U.S. First Army partners with the Army Reserve and National Guard to help them prepare for their missions. Melissa Sayers, the director of First Army's operational data team, discusses the mission of an operational research systems analyst (ORSA) and the importance of creating a data-centric military. She joins host Tom Spahr in the virtual studio to explain how her team uses a cloud-based platform called Vantage to provide leaders with a "single pane of glass" view of friendly forces, including data on equipment, personnel, and finances. She emphasizes the importance of leadership empowerment and building trust to drive collaboration and cultural change within a large organization.
Here are the links to some of the resources Melissa mentions and recommends:
KM Data Immersion Course: https://armyeitaas.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/TR-CAC-MCCoE-KMQC/SitePages/Knowledge-Manager%27s-Data-Immersion-Course.aspx
Blue Pane: https://vantage.army.mil/workspace/module/view/latest/ri.workshop.main.module.59f9417a-cfaa-482b-b0d0-460f83a74724(NIPR Only)
The videos walking you through Blue Pane are on the "About" tab of Blue Pane.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/seamless-systems
Every August, a fresh new cohort of students arrives on Carlisle Barracks to attend the resident course at the U.S. Army War College. The goal is to educate and develop these senior military and civilian leaders to serve at the strategic level, enhancing national and global security. Maria Gregory shares her hard-won tips for success with host Liz Woodworth. Maria began the 2024-2025 academic year feeling apprehensive but by the end felt transformed (for the best!) Maria hopes the lessons she learned during the "Carlisle Experience" might help others to make the most of the opportunities available during their own studies.
And for all those students that have just arrived be sure to check out our special Back to School series for more incredibly useful information like you'll find here.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/apprehensive-to-accomplished
Sapriya McLendon, a 2024 graduate of the U.S. Army War College, joins host Tom Spahr in the virtual studio to discuss her command of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater) (MIB-T). The 513th MIB-T plays a critical role in providing the ground intelligence picture for CENTCOM, a task they've honed over two decades of continuous engagement in the Middle East. Their conversation delves into the unique aspects of the 513th MIB-T, including its data-centric organization and innovative use of data to enhance efficiency in both business operations and warfighting tasks.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/ai-ready-defense
Frank Sobchak, a retired Special Forces colonel and author of Training for Victory: Special Forces Advisory Missions from El Salvador to Afghanistan, joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to discuss the complexities of security force assistance (SFA). Their conversation delves into the challenges of measuring success in advisory missions and avoiding deeper U.S. combat commitments. Frank's research, based on five case studies (El Salvador, the Philippines, Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan), identifies key variables influencing SFA success. He cites including advisor language and cultural awareness, advisor-to-host nation ratio, consistency in advisor pairing, combat advising, and the ability to organize host nation units. He emphasized that while not all factors need to be perfectly aligned, a majority must be in place for a mission to succeed.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/training-for-victory
It's the time of the year when we feature some of the smart conversations that occur around the country through the Eisenhower Series College Program. This episode features Christiana Crawford, Jody Daigle, and Amanda Raney as they examine the complex relationship between the United States and China. They joined podcast editor Ron Granieri to share their different yet complementary perspectives. Christiana emphasized the military's goal is to build strength to preserve peace, Jody drew parallels to the Peloponnesian War by highlighting fear, honor, and interest as drivers of conflict, and Amanda discussed the inherent tension of competing with China while also collaborating with it in critical fields like medicine. The speakers agreed that this complex relationship, full of both cooperation and competition, must be carefully managed.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/partner-and-competitor
It’s the time of the year when we feature some of the smart conversations that occur around the country through the Eisenhower Series College Program. This episode features Erik Sarson and Anna Scott as they examine the strength and importance of allies and partners. Erik is an Army Special Forces officer in the West Virginia National Guard, and he shared insights from his experience with the State Partnership Program. Anna is a British Army officer, and she speaks about the "special relationship" between the UK and the U.S., highlighting the significance of soft power and shared values. They join host Ron Granieri to highlight the positive reception from their audiences, noting a general understanding and curiosity about the future of alliances, even when addressing potential disagreements.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/allies-and-influence
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
How do cyber vulnerabilities impact modern warfare and statecraft? Craig Booth argues that the effectiveness of coercion, which relies on both the power to impose costs and the credibility of the threat, is weakened by vulnerabilities in digital and networked weapon systems. He joins host Darrell Driver to discuss how if an adversary believes they can hack, jam, or hijack U.S. capabilities, the ability to project power and influence their behavior diminishes. Booth notes that cyber risk is not merely a technical problem but a strategic vulnerability, and cyber resilience must be treated as a fundamental pillar of modern deterrence before it erodes national leverage.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/cyber-and-coercion
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
In the second half of their two-part episode, host Tom Spahr and Sean Shields discuss the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in western North Carolina. Shields details his experience leading the 20th Engineer Brigade and the critical importance of collaborating with other organizations like FEMA, the National Guard, and local officials. He notes this was a real-world application of his Army War College studies on defense support to civil authorities. The mission also marked the first use of the Maven system on an unclassified network, which provided a crucial, real-time common operating picture for all involved stakeholders.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/castle-part-2
Go check out the podcasts Sean mentioned:
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
In response to the Western Front-like stalemate seen in the Ukraine war, the U.S. Army is getting innovative. Sean Shields, commander of the 20th Engineer Brigade, joins host Tom Spahr to discuss his unit's "Sand Hills Project," an initiative born from observing the mobility challenges faced by Ukrainian forces. The project’s goal is to figure out how to breach modern, complex obstacle belts and restore maneuver to the battlefield, all while keeping soldiers out of harm's way. To achieve this, the project utilizes cheap, expendable, and scalable robotic ground and air vehicles to overwhelm and reduce enemy defenses. This is part one of a two-part series about the 20th Engineer Brigade.
