46x: The fight to reform DOD Public Affairs

Last night I had the honor of interviewing Zolal Habibi, an Iranian leader in the fight against the regime. Check it out at:
Website:
https://www.civilaffairsassoc.org/podcast/
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-ca-podcast/id1371006736
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2mdBzFrTTLq04MyfHaNfK3
Audible:
https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-One-CA-Podcast/B08JJP8KZT
iHeart:
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-the-one-ca-podcast-31081128/

One CA Podcast | iHeart One CA Podcast is here to inspire anyone interested in traveling to work with a partner nation’s people and leadership to forward U.S. foreign policy. We bring in current or former military, diplomats, development officers, and field agents to discuss their experiences and give recommendations for...

With the Iranian protests and killings, I am releasing an interview with Zolal Habib, one of the leaders of the Iranian resistance. This is part one, focused on the protests. Next week is part two, where she talks about a future Iran after the regime:

Website:
https://www.civilaffairsassoc.org/podcast/

Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-ca-podcast/id1371006736

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2mdBzFrTTLq04MyfHaNfK3

Audible:
https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-One-CA-Podcast/B08JJP8KZT

iHeart:
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-the-one-ca-podcast-31081128/

Some Thoughts on Press Statements

Working with cohorts and spokespeople, I’ve seen many different approaches to drafting press statements. Most rely on the 5 Ws; others also use Root Cause Analysis (RCA). Each tool plays an important role. The 5 Ws ensure the essential facts are clear, while RCA helps anticipate how the media will interpret those facts and what follow‑up questions they may ask.

The challenge is that when communicators use one tool without the other, gaps often appear. Reporters fill those gaps with assumptions, leading to more questions and avoidable clarifications. To make the process easier and more consistent, I combined both models into a simple, straightforward approach that pairs factual clarity with anticipatory thinking. The hybrid model should help writers produce more complete press statements that reduce avoidable follow‑on questions and speed accurate reporting to the public. A better front-loaded statement means cleaner reporting, which improves audience knowledge and trust.

The Combined 5 W / Root Cause Analysis Approach
Start by drafting the core 5 Ws to establish the statement’s baseline. Then apply root‑cause analysis by predicting the first underlying question a reporter is likely to ask. These questions typically focus on accountability, causality, timing, impact, or risk. Write one clear, defensible sentence answering each predicted question. Once you have all the drafted answers, look for where the rationale may not fully address the issue. Use these insights to tighten the main statement. These extra steps keep the process efficient while ensuring the final message is complete, consistent, and ready for scrutiny.

Example: A city transit authority is changing bus routes
The 5 Ws
Who: Metro Transit Authority (MTA)
What: Adjusting three major bus routes
When: Changes begin April 10, 2026
Where: Downtown and Eastside corridors
Why: To improve reliability during peak hours

Resulting in the Statement
The Metro Transit Authority will adjust three bus routes in the downtown and Eastside corridors beginning April 10, 2026. The changes are to improve reliability during peak hours.

This version is factually correct but leaves unanswered questions about who decided this, why it’s happening now, why the MTA chose these routes, and what’s driving the issues—exactly the gaps reporters tend to fill on their own. Below, I use the RCA method to vet the 5 Ws and test for gaps in the statement.

Root Cause Analysis in a Q&A Format
Q (Who): Who made this decision, and who is most affected?

A: The MTA board approved the change after reviewing six months of performance data showing repeated delays on these routes.

Q (What): What problem is this change actually solving?

A: The adjustments address chronic congestion points that have caused the majority of missed connections system‑wide.

Q (When): Why implement this now? Was there a failure or trigger event?

A: April 10 aligns with the quarterly scheduling cycle, allowing the shift without disrupting operator assignments.

Q (Where): Why these corridors—are they being deprioritized or underserved?

A: The downtown and Eastside corridors account for 40% of peak‑hour delays, making them the highest‑impact areas for improvement.

Q (Why): Is “improving reliability” the real reason, or is this driven by budget or staffing issues?

A: Reliability issues have increased due to operator shortages and construction bottlenecks, and the route changes are the most effective short‑term fix.

