval force demonstrates the importance of technological innovation, such as the corvus boarding device, and the ability to sustain costly investments in new capabilities. Carthage’s reliance on mercenaries like Spartan general Xanthippus showcases both the advantages and risks of external support, while …

It’S The Chain That Broke It: The Strategic Supply Chains Underpinning National Security, Gregory M. Tomlin

Joint Force Quarterly

Strategic supply chain vulnerabilities threaten the Department of Defense’s (DOD) ability to maintain readiness and protect national security. Global supply chains, often dependent on multiple subcontractor tiers, are highly prone to disruptions from geopolitical events, foreign interference, cybersecurity risks, and shortages of critical materials, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and in delays like those affecting F-35 production. To address these challenges, the DOD must adopt "strategic supply chains" as a core concept in its doctrine, emphasizing continuous risk assessment and safeguards like multisourcing, supply chain nerve centers, and contingency planning. Updating key policies and doctrines, such as Joint Publications …

Bullets, Bandages, And Fairy Dust: Improving Dmo Health Services Support With Wargaming, Debra D. Buckland-Coffey, Robert P. Gerbracht, Kengo Nishida, William R. Gureck

Joint Force Quarterly

Health services support is a critical yet often overlooked component of distributed maritime operations (DMO) and expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO). In exercises and wargames, medical logistics are frequently “fairy dusted”—assumed to function without realistic planning—despite the immense challenges of managing high casualty rates, complex supply chains, and limited evacuation timelines in contested environments like the Indo-Pacific. This article highlights the need for better integration of health services into wargames and exercises, emphasizing the importance of realistic scenarios, multilateral cooperation, and investment in modeling tools. By addressing these gaps, military planners can improve readiness, reduce risks, and better prepare for …

Updating The Tacs/Aags For Large-Scale Combat Operations, Matthew Neuenswander

Joint Force Quarterly

The Theater Air Control System (TACS) and Army Air-Ground System (AAGS) have been critical frameworks for coordinating air and ground operations between the U.S. Army and Air Force since the Vietnam War. Designed to synchronize air support, airspace control, and joint fires, the system has evolved to meet changing military strategies, including today’s shift from counterinsurgency to large-scale combat operations. However, challenges persist, such as gaps in airspace management, fires integration, and resource allocation, particularly with the Air Force’s downsizing of Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) personnel. Conflicting priorities, coalition partner limitations, and new Army structures like the Multi-Domain Task …

Determining Political Objectives, Milan Vego

Joint Force Quarterly

Political objectives are the backbone of national and coalition security strategies, shaping the direction and outcomes of conflicts. Defined by political leaders with input from military advisors, these objectives must strike a balance between goals, resources, and methods to be achievable. However, the process is often complicated by competing priorities, biases, and the need to adapt to changing conditions. History has shown the dangers of mismatched resources, flawed intelligence, and unrealistic ambitions, as seen in conflicts like the Russo-Japanese War, Gulf War, and the Russia-Ukraine war. Clear and well-defined objectives—whether focused on defense, conquest, or diplomacy—are essential for success. Achieving …

Is The Pla Overestimating The Potential Of Artificial Intelligence?, Koichiro Takagi

Joint Force Quarterly

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into its military modernization strategy, or "intelligentization," aiming to develop a world-class military capable of designing future warfare. This article reviews over 370 PLA Daily articles to assess how the PLA envisions AI transforming key areas of warfare, including situational awareness, decisionmaking, unmanned weapons, and cognitive domain operations. While the PLA anticipates significant advantages, it also acknowledges the risks of system malfunctions, biased data, ethical dilemmas, and adversarial manipulation. Despite these limitations, the PLA remains committed to leveraging AI to create new forms of warfare, emphasizing the importance of proactive …

Celtic Security In The Atlantic: How Does Ireland Secure Europe’S Western Flank?, Patrick J. Smith

Joint Force Quarterly

Ireland plays a crucial role in protecting Europe’s western flank, but growing Russian aggression has exposed serious gaps in its security. With a small, outdated naval fleet, limited air capabilities, and inadequate radar systems, Ireland struggles to defend its airspace, waters, and critical undersea cables—vital infrastructure that carries 97% of transatlantic data and underpins global communication and security. These vulnerabilities have made Ireland a target for Russian sabotage and incursions, posing risks to Europe and the transatlantic alliance.

The article explores two paths for Ireland to address these security challenges: joining NATO or seeking Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with …

The Urgency Of Warfighting Renewal: Five Principles For Today’S Professional Military Education, Christopher M. Marcell, Gaylon L. Mcalpine, Reagan E. Schaupp, Joseph L. Varuolo

Joint Force Quarterly

This article highlights the urgent need to reform Professional Military Education (PME) to prioritize warfighting skills and strategic thinking, as called for in the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Despite recent updates to include China and Russia-focused content, PME programs remain misaligned with their core mission of developing leaders proficient in the art and science of war.

A key challenge is the growing number of external requirements unrelated to warfighting—such as climate security and diversity initiatives—that dilute PME’s focus and weaken instructional quality. The authors recommend establishing a central authority to vet these requirements and ensure they align with warfighting priorities. …

Being Believed: Persuasion And The Narrative In Military Operations, Brent A. Lawniczak

Joint Force Quarterly

This article examines the vital role of persuasive narratives in modern military operations, highlighting their power to shape perceptions, influence behavior, and achieve strategic objectives across the competition continuum. Narratives are described as unifying stories that provide context, coherence, and clarity to military actions, ensuring alignment between words and deeds while promoting credibility and unity of effort.

The article also explores the key elements of effective narratives—setting, characters, plot, and moral—and identifies factors that enhance their persuasiveness. These include emotional appeal, simplicity, consistency with audience values, relatable characters, trust in the narrator, and resonance with cultural and historical contexts.

Military …

The Art Of Campaigning: Joint Planners Working At The Intersections Of Everything, Mary Bell, Edgar M. Hollandsworth, Thomas J. Snukis, Jeffrey Turner, Luke P. Bellocchi, Nicholas Anthony, Steve Tribble, Chris Botterbusch, Justin D. Harper

Joint Force Quarterly

This article examines the evolution of military campaigning from traditional large-scale combat operations to ongoing efforts that shape the global environment and achieve long-term strategic goals. It highlights the role of Combatant Command Campaign Plans (CCPs) in aligning national strategies with operational objectives and addressing modern challenges like cyber, cognitive, and information warfare.

Key topics include the importance of a Combatant Commander’s (CCDR) vision, the integration of global and regional plans, and the use of strategic wargaming to refine approaches. The article also addresses challenges such as delays in guidance, fragmented planning structures, and adapting to dynamic environments.

Finally, it …