LTC (ret) Michael Williams is a retired Army Information Operations officer. He began his Army career in the Chemical Corps followed by 10 years in Military Intelligence. He found Information Operations while deployed in the Balkans where it was the centerpiece of our operations and quickly applied to transfer to this new branch. While in IO, he deployed again to the Balkans then to Afghanistan as a team chief supporting Army and Joint operations. He then trained and deployed teams to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Haiti while a Division chief in 1st Information Operations Command. From 1st IO Command he went to the Joint Staff J-39 and while serving there retired from active service. Following his retirement in 2006, Mike became an advisor to the Information Operations policy office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and later to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and worked on Secretary Gates’ program review of IO among many other projects from 2008-2014. After leaving his advisory position, he became a Senior Analyst for Cognitive Performance Group which focuses on analyzing decision-making and developing models of expertise in support of training and leader development in DoD. He is also a consultant to Crescent Bridge which is focused on providing government solutions to problems in the cognitive domain. Mike was the Executive Director of IPA during its formative period and currently supports IPA’s efforts to expand understanding of Cognitive Security as a board member. Mike also owns a real estate brokerage and construction business in a small town in the Finger Lakes region of central New York where he makes his home.