August Cole is an author exploring the future of conflict through fiction and other forms of “FICINT” (Fictional Intelligence) storytelling. He is the co-author of the best seller Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the next World War as well as Burn In: A Novel on the Real Robotic Revolution. He has assisted the DOD, Armed Services Committee, SOCOM, and numerous other government and non-government organizations in understanding the use of nonfiction research and the power of narrative to influence strategic decision making. The Modern War Institute at West Point hosted Mr. Cole on 9 April 2025 for a discussion about how developing strategic narratives can assist in the formation of strategy.
The MWI Speaker Series is made possible through the support of the West Point Class of 1982.
Image credit: Kyle Osterhoudt, USMA