Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col Hollon welcome the teaching team for SAASS 633: Coercion and Deterrence in Theory and Practice. Dr. Paige Reid and Lt Col Rachel Reynolds discuss the origins and evolution of the course along with its central question: “how do you get someone to do what you want them to do?” The team breaks down why the class drops students straight into the nuclear age, how thinkers like Brodie, Schelling, and Pape square off, and why debates over airpower, punishment, and denial still matter today. They also dig into the emotional side of coercion, sparring with Markwica’s challenge to the rational-actor model. The episode closes with an inside look at the course’s culminating tabletop exercise, which pushes students to apply theories of coercion to contemporary great-power competition in the Indo-Pacific.

Books mentioned in this episode

Bernard Brodie, Strategy in the Missile Age (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2016).

Thomas C. Schelling, Arms and Influence (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2020).

Daniel Byman and Matthew C. Waxman The Dynamics of Coercion: American Foreign Policy and the Limits of Military Might (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002).

Brad Roberts, The Case for US Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century (Stanford: Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press, 2016).

Robert A. Pape, Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1996).

Robin Markwica, Emotional Choices: How the Logic of Affect Shapes Coercive Diplomacy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018).

In this episode, the team talks with Lt Col JoLynn Tatum, a clinical psychologist and Air War College faculty member, about the state of mental health in the military. She explains common challenges service members face—often less PTSD than everyday stressors like relationships, sleep, depression, and anxiety—and why stigma and career fears still keep many from seeking help. Tatum discusses rising suicide rates, the limits of current resources, and the importance of early intervention, coping skills, and community support. She also outlines what signs should prompt someone to seek care and highlights the range of military and civilian resources available. The conversation offers a candid, practical guide to recognizing stress, reducing stigma, and encouraging healthier help-seeking behavior across the force.

In this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb and Col. Cory Hollon are joined by Lt. Col. Joshua Cobb, U.S. Army, for a candid deep dive into the complexities of military acquisitions reform. Drawing on his broad experience across infantry, missile defense, special operations, and requirements writing, Josh explains why the U.S. system struggles with speed, agility, and risk acceptance. The conversation breaks down historical shifts—from post–Cold War consolidation to post-9/11 urgency—and how today’s focus on attritable systems and rapid iteration challenges long-standing processes. They also explore the tension between accountability, statutory limits, and the need to field capabilities faster in a world shaped by Ukraine, drone warfare, and great-power competition. The result is a grounded, insightful look at what real reform requires—and why it’s so hard.

In this episode, Wendy and Cory sit down with Dr. Tom Hughes, Col. Neil “Gump” Dimmitt, and Lt. Col. Ben “Hojo” Heidenreich to unpack the SAASS course Airpower in Limited War. They explore how the course traces airpower’s evolution from World War II into the era of politically constrained, technologically advanced limited conflicts, and how instructors choose which 80 years of history to cover in just 15 days. The group discusses major themes—nuclear strategy, Vietnam, the space race, drones, and civil–military decision-making—as well as the challenges of teaching during the recent government shutdown. They also highlight key readings that help students understand how organizations learn, adapt, and prepare for future wars.

Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col Hollon reunite after a 43-day government shutdown and discuss how the furlough affected faculty, students, and operations at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. They then examine ongoing U.S. military activity in the Caribbean under Operation Southern Spear, exploring the legal, strategic, and regional political implications of recent strikes on narco-trafficking vessels. The conversation expands to great-power dynamics in the Western Hemisphere, including the roles of Colombia, Mexico, China, and Russia. Finally, they assess new developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing on long-range strikes, hypersonic weapons, drones, and what these trends suggest about airpower, force design, and the evolving challenge of achieving air superiority in modern conflict.

In this end-of-year episode, the hosts review a turbulent 2025, focusing in particular on December’s rapid sequence of national security developments. They examine U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, the evolving use of economic and military coercion against Venezuela, and historical parallels to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The discussion situates these actions within coercion and deterrence theory, highlighting the importance of clearly defined political objectives. The episode concludes with an assessment of the newly released National Security Strategy, its emphasis on the Western Hemisphere, and what it signals for U.S. strategy heading into the new year.

Hiatus Announcement: The Books to Battles team is taking a break for the remainder of the U.S. government is shutdown. We'll be back with full episodes as soon as possible. Thank you for your support!

In this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. Lina Svedin and Dr. Paige Reid discuss SAASS 632, International Relations. They explore the major theories, concepts, and debates that frame the study of global politics, highlighting how these ideas intersect with strategy and security. With readings on theory, strategic narratives, and power and change, the course challenges students to think critically about the international system and the role of air and space power within it. Their conversation illustrates how theory equips strategists to navigate today’s complex global environment.

All views expressed are the speaker's own and do not necessarily represent the Department of Defense, the US government, or any other affiliated organization.