U.S. Army MH-60L Blackhawk from the 160th SOAR deploys an ODA from 7th SFG(A) onboard a U.S. submarine. U.S. Department of Defense photo.
The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) has released a video of a strategic analysis session examining the trajectory of irregular warfare and special operations. This high-level discourse features Christopher Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, in dialogue with Dr. Seth G. Jones, Director of CSIS’s Defense and Security Department.
The session addresses three interconnected dimensions of contemporary military doctrine: the evolutionary dynamics of Irregular Warfare (IW), the strategic recalibration of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) enterprise, and the operational implications of emergent technologies within the special operations domain.
Drawing upon his strategic oversight of special operations policy formulation, Maier articulates the adaptive mechanisms required for SOF to maintain operational primacy amid evolving threat landscapes. The analysis encompasses the convergence of established special operations core competencies with advanced technological capabilities, illuminating the strategic positioning of U.S. special operations elements for future operational environments.
This executive-level exchange between two preeminent defense strategists offers critical insights into the transformation of special operations doctrine within an increasingly multidimensional global security architecture.
About CSIS
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a preeminent bipartisan think tank established in 1962, dedicated to advancing practical policy solutions to critical global challenges. Originally affiliated with Georgetown University until 1987, CSIS has evolved into one of Washington D.C.’s most influential research organizations, focusing on international relations, security, technology, and geostrategic issues.
Resource
Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)
CSIS.org