Go check out the podcasts Sean mentioned:
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/castle-pt-1
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
From late 2024 to early 2025, numerous unidentified drones were reported over U.S. cities and military bases. While some of these "mystery craft" were later attributed to FAA-authorized research and other purposes, their presence highlighted the potential threat and vulnerability of defense and infrastructure facilities. Paul Lushenko, chief strategist for the U.S. military's Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), joined host Tom Spahr to discuss these concerns. Lushenko also underscored the ongoing efforts to refine doctrine, training, and policy to effectively address the evolving challenge posed by unmanned aircraft systems.
Here are the articles co-authored by Paul Lushenko mentioned in the show:
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/vulnerable-skies
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
In May 2025, the U.S. Army War College hosted its fourth annual Strategic Landpower Symposium. The event featured General Xavier Brunson, commander of United Nations Command, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, as the keynote speaker. In a discussion with host Tom Spahr, General Brunson shared insights into his demanding role and the critical strategic importance of the Korean Peninsula. He underscored the necessity of reviving the "emotion" that motivated international support for South Korea during the Korean War. General Brunson also emphasized the delicate balance between maintaining a "fight tonight" readiness and continuously modernizing forces to counter advancements in North Korean and Chinese military technology.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/brunson
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
Despite the fact that so many of them make it look easy, the daily lives of senior U.S. military leaders can be incredibly demanding. Laura Weimer examined how senior leaders manage their well-being (or, at times, struggle to do so) amidst these demanding careers, and she’s in the studio with host JP Clark to share her discoveries. Drawing from her research, Weimer highlighted the unique pressures of senior roles, including frequent relocations, intense scrutiny, and the weight of consequential decisions. She also discussed the inevitable challenges of mid-life, such as caring for aging parents and navigating evolving family dynamics, which compound work-related stress. Weimer’s key takeaway? Developing a strong sense of identity, meaning, and purpose is essential for fostering resilience and sustaining leadership effectiveness.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/resilience-and-effectiveness
Links to resources referenced by Laura in the episode:
Joe Byerly, “Learning to Live a Halfway Interesting Life,” From the Green Notebook (March 19, 2025) https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2025/03/19/learning-to-live-a-halfway-interesting-life/
Briana Barker Caza, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Erin Reid, and Stephanie Creary. "How to Make Room in Your Work Life for the Rest of Your Self." Harvard Business Review (May 30, 2018), https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-to-make-room-in-your-work-life-for-the-rest-of-your-self
Cal Newport, “The Most Important Piece of Career Advice You Probably Never Heard,” Cal Newport, May 21, 2008, https://calnewport.com/the-most-important-piece-of-career-advice-you-probably-never-heard/
Nick Craig and Scott A. Snook. 2014. “From Purpose to Impact.” Harvard Business Review, May. https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact.
Arthur C. Brooks, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (Penguin, 2022).
Simon Sinek, "The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy," A Bit of Optimism Podcast, 7 January 2025. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wnHgVpkuX0i4CdCEHSFkg?si=c58cf2607d274eb7
This is restricted access (academic):
Herminia Ibarra, “Provisional Selves: Experimenting with Image and Identity in Professional Adaptation.” Administrative Science Quarterly 44 (4) (1999): 764–91. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/resilience-and-effectiveness
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches.
In a previous episode, we highlighted the Annual Army War College Strategy Competition. This week, host Tom Galvin speaks with a team from the Carlisle Scholars Program that used the competition as the opportunity to experiment with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for strategy formulation. Josh Aldred, Claudio Blardone, Robby Haugh, and Adam Schultz share their expectations and what actually happened and take-aways. Ultimately, the results underscored AI's potential to improve strategic planning, while also highlighting the continued importance of human oversight and ongoing training.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/ai-in-strategy
To view the AI models Josh Aldred mention you can find them here:
The GOAT Strategic Planner https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67f932232678819180a1405b5d0ebe58-the-goat-strategic-planner
The dashboard tool used to model the current situation in Kashmir: https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/a0dec892-26ca-4964-93b0-e00085ba0582.
Each year, while the military senior service schools compete upon the fields of friendly strife in the event known as Jim Thorpe Sports Days, the U.S. Army War College hosts a different kind of contest: The Annual Army War College Strategy Competition. This contest pits teams from various U.S. military education institutions, international war colleges, and civilian universities against each other to see who can develop the best strategies to solve complex real-world national security problems.
