Strategic Communication for Tactical Leaders

Strategic communication is a relatively new and currently evolving concept in the U.S. military, and it is currently not widely understood what role, if any, leaders at the tactical level have in it. In order to determine what role tactical-level leaders have in strategic communication this thesis examines the problem in three sections. First, it examines the concept of strategic communication, hoping to determine potential roles for tactical leaders through defining the concept itself. Next, it examines the characteristics of the information environment in which strategic communication is conducted, potentially enabling or limiting roles for tactical leaders based on those characteristics. Finally, it examines what resources, such as training or specialized assets, leaders at the tactical level have available to incorporate strategic communication into their operations. The thesis concludes with what role tactical leaders have in strategic communication and recommendations to make that role more widely understood.