Effective militaries are those that not only can project power in various places simultaneously but who do so effectively. As technology and innovation continue to advance and yield new weapon systems, modern militaries should not forget the importance of investing in the style and potential of their soldiers, marines, airmen/airwomen, and sailors’ leadership. Archaic leadership styles, such as Top-Down command, are quickly becoming obsolete with vast amounts of data to analyze from current global conflicts. Cohesive forces that trust their subordinates to accomplish tasks within their Commander's intent are more agile and don't stall when facing adversity. There is a [ … ]

I believe it is crucial for all of us to have dialogue about cybersecurity, both the threats, and the opportunities for all of our nations. This is my first time in Colombia, and I am so excited to be here. If you are not familiar with the Inter American Air Forces Academy or IAAFA as we refer to it, I will touch on the importance of the Academy a little later in my comments. INTRODUCTION Over the last 15 years, I have served as an Air Force cyberspace officer focused on countering nation-state cyber activity both in the United States [ … ]

Published in the Journal of the Americas, Volume 4, Third Edition 2022, the U.S. Air Force professional magazine.    Introduction  This paper analyzes the impacts of climate change on the roles and missions of the armed forces in Latin America and the Caribbean, and examines the range of missions generated or affected by direct or indirect effects of climate change. First, it starts with credible evidence from the United Nations’ intergovernmental panel on climate change, which states that temperatures are likely to rise by two to four degrees Celsius, thus increasing the number of extreme weather events, and leading to [ … ]

Brazil is witnessing a “tussle for the Amazon”—a new and deadly phase in the history of its organized crime groups and their operations. While the country is no stranger to violent criminal organizations, recent years have seen groups building increasingly sophisticated networks, both within and beyond Brazil’s borders. In the strategic state of Amazonas, these developments have sparked a power struggle between several of the country’s largest criminal organizations that has concerning implications for the stability of Brazil as a whole.    Three major groups currently vie for power. The most known is the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da [ … ]