Episode 73 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines the National Defense Strategy and the way it interacts with irregular warfare.

Our guests begin by describing the importance of the NDS and the way it distills guidance from the National Security Strategy down to the Pentagon. They then examine how the military operationalizes strategic guidance from the NDS. Finally, they discuss how the NDS affects irregular warfare efforts and the interagency approach needed to optimize America’s ability to defend its interests.

Dr. Kori Schake is a senior fellow and the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Dr. Schake has had a distinguished career in government, working at the highest levels of the State Department, the Pentagon, and the National Security Council at the White House. During this episode’s discussion, she dissects the unclassified version of the National Defense Strategy, which serves as the anchor for Episode 73.

Retired Brigadier General Chris Burns is the senior advisor to the Irregular Warfare Center. He has nearly four decades of experience leading organizations in both the public sector and across private industry. During his thirty-six-year military career, he led special operations units at multiple echelons. Before retiring, he commanded Special Operations Command North at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Ben Jebb and Julia McClenon are the hosts for Episode 73. Please reach out to Ben and Julia with any questions about this episode or the Irregular Warfare Podcast.

The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners in the field of irregular warfare. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.

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