Root‑Cause Patterns Identified
Operator shortages are a key driver
Construction impacts are temporary but significant
The affected corridors have disproportionate congestion
The board decision was data‑driven, not budget‑driven

Answering these questions will help you avoid future questions and Freedom of Information Act responses.

Refined Statement
The Metro Transit Authority will adjust three bus routes in the downtown and Eastside corridors beginning April 10, 2026. The changes target the areas responsible for most peak‑hour delays and align with the system’s quarterly scheduling cycle. Recent performance data shows that congestion and operator shortages have reduced reliability, and these adjustments are the most effective way to restore consistent service for riders.

Thanks for reading. I hope it helps save you from endless assumptive follow-up questions.

article also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/press-statements-46x-mftfe/?

Army PAO Deputy Director position for CJTF-HOA located in Djibouti has just been posted on Tour of Duty (https://mobcop.aoc.army.pentagon.mil/).

Note it is posted as an O3 position but ideally looking for an O4 or O5.

This is a 400-day mobilization (365 BOG) w/ a CRC report date of 10 Jun 2026.

The ToD position ID is 420389.

We’ll start looking at applications in the Jan/Feb timeframe to make a selection NTL Feb/Mar 2026 to start the orders process which can be lengthy as after ToD packet makes it through, then a CONUSA order needs to get published before the 12302 IMO is cut.

Thanks all,


Peter C. Babich, Jr.

LTC, AG

CJ-1 Director

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

mobcop.aoc.army.pentagon.mil

PAO, Meet Your PSYOP Coordinator: A Strategic Mandate for Public Affairs
Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pao-meet-your-psyop-coordinator-strategic-mandate-public-affairs-xzkke/?

Separating Public Affairs (PA) and Psychological Operations (PSYOP) limits strategic coherence in the information environment. To address this, commands must embed a PSYOP member designated as an analytical advisor within the PA planning cell. This reverses the traditional model of PA attending Information Operations (IO) meetings.

Integration Concept
The PSYOP Coordinator is an embedded advisor who enhances strategic communication without compromising PA’s credibility or independence. The coordinator does not execute PA functions and has no authority over public content.

Value Proposition
Precision Audience Analysis: PSYOP brings deep expertise in foreign audience segmentation, including cultural context, behavioral drivers, and media habits. This insight helps PAs tailor messaging that resonates with foreign publics and supports desired actions and behaviors.
Narrative Defense: The coordinator identifies and advises on countering adversarial messaging, enabling PA to frame truthful communication that supports U.S. objectives and inoculates audiences against disinformation.
Expedited Clearance for White Messaging: The advisor facilitates coordination of attributed, truthful White PSYOP products that align with PA messaging. This improves policy and security review (PS&R) throughput and reduces time-to-release for strategic communications.
Monitoring and Reporting on Foreign Information: Embedding PSYOP's routine tracking of shifts in sentiment, emerging narratives, and adversarial messaging enables PA to adapt faster and communicate more agilely during dynamic events.
Crisis Messaging Support Based on Behavioral Readiness: During crises, PSYOP advisors help PA tailor messaging that resonates with audience readiness levels, improving message reception and reducing misinterpretation.
Expanded Access to Non-Traditional Communication Channels: PSYOP expertise includes identifying and leveraging culturally embedded communication channels, such as community networks, local media, and informal influencers, that can expand the reach and relevance of public affairs messages.

Governance Safeguards
The success of this mandate depends on protecting PA credibility. The PAO safeguards must include the following: The Public Affairs Officer (PAO) retains sole, non-delegable authority over all public-facing content. The coordinator operates strictly in an advisory role. All PA content must adhere to DOD/DOW Principles of Information and be truthful, timely, and accurate. Finally, the coordinator is prohibited from engaging in media relations, drafting releases, or public speaking.

Strategic End State
Embedding a PSYOP Coordinator within Public Affairs strengthens message coordination and strategic clarity. This integration enhances deterrence by demonstrating command competence, transparency, and narrative agility—securing a strategic advantage in contested information spaces.

