About
AT A GLANCE:
Green Beret, Senior Policy Analyst, Leadership Scholar
RESEARCH AREAS:
• Military
• Leadership Development
• Population-centric warfare
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Joseph Long is a retired Green Beret, leadership scholar, author, and public speaker.
He serves as the Director of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) SOF Program, sits
on the Board of Directors for the Leadership Transition Institute (LTI), and is an
Advisory Board Member for the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA). He
was also a 2025 IWI Non-Resident Fellow and former Professor of Leadership and Ethics
at the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU).
Dr. Long currently serves as the Program Manager and Senior Policy Analyst in support of the ASW SOLIC’s Office of IO Policy (OIOP) at the Pentagon. As an academic, Dr. Long's passion is optimizing leaders for the future of population-centric warfare with a focus on partner force and population-focused leadership development. Dr. Long’s continuing research focuses on ethical decision-making in complex SOF environments and championing relational leadership for indigenous partner forces and populations in Irregular and Population-Centric warfare contexts.
During his military career, Joe served as an Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) Commander in the 1st Special Forces Group, wrote doctrine for the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC), and served as Director of Personnel Policy for the Special Forces Regiment. His awards and decorations include the Special Forces Tab, Military Freefall Parachutists wings, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Army Commendation Medal with ‘V’ Device.
Dr. Long has a bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy, a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Doctorate degree from the University of Charleston where he completed his doctoral dissertation on leading guerrilla forces during Unconventional Warfare, emphasizing relational and cross-cultural leadership styles. Joe lives with his family in Old Town, Alexandria and is an avid cyclist, swimmer, and traveler.