Small Wars Journal: The Legacy of Dave Dilegge and the Future of Small Wars and U.S. National Security
Retired Marine Major Dave Dilegge passed away suddenly on May 2, 2020. For 15 years he and co-founder Bill Nagle, also a retired Marine, led the intellectual transformation of the U.S. and allied militaries and national security communities in recognizing the importance of “Small Wars.” Dave and Bill established Small Wars Journal in 2005 and paved the way for intellectual discussions about everything related to warfighting in the 21st Century. Just as important, their efforts sparked the creation of a new online ecosystem that has produced gigabytes of critical thought on complex political-military and national security challenges.
Even as the national security community continues to debate the efficacy of irregular, unconventional, political, revolutionary, and counterinsurgency warfare (and more), “Small Wars” remains the best overall descriptor of the phenomena that the national security community wrestles with short of large scale combat operations (LSCO) and major theater war (MTW). And paradoxically “Small Wars” activities take place in LSCO/MTW but not the reverse. The importance of “Small Wars” cannot be underestimated.
Dave’s philosophy was quite simple: Build a big tent to provide a platform for authentic voices to present and debate ideas about warfighting and everything related to national security. Dave worked tirelessly to rapidly publish long form essays, think pieces, editorials, and analysis from former secretaries of defense and combatant commanders to the most junior solder serving at the tip of the spear. He created vibrant discussion boards and moderated a very engaged commentary section for each piece he published. He also provided voice to civilian professionals and young scholars from undergrads to post-docs as well as accomplished professors. Most importantly, he provided a platform for networking and the exchange of critical ideas that were immediately put into practice by those serving on the small wars battlefield. And lastly, it served as a near real-time feedback loop to assess the implementation of ideas and concept before the Internet 2.0 with the explosion of social media such as Twitter/X. Everyone wanted to contribute to Dave’s Small Wars Journal and be heard and read on one of the most influential platforms in the online national security community.
In 2014 Ryan Evans, at War on the Rocks, interviewed Dave and elicited the important points of Dave’s ideas and thought process. It is worth reviewing those five questions and answers to gain a better understanding of Dave, how SWJ evolved, and its contributions through 2014. Dave’s concerns at the time, remaining relevant and adapting to the changing environment, the character of war, the emerging threats, and calls for “no more Afghanistans and Iraqs,” are as important today as they were in 2014.
Dave built and operated Small Wars Journal from his own resources. He had a modest operational budget that was generously supported by grants from the Smith Richardson Foundation. Small Wars Journal operated as a non-profit organization. Dave was the epitome of the selfless servant of our nation punching well above his weight and making contributions to national security far greater than one person could be expected to make.
When Dave passed in 2020 the Small Wars Foundation Board wanted to sustain SWJ. However, no one person could do what Dave did. He was truly a one-man show making Small Wars Journal function effectively every day. The Board kept the lights on while it struggled to find a way to sustain it. It engaged with myriad organizations, government and non-government. While participating in the debate about the future of irregular warfare, Small Wars Foundation board members met scholars and practitioners from Arizona State University (ASU) who immediately recognized the opportunity to partner with and bring Small Wars Journal into the Future Security Initiative (FSI).
For the past few months FSI and the Small Wars Foundation have been working on the transition plan which has resulted in what can only be described a SWJ 2.0. All members of the Small Wars community can be assured that the new SWJ will continue to advance Dave Dilegge’s vision and work and move the ball forward to keep it relevant and make important contributions to the Small Wars discourse and national security. Now SWJ and ASU will have a legion of hard working scholars and practitioners to carry the torch and to try to match Dave’s energy and enthusiasm.
The vision for the future also comes from the words of David Kilcullen who described Dave and Bill’s contributions with the highest praise from the dedication in his book, Counterinsurgency:
“For Dave Dilegge and Bill Nagle, founders and editors of Small Wars Journal. They gave the counterguerrilla underground a home, at a time when misguided leaders banned even the word ‘insurgency,’ though busily losing to one. Scholars, warriors, and agitators, Dave and Bill laid the foundation for battlefield success: our generation owes them a debt of gratitude.”
— David Kilcullen
In honor of Dave Dilegge, SWJ 2.0, under the auspices of Arizona State University and the Future Security Initiative, will lead the way and inspire the next generation of scholars, warriors, and agitators working in the counter-guerrilla underground.
With thanks to and respect for Dave Dilegge from the practitioners and scholars in the Small Wars Community
