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The Operational Arch
30 episodes
Seeing Over the Edge: Operational Planning and Intelligence with MG (R) Spider Marks
Ep 50 · Jun 1, 2026 · 50 min
In this episode, hosts Major DJ Taylor and Major Evelyn Payne sit down with Major General (Ret.) James "Spider" Marks — decorated Army intelligence officer, Georgetown University professor, and CNN military analyst — for a wide-ranging conversation on operational planning, intelligence, and leadership. General Marks draws on over 30 years of service, including his roles as Senior Intelligence Officer during the 1992 LA Riots and Operation Iraqi Freedom, to share hard-won lessons on anticipating…
From Tactical to Operational: Building Army Leaders for the Future Fight — with COL Ethan Diven, Commandant of US Army CGSC
Ep 49 · May 15, 2026 · 44 min
Major Spencer Bates sits down with Colonel Ethan Diven, the US Army Command and General Staff College Commandant, and former Commander of Operations Group at the NationalTraining Center, to explore the evolving challenges facing the operational force. From multi-domain competition to professional military education reform, COL Diven draws on a career spanning NTC, Afghanistan, Operation Octave Quartz,and Operation Allies Refuge to deliver hard-won lessons on planning, leadership, and the respons…
An Unshakable Bond: Insights into the US-ROK relationship and the threat posed by North Korea with Lt. Gen. (R) Chun In-bum
May 1, 2026 · 45 min
In this episode of The Operational Arch, hosts Spencer Bates and DJ Taylor sit down with Lieutenant General Chun In-bum (Ret.), former commander of the Republic of Korea Special Warfare Forces and U.S. Army War College graduate, for a wide-ranging conversation on the enduring U.S.-ROK alliance. General Chun explores the deep historical, cultural, and security ties that bind the two nations — from Korea's democratic founding under American mentorship to the shared sacrifices of the Vietnam War. T…
From Warhammer to War Plans: The IDEA Framework with Stephen Box
Ep 47 · Apr 15, 2026 · 47 min
In this episode of The Operational Arch, hosts Spencer Bates and DJ Taylor sit down with Steven Box, founder and CEO of Vanguard Tactics and a top-ranked competitive Warhammer coach, alongside SAMS professor Matt Yandura. The conversation explores how Box's "IDEA" framework — developed over years of competitive tabletop wargaming and coaching — maps surprisingly well to military decision-making: gathering the right information under time pressure, making rapid decisions, executing with composure…
So You Think You Want to be a SAMS Graduate? Insights on applying to and being successful at AMSP with the leadership team
Ep 46 · Apr 1, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
In this episode of The Operational Arch, host Major DJ Taylor hands the mic over to three key SAMS leaders: Mr. Kirk Dorr (Deputy Director of the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS)), Dr. Bruce Stanley (Director of the Advanced Military Studies Program (AMSP)), and Colonel Paul Godson (Deputy Director of AMSP). Together, they pull back the curtain on the Advanced Military Studies Program, covering what it is, what it produces, and exactly how officers can go from being curious about the p…
Mastering Mentorship: Insights from Colonel Retired Dwayne Wagner (Ep 45)
Ep 45 · Feb 6, 2026 · 33 min
In this episode of the Operational Arch podcast, Major Joanna Van Engel interviews Colonel (Retired) Dwayne Wagner,a seasoned Army planner and educator. They delve into the critical topics of mentorship, coaching, and counseling within military leadership, emphasizing the importance of developing junior leaders for long-term success. COL Wagner discusses the shifting dynamics of mentorship post-9/11, the distinct roles of coaching and mentoring, and the symbiotic relationship between officers an…
Convergence in Army Doctrine, with Dr. Jim Greer
Ep 44 · Sep 1, 2025 · 42 min
In this episode of the Operational Arch, Major we welcome Dr. James Greer, an expert in operational art, military design, and leader development with over 30 years of Army service. We discuss the concept of convergence within Army doctrine, as outlined in FM 3-0, emphasizing its differences from past doctrines such as the AirLand Battle. Dr. Greer provides insights into how convergence involves accumulated effects over time against systems, formations, and decision-makers across multiple domains…
MacArthur's Return to the Philippines, w/ Dr. Peter Mansoor (E43)
Ep 43 · Aug 7, 2025 · 42 min
Dr. Peter Mansoor, retired Army Colonel and professor of military history at the Ohio State University, joins the Operational Arch to discuss his new book, Redemption: MacArthur in the Campaign for the Philippines (Cambridge University Press, August 2025), which covers the arc of MacArthur's controversial return to the Philippines, providing both a master class and cautionary tale on the application of operational art. The group covers a wide variety of topics including theater logistics, the in…
Civ-Mil Relations w/Dr. Scott Gorman (E42)
Jun 1, 2025 · 35 min
Dr. Scott Gorman, director of the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program at SAMS, joins the Operational Arch to discuss the complexities of civil-military relations and the nuances of providing best military advice. The conversation touches on the importance of the military being politically informed rather than partisan and the critical nature of maintaining trust and dialogue between military and civilian leaders.