Celestino Perez, the creator of the competition, joins host JP Clark to discuss this year's event, which included teams from 7 U.S. professional military education schools, the Australian War College, the French Ecole de Guerre, West Point, and five civilian universities.
Perez highlights that the competition is less about winning and more about the learning process. It’s a chance for students to learn from each other, from faculty, and from a diverse group of judges, including top military and academic minds.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/strategy-competition
Friend of the podcast, Zach Griffiths, recently reached out with an exciting opportunity and we’re happy to help publicize it. Zach, who serves as the Director of the Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
To help kick off the effort we’re re-releasing this and one other podcast episodes highlighting the creation and value of the Harding Project.
It's time to talk about the Harding Project once again. The project is the Chief of Staff of the Army's (CSA) effort to renew professional publications, strengthen the profession, and ultimately enhance the warfighting capability of the U.S. Army. Jake Larkowich, Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army War College and associate editor for War Room, stepped into the studio to share a senior leader perspective. He joins Editor-in-Chief, JP Clark, to discuss the importance of putting words to your thoughts. Their conversation focuses on sharing experiences and opinions in writing at the senior leader level, where there is value for both junior officers and NCOs, as well as challenges and benefits to writing for one's contemporaries.
The podcast episode JP references with Zach Griffiths and Zach Griffiths and Theo Lipsky can be found here. The article written by COL Larkowich and then COL Buzzard was titled What Should the Brigade Be Doing Right Now? Deconstructing the ‘Brigade Fight’.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/colonels-writing-rr
Friend of the podcast, Zach Griffiths, recently reached out with an exciting opportunity and we’re happy to help publicize it. Zach, who serves as the Director of the Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches. Applications for the fellowship will open this summer, and further information can be found at www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Harding.
To help kick off the effort we’re re-releasing this and one other podcast episodes highlighting the creation and value of the Harding Project.
Whether putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard, writing clarifies and improves ideas while also allowing those thoughts to be shared with others. But the idea of publishing one's thoughts can be intimidating. Why does it seem so hard to get thoughts down on paper? And how do you approach an editor? How do you even get started? Zach Griffiths and Theo Lipsky are in the studio to explain why you absolutely should share your ideas more widely. They join our Editor-in-Chief, JP Clark, to discuss publishing for professional purposes and the Chief of Staff of the Army's (CSA) Harding Project an effort to renew professional publications, strengthen the profession, and ultimately enhance the warfighting capability of the U.S. Army.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/harding-project-rr
The U.S. Army War College (USAWC) recently hosted its 2025 Homeland Defense Symposium, gathering experts to tackle the complex issues of defending the homeland. A key focus was clarifying the difference between Homeland Security (law enforcement and emergency response) and Homeland Defense (military protection against external threats). Bert Tussing, Director of the Homeland Defense and Security Issues Group at the USAWC’s Center for Strategic Leadership, joined host Ron Granieri in the studio to discuss the major themes of the symposium. Participants emphasized the importance of preparedness, highlighting that future conflicts are likely to reach U.S. soil. The discussions emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach, integrating not just federal agencies but also state and local governments, the private sector, and the general public into defense strategies.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/security-v-defense
EDITOR'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on 24 March 2025.
Retired U.S. Army General Paul Nakasone recently addressed the resident class at the U.S. Army War College, and he also sat down for an episode of A Better Peace with host Tom Spahr. While reflecting on his time leading the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command, Nakasone provides a fascinating peek into the world of cyber intelligence. He emphasizes the critical importance of integrating signals intelligence with cyber operations to maintain speed, agility, and unity of action. The discussion also highlights the transformative power of AI in the intelligence community and the necessity of strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. Conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza underscore the strategic importance of adapting to modern warfare's complexities for today’s leaders.
Ever wonder what goes into the President's Daily Brief (PDB)? It's not your average morning news. Stephanie Sellers, a former PDB briefer, is currently the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Representative to the U.S. Army War College and the General Walter Bedell Smith Chair of National Intelligence Studies. She joins host Ron Granieri to share her experiences, and describes the job as trying to keep up with “17 different soap operas at once.” This crucial intelligence update is delivered to the president and other senior government leaders, shaping their understanding of critical issues. Sellers, who previously worked on missile systems for the Navy, joined the CIA after 9/11 out of a desire to continue to serve her country and to use and grow her technical and leadership skills in new and exciting assignments. Her journey to becoming a PDB briefer was fueled by a desire for challenge and the opportunity to work at "the nexus of intelligence and policy."
Retired Rear Admiral Paul Becker joins host Darrell Driver in the studio to discuss the role of intelligence in U.S. Homeland Security. Intelligence is discovering what an adversary seeks to conceal, a concept relevant to both warfare and homeland defense. Becker emphasizes the unique challenges of applying intelligence domestically, including legal and ethical considerations and the increasing convergence of foreign and domestic threats. The discussion highlights the critical importance of interagency coordination, information sharing, open-source intelligence, and public trust. Becker also touches on the threat from China, particularly the potential for cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/intel-imperatives
