Aaron Brown, Justin Bierens, and Gerald Bowman join host Tom Galvin to examine how overclassification impacts space-based capabilities. Their Carlisle Scholars Program research highlights that strict compartmentalization forces analysts to navigate disjointed systems, severely slowing progress. These barriers extend internationally, hindering training and collaboration with allies and commercial tech partners like SpaceX and Palantir.
To fix this, the team recommends a major cultural and structural shift. Instead of a default “hide unless proven safe” mentality, the military must adopt a “share unless proven necessary to hide” approach. Transitioning to data-centric security, zero-trust networks, and flexible releasability markings will ensure crucial information reaches the right people precisely when needed.
Deterrence, it only works if the adversary can see the capability and the resolve to use it. So a capability that is buried inside of a special access program signals neither of those things.
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Aaron Brown is a colonel and Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army. He previously served as the 2nd Infantry Division G4, and will serve as the 79th Theater Sustainment Command Support Operations Officer in Vicenza, Italy, in the beginning of the summer of 2026. He is a graduate of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College and a member of the Carlisle Scholars Program.
Justin Bierens is a lieutenant colonel and Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army Active Guard Reserve. He previously commanded 1-125th Infantry, 37th IBCT in Eastern Syria, and will serve as the Michigan Army National Guard J/G3/5/7 in Lansing, MI, beginning summer 2026. He is a graduate of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College and a member of the Carlisle Scholars Program.
Gerald Bowman is a lieutenant colonel and a Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army. He previously served in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Belvoir, VA, and will serve in the 8th Army in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, beginning in the summer of 2026. He is a graduate of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College, and member of the Carlisle Scholars Program.
Tom Galvin is Associate Professor of Resource Management in the Department of Command Leadership and Management (DCLM) as well as the leadership and management instructor for the Carlisle Scholars Program. at the United States Army War College. He is the author of the monograph Leading Change in Military Organizations and companion Experiential Activity Book.
Photo Credit: Created by Gemini