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IB2 IA

Industry Based Broadening: Information Advantage

In this program designed for high-potential O4s in information operations and related areas, you will be presented the fundamentals of strategic communication, the cultures of the industries that utilize it, and the technologies for securing its infrastructure.

Leveraging from a variety of non-military perspectives presented from leaders in the private sector and academia on topics from big data and the internet of things, to understanding and changing behavior, you will return to your organization with a broad set of best practices for direct application.

Downloadable Program One Pager

Benefits:

  • Learn best practices from subject matter experts from private industry to gain an advantage in operations within the information environment
  • Leverage cross-disciplinary participation through panel discussions and development of partnerships
  • Develop broader perspectives on the discipline of information operations beyond US military doctrine
  • Enhance leadership and teamwork skills in creating information operations/strategic communications operations frameworks
  • Gain insights on best practices from leaders in the industry through classroom discussion and off-site facility tours

Curriculum:

The IB2 seminar in Information Advantage(IA) is a three-week (two in person and one virtual) educational and experiential learning opportunity to introduce mid-career officers in IO and its sub-specialties to the best practices of their industry counterparts — including corporate, lobbying and public diplomacy, news and media, and cyber and electronic infrastructure.

Learning takes place in the classroom and through on-site visits with local companies and other institutions. The seminar is segmented into three modules:

  1. Prepares students to transition from military terminology and lexicon to the private sector’s “strategic communications” (SC). This module will define SC, deconstruct it into its component parts, and show its national security implications and relevance to IO.
  2. Takes a deep dive into each of the four industry counterparts. This part of the seminar will be divided into paired days — one day of in-class academic/practitioner overviews followed by one day of benchmarking visits to representative organizations — for each segment.
  3. A practical exercise to apply industry tools to discrete national security challenges the military is likely to face within the next decade. Working
    in groups, students will tackle a set of issues over two days before
    presenting recommendations to the plenary on the third day.

Participant Profile:

This course is designed for selected high-potential O-4 officers in information, military information support, and cyberspace operations; public affairs; and related areas.

Faculty:

Lucinda Austin, PhD

UNC School of Media & Journalism

John Clark, MBA

Nat'l Association of Broadcasters

Kathryn Condon, MBA

Kathryn A. Condon & Associates, LLC

Deen Freelon, PhD

UNC School of Media & Journalism

Ben Freeman, PhD

Center for International Policy

Joe Grosson, MBA, MEng

IDB Senior Faculty

Brandon Greenberg, PhD(c)

George Washington University

Heidi Hennink-Kaminski, PhD

UNC School of Media & Journalism

Steven King, MS

UNC School of Media & Journalism

Michael Meredith, PhD

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Ed McCraw, PhD

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Tim Minton, MBA

NC Home Builders Association

Michael Sacks, PhD

Emory University Goizueta Business School

Scott Shackelford, JD, PhD

Indiana University at Bloomington

Ann Marie Taepke

Walk West

Scott Tait

Alfa Strategy

Ryan Thornburg

UNC School of Media & Journalism

Steve Walton, PhD

Emory University Goizueta Business School

Program Staff:

Mike C. Bogdahn, USMC Depot Deputy Commander (Ret)

Vice President, Strategy & Business Development

Clark B. Streets

Associate Program Director

Tuition:

$15,000 – Includes tuition, meals, and lodging.

Enrollment:

Professionals and organizations interested in this program should contact IDB Senior Client Relations Director, Mike Bogdahn at bogdahn@idb.org or (760) 577-8324 for enrollment information.

What to Expect:

Schedule

IB2-IA is a three-week hybrid program that begins Sunday evening and concludes by 12:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. Classes during the week typically begin at 8 a.m. and conclude by 5 p.m. with some evening events.

Spouses

To maximize the benefits of the collaborative environment of the program, we strongly discourage participants from bringing spouses or other guests.