From late 2024 to early 2025, numerous unidentified drones were reported over U.S. cities and military bases. While some of these “mystery craft” were later attributed to FAA-authorized research and other purposes, their presence highlighted the potential threat and vulnerability of defense and infrastructure facilities. Paul Lushenko, chief strategist for the U.S. military’s Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), joined host Tom Spahr to discuss these concerns. Lushenko also underscored the ongoing efforts to refine doctrine, training, and policy to effectively address the evolving challenge posed by unmanned aircraft systems.
Here are the articles co-authored by Paul Lushenko mentioned in the show:
And so, really, what you want to do is try to synchronize your capability—lethal, non-lethal—across time and space to achieve as much standoff as possible before it comes very close.
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Paul Lushenko is a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and serves as the Chief Strategist and Director of Future Studies and Wargaming for the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office. 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: U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Colin Clark, a mortarman assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Texas, engages a target with a NightFighter S counter-unmanned aerial vehicle system during a demonstration for Philippine Marines assigned to Intelligence Company, 3rd Marine Brigade, as part of exercise KAMANDAG 8 at Tarumpitao Point, Palawan Province, Philippines, Oct. 17, 2024.
Photo Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Amelia Kang