Exploiting Human Science Advances for Military Operations: Past Challenges & Future Vision

This paper outlines the need for defence research organizations to maintain a robust “human sciences” capability. The paper also exemplifies key points to be presented at the conference about the relevance, challenges and opportunities for new knowledge in “human sciences ” to support military and national security operations. 1. THE NEED FOR “HUMAN SCIENCES”? Although it may seem ironic to begin a paper about “human sciences ” with a paragraph on technology, it is this author’s opinion that the defence research organizations of many RTO members have experienced erosion of their internal “human sciences ” capabilities in order to afford the costs of investments by their organizations in technology-based R&D. Military operations today by NATO members are characterized by the operationalization of the concepts embodied in the “Revolution in Military Affairs ” (RMA). Introduced by US Admiral William Owens (7), then Vice-Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the RMA symbolized the development of an integrated "system of systems " that enables a military user to employ sensors (e.g., satellites, shipborne radar, remote acoustic devices), global positioning sensors, and precision guidance munitions in concert to not only locate, fix, and “kill ” military targets, but to also do so from afar. The RM