The Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) has firmly established itself as the Department of Defense’s congressionally mandated Center of Excellence for Irregular Warfare, making significant strides in developing and disseminating irregular warfare knowledge across the defense enterprise and international community, with particular emphasis on countering Chinese malign activities and strengthening Indo-Pacific security. Throughout 2024, the IWC conducted more than 130 high-impact events and engagements with interagency stakeholders, academia, industry, and 51 allied and partner nations, including 17 priority countries, delivering education and training to more than 1,000 international participants and 300 U.S. personnel. These engagements placed special focus on enhancing force protection capabilities and increasing joint force lethality in contested environments.

The Center achieved several transformative milestones this year, including the launch of its first openly available online course, Irregular Warfare 101, which attracted more than 1,100 students globally. The IWC also expanded its academic influence by assuming publication of the premier peer reviewed journal of IW and complex statecraft, PRISM: The Journal of Complex Operations. The Center also achieved a landmark by publishing its first book, “The Future Faces of Irregular Warfare,” which included groundbreaking analysis of Chinese irregular warfare tactics and appropriate countermeasures. The Center’s digital presence grew substantially, surpassing 16,000 followers across three social media platforms (LinkedIn, X, Facebook) and generating more than 720,000 audience impressions.

In Eastern Europe, the IWC deepened its commitment to resistance and resilience capacity building, working closely with Moldova, Georgia, and the Baltic states to develop and implement national resistance strategies. The Center established a critical partnership with the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, creating an essential alliance for addressing contemporary security challenges. In the Indo-Pacific, the IWC advanced regional understanding of irregular warfare through targeted workshops and research initiatives, engaging seven allied and partner nations to enhance regional security in support of the Combatant Commander. These efforts included specialized training programs focused on detecting and disrupting Chinese gray zone operations, strengthening maritime irregular warfare capabilities, and developing coordinated responses to economic coercion.

The IWC strengthened its collaboration across the Defense Department, particularly through its collaboration with the West Virginia National Guard in the Ridge Runner program, where it established the IW Medical Ridge Healer scenario. This innovative program has become a leading DoD platform for enhancing force protection and survivability in denied environments, training hundreds of U.S., allied, and partner nation medical personnel in life-saving capabilities critical for irregular warfare operations. The Center also established five active Functional Area Networks (FAN), including a Medical, Intel, Operations in the Information Environment (OIE), and Student Working Group FAN, with diverse participants including uniformed and civilian Defense Department, interagency, international partners from nine countries, creating a robust framework for addressing irregular global challenges and augmenting U.S. lethality.

Looking ahead, the IWC continues to adapt to emerging irregular warfare challenges while maintaining its position as a trusted partner in building capacity to counter irregular threats, particularly those emanating from China. The Center FY2025 initiatives included focus on illuminating the challenges of Chinese-sourced fentanyl trafficking networks and combatting them, while enhancing the lethality of U.S. forces necessary to deter China. Through its comprehensive approach to education, research, and international engagement, the Center remains committed to preparing the United States and its allies for the evolving irregular warfare landscape. The establishment of the IW Global Network and the successful hosting of the inaugural IW Community of Interest Symposium demonstrate the Center’s growing influence in shaping the future of irregular warfare education and practice, with particular emphasis on increasing force lethality and survivability in contested operating environments.