The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

During this episode, Dr. Josh "Bugsy" Segal recaps his recent observations from the Ukraine battlefield and concerns for Western governments which don't adapt quickly. Ukraine's rapid development of sophisticated, cost-effective domestic defense technology, including advanced counter-drone systems, is positioning the nation as a key arms supplier of the future. This innovation highlights a critical national security concern for the U.S., as expensive Western weapons have proven ineffective against Russian countermeasures, and the American defense industry is failing to incorporate vital battlefield insights. To maintain its global defense sector dominance, the U.S. must accept its current competitive disadvantage and immediately prioritize collaboration with Ukraine to integrate its effective, relevant technology.

Recording Date: 12 Dec 2025

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #192 Josh "Bugsy" Segal on the American Maginot Line
- #219 Dr. Josh Segal on Are We Losing the War? Lethality, Deterrence, and Information
Ukraine offers a roadmap for faster and cheaper battlefield innovation by Josh Segal
Defense in depth
Brave 1 Ukrainian Defense Innovation
Fire Point Weapons Systems

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio:

Josh Segal holds a Ph.D. in Russian Studies from George Washington University and an MA in Russian Studies from Emory University and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Emory. He is a former negotiator on Chemical Weapons Convention and helped establish the OPCW, and other treaties in the 1990s, became active duty Navy Info warfare and intel officer and served 27 years, finishing as Director of the Information Warfare Program and finally at US Special Operations Command.

Current;y, he is a senior advisor to a number of Department of War leaders across Policy and the Services, recently returned from 11 speaking engagements in Europe and North America on Hybrid Warfare.

About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

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#237 Josh "Bugsy" Segal on Ukraine, Electronic Warfare, and Fast Battlefield Innovation