Adversarial Competition in the 21st Century
“Adversarial Competition in the 21st Century”
Speakers: Bailey, B. (US Air Force); Doran, D. (US Army); Meek, S. (US Army)
Date: 10 April 2019
Speaker Session Preview
SMA hosted a speaker session presented by LTC David Doran (US Army), LTC Steven Meek (US Army), and Lt Col Bryan Bailey (US Air Force) as a part of its Future of Global Competition & Conflict Speaker Series. Their talk focused on the first four chapters of their report, entitled “Adversarial Competition in the 21st Century.” LTC Doran discussed how adversarial competition has become the “new normal” and the defining geopolitical struggle of the 21st century. He then outlined the report’s four primary objectives: 1) to gain a better understanding of the current state of great power competition, 2) to develop models to account for and explain what occurs between rivals, 3) to use these models to enhance strategy and policy making, and 4) to apply findings to the most prominent great power competition—the competition between the US and China. LTC Doran then explained where modern competition between the US and China lies on the competition continuum—in an area defined as “adversarial competition,” which lies between “cooperation” and “conflict.” While these activities cannot be described as “friendly,” they fall short of conflict. Within the adversarial competition spectrum, countries compete in an environment in which they make, bend, and break rules in an attempt to shape the dynamics of the competition to their advantage. LTC Meek proceeded to discuss the 4P Adversarial Competition Model, which describes how nations protect, play, prevent, and promote while engaging in this form of competition. He stated that success in adversarial competition requires that competitors continuously play, prevent, protect and promote according to their own self-defined instances for relative advantage. Lt Col Bailey then presented the reports’ primary findings and two categories of recommendations: more general and Joint Force/Department of Defense-specific. To conclude, LTC Doran explained that in this current state of competition, great powers will try to achieve maximum benefit and advantage without moving into traditional conflict.
LTC David R. Doran, USA
Lieutenant Colonel David R. Doran is an Army aviator who most recently served as a strategic planner on the U.S. Joint Staff, J-7, in the Office of Irregular Warfare at the Pentagon. Previously, he commanded the Operational Support Airlift Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, overseeing the Army National Guard’s fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and aircrews. He also served as Chief of the Aviation Systems Readiness Branch within the ARNG Aviation Division.
LTC Doran deployed to Iraq (2007–2008) as a Theater Aviation Company Commander and C-23 Sherpa pilot, and to Afghanistan (2005–2006) as a Heavy Lift Helicopter Company Executive Officer and CH-47D Chinook pilot. He is a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, the College of Naval Command and Staff, the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, and the U.S. Army War College Defense Strategy Course.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement from Western Oregon University, a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law. His research interests include whole-of-government approaches to countering threat networks and great power competition in the 21st century.
LTC Steven R. Meek, USA
Lieutenant Colonel Steven R. Meek is an Army Information Operations Officer who most recently served as the Operations Officer for the 1st Information Operations Command (Land) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Future Plans for Headquarters, Resolute Support, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
At U.S. Cyber Command, LTC Meek held roles including Cyber Plans Team Chief in the Cyber National Mission Force, Deputy Plans Branch Chief in the Plans and Policy Directorate, and Military Assistant to the USCYBERCOM Director of Plans and Policy. He has served multiple tours in Iraq, first training and advising Iraqi Security Forces with the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment (1st Cavalry Division), and later as the Brigade Information Operations Officer for the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.
LTC Meek is a graduate of the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies. He holds a master’s degree in International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Texas A&M University. His research interests include information warfare, strategic decision-making, and civil-military relations.
Lt Col Bryan M. Bailey, USAF
Lieutenant Colonel Bryan M. Bailey is a U.S. Air Force C-17 pilot who most recently served as Director of Operations for the 89th Airlift Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He previously served as a formal training unit instructor in the C-17 at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, and flew worldwide contingency missions during operational assignments at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and McChord AFB, Washington.
A command pilot with more than 5,600 flight hours, Lt Col Bailey has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Odyssey Dawn, Deep Freeze, and Bright Star. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, holds a master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy. His research interests include joint logistics and great power competition in the 21st century.
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