Command and Control

The rise of Agentic agents in military headquarters is a foregone conclusion. Understanding how they perform, where they may hallucinate answers, and their requirement for credible and reliable data sets sit at the heart of their utility. Henrik Sommer, a retired Brigadier General with the Danish military, explains some of the potential, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and opportunities that AI can provide, including from Systematic's new Wingman AI tool, something already embedded in the Sitaware system. The importance of coders, teachers and trainers of algorithms, and how we prompt AI come out as clear markers in this conversation, as does the core question: how much should we trust AI in the military?

Dr Ivana Stradler, a research fellow on Russian security strategy and info operations, explains reflexive control and fragmented Russian command and control. She discusses how Moscow models adversary decisions, uses psychological and cyber tools, and coordinates state and proxy actors. The conversation covers historical roots, tactical examples, and practical counters like pre-framing and building cognitive resilience.

In 2019, the Dutch municipality of Lochem was hit with a major cyber-attack that impacted everything from welfare payments to the sewage system. The mayor at the time – Sebastiaan van T' Evre – considered that the entire IT system had corrupted including backups. Starting from scratch, and with the help of suppliers and partners, Lochem rebuilt the bare bones within 24 hours. As a journey in civil C2, Sebastiaan recounts his experiences, his decisions, the frustrations, and his objectives during and after the attack, as well as some lessons for the future.

In this insightful conversation, Michael Holm, Chairman and founder of Systematic, shares his four decades of experience in command-and-control systems. He discusses the evolution from bespoke, map-based solutions to modern, data-centric systems, emphasizing the importance of interoperability in military contexts. Holm highlights the shift towards standardized products over bespoke national systems and explores adapting C2 technologies for civilian applications. He also delves into the risks of data sovereignty and the influence of major tech firms on defense.

Colonel Ethan Diven, a senior U.S. Army officer and Provost of the U.S. Army University, discusses modern command and control challenges at the division level. He explores how technology transforms battlefield dynamics, emphasizing maneuvering networks alongside forces. Diven highlights the need for holistic camouflage and the evolving responsibilities of divisions, including managing communications amid contested environments. He also addresses how professional military education must adapt to include AI tools, ensuring leaders balance digital and traditional warfare skills.

Ray Leggatt, retired Commodore of the Royal Australian Navy and the first Commander Amphibious Task Force, shares his journey in revamping Australia's amphibious capabilities. He candidly discusses the cultural integration challenges between Navy and Army, the necessity of adapting doctrine from US and UK practices, and the unique logistics hurdles of amphibious operations. Leggatt also highlights the critical trust between commanders and the need for mindset shifts to tackle complex threats, using Taiwan as a case study for logistical vulnerabilities.

Eliot Cohen, a leading voice in U.S. strategy and history, dives deep into the complexities of the Goldwater-Nichols reforms that reshaped military command. He discusses how these reforms addressed Cold War challenges but may now limit adaptability to modern threats. Cohen emphasizes the critical need to rethink civil-military communication and highlights the Pentagon's influential role in shaping strategy. The conversation explores the historical context of the reforms, leadership dynamics, and the urgency for potential amendments to better navigate today's global conflicts.

Mike Keating, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, brings a wealth of military experience from the Corps level. He discusses the evolution of tactical command, emphasizing how contemporary conflicts require a unique structure for success. The conversation dives into the complexities of corps-level operations, the crucial balance of data and human intuition in warfare, and the importance of political relationships in modern military strategy. Keating highlights the necessity of realistic training to prepare for future challenges.

C2 systems litter headquarters – some have coalesced into a single machine, others spread across various apps, platforms, and systems. It's a growing market place and one that can genuinely bamboozle with all the unmoderated lingo that goes with it. Claims that AI, ML, edge, and clould are scattered with wild abandon but lack some of the detail that HQ staff and commanders actually need. And there is something about contemporary combat and warfare here too. The need to rapidly scale access to systems in Ukraine could be equally matched by lessons from Sudan, Yemen or Kashmir. HADR missions work better with C2 systems that have this ability to size up swiftly – as well as working cross multiple domains, actors and security classifications; the requirement to meet the need of NGOs and multiple coalition partners (civil as well as military) is a demand matched in its complexity only by the demands for data and analytics from every level. To give us some truth rather than wild claims and rhetoric about C2 systems, I asked the show's sponsor – Systematic – for a brief. Step forward Global VP for BD, Andrew Graham and his team: data scientists and military veterans from around the world, all with a distinct passion for C2.

Join John Spencer, a veteran and Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, as he dives into the complexities of command and control in urban warfare. He emphasizes the need for military adaptation to urban settings, focusing on decentralized command and old technologies. Spencer highlights crucial information operations and civil-military cooperation, using lessons from the Battle of Marawi. He advocates for training that understands both terrain and enemy capabilities, transforming how forces engage in densely populated combat zones.