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Alexander Powell

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Alexander Powell is a CNA expert on special operations forces, counterterrorism, and irregular warfare.

Powell-Alexander Alexander Powell is a CNA expert on special operations forces, counterterrorism, and irregular warfare. /images/Experts/Powell-Alexander.jpg Alexander Powell is an expert on special ... , from George Washington University. He speaks French. Alexander Powell Research Scientist Featured Squares white Explore more ... , traveling there numerous times to conduct assessments of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. For CNA, Powell has deployed with the Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan. His

Rethinking the US Approach to Boko Haram

/reports/2015/rethinking-the-us-approach-to-boko-haram

U.S. Naval Forces Africa asked CNA to recommend an approach for the United States government (USG) to counter Boko Haram. The USG has been working with the government of Nigeria (GoN) to defeat the group, but the two governments are taking divergent approaches and efforts to date have not been effective. The GoN is taking a narrow counterterrorism approach that relies heavily on the military, whereas a broader whole-of-government approach is required. Due to the political dynamics in Nigeria, the USG has few ways to change the GoN’s approach to the conflict. We propose that the USG and other supporting partners focus on assisting Chad, Niger, and Cameroon to become increasingly able to prevent Boko Haram from taking root within their borders. While this would not dismantle Boko Haram in the near term, it could buy time for conditions in Nigeria to become more favorable to direct U.S. assistance.

Haram. Below are our major findings. Julia McQuaid and Patricio Asfura-Heim Daniella Mak and Alexander Powell Julia McQuaid and Patricio Asfura-Heim Daniella Mak and Alexander Powell ... /countering-threats-and-challenges Distribution unlimited. 88 DRM-2014-U-009462-final Daniella Mak Alexander Powell

No Risk Free Option in Afghanistan

/our-media/indepth/2021/04/no-risk-free-option-in-afghanistan

The pace of developments in Afghanistan has created stark choices for the Biden administration. In recent weeks and months, many commentators have penned op-eds arguing for or against certain policy options.

No Risk Free Option in Afghanistan The pace of developments in Afghanistan has created stark choices for the Biden administration. In recent weeks and months, many commentators have penned op-eds arguing for or against certain policy options. /images/InDepth/Post81.jfif No Risk Free Option in Afghanistan 81 Alexander Powell Alexander Powell is a Research Analyst in CNA’s Countering Threats and Challenges Program. The pace of developments in Afghanistan has created stark choices for the Biden administration. In recent weeks and months, many commentators have penned op-eds arguing

Independent Assessment of US Government Efforts against Al Qaeda

/reports/2017/independent-assessment-of-us-government-efforts-against-al-qaeda

Section 1228 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) states, “The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide for the conduct of an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the United States’ efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al- Qaeda, including its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents since September 11, 2001.” The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict (ASD (SO/LIC)) asked CNA to conduct this independent assessment, the results of which are presented in this report.

A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. 380 DRM-2017-U-015710-2Rev Pamela G. Faber P. Kathleen Hammerberg Alexander Powell Zack Gold David Knoll William Rosenau

Al Qaeda Core A Case Study

/reports/2017/al-qaeda-core-a-case-study

Section 1228 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) states: “The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide for the conduct of an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the United States’ efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al- Qaeda, including its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents since September 11, 2001.” The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict (ASD (SO/LIC)) asked CNA to conduct this independent assessment, which was completed in August 2017. In order to conduct this assessment, CNA used a comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated or associated with Al-Qaeda. These case studies were then used as a dataset for cross-case comparison. This document is a stand-alone version of the Al-Qaeda “Core” case study used in the Independent Assessment. CNA is publishing each of the eight case studies separately for the convenience of analysts and others who may have a regional or functional focus that corresponds to a specific case study. For the context in which this case study was used and for CNA’s full findings, see Independent Assessment of U.S. Government Efforts against Al-Qaeda.

