#61 Susan Coyle on the Australian Perspective

The Cognitive Crucible

During this episode, MAJGEN Susan Coyle, Head of Information Warfare for the Australian Defence Force, discusses a variety of projects and whole-of-government challenges that she is confronting relative to information operations. After she recaps her primary role and the branches within her division, our discussion touches on the threat from China, broader gray zone competition in the Pacific region, labor considerations, and partnerships. Books and Other Web Links:

• LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media by Peter Singer
• The Return of Marco Polo's World: War, Strategy, and American Interests in the Twenty-first Century by Robert D. Kaplan
• The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age by David E. Sanger
• Let down by the golden promise of digital age by Paul Kelly

Link to full show notes and resources

https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-61

Guest Bio:

Major General Coyle currently holds the appointment of Head of Information Warfare for the Australian Defence Force.

Susan Coyle was born in Kyogle, NSW on 21 May 1970. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy she graduated from the Royal Military College in 1992 into the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. She has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic level in a variety of command and staff appointments including Commander Joint Task Force 633, Commander 6th Brigade, inaugural Commander Task Group Afghanistan, and Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment.

Major General Coyle has received a Distinguished Service Medal as the Deputy Commander JTF 636 / Commander Task Group Afghanistan on Operation SLIPPER / HIGHROAD, and a Conspicuous Service Cross as the Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment. She holds post-graduate qualifications in a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, a Master in Organisational Development and Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of New England, and a Master of Management in Defence Studies from the University of Canberra.

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 [e-mail].

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

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