The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

During this episode, Joe Kirschbaum discusses the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) September 2022 report entitled: Information Environment: Opportunities and Threats to DOD's National Security Mission. This report describes DOD's use and protection of the information environment and describes DOD actions taken and planned to use and protect the information environment. Joe Kirschbaum describes several themes which characterize DOD's progress related to information-related capabilities including what he calls the "strategy implementation mismatch."

Research Questions:

• What's the right whole of government structure or model that's appropriate for managing this problem? What's the right interagency approach?
• How might the information environment be used in a combined arms construct?

Resources:

• Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
  • #111 Victoria Coleman on Science, Technology, and Innovation
• United States Government Accountability Office
• Dr. Joe Kirschbaum's GAO bio
• Information Environment: Opportunities and Threats to DOD's National Security Mission (Sep 2022)
• Information Environment: DOD Operations Need Enhanced Leadership and Integration of Capabilities (Apr 2021)
• Information Operations: DOD Should Improve Leadership and Integration Efforts (Aug 2019)(Restricted))
• Joint Information Environment: DOD Needs to Strengthen Governance and Management (Oct 2016)
• YouTube: GAO National Security Threats in the Information Age - Director Summary
• YouTube: GAO National Security Threats in the Information Age - Industrial Age and Information Age
• YouTube: GAO National Security Threats in the Information Age - F-35 Example
• Information Technology and Military Power by Jon R. Lindsay

Link to full show notes and resources

https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-118

Guest Bio:

Dr. Joseph Kirschbaum is a Director in GAO's Defense Capabilities and Management team. He leads GAO's work on the Department of Defense's ability to respond to unconventional threats. As part of his portfolio, he oversees evaluations on the Department of Defense's preparations for homeland defense; plans to respond to emerging threats and irregular warfare; protection of critical infrastructure; and development and management of cyber, nuclear, and intelligence capabilities.

Over his 20-plus-year career with GAO, Dr. Kirschbaum conducted and led audits throughout the range of defense and national security programs, focusing mostly on the Defense Department.

Dr. Kirschbaum comes from a Navy family and served briefly on active duty in the U.S. Navy's nuclear propulsion program. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science and a master's degree in national security studies, both from California State University, San Bernardino, and a doctoral degree in military history from George Washington University.

About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected].

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

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