Review of LTC Howard's article: Communication Strategery

Rethinking Strategic Communication for U.S. Military Public Affairs
Lt. Col. Howard argues that U.S. military public affairs, shaped by its origins in domestic press liaison and bounded by statutory constraints, lacks the institutional agility required for messaging within modern conflict and strategic competition (article link below). Despite leadership frustration and operational demands, PA has not matured its strategic value into a proactive, enterprise-level capability. Howard argues that its doctrinal fragmentation and self-limited ability to manage reputation or harmonize messaging across commands, agencies, and allied partners have rendered it insufficient in today’s contested information environment. Lastly, abandoning Strategic Communication as a bridging construct left Public Affairs in a doctrinal void, without an integrated communication strategy aligning with command intent and institutional credibility.

Recent doctrinal publications reinforce this critique. Air Force Doctrine Publication 3-61 (2024) concedes that PA must be embedded in strategic and operational planning to remain relevant, an implicit acknowledgment of current limitations. Military Review articles, such as Maj. Joseph Levin’s analysis of public-facing information operations highlights how adversaries exploit perception while the U.S. PA remains reactive and fragmented. Even legacy joint doctrine underscores PA’s press-centric origins and limited integration with policy, strategy and operations. These sources collectively affirm Howard’s position: without Public Affairs leading a unified, enterprise-level communication strategy, we cannot meet the demands of the Department.

Yet defenders of the current framework caution against doctrinal overreach. The key argument is that PA’s USC Title 10 foundation, including the Gillett Amendment and DoD principles of information, prioritizes transparency, credibility, and non-persuasion in domestic contexts. These constraints are not flaws but safeguards, designed to preserve public trust and prevent the politicization of military communication. Moreover, PA’s alignment with U.S. partner agency press operations allows it to support national objectives without compromising its ethical boundaries. They warn that expanding PA into international, public-facing, overt messaging risks eroding institutional legitimacy and blurring the line between communication and manipulation.

Both sides agree that Public Affairs must stay relevant, manage reputation, and support unified messaging across the Department and government. The key question is its trajectory. If demand is rising or steady, the priority is maintaining peak performance. If it’s declining, Howard’s call for reform becomes essential. His recommendations may or may not be the way forward, but taking an honest look at his concerns and weighing them against current conditions is vital to the trade’s future.

Howard's article: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/September-October-2025/Communication-Strategery/

Public Affairs is changing—and it’s changing fast.

I just published a piece on LinkedIn that explores how Public Affairs and overt, public-facing messaging are becoming a vital part of our national communication strategy.

If you care about strategic influence, foreign engagement, or the future of Public Affairs, I hope you’ll give it a read.

📘 Article link:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/overt-public-facing-messaging-46x-da73e

Overt, Public-Facing Messaging Public Affairs' growing role in foreign audience messaging The Department of Defense plays a critical role in countering adversarial narratives in today’s globally contested information environment. Yet effectively reaching foreign audiences remains a persistent challenge.

Podcast: 🎧 Reforming the U.S. State Department 🇺🇸

Dan Spokojny, founder of FP21, talks about the structural challenges and reform opportunities within the U.S. State Department.

Dan brings a rare blend of experience, from Capitol Hill to the Foreign Service, to unpack:
-Why foreign policy needs evidence, not just instinct
-How organizational design shapes diplomatic outcomes
-What it takes to modernize America’s approach to global engagement

This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in—or alongside—U.S. foreign policy institutions.

Apple
https://lnkd.in/eUZsSfFA

iHeart
https://lnkd.in/e3bvF4ME

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Z0hqYjctX8yMTBq9xPX2O?si=EIUD85eKTyi_uIb-muu-aQ

235: State Department Reforms by Dan Spokojny, FP21 (Part 1) One CA Podcast · Episode

Harnessing AI in Public Affairs

Below is a copy of an article I posted on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/harnessing-ai-public-affairs-46x-lwine

Welcome
Public Affairs professionals are no strangers to change. But the pace, scale, and uncertainty of today’s information environment demand more than adaptation—they demand transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just another tool in the kit. It’s a force multiplier that can help communicators move faster, see farther, and act with greater precision.

This guide offers a starting point for communicators who want to partner with AI, not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a complement. The goal is to help Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) and communication professionals understand how AI can support their mission and how their existing skills can translate into this new terrain.

