Dr. James Giordano says a primary peer competitor turns brain science concepts into operational constructs in about 40 calendar months. By his account, the most advanced U.S. research programs take roughly 60.
Dr. Giordano first joined No Way Out three years ago, in Ep 35. He is Special Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War (CBRN), and Head of the Center for Strategic Deterrence and Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University. He is also Professor Emeritus of Neurology, Biochemistry and Ethics at Georgetown University Medical Center. His views are his own and do not represent the U.S. government, the Department of War or the National Defense University.
Where disposition sits
Dr. Giordano and his colleagues extend Boyd’s OODA loop into what they call the dOODAc loop, which adds dispositions and consequences. His example is a former naval aviator who turns to look at a jet going into burner while a bystander keeps walking. Their dispositions shape what each of them observes.
I pressed him on whether disposition sits inside orientation or outside it. We ended up on Boyd’s own sketches. Orientation, unfolding circumstances and the environment were part of the loop from the start.
The cognitive domain
The second half moves into the cognitive domain. Dr. Giordano and retired Lieutenant General Robert Schmidle frame it as biological, psychological and social at once. He explains how each layer becomes a target, from bottom-up neurobiological targeting to top-down social targeting. He describes directed energy neuroweapons as a clear and present threat.
He closes on human-machine teaming. He covers DoD Directive 3000.09, humans in, on and near the loop, and a model his team calls SYNTHCOM. It brings the human in when weighted factors cross a threshold, and it keeps decision authority with the human.
His connection dropped about 40 minutes in. He rejoined audio-only from the National Defense University, where cameras are not allowed.
What does your experience make you turn and look at that the person next to you walks past?
Listen and watch:
YouTube:
Apple Podcasts:
Spotify:
No Way Out on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@nowayoutpodcast
Written by Ponch Rivera with AI assistance in production. The full conversation is in the player below.