IRGC-QF Malfeasant Activity Outside of the CENTCOM AOR

February 2021 No Comments

Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q3] Given recent events, what are the trends in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) malfeasant activity outside of the CENTCOM AOR? Report Preview Experts interviewed state that they could find no evidence of recent changes in IRGC-QF activity outside of the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR). […]

Continue Reading

Disinformation and Political Warfare: Historical and Technological Insights (A Conversation with Thomas Rid)

February 2021 No Comments

Speaker: Rid, T. (Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies) Date: 11 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Thomas Rid (Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies) as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Dr. Rid began by stating that that there is currently a lack […]

Continue Reading

Analyzing Election Disinformation Efforts by Foreign Actors

February 2021 No Comments

Speaker: Helmus, T. (RAND); Marcellino, W. (RAND); Posard, M. (RAND) Date: 9 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Todd Helmus (RAND), Dr. William Marcellino (RAND), and Dr. Marek Posard (RAND) as a part of its SMA EUCOM Speaker Series. Dr. Posard began the speaker session by stating that he […]

Continue Reading

How [Culture] Change Happens: A Roadmap of What Works

February 2021 No Comments

Authors | Editors: Courtney, A. (Frontier Design); Williams, J. (Frontier Design) SMA Report Preview This report was submitted by Frontier Design in support of SMA’s Integrating Information in Joint Operations (IIJO) effort. Abstract Change is hard; it humbles us all. Yet, it is possible to succeed. This article explores the why, what, who and how […]

Continue Reading

“Standing Under” Stories: Narrative Research Methods for Anticipatory Intelligence

January 2021 No Comments

Speaker: Cobb, S. (George Mason University) Date: 2 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Sara Cobb (George Mason University) as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series.  Dr. Cobb began her presentation by acknowledging that her own work builds on and heavily references prior communication, conflict, and psychological research, […]

Continue Reading

Transactional Communication Model

No Comments

Authors | Editors: Bragg, B. (NSI, Inc.); Cooley, A. (Oklahoma State University); Cooley, S. (Oklahoma State University); Kitsch, S. (Monmouth College); Hinck, R. (Monmouth College) Quick Look Preview Introduction This report presents a model for understanding the core communication process, and elaborates on mechanisms to strengthen it. We begin with an overview of the core communication […]

Continue Reading

Understanding Mass Self-Communication

No Comments

Authors | Editors: Cooley, A. (Oklahoma State University); Cooley, S. (Oklahoma State University); Kitsch, S. (Monmouth College); Hinck, R. (Monmouth College) Quick Look Preview This brief discusses a new form of communication within networked societies—Castells’ so-called mass self-communication. The brief highlights how barriers between old and new media are disappearing as increasing technological access creates new […]

Continue Reading

Vulnerabilities to Cognitive Biases in the OODA Loop Process

No Comments

Authors | Editors: Rieger, T. (NSI, Inc.); Jafri, A. (NSI, Inc.) Invited Perspective Preview A recent Quick Look prepared as part of a Joint Staff and Air Force (A3)-sponsored effort to examine the effectiveness of Operations in the Information Environment (OIE) examines how cognitive biases can affect the communication process (Polansky & Rieger, 2020). During review […]

Continue Reading

Fresh Options to Reinvigorate Defense Innovation for the World as It Is Now

January 2021 No Comments

Speakers: Brown, M. (Director, Defense Innovation Unit, Former CEO of Symantec Corporation); Hunt, C. (US Army, Retired); Lewis, J. (Senior Vice President and Director, Strategic Technologies Program, CSIS); Mulgan, G. (University College, London, [UCL]; Former Chief Executive of Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation); Wright, N. (Intelligent Biology, Georgetown University, UCL, and New America) Date: 3 […]

Continue Reading

Information Warfare

January 2021 No Comments

Speaker: Farwell, J. (The Farwell Group) Date: 21 January 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Mr. James Farwell (The Farwell Group), as a part of its SMA IIJO Speaker Series. Mr. Farwell’s brief focused on strategic views of information warfare and the impact that it is having. He began by stating that communication strategy and information warfare are about […]

Continue Reading