Originally published The Department of Defense (DoD’s) Irregular Warfare Center To Host Second Annual Symposium on by https://irregularwarfarecenter.org/news/the-department-of-defense-dods-irregular-warfare-center-to-host-second-annual-symposium/ at IWC
The Department of Defense (DoD’s) Irregular Warfare Center To Host Second Annual Symposium
The Department of Defense (DoD)’s Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) is scheduled to host its
second annual Symposium, focusing on Total Defense from March 26-27, 2025.
This event will bring together military leaders, policymakers, academia, industry experts, and
international partners to explore Total Defense as a strategic framework for national resilience
and deterrence against modern threats.
“The IWC Symposium serves as a catalyst for operationalizing Total Defense, ensuring that our
warfighters, policymakers, and all of society stand ready to deter, resist, and prevail against
threats to the homeland,” said Dr. Dennis Walters, IWC Director. “Total Defense amplifies
resilience into lethality, ensuring that no adversary can undermine the United States, our Allies,
or our partners. This significant event strengthens that mission, equipping our warfighters,
Allies, and partners with the strategies, networks, and adaptability needed to remain ahead of
emerging threats.”
The symposium is designed to expand the concept of Integrated Deterrence by emphasizing the
integration of military, governmental, and civil society efforts to empower and build more resilient
nations. By adopting a Total Defense framework, nations can strengthen their ability to prepare
for and respond to irregular warfare and hybrid threats, transforming defensive cooperation into
a powerful deterrent.
“This is a critical time to discuss Total Defense given the asymmetric threats that Western
societies face,” explains Dr. Mark Grzegorzewski, M6 Contractor and IWC Deputy Regional
Advisor for U.S. Central Command and U.S. Southern Command. “Operating short of war and
through economic, legal, and information means, amongst others, many Western societies are
neither resilient to the threat nor prepared to respond. Total Defense brings together both
elements; resilience and resistance, to weave together a comprehensive society-wide effort to
deter aggression while also preparing for aggression.”
Over the course of two days, participants will hear from speakers and panelists on a variety of
Total Defense-related topics, including national resilience, cyber defense, psychological
preparedness, and resistance strategies against hybrid threats. Day One (March 26th) will
center on national resilience against asymmetric threats, while Day Two (March 27th) prioritizes
resistance.
The IWC Symposium on Total Defense will feature Dr. Jonathan Schroden as the Day One
keynote speaker, bringing insights from his role as Director of Center for Naval Analyses (CNA)
Center for Stability and Development and the Special Operations Program. Day Two will
welcome keynote speaker Dr. Sean McFate from National Defense University’s College of
International Security Affairs, who will share expertise on modern security challenges and total
defense.
“The IWC is proud to host this year’s symposium on Total Defense,” said Lori Leffler, IWC
Deputy Director & Chief of Staff. “This symposium will showcase the Center’s commitment to
supporting the nation’s warfighters by providing a platform for collaboration, strategic education,
and cross-sector integration of Total Defense principles.”
Erik Herr, IWC Chief of Operations, emphasized this vision, stating, “Our event is all about
extending the boundaries of how we conceptualize and institutionalize irregular warfare and
national defense. At the IWC, we’re focused on combining conventional strength with innovative
IW strategies to keep US warfighters, Allies, and partners ahead of emerging threats.”
Integrated Deterrence has largely focused on preventing actions that escalate into armed
conflict. While important, this narrow approach overlooks a critical opportunity to expand its
scope. Every day, countless low-profile military and security engagements quietly strengthen
partner nations’ defenses, making them more resilient against potential attacks.
Although these efforts are often framed as reassuring Allies, with a conceptual shift, they could
also serve to deter adversaries more effectively. Total Defense blends social, governmental, and
military preparation to create a flexible response to threats. It not only fortifies a nation’s ability
to endure an attack but also empowers and organizes its population, integrates capabilities
across society, and builds the infrastructure for resistance.
For countries facing external threats, linking resilience and resistance should be a natural step,
transforming defensive cooperation into a powerful form of deterrence. Given the stakes, the
irregular warfare community should push its thinking further and adopt the flexible, whole-of-
society framework of Total Defense to strengthen deterrence.
About the IWC
The IWC prepares the warfighter to conduct irregular warfare across the spectrum of conflict by
bridging instruction to operationalizing IW using next-generation techniques and concepts that
enhance the lethality of the force and positions the United States and key Allies and partners to
remain ahead of the threat.
The IWC operates to transform the global, strategic mindset by coupling conventional combat
power with robust IW methodologies to provide options to current and emerging threats in
support of the nation’s warfighters.
The IWC’s staff is composed of experienced combat veterans who understand what is
necessary to fight and win. Their knowledge is enhanced by the Center’s distinguished
academics who provide in-depth, timely, and relevant analytical support to accomplish the
Department’s mission. The combination of warfighting experience and intellectual forethought is
novel within the government and continuously provides innovative solutions to the most complex
challenges.
“The Irregular Warfare Center’s success stems directly from its deliberate cultivation of an
organizational culture that not only tolerates but embraces calculated risk-taking. This approach
stands in stark contrast to the prevailing institutional paralysis that often characterizes military
decision-making. By fostering an environment where team members understand that innovative
solutions require experimentation—and that experimentation inherently involves failure—the
IWC has created a space where creative problem-solving can flourish. This cultural shift
represents more than just a philosophical stance; it’s a strategic imperative in an era where our
adversaries are rapidly adapting their approaches to irregular warfare,” – Dr. Dennis Walters,
IWC Director.
The Center’s foundation is built upon three Lines of Effort:
● AMPLIFY and collaborate to build an innovative and adaptable global networked IW community
of interest.
● Strategically ILLUMINATE current and future irregular threats, crises, and obstacles.
● ADDRESS current and future irregular threats to the US, allies, and partners by providing
optionality to leaders.
Through these LOEs, the Irregular Warfare Center addresses current and emerging security concerns and
challenges with world-class research, rigorous analysis, top-tier strategic education and training for U.S.
and international partners.
Originally published IWC