Reagin Jones, Junior Scholar at Irregular Warfare Center Annual Scholars Colloquium

Reagin Jones attended and presented research at the Irregular Warfare Center’s Annual Scholars Colloquium in early September. The Colloquium, held at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., brings together Junior and Senior Scholars, as well as working professionals, to discuss emerging threats in the irregular warfare sphere. Ten papers were accepted into this year’s Colloquium, covering themes that included Medicine and IW, Logistics and Emerging Tech, Operations in the Information Environment, IW Strategy, Threat Finance and Economic Levers and Modeling IW. Jones’ presentation of her paper, titled “Biological Early Warning and Homeland Defense: The Strategic Importance of Medical Intelligence in an Era of Irregular Warfare,” discussed emerging biotechnologies and the implications they may have for national security.

Throughout the Colloquium senior scholars offered feedback, insights and advice on how to move the scholars’ research forward. One section of the Colloquium was dedicated to audience questions for the Junior Scholars, as well as detailed and personalized feedback on their papers. A mentor was assigned to each Junior Scholar and Jones’ mentor provided her with a thoughtful written assessment that critically examined her arguments, pointed out strengths and weaknesses in the research and introduced factors that had not previously been considered.

Aside from the Junior Scholar presentations, the Colloquium also featured presentations from professionals such as keynote speaker Dennis Walters, director of the IWC; John Pennell, Ph.D., editor in chief of PRISM: The Journal of Complex Operations; and various other esteemed professionals.

In attendance were students ranging from undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates, professors and others from academia, military personnel, private-sector consultants and senior government officials. The intersection of scholarship and emerging threats to the homeland was highlighted throughout the Colloquium, underscoring how crucial events like these are. One speaker emphasized this point, noting that without research, advancements would be difficult to achieve and that scholars are central to advancing these conversations.

For many, the next step is publication. The feedback on research papers and insight into the publication process proved valuable as the scholars move forward with their research. In addition, the opportunity to network with people across various branches and sectors of government allowed Jones to engage with professionals in ways that might not otherwise have been possible.

Categories: Nation and World