Improving Capabilities for Operations in the Information Environment: Information Forces and Intelligence Support

Speaker(s): Dr. Christopher Paul (RAND) & Mr. Michael Schwille (RAND)

Date: 5 May 2021

Speaker Session Summary

SMA hosted a speaker session with Dr. Christopher Paul (RAND) and Mr. Michael Schwille (RAND) as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series.

This presentation was based on two recent RAND reports, which detail how information operations (IO) can be more effectively integrated into the DoD’s current framework for operations. Mr. Schwille stated that to achieve this goal, members of Congress have proposed creating an Information Force, which would institutionalize IO and bridge the gap between the intelligence community and the IO community. Mr. Schwille argued that ultimately, there needs to be better coordination between the intelligence community and the IO community, particularly with respect to deciding what data should be collected, who is responsible for collecting the data, and who is responsible for analyzing the data. Six types of challenges for better incorporating IO into the DoD’s existing framework were consequently identified in one of RAND’s reports: 1) coordination and collaboration, 2) division of labor, 3) missing expertise, 4) prioritization, 5) gaps in concepts or doctrine, and 6) intelligence authorities. Moreover, four main types of solutions were identified: 1) improving processes across organizations, 2) prioritizing support for IO, 3) training and educating operators in the information environment (IE), and 4) allocating personnel effectively. 

Dr. Paul described how drawing a comparison between the contemporary information forces and historical special operations forces (SOF) helps frame where contemporary information forces currently are in their development. Dr. Paul stated that even a well-founded force like SOF has gone through boom-and-bust periods that were mostly a result of how much funding Congress decided to provide—both during war and during peacetime. It was not until several critical misuses of SOF personnel by commanders that SOF enjoyed more consistent budgeting, and consequently, a more sustainable level of success. Contemporary information forces could enjoy similar success to that of SOF, Dr. Paul argued, if: 1) its leadership is placed in a single office, 2)_ if that office creates clear career trajectories for its operators, 3) if it secures consistent funding, and 4) if it creates an effective educational system for its operators to help them become more well-versed in relevant subjects across the IE. 

Speaker Session Recording

Briefing Materials

Christopher Paul is a senior social scientist at the RAND Corporation and professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Prior to joining RAND full-time in July 2002, Paul worked as an adjunct at RAND for six years and was on the statistics faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2001–02. Paul has developed methodological competencies in comparative historical and case study approaches, evaluation research, various forms of quantitative analysis, and survey research. Paul received his Ph.D. in sociology from UCLA.

Mike Schwille is a senior policy analyst at RAND. His primary research interest focuses on the integration of information into combined arms warfare. He has experience with Joint, Army and Marine Corps concept development, Operations in the Information Environment, countering A2AD strategies, strategic workforce analysis and force development. While at RAND, he has led several NSRD and Arroyo projects relating to Information Operations Intelligence Integration, the creation of the Army’s Information concept, and tactically focused Information Operations. He also has intelligence community and military experience focusing on target development, mapping social and cultural networks, and building partner capacity. He is dual-qualified as a Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Army Reservist that has deployed multiple times with the US Army to the Middle East and Africa. He earned his M.A. in international development studies from George Washington University.

This speaker session supported SMA’s Integrating Information in Joint Operations (IIJO) project. For additional speaker sessions and project publications, please visit the IIJO project page.