One CA Podcast

Welcome. In this episode of the One CA Podcast, John McElligott hosts Capt. Will Ibrahim discusses the challenges and opportunities of integrating Civil Affairs into a heavy Brigade Combat Team. Ibrahim shares hard-earned insights on planning, communication, and the human terrain, from Combat Training Center rotations to non-lethal working groups. His reflections underscore the strategic value of...

Welcome to One CA Podcast. Today, John McElligott interviews attendees of the 2018 AUSA Annual Meeting to answer the question, "What is Civil Affairs?" --- Transcript: 00:00:00    SPEAKER_04 From my perspective, it's kind of like sales with a gun. So, you know, you've got to go out into the community and make friends and meet people and learn who the movers and shakers are, but you're armed at the...

In this episode of the One CA Podcast, host John McElligott interviews Scott Fisher, an assistant professor and Army Reserve Officer with a background in information operations (IO). They discuss Fisher's career path, the vital connection between civil affairs (CA) and IO, and the challenges the U.S. military faces in the information environment compared to adversaries like Russia. The convers...

In this episode of the One CA Podcast, host John McElligot talks with Dr. Alex Nesich and Dr. Patrick Christian, both from Valcomere. The company focuses on building social science training and applications for Special Operations Forces (SOF). They discuss their unique approach to preparing SOF detachments for deployment by providing a deeper understanding of the "human domain" and the c...

🎙️ Strategic Lessons from Norm Cotton: Civil Affairs at the Edge of Relevance Norm Cotton joins One CA Podcast to expand on the themes from our recent LinkedIn article, offering a candid and strategic critique of Civil Affairs doctrine, institutional blind spots, and the persistent failure to operationalize lessons learned. Drawing from his work at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) and deca...

In this episode of the One CA Podcast, John McElligott interviews Kevin Melton, the Senior Civil Military Transition Assistance Specialist for the USAID Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). They discuss OTI's mission as a "venture capitalist" of the development community, its engagement criteria, and its crucial role in complementing military operations. The conversation highlight...

Welcome to the One CA Podcast. Today, we have Dr. Larry Hufford from St. Mary's University of San Antonio, TX, who discusses the current situation in Northern Ireland, why lasting peace is so difficult, and what effect Brexit might have. --- Recorded and edited by Sarah Kelly.  Music "Kowloon Park Singers" by Robert Gilks --- Transcript: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-peace-no...

Welcome to One CA Podcast. Today we have SFC Valor Breez and CPT Jarrett Redman discuss their winning paper titled, "Beyond Hearts & Minds: Transforming the Civil Affairs Regiment to Consolidate Gains in 21st Century Warfare." The paper was published in Volume 4 of 2017-2018 Civil Affairs Issue Papers published by PKSOI . Their co-author was SFC Sean Acosta. --- Transcript: https://w...

Welcome to One CA Podcast. Today we have John Stefula, Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, discusses the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute ( PKSOI ) and the implications of their mission for Civil Affairs. He also talks about the value of company and field-grade CA members sharing their lessons learned from training and deployments. Call for Papers  by the Civil Affairs Association. --...

Welcome to One CA Podcast. Today we have Michael Schwille, Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, discusses his growth in Civil Affairs, experiences in Iraq and Djibouti, and how civilian work with the RAND Corporation relates to CA. Find Major Schwille on LinkedIn . Check out the Civil Affairs Association online for a Call for Papers and upcoming events. --- Transcript: on

In Episode 005 of the One CA Podcast, host John McElligot speaks with Gönül Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies. Tol offers a sharp, field-informed analysis of Turkey’s foreign policy priorities—from its military posture in Syria to its evolving relationships with the U.S., Russia, and NATO. The conversation also explores Turkey’s shifting secular ident...

🎙️ 1CA Podcast Episode Featuring Dr. Roberto J. Carmack Host: John McElligot Guest: Dr. Roberto J. Carmack, Specialist, 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne In this episode of the One CA Podcast, Dr. Roberto J. Carmack—historian and specialist with the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)—joins host John McElligot to explore Kazakhstan’s transformation during World War II. Drawing from exte...

Sergeant Acosta’s journey isn’t just a personal account—it’s a living blueprint for how civil affairs doctrine adapts under pressure. From CAQC classrooms to conflict zones, his story reveals the mindset, rigor, and operational clarity required to navigate today’s complex humanitarian terrain. This episode offers a modular case study for instructors, planners, and future operators seeking to bridg...

In this episode of the One CA Podcast, host John McElligott hosts (now) Major General Valerie Jackson, who shares her journey from communications officer to strategic leader in the Marine Corps Reserve. Through candid reflections and operational insights, she explores the evolving role of Force Design 2030, the power of joint and interagency collaboration, and the critical importance of mentorship...

This is the debut episode of the One CA Podcast. Host John McElligott speaks with Dr. Jonathan May, a leading researcher in natural language processing at USC’s Information Sciences Institute. Together, they explore how AI-driven language tools can support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions—especially in low-resource, multilingual environments. Drawing from the DARPA Lorel...