In this episode, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb and Col. Cory Hollon are joined by Lt Col Rachel Reynolds and Lt Col Ben “Hojo” Heidenreich to discuss SAASS 667, Information and Cyber Power. The conversation explores how the course examines influence, subversion, cyber operations, and the role of narratives in contemporary competition, drawing on historical and current case studies such as Ukraine and great-power rivalry. The guests describe how the course connects theory to practice, helping students think strategically about information and cyber effects rather than focusing solely on technical details. The episode also highlights the course’s innovative AI-based evaluation exercise, which challenges students to critically assess the strengths and limitations of large language models in strategic analysis.

If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.edu

Books Mentioned

Jennifer Yoder, WWII Memory and Contested Commemorations in Europe and Russia (Oxford University Press, 2024)

Kenneth Alan Osgood, Total Cold War: Eisenhower’s Secret Propaganda Battle at Home and Abroad (Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas, 2006).

Andreas Krieg, Subversion: The Strategic Weaponization of Narratives, (Georgetown University Press, 2023)

Daniel Moore, Offensive Cyber Operations: Understanding Intangible Warfare (Oxford University Press, 2021).

Jon R. Lindsay, Age of Deception: Intelligence and Cybersecurity in an Era of Information Warfare (Cornell University Press, 2025).

Nicole Perlroth, This is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyber-Weapons Arms Race. (New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021).

Michael P. Fischerkeller, Emily O. Goldman, Richard J. Harknett and Paul M. Nakasone. Cyber Persistence Theory: Redefining National Security in Cyberspace. (Oxford University Press, 2022).

The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.

In this episode, Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col. Hollon are joined by Col. Brendon “Herb” Herbeck and Lt. Col. Rob Gharrity, SAASS alumni currently serving at U.S. Space Command. Herb and Rob reflect on their experiences at SAASS and how the program shaped their professional development. The discussion explores how the school’s emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and strategic analysis continues to inform their work in joint and space-focused planning roles. The alumni describe how key readings, thesis research, and interactions with faculty remain relevant years after graduation. The episode also examines contemporary challenges in space strategy, including alliance integration, disclosure of capabilities, and the evolving relationship between the Space Force and U.S. Space Command.

If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.edu”

Books Mentioned

Everett C. Dolman, Astropolitik: Classical Geopolitics in Space (Routledge, 2002).

Mark Bowden, Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2017)

H. R. McMaster, Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam (Harper Perennial, 1998.)

Helen V. Milner and Dustin Tingley, Sailing the Water’s Edge: The Domestic Politics of American Foreign Policy (Princeton University Press, 2016).

Yuen Foong Khong, Analogies at War: Korea, Munich, Dien Bien Phu, and the Vietnam Decisions of 1965. (Princeton University Press, 1992).

“The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.”

In this episode, Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col. Hollon are joined by SAASS 644, Irregular War, teaching team members, Drs. Lina Svedin and Rob Hutchinsonto discuss the class and its place within the curriculum. The conversation explores how the course conceptualizes irregular warfare, the distinction between war and warfare, and the roles of state and non-state actors in pursuing political objectives through violence. The guests outline the course’s structure, moving from foundational theory to historical case studies, including counterinsurgency, civil war, and great-power competition. The episode highlights how irregular war challenges traditional strategic thinking and prepares students to grapple with complex, imbalanced conflicts.

If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.edu”

Books

Stathis N. Kalyvas, The Logic of Violence in Civil War (Cambridge University Press, 2006).

Stephen Biddle, Nonstate Warfare: The Military Methods of Guerillas, Warlords, and Militias (Princeton University Press, 2022).

David Galula, Pacification in Algeria, 1956-1957 (Rand Corporation, 2002).

“The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.”