China's Counter-Intervention Strategy w/Mr. Pete Wood (E41)
May 1, 2025 · 53 min
Mr. Peter Wood joins the Operational Arch to deep dive into China's counter-intervention strategy. This episode explores how this strategy fits into China's broader military doctrine as well as examining the nuances of China's approach to regional and global strategic competition.
Multinational Operations w/LTG(R) Aguto (E40)
Apr 3, 2025 · 35 min
Lieutenant General (Retired) Tony Aguto discusses the US-NATO partnership, the importance of multinational collaboration, and the role of strategic military planning in modern warfare. He highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by national caveats, interoperability issues, and the rapid adaptation required on today’s battlefield, particularly in light of lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Aguto emphasizes the changing nature of air superiority, the need for improved command…
Crisis Response w/COL Estee Pinchasin (E39)
Mar 1, 2025 · 49 min
COL Estee Pinchasin joins the show to share about her time as Commander of the Baltimore District of the Corps of Engineers and the role she played during the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March 2024. COL Pinchasin discusses her experience during this crisis and draws out several key lessons from the incident. These lessons include the importance of collaboration, pre-established agreements, and maintaining a collaborative environment to handle complex interagency operations effectively.
The Transparent Battlefield w/TRADOC G2 (E38)
Feb 15, 2025 · 39 min
Jennifer Dunn and Scott Pettigrew from the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) G2 Operational Environment Integration Directorate join the podcast and delve into the concept of the transparent battlefield—a high-tech environment characterized by ubiquitous multi-domain sensors, deception, jamming, and camouflage in modern warfare. They discuss challenges posed by China’s advanced ISR capabilities and the implications for U.S. military strategies, citing the ongoing Russo-Ukraine conflict and…
The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 3 (E37)
Jan 15, 2025 · 46 min
Dr. Jacob Stoil, an expert on the Israel/Hamas conflict, joins the Operational Arch to reflect on the opening of the conflict one year ago. This is the third and final installment of a multi-episode run discussing the start of the war and the lessons that the United States should be learning from it. Check out The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 1 (E33), released on November 15, 2024, and The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 2 (E36), released January 1, 2025, to catch up on the…
The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 2 (E36)
Jan 1, 2025 · 33 min
Dr. Jacob Stoil, an expert on the Israel/Hamas conflict, joins the Operational Arch to reflect on the opening of the conflict one year ago. This is the second installment of a multi-episode run discussing the start of the war and the lessons that the United States should be learning from it. Check out The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 1 (E33) released on November 15, 2024 to catch up on the conversation.
OIF Planning w/COL Benson
Dec 15, 2024 · 50 min
Colonel (retired) Kevin Benson joins us to discuss the campaign planning efforts for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and the initial invasion of Iraq in 2002. His experiences are captured in his recently published book Expectation of Valor: Planning for the Iraq War.
Strategic Engagement w/GEN Brooks (E34)
Dec 2, 2024 · 42 min
GEN (retired) Vince Brooks, former Commanding General of US Forces-Korea and US Army Pacific, joins us to discuss the value of SAMS in preparing senior military leaders for strategic engagements across the globe.
The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 1 (E33)
Nov 15, 2024 · 30 min
Dr. Jacob Stoil, an expert on the Israel/Hamas conflict, joins the Operational Arch to reflect on the opening of the conflict one year ago. This is the first installment of a multi-episode run discussing the start of the war and the lessons that the United States should be learning from it. Dr. Stoil is also the Chair of Applied History at West Point Modern War Institute, an Associate Professor of Military History at the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), Senior Fellow of 40th I…
Arctic Security w/The Ted Stevens Center (E32)
Nov 1, 2024 · 32 min
Rear Admiral (RET) Matthew Bell and Dr. Christine Duprow, both with the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, Anchorage, Alaska, discuss the unique security challenges in the Arctic and what considerations operational planners need to take into account when planning and executing Arctic operations.
Human Capital Management & MDO w/4ID (E31)
Oct 15, 2024 · 44 min
MG David Doyle, 4ID Commanding General, and Command Sergeant Major Alex Kupratty join the Season 3 podcast team for their season debut to discuss human capital management, organizational culture, and preparing for multi-domain operations. They also discuss 4ID’s upcoming MDO Symposium – for more information go to https://qrcc.io/sjeyouwlcfqa.
SAMS Integration & Season 2 Finale w/COL Morgado (E30)
Oct 1, 2024 · 31 min
COL Andrew Morgado, Director of the US School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), joins the Season 2 Operational Arch podcast team on their season finale to discuss how SAMS develops joint leaders, the impacts SAMS has on global security challenges, and operational art.
Naval Military Theory in Relation to Operational Art, w/ Dr. Nick Prime (E29)
Ep 29 · Sep 15, 2024 · 50 min
Dr. Nick Prime, Associate Professor at the School of Advanced Military Studies focuses on the maritime domain and the impacts of Naval theorists such as Alfred Mahan, Julian Corbett, JC Wylie, and Bernard Brodie as they relate to strategy and operational art. Henry Eccles: Logistics in the National Defense https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2927937-logistics-in-the-national-defense Hew Strachan: The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective https://www.goodreads.com/en/b…
Is Attrition A Type of War or Just an Effect, w/ LTC Amos Fox (E28)
Ep 28 · Aug 15, 2024 · 37 min
In today's episode we speak with Lt Col Amos Fox about attrition as an effect of war, not as a type of war, and why there doesn't appear to be any "modern" military theorists. Article Discussed: https://warontherocks.com/2024/01/setting-the-record-straight-on-attrition/ Suggestions for Additional Listening/Reading: Thinking In Systems: A Primer: Donella H. Meadows https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3828902-thinking-in-systems The Scientific Way Of Warfare: Order and Chaos on the Battlefields of…
The Role of a Commander Integrating Staff, w/ LTG Jon Jensen (E27)
Ep 27 · Jul 15, 2024 · 48 min
In this episode we discuss the role of a commander integrating the staff solving complex problems, fostering collaborative organizations, and utilizing components two and three with Lieutenant General Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard. Book Recommendations: If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story: George Wilson - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227026.If_You_Survive Lieutenant General Herber…
Leading a Division in Training and Multi-Domain Operations, w/ MG David Doyle (E26)
Ep 26 · Jun 15, 2024 · 35 min
In this Episode we have a discussion with Major General David Doyle, US Army, Discuss challenges and opportunities in leading a division emphasizing training, multi-domain operations, and operational art. This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness, T.R. Fehrenbach https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/118690.This_Kind_of_War Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference, Judea Pearl https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174276.Causality Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard: Chip Heath, &…
Narrative, Operational Art, and Museums, w/ Nikki Dean (E25)
Ep 25 · May 15, 2024 · 34 min
In this episode, the team discusses the importance of narrative, operational art, and the role of museums in military professional development with Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Nikki Dean. Ms. Dean is a military history interpreter at the World War I Museum located in Kansas City, MO. Reading Suggestions Wayne Sandholtz: Prohibiting Plunder https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2901356-prohibiting-plunder Frankline D. Vagone and Deborah E Ryan: The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums https…
Field Manual 3.0 & MDO, w/ LTG Milford Beagle & Mr. Rich Creed (E24)
Ep 24 · Apr 15, 2024 · 43 min
In this Episode we have a Discussion with Lt Gen Milford H. Beagle, US Army, and Mr. Creed about US Army doctrine, specifically FM 3-0 and trace its concepts and applications to MDO. Book Recommendations: Full-Spectrum Thinking: How to Escape Boxes in a Post-Categorical Future: Bob Johansen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49918684-full-spectrum-thinking The Liberation Trilogy Boxed Set: Rick Atkinson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077742-the-liberation-trilogy-boxed-set Pacific Theate…
Urban Warfare, w/ John Spencer (E23)
Ep 23 · Mar 15, 2024 · 40 min
In this episode the team discusses urban warfare with Professor John Spencer, the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern Warfare Center. If you liked Professor Spencer's points and want to learn more about Urban Warfare check out his podcast or book below, along with some other books he suggests. John Spencer's Podcast: Urban Warfare Project Podcast https://mwi.westpoint.edu/category/podcasts/urban-warfare-project-podcasts/ Book Recommendations: Understanding Urban Warfare: https://www.goo…
Space Operations, w/ LTC Jerry Drew (E22)
Ep 22 · Feb 15, 2024 · 42 min
In this episode we discuss Space Operations with LTC Jerry Drew one of the principal authors on a new book titled "The Battle Beyond: Fighting and Winning the Coming War in Space" Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199444232-the-battle-beyond?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=fAQSRO9bAC&rank=1
Deterrence w/ Dr. James Platte (E21)
Ep 21 · Jan 15, 2024 · 47 min
The team speaks with Dr. James Platte about Deterrence Theory.
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