Paul Lushenko returns to the studio to provide an update to his June 2025 discussion of how the Department of War is working to defeat small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). He joins host Tom Spahr to discuss the transition of the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO) to the new Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401). The new organization has enhanced acquisition authorities and is a truly joint body to enable a whole-of-government approach, integrating efforts across the military and federal agencies. Its strategy emphasizes enhancing warfighter lethality, ensuring homeland defense, and joint training with the goal of rapidly delivering innovative capabilities—moving beyond “admiring the problem.”
And so our strategy… is very pithy, very clear, very apt, and it’s based upon 3 aggressive lines of effort. The first is enhancing warfighter lethality. The second is ensuring defense of the homeland. And then the third and final one is joint training.
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Paul Lushenko is a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and serves as the Chief Strategist for the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401). He is an Adjunct Professor at the U.S. Army War College, a globally recognized expert on emerging technologies and war, and widely publishes on the intersection of emerging technologies, politics, and national security. Paul earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University, where he served as a U.S. Army General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster Scholar; holds numerous master’s degrees; and, has a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy.
Thomas W. Spahr is the DeSerio Chair of Theater and Strategic Intelligence at the U.S. Army War College. He is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army and holds a Ph.D. in History from The Ohio State University. He teaches courses at the Army War College on Military Campaigning and Intelligence.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: In October 2025, Soldiers from 2/1 Cavalry Division participated in Operation Clear Horizon at Eglin Air Force Base led by JIATF 401. Operation Clear Horizon was a joint, operational, and homeland defense exercise designed to assess the effectiveness of U.S. military counter-drone capabilities against a range or realistic threats and scenarios.
Photo Credit: LTC Adam Scher, JIATF 401 PAO