to countering Al-Qaeda core. We conclude the case study with a discussion on whether the U.S. has, at any time, effectively defeated, dismantled, or disrupted the group. William Rosenau Alexander Powell

Summary Report US UK Integration in Helmand

/reports/2016/summary-report-us-uk-integration-in-helmand

The Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (COMUSMARCENT) asked CNA, working in partnership with the UK’s Permanent Joint Force Headquarters (PJHQ), to capture insights from U.S.-UK staff integration in Afghanistan. A combined U.S.-UK study team was created, consisting of three CNA analysts from the United States, two UK military officers from PJHQ, and a scientist from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The study team used a hybrid analytic approach involving interviews of U.S. and UK military officers and other subject matter experts, combined with analysis of previous studies and references pertaining to U.S. and UK military operations and integration of forces.

. Alexander Powell Larry Lewis /reports/2016/dop-2015-u-011259-final.pdf /reports/2016/dop-2015-u-011259-final_Page_01.jpg /reports/2016/CNA%20collage.jpg Countering Threats and Challenges

Next Generation Leadership and Implications SOF

/reports/2022/08/next-generation-leadership-and-implications-sof

Special operations forces need leadership suited to Millennials and Gen Zers. This study recommends a leadership philosophy, leadership traits, and accountability.

Anya Fink Next Generation Leadership and Implications for Special Operations Forces Alexander Powell Lia Janzer

Maritime Sabotage: Lessons Learned and Implications for Strategic Competition

/reports/2021/10/maritime-sabotage-lessons-learned-and-implications-for-strategic-competition

Warring sides have undertaken sabotage operations throughout history to generate battlefield effects, with varying degrees of success.

. Of the instances examined, 85 percent were successful in achieving their desired tactical objective (Figure 1). Alexander Powell Elizabeth Yang /reports/2021/10/DRM-2021-U-030772-Final.pdf

Maritime Sabotage and Implications for Strategic Competition

/reports/2021/10/maritime-sabotage-and-implications-for-strategic-competition

Warring sides have undertaken sabotage operations throughout history to generate battlefield effects, with varying degrees of success. In many cases, the forces conducting these operations have been special operations forces, their predecessors, or intelligence agencies. CNA initiated a quick-look study to examine past instances of sabotage in order to derive lessons and best practices for the future conduct of such operations. To increase the utility of the study for US Navy and US Marine Corps organizations, and because of the dearth of prior research on the topic, we focused our efforts on examining sabotage in the maritime domain. We generated a dataset of maritime sabotage instances dating back to World War II and analyzed this dataset according to a set of coding variables. These coding variables allowed us to perform both descriptive analysis of the dataset, as well as exploratory analysis.

, 85 percent were successful in achieving their desired tactical objective (Figure 1). Alexander Powell Elizabeth Yang /reports/2021/10

Understanding Gender and Violent

/reports/2021/04/understanding-gender-and-violent

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict – Stability and Humanitarian Affairs (OASD (SO/LIC-SHA)) asked CNA to study the role of women and gender in both violent extremist organizations (VEOs) and US counterterrorism (CT) and counter violent extremism (CVE) operations (hereafter CT/CVE). Our research demonstrates that the dominant stereotypes about women’s roles in VEOs miss the vast majority of female activity in these groups and fundamentally fail to capture women’s lived experiences. Despite the passage of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) legislation in the US, we found that internal DOD activities that are truly gender considered are severely limited, lack nuance, and are not institutionalized. External US CT/CVE efforts do not consider the roles men or women play from a nuanced perspective, and they are disproportionately influenced by a set of gender stereotypes that shape expectations of men and women’s roles. Much of the current DOD approach can be traced to misunderstanding gender as a concept. This report provides an analysis of the gaps, risks, and opportunities for the Department of Defense (DOD) on understanding women and gender in extremism, and integrating a gender considered approach to CT/CVE.

/Gender-VEPageImage.jpg Countering Threats and Challenges DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. 232 DRM-2021-U-029105-1Rev Julia McQuaid Emily Mushen Alexander Powell William