Why This Matters

The Department of Defense (DoD) is investing heavily in AI to maintain a decision advantage. But decision advantage isn’t just about targeting or logistics—it’s also about narrative. In contested environments, the ability to detect, shape, and respond to information is a strategic imperative. Public Affairs is critical in this space, and AI can help.

In today’s digital age, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance public affairs practices. AI saves time with research, analysis, forecasting, and logical assessments—transforming what could take months into weeks.

What This Guide Covers

A framework for understanding AI’s role in communication
A link to a matrix mapping PA skills to AI-enabled tasks (See Annex A:)
Prompt examples to help communicators engage with AI tools
Key considerations for integrating AI into planning and ex*****on

This is not a technical manual. It’s a strategic primer for communicators who want to lead—not lag—on AI adoption.

AI as a Force Multiplier

AI can help communicators:

Sense the environment through media monitoring, sentiment analysis, and trend detection
Understand the landscape by synthesizing large volumes of data
Act with speed and precision through content generation, audience targeting, and campaign optimization

But AI is not autonomous. It requires human direction, oversight, and ethical grounding. That’s where communicators come in.

Case in point: this guide and its annexes would have taken me four months without AI, but I completed them in just two weeks.

1. The Challenge of Collaboration

Despite its capabilities, AI isn’t a complete solution. It requires careful editing, development management, and result verification.

Preparation is key. Here are some practical steps when integrating AI into your workflow:

Separate Discovery Sessions Start with sessions focused on general discovery and research.
Define Clear Goals Write out your objectives and ensure you have access to reliable data and references. In my experience, lacking this preparation led to unnecessary restarts.

2. Experimenting with AI

Before delivering any products, it’s vital to experiment with AI tools to understand their strengths and limitations.

Practicing with AI helps you create final outputs that blend your insights with AI-driven research.

For this project, I used Copilot and Grammarly AI to assist in drafting this guide, its annexes, and prompt workflows.

Primary aim: Empower communicators to use AI for:

Media monitoring
Brief and report building
Developing PA guidance and campaign plans

3. Maximizing Resources with AI

Communication teams often operate under tight budgets. AI offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional monitoring and analytics systems.

Use simple prompts to:

Uncover hidden trends
Refine messaging
Predict audience responses
Align communications with strategy
Test narratives for potential risks

Ultimately, AI enables communicators to focus on campaigns while enhancing efficiency through robust research and analysis.

⚠️ Important Note:

Be cautious when using commercial AI tools. Do not upload Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or sensitive content to public systems—AI is typically cloud-based.

4. Accessing AI Safely

For communicators within government networks:

Consult your CIO to vet stand-alone AI systems that can operate offline
Use AI on classified networks for secure analytics when needed

This enables risk and opportunity assessments to support unclassified planning and public messaging without compromising information security.

Table of Contents

1. Monitoring and Evaluating the Information Environment
2. Designing and Refining Messages with AI
3. Planning Campaigns, Crisis Response, and Exercises
4. Integrating AI into the PAO Workflow

Additions:

Annex A and B: AI Process Guide and Use Cases: https://drive.google.com/file/d/157za8GVzdisKMM_xxNzOvOZSjBtRv--1/view?usp=sharing

Full Paper for download:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KS0tQ3fFbv9TyTkA4rBclHdLWpob6TG1/view?usp=sharing

1. Monitoring and Evaluating the Information Environment
AI empowers public affairs teams to stay ahead of narratives by:

Scanning for emerging events across languages
Tracking audience tone changes
Comparing past engagements with present patterns

AI helps identify risks, forecast challenges, and recommend smart engagement strategies.

Prompts to Monitor Media and Trends

“Search for recent news and social media posts about the upcoming joint exercise in Alaska. Summarize tone and highlight concerns.”
“Analyze public reaction to [topic] over the last 60 days. Assess tone shifts.”
“What are the top three narratives emerging around [event]?”

AI Can Deliver:

Narrative summaries and tone maps
Performance snapshots
Early risk indicators

2. Designing and Refining Messages
AI sharpens communication by:

Comparing environmental context to draft messaging
Flagging ambiguity or risky phrasing
Simulating audience reactions

Use AI to:

Rewrite content for clarity and empathy
Align messaging with command guidance
Anticipate audience responses for better targeting

3. Planning Campaigns, Crisis Response, and Exercises
AI can help plan and rehearse campaigns, exercises, and crisis responses by:

Forecasting tone shifts
Drafting injects across timelines
Simulating audience reactions across key phases

This enables communicators to design flexible, phased plans anticipating engagement challenges and stakeholder expectations.

Use AI to:

Sequence messages by event phase—preparation, ex*****on, recovery
Simulate reactions from civic, family, and international audiences
Forecast narrative drift and adversarial exploitation
Draft injects and “pressure tests” for tabletop or live exercises

Prompt Examples:

“Build a 14-day comms plan for this operation, with tone shifts for each phase.”
“Simulate how base families, local reporters, and foreign media might respond to this announcement.”
“Generate three possible narrative drift scenarios for use in an exercise.”
“Draft injects to stress-test our response posture.”

What AI Can Deliver:

Phased messaging playbooks
Stakeholder tone simulations
Inject decks for training or TTX
Campaign visuals for internal coordination

Product Outputs:

Timing sensitivity reports
Narrative drift forecasts
Stakeholder reaction playbooks
Audience engagement curves

4. Integrating AI into the PAO Workflow
Treat AI as a team member, not just a tool—an embedded force multiplier for daily and weekly battle rhythms. Used consistently, AI sharpens foresight, raises the operational tempo, and frees up bandwidth for deeper human judgment.

Daily Applications:

Morning scan of the communication environment for tone shifts and emerging risks
Midday audience tracking and media mapping
Brief preparation with sentiment analysis and validator quotes

Weekly Rhythm:

Monday: Set tone guidance for upcoming events
Midweek: Audit message consistency and resonance
Friday: Package narrative summaries and trends for senior leaders

Sample Prompt Toolkit

Morning Scan:

“Analyze today's media coverage for tone shifts related to [event]. What are the key sentiments expressed?”
“Identify emerging risks in social discussion around [topic]. Summarize notable shifts.”

Midday Analysis:

“Track audience engagement metrics related to recent announcements. What’s changing?”
“Create a media map for [topic]—key narratives, platforms, players, and positions.”

Brief Prep:

“Generate validation quotes from trusted voices on [topic].”
“Quantify this month’s sentiment shifts. What’s rising, falling, or fragmenting?”

Weekly Planning:

Monday (Tone & Message Setup):
“Recommend tone guidance and key points for [event] on [date].”
“Audit last week’s content and flag areas for tone realignment.”
Midweek (Consistency Audit):
“Review this week’s comms for inconsistencies or message dilution.”
“Assess the resonance of our messages in local and foreign media.”
Friday (Narrative Trends):
“Summarize the week’s top narrative trends. What should senior leaders note?”
“Prepare a briefing package with audience sentiment and risks to watch.”

Final Thought

AI is here. The question is not whether communicators will use it, but how. This guide is a first step toward answering that question with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Public Affairs doesn’t need permission to lead in this space. With the right mindset and tools, communicators can shape how AI is used within their teams and across the broader information environment. The future of PA isn’t automated. It’s augmented—and it’s already underway.

💬 What are your experiences with AI in public affairs? I’d love to hear what worked or didn’t in the comments.

Link to paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zDwDUEDIq6pRi3buOXty0-lzv5HLRqSe/view?usp=sharing

Link to annexes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TFAuWHByDS01r3Y2WUEYWx39TRA4xwrt/view?usp=sharing

Harnessing AI in Public Affairs A Practical Guide Introduction In today’s digital age, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance public affairs practices. AI saves time with research, analysis, forecasting, and logical assessments—transforming what could take months into weeks.

I relaunched the 46x webpage:

Reforming DOD Public Affairs for a Brighter Future | 46x The Fight to Reform DOD Public Affairs Join 46x, a movement dedicated to transforming DOD public affairs through education, inspiration, and advanced skills. Together, we can elevate the standards and practices in public affairs, fostering greatness in ourselves and others.

Team,
I am preparing an AI guide to help communicators. I'm mostly looking at media and plans analytics.
Let me know if their are specifics you want me to address.