Arizona State University selected to support DOD Irregular Warfare Center
Arizona State University (ASU) has been appointed to collaborate closely with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to offer comprehensive academic research aimed at enhancing the understanding of modern and emerging global trends in nontraditional warfare. ASU will head a nationwide consortium to aid the DOD’s Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) based in the National Capital Region.
The consortium’s mission is to expedite the process of comprehending and reacting to evolving trends in irregular warfare, forecast and monitor changes in tactics, and evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies. The ultimate objective is to cultivate a body of national experts capable of assisting the United States in crafting effective irregular warfare solutions and tactics through comprehensive research.
“Arizona State University has been disciplined about developing expertise in this area and we are committed to being of service at the highest level for this important national security assignment,” stated ASU President Michael Crow. “Being selected to lead this work is a responsibility that we take very seriously, and we are grateful to the entire Arizona congressional delegation for its support and confidence in us, and particularly for the leadership of Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly.”
Irregular warfare encompasses a wide range of missions and activities, often indirect and non-attributable, including unconventional warfare. While the U.S. heavily invests in maintaining its conventional and nuclear superiority, the IWC and ASU’s collaborative effort symbolizes an intellectual investment to ensure America competes efficiently in irregular warfare.
“The ways in which nations wage war are evolving beyond traditional confrontations on a battlefield. Irregular warfare incorporates diverse governmental instruments to influence the global balance of power,” explained Chris Howard, ASU’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He emphasized the importance of multidimensional research in this endeavor.
The ASU-led consortium will integrate experts from various universities nationwide, each possessing established programs in irregular warfare and substantial connections to the U.S. Department of Defense. This diverse assembly will include technologists, social scientists, educators, legal specialists, historians, and more, tasked with conducting projects in domains like information operations, cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, economic statecraft, and military partnerships.
“Our contribution to the national security mission is a testament to ASU’s innovative organizational strengths and interdisciplinary research expertise,” remarked Sally Morton, ASU Executive Vice President.
As an institution with an R1 designation, ASU has exceeded $900 million in research expenditures in FY23 and continues to finalize agreements with potential consortium partners. Each participating university, think tank, and small business will contribute its unique proficiency to the study of irregular warfare.
“This initiative will deepen our understanding of the changing irregular warfare landscape and the impact of emerging technologies on that sphere,” commented Nadya Bliss, executive director of ASU’s Global Security Initiative. “ASU’s extensive range of disciplines—from cybersecurity, AI, and microelectronics to social sciences and international law—will play a crucial role in bridging new areas of research.”
ASU’s dedicated university-wide endeavor to elevate national security priorities is grounded in a long-standing tradition of productive cooperation with the DOD, military service divisions, academic networks, federal research facilities, policymakers, and leading defense contractors. The university boasts over $55 million in DOD-sponsored research across more than 250 projects, involving over 200 faculty experts in defense-focused programs.
