The Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Nick Loui of discusses the evolution of the internet, challenges posed by fragmented platforms, and the importance of addressing misinformation. Nick explores the dynamics of social media, particularly TikTok, and the need for companies to proactively manage their online...
info_outline #204 Sharon Russell on Information in Emergency ManagementThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Sharon Russell lends her 20+ years of emergency response experience to the forum. Our discussion includes Sharon’s experience as the Deputy Incident Commander for the response to the Key Bridge incident, which happened in March 2024. Recording Date: 4 Sept 2024 Research Question:...
info_outline #203 Scott Hall on Synchronizing Effects in the Information EnvironmentThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, MAJ Scott Hall discusses his paper: Enhancing Mounted Maneuver Operations by Setting Conditions of Advantage through Information Environment Effects Synchronization, which is getting published in in the Fall 2024 edition. Recording Date: 26 Sept 2024 Research Question: Scott Hall...
info_outline #202 Genia Simkin on Bypassing DNS BlockadesThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Genia Simkin discusses his firm’s Samizdat technology which makes it possible to bypass DNS blockades set up by autocratic regimes. Recording Date: 5 Aug 2024 Research Question: Genia Simkin suggests as interested student examine OSINT practices. For example, would it be possible...
info_outline #201 John Bicknell on Cognitive Indicators and Global CompetitionThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, "reverse-interviews" John Bicknell, the CEO|Founder of and traditional Cognitive Crucible podcast host. John discusses More Cowbell Unlimited's cognitive indicators and related technology that the US Army is prototyping in order to create effects, maintain Information...
info_outline #200 Remi Whiteside on Media, Information, and Data Literacy Fundamentals against Malign Information in the Open Information EnvironmentThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Remi Whiteside discusses his Ph.D. research and dissertation which is entitled: Peering into US Army Media, Information, and Data Literacy Fundamentals against Malign Information in the Open Information Environment: A Qualitative Case Study. According to Remi Whiteside, the US Army...
info_outline #199 Ellen McCarthy on Trust in Media and InformationThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Ellen McCarthy discusses how to conceptualize and develop standards and measurements on information quality, how to align AI with accurate and reliable information, and how challenges and potential of leveraging AI can support information quality. Also, be sure to check out and...
info_outline #198 Melissa Graves Frank Emerson and Pat Hendrix on OSINTThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Melissa Graves, Frank Emerson, and Pat Hendrix discuss the history of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), how publicly available information (PAI) is being analyzed by students in the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies at The Citadel, and The Citadel’s which will be...
info_outline #197 Maksym Tereshchenko on How the Russia-Ukraine War Sparked a New Era in Risk Management and Cognitive SecurityThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Maksym Tereshchenko of discusses his firm’s AI platform and how it is being used within the informational dimension of the Russia-Ukraine War. Recording Date: 19 July 2024 Research Question: Maksym Tereshchenko suggests as interested student examine: How can we accurately...
info_outline #196 Dave Troy on Threats to DemocracyThe Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Dave Troy discusses threats to democracy. The related problems of disinformation, misinformation, and radicalization have been popularly misunderstood as technology or fact-checking problems, but this ignores the mechanism of action, which is the reconfiguration of social capital....
info_outlineDuring this episode, Col. Todd Manyx discusses the Marine Corps Information Operations Center (MCIOC), influence, and battlespace awareness. Our wide ranging conversation covers the origin story of the MCIOC, its components, talent considerations, and current and emerging partnerships with other Department of Defense and international organizations.
Resources:
- Related Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes
- Marine Corps Talent Management 2030
- RAND Research Report: Opportunities for Including the Information Environment in U.S. Marine Corps Wargames by Christopher Paul, Yuna Huh Wong, Elizabeth M. Bartels
- The Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame Rulebook by Christopher Paul, Ben Connable, Jonathan Welch, Nate Rosenblatt, Jim McNeive
- Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War by August Cole and Peter Singer
- LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media by Peter Singer
- Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini
- Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein
- Barton Whaley
- Practise to Deceive: Learning Curves of Military Deception Planners by Barton Whaley
- Stratagem: Deception and Surprise in War by Barton Whaley
Link to full show notes and resources
https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-75
Guest Bio: Colonel Manyx has 35 years of service, both officer and enlisted, in the United States Marine Corps. Following Basic Training in 1985, (he served as an Aviation Support Equipment Technician and, later, as an Intelligence Specialist and an Embassy Security Guard. In 1993, then Staff Sergeant. Manyx was selected to participate in the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Distinction) and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, he was assigned as an Intelligence Officer.
Colonel Manyx has been fortunate to hold command at the company and battalion levels as well as numerous staff officer positions to include Company Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer. Colonel Manyx is a Regional Affairs Officer specializing in the Middle East as well as a former Latin American Foreign Area Officer. He is a Joint Qualified Officer, who has completed joint service tours with U.S. Central Command (Tampa, FL), International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan), and with the Joint Staff in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has had the distinction of twice serving as a Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow first at The Fletcher School, Tufts University, and then with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
His senior staff experience includes service as a personal staff member for both the Commander and Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, the Commander, International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan, and with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served as a Strategic Analyst for the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Colonel Manyx is a graduate of numerous military and civilian schools. This includes a Master of Arts degree from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts degree from the Fletcher School, Tufts University. He also graduated from the Defense Language Institute and completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Navy Commendation Medal (2nd Award), and the Navy Achievement Medal.
About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected].
Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.
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