Event: InfoWarCon (Updated)

~ Matt Armstrong

InfowarCon 2009 discusses Information Operations, Information Warfare, Cyberwar, Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy issues learned in Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Lebanon, Gaza and Georgia-Russia to predict the future of IO.

When: April 23rd and 24th

Where:  Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center

Contact: Joel Harding at info@crows.org or call (703) 549-1600

Hosted by the Information Operations Institute, a part of the Association of Old Crows.

I have a panel at InfoWarCon to discuss the direct and indirect impact of the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 in the modern global information environment. A revised title of the panel should appear shortly: Strategic Communication in a Global Information Environment. This is conceptually an extension of the 2009 Smith-Mundt Symposium.

I am working on two events of my own earlier that week. Details to be announced as they become finalized.

Highlights for InfoWarCon are after the fold.

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Keynote Speaker Highlight

clip_image002Lieutenant General Thomas F. Metz
United States Army
Director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization

Lieutenant General Thomas F. Metz enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966, launching a military career that has taken him from his birthplace of Elkin, North Carolina to his current duties as the Director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in Arlington, Virginia. He brings real-world experience of a combat commander who led over 100,000 coalition troops belonging to Multi-National Corps-Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004-2005).

LTG Metz is also the primary author of “Massing Effects in the Information Domain: A Case Study in Aggressive Information Operations,” Military Review, May-June 2006.

For more information, please go to www.InfowarCon.com

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Four IO Professional Development Courses at InfowarCon 2009

· Surprise, Deception, Warning, and War

  • Intermediate Penetration Testing
  • Psychological Operations

· Directed Energy Weapons

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Two New! Agenda Items

Agenda, as of 12 February, 2009

Wednesday, April 22

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.               Registration Open

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               Surprise, Deception, Warning and War Course

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               Intermediate Penetration Testing Course

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               Psychological Operations Course

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               Directed Energy Weapons Course

4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.              Registration Open

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.               Welcome Reception                            

Thursday, April 23

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               Registration Open

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               CNA/CND Live Fire Exercise (Hacker Competition)

8:00 a.m. – 8:10 a.m.               Greeting by Winn Schwartau, Conference Director

8:10 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.               Greeting by Kermit Quick, AOC President

8:15 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.               Greeting by Bob Giesler, IO Institute Committee President

8:20 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.               Keynote Address by LTG Thomas Metz

10:00 a.m. – 11:45.m.              The Future of IO

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.             Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.              Track 1: Smith-Mundt Act Review

1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.              Track 2: Cyberwar – 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia

3:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.              Track 3: Innovation beyond the Pillars

3:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.              Track 4: TBD

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.               Networking Reception

Friday, April 24

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.               Registration Open

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.               Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.  New!    Keynote Address by Hon. James Glassman, former Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.               General Session: IO: A Warfighter’s Perspective

10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.           Track 5: US Cybersecurity

10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. New!  Track 6:  The Media and Information Dispersal in Afghanistan –

Why Is This Exactly Different Than Iraq?

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.             Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.               Chinese Delegation Panel & Keynote

4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.              Closing address: Jake Schaffner

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.               Closing Reception Honoring the Chinese Delegation *additional fee

Session Highlights – Chinese IW

Title:  Chinese Information Warfare

A review of Chinese Information Warfare publication, programs and operations by the actual Chinese published authors and thought leaders, followed by similar analysis and discussion by US experts in Chinese Information Warfare, with both parties invited to attend and interact with their counterparts.  Followed by a sponsored social for both parties and invited guests*.

Chinese Panel:

  • HOU Yinming, delegation leader. Former director of the prestigious Zhang Ya Da Electronic Research Center.
  • WANG Baocun, MG, PLA, ret. Advanced studies in Great Britain and George Washington University. Coined the term “informationalized warfare”.
  • WANG Xiangsui, professor/director, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Center for Strategic Studies, co-author “Unrestricted Warfare”.
  • SHEN Weiguang, China’s “father of information warfare”.

US Panel:

  • Dr. James Mulvenon, Vice-President of DGI’s Intelligence Division
  • Mr. Charles F. Hawkins, independent consultant, senior analyst – China
  • Mr. Timothy L. Thomas, LTC, USA (Ret), Senior Analyst, US Army Foreign Military Studies Office

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A few ‘teasers’ about a few of the sessions.

Cyberwar – 2008 Russian Invasion of Georgia

  • Dr. Irving Lachow, Professor, National Defense University
  • Mr. Timothy L. Thomas, LTC, USA (Ret), Senior Analyst, US Army Foreign Military Studies Office
  • Ms. Eneken Tikk, Estonian Cyberwar Legal Expert
  • Mr. Rafal Rohozinski – author, Grey Goose Phase I Report
  • Mr. Jeffrey Car
    r, Principal Investigator, Project Grey Goose

Smith-Mundt Act Review

  • Mr. Matthew Armstrong, CEO, Armstrong Strategic Insights Group
  • Mr. Shaarik Zafar, DHS Civil Rights Division
  • Mr. Christopher Paul, RAND Corporation, Author, Enlisting Madison Avenue
  • MAJ Matt Morgan, OSD PA

Innovation beyond the Pillars

  • Dr. Dan Kuehl, Director, IO Programs, National Defense University
  • Mr. Winn Schwartau, The Security Awareness Company
  • Mr. Martin C. Libicki, Senior Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation

Warfighter IO Perspective

  • CAPT Mike Hewitt, Joint Staff J-3, NMCC
  • LtGen Richard F. Natonski, COMMARFORCOM
  • RDML Gregory  J. Smith, CENTCOM
  • BG Ralph O. Baker, Joint Staff J-5

Published by Matt Armstrong