Special Operations

The hub for thinking, dialogue, and professional growth across the Special Operations community, bridging operators, policymakers, researchers, and industry partners.

Covert Crypto: a Double-edged Sword for Special Operations

“For covert operations, the misconception that crypto is inherently 'anonymous' is hazardous... Instead, crypto provides the potential for non-attribution or deliberate exposure, depending on the type of operation.” In the current landscape of strategic competition and irregular warfare, the ability to operate covertly in the financial domain

Solving the Dilemma: A Leadership Model for Irregular Warfare ('Guerrilla Leader Series' - Part 3 of 3)

“Every intervention begins as a story of liberation. Without adaptation, it ends as a story of occupation.” Why do militarily superior forces consistently win the fight—but lose the peace? This is not a new question. It is the defining paradox of modern irregular warfare. From Vietnam to Afghanistan to

The Strategic Shift: A Leader’s Guide to the Risk to Follower Model (‘Guerrilla Leader Series' - Part 2 of 3)

"Understanding this model is the key to knowing when to lead with decisive action and when to lead with empathetic connection. It is the essential next step in moving beyond short-term tactical success toward long-term strategic victory." In the preceding analysis—the first installment of what

The Elder’s Gambit and the Practice of Narrative Warfare

"If one individual can be influenced by activating identity over ideology, then influence in modern conflict is less about information superiority and more about narrative precision." What is more powerful: a learned ideology or an inherited identity? For years, the U.S. national security apparatus has grappled with

The Guerrilla Leader Theory: A Data-Driven Approach to Winning within the Human Domain (Part 1 of a 3 part series)

✉️ Email header below is auto-generated from this post’s author tag. It only appears in the newsletter — please don’t edit or delete it. “True connectedness, the data argues, is not forged over a cup of tea. It is forged in shared hardship, demonstrated through mutual vulnerability, and sustained

The Strategic Logic of Large Militant Alliance Networks

✉️ Email header below is auto-generated from this post’s author tag. It only appears in the newsletter — please don’t edit or delete it. Episode 148 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores why militant groups form alliances, and what the content of those alliances can tell us about their

The Colombia Case Study: Legitimacy, Naming, and Irregular Warfare

“Conflict does not end… it reclassifies.” Abstract Information and influence operations are often described as modern capabilities shaped by post‑9/11 irregular warfare doctrine. In practice, they represent a longstanding function of statecraft that predates current terminology and frequently persists long after formal conflict ends. This article uses Colombia

Competitive Intervention, Proxy War, and Military Assistance: Anderson, Eyre, and Kuhlman

Episode 146 examines the impact of external military assistance on civil wars. Summary This conversation delves into the complexities of competitive intervention in civil wars, exploring the types of military aid provided, how external support influences conflict dynamics, and implications for practitioners and policymakers. The discussion highlights the prevalence of

The Role of Foreign Fighters in a Taiwan Resistance Scenario

"Taiwanese veterans who fought in Ukraine’s International Legion against Russia have returned with a stark warning: Taiwan is not ready for war with China." While diplomatic efforts and military deterrence strategies dominate headlines on Taiwan, a less explored area is the potential role of foreign fighters should

Finding the Signal within the Noise: What Information Warriors Need to Know About Human Pattern Recognition.

Editor’s Note: this article is being republished with the permission of Small Wars Journal as part of a republishing arrangement between IWI and SWJ. The original article was published on 12.18.2025 and is available here. In 2022, Russian state media launched a coordinated narrative campaign portraying Ukraine’

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Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

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The IWI SOF Program is the hub for thinking, dialogue, and professional growth across the Special Operations community. Built as a virtual team house, it brings together operators, policymakers, researchers, and industry partners to explore how SOF contributes to irregular warfare and to the broader national security mission. The program curates analysis, ideas, and debates that help the force learn faster, think deeper, and stay relevant as strategic competition evolves.

At its core, the program strengthens the human network that makes SOF effective. It gives the community a place to read, write, debate, and test ideas—whether examining the future of SOF activities, unpacking emerging technologies, or translating lessons learned into forward-leaning concepts. Contributors can publish articles, propose podcasts, shape events, and collaborate across the joint force and interagency. The goal is to cultivate a shared intellectual space where the profession sharpens itself.

The SOF Program is also a platform for leadership development and service. Team members gain visibility, build experience, and help shape the profession’s future direction. Anyone with a stake in the SOF enterprise—practitioners, scholars, and industry professionals—is invited to engage, contribute, and join the team as we advance the conversation around SOF and irregular warfare.

Meet the Team

Dr. Joseph Long Dr. Joseph Long Director, SOF Program
David Cook David Cook Advisor, SOF Program
David Maxwell David Maxwell Advisor, SOF Program
Don Edwards Don Edwards Advisor, SOF Program
Dr. Frank Sobchak Dr. Frank Sobchak Advisor, SOF Program
Dr. Robert Burrell Dr. Robert Burrell Advisor, SOF Program
Jaclyn "Jax" Scott Jaclyn "Jax" Scott Advisor, SOF Program
Paul Cobaugh Paul Cobaugh Advisor